D&D 5E Is the new setting Icewind Dale?

Demetrios1453 · May 23, 2020

I'm not sure if I love or hate how this thread has simply turned into parsing the word "new". I'd say let's try further speculation, but, basically, it's the only hint they've given us.

(Unless Chris actually isn't trolling us this time and it is Spelljammer lol.)

Tales and Chronicles · May 23, 2020

Demetrios1453 said:
I'm not sure if I love or hate how this thread has simply turned into parsing the word "new". I'd say let's try further speculation, but, basically, it's the only hint they've given us.

(Unless Chris actually isn't trolling us this time and it is Spelljammer lol.)

My take:

Part 1: the new campaign will be set in Icewind Dale, where a lost spelljammer was found under the ice and was unearthed by Reghed barbarians led by their shaman who had visions that a lost ancestor was buried in this ''steel cairn''. Unbeknownst to them, the shaman is actually inhabited by a Illilthid tadpole from the mindflayers cluster inhabiting the lost spelljammer. He's raising an army to crush the dale for its new overlord. The players must gather the militias of each of the ten towns by creating alliances and resolving discords between their sheriffs to face the horde, then enter the spelljammer to crush the Illithids and conquer the ship.

Part 2: Have fun with your jammer, find the elder brain leading the cluster with the help of gith allies. It is actually on an infected frost-giant spelljamming drakkar travelling in Auril's domain!

Weiley31 · May 23, 2020

Mercurius said:
Is AI really a setting book? Just a nit-pick.

I look at Acquisitions Incorporated as "Faerune/Sword Coast" but further in the future. So way past Tyranny of Dragons, Lost Mines of Phlandelver, Descent into Avernus, etc etc.

So, it can kinda serve as both a setting and no a setting.

Mercurius · May 23, 2020

Weiley31 said:
I look at Acquisitions Incorporated as "Faerune/Sword Coast" but further in the future. So way past Tyranny of Dragons, Lost Mines of Phlandelver, Descent into Avernus, etc etc.

So, it can kinda serve as both a setting and no a setting.

So, uh, sort of a wave-particle thing?

Parmandur · May 23, 2020

Mercurius said:
So, uh, sort of a wave-particle thing?

It's set in Faerûn, but it is very strongly a Genre book, which is at least a kissing cousin to a Setting book.

Enevhar Aldarion · May 23, 2020

The official webpage for the event and announcements does not mention a new setting at all. It just says this:

Fans of D&D will learn all about the new storyline as well as accompanying new products...

That is still vague enough that it could still be a new setting for the new adventure, but either way, it will all be tied together, like with past reveals.

Also, what is up with the weird section dividers on the page? Is there some sort of code in there that is teasing something?