D&D 5E Musings on the likelihood of future products

[Parmandur]

Not to denigrate remix culture (which is awesome), but on a fundamental level, the re-use of IP in this manner deprives us of new IP.

In other words, the reason there is a Zelda to begin with (and this is before getting into licensing issues) is because someone created something new instead of just saying, "Eh, let's just license some other property."

D&D not only has a ton of property to explore, it can still create new stuff. That's not to say that we won't see the occasional "Rick & Morty" one-off, but the short-term boost you get from using recognized names ("Look, they have a Dua Lipa edition Adventure Path! Now that's some future nostaliga!") sacrifices the long-term integrity and growth of the brand.

IMO.

For my money, part of the core brand identity of D&D is a lack of brand integrity.

 

[wingsandsword]

DARK SUN - Even though I have a penchant for reminding my fellow grognards and quasi-grognards that we're now a minority, with a new majority of younger players for whom "Greyhawk" is like vinyl and "Mystara" like cassette tapes, I do find myself convinced by the reverant tone with which folks here and in similar places speak of Dark Sun--that its publication is a near-certainty. I think we'll see Planescape first, but Dark Sun will be after that. ETA: 2022.

XANATHAR 2 - (By a different name, of course...I like @darjr 's idea of Xagyg's Unearthed Arcana). We don't know what will be in it--whether psionics, epic rules, revised ranger-sorcerer-druid, or whatnot, but it will almost certainly happen at some point. As an aside, it could be that "Xanathar's 2" is some kind of Dark Sun Player's Guide, complete with psionics, and a smattering of epic rules via dragon-kings and agathion. ETA: 2021-22.

Since three of the biggest things longtime fans have been asking for in 5e have been a Dark Sun book, official psionics rules, and official epic-level rules, it would make sense (given WotC's current attitude towards publishing them) to combine them.

You can't really do Dark Sun faithfully without psionics, and there's a reason the first-ever epic-level book for D&D was made specifically for Dark Sun, I could see either a Dark Sun hardcover having those elements added to cover those things. . .or as you noted, a "Dark Sun Player's Guide" sort of book (whether or not it's officially that) that includes those elements but is released along the same general time as Dark Sun.

 

[Parmandur]

SPELLJAMMER - It is clear that Spelljammer is more in the minds of the D&D team than it was in 3E or 4E days. I personally think we'll first see it as an alternate cosmology in a Planes book; if it proves to be popular, possibly a full treatment to follow - but not for awhile. ETA: 2021 (Planes book), 2022 or later, if ever (full treatment).

A bit pedantic of me, but Spelljammer doesn't need an "alternate" cosmology, the PHB and DMG lay out a Great Wheel cosmology with a unified Spelljammer Material Plane quite explicitly. All the standard D&D Settings in 5E are tied by Spelljammer in one Material Plane, and Planescape interdimensionally.

FIEND FOLIO - How can they not re-use this name? We'll almost certainly see another monster book at some point, so why not Fiend Folio?

Reason we won't see something called that is that one of 5Es principles is never reusing older edition book titles, aside from the Core 3.

NENTIR VALE/NERATH BOOK - This seems unlikely, with many of us still having a slight touch of melancholy about the shelved gazetteer. I would never say never, though, and it could fit into an "other worlds" line (see above).

Won't happen, because Exandria killed Nerath and stole it's stuff.

 

[Lem23]

I dunno about the epic book. As someone posted earlier, 15-20 is pretty epic already, and hardly ever used. While I'm sure some people would love it, I know our group probably wouldn't touch it (and we're very long time in the main - a couple of young 'uns but the majority of us have been playing sicne the early 80s.

 

[MatthewJHanson]

I agree with a lot of what's already been said. Planescape/manual of the planes is likely though probably a single book, not both. I could also see spelljammer getting incorporated into that book.

I think Dark Sun is coming whenever they get psionics ironed out.

I could see them doing source books about different locations in the Forgotten Realms (Neverwinter seems likely) though probably not a whole Realms book.

I'm curious to see what they do for the 50th anniversary. Maybe something retro like another adventure compilation?

 

[Ruin Explorer]

That's kind of a strange thing to say, since you can say that about any setting. We don't, strictly speaking, need a Greek-flavored setting, or an Egyptian-flavored setting, or Greyhawk, or Forgotten Realms, or Dark Sun, or Dragonlance, any other setting, since you can just "do it" with 5e already.

I mean, it's really not even that much work to make Gamma World.

Given that "base 5e" is very much based on traditional, western European fantasy tropes, however, and given the popularity of Asian themes, I don't think that saying, "Hey there's a Samurai subclass, why don't you just enjoy your elegant courtier ability and shut up" will suffice for most people that want to play in a setting that really explores those themes instead of "Kill some orcs."

YMMV.

Ok, so what, specifically, would be added in your view? That's my question.

We have Monks (including Kensei). We have Samurai. Bushi are covered by Champions or BMs. Sohei are covered by Clerics (because Clerics aren't restricted the way they once were). Ninjas could be a Rogue subclass, but aren't really a separate thing. Wu Jen are just eccentric Wizards or Sorcerers. An Honor system is already in the DMG. What else would be added?

Theros is only coming because it's already a Magic setting, and they have specific stuff they can deliver with it - "Mythic Monsters" seems to be the main deal. Also for unclear reasons ancient world stuff is kind of zeitgeist-y at the moment (hence the half-dozen other 3PP books with similar settings out or coming out).

I don't think we'll see WotC to an Egyptian-themed setting, nor Greyhawk. They barely did the Forgotten Realms, and only because it's so extremely popular!

Also what even are "Asian themes"? That's such a confusing thing to say. I've been watching anime, wuxia, hong kong movies, Japanese movies and so on since I was like, a little kid (before D&D), and still watch a lot of media from Asia. I don't see any themes that are prevalent there that aren't prevalent here. That's why Asian media has been so successful in part - because as soon you get past the language barrier and aesthetic elements, the culture is immediately understandable and relatable. No-one is all that unusually. Maybe there's a little more of a focus on etiquette and honor, but cut to 50-100 years earlier in the West, and you see the same focus on etiquette and honor (certainly in Britain, you do).

 

[LuisCarlos17f]

There is a good reason for the return of Oriental Adventures, the potential section of the market of the otaku fandom. Manga and animes are making a lot of money. There is even a d20 manga. If Hasbro wants, they could sell action figures of famous characters from Shonen Jump, for example Dragon Quest: the adventures of Fly. If they agree, this manga magazine could publish a new franchise with its own version of D&D: Adventures Orientals.

If Hasbro wants, WotC could publish a Planeshift: Visionaries or Planeshift: Beast Wars, at least for the next April's Fool to test the reaction by the fandom.

WotC could publish a D&D version of famous franchises, but if they want to be linked to the D&D multiverse we may need a really good explanation.

Hasbro can create its own sword & planet franchise. If Hasbro buys Mattel then the things could change.

Greyhawk will come back, but they aren't ready yet. They need some ideas about how to continue the metaplot.

I am starting to think the strategy will be first the media title, for example short films in youtube, and later the TTRPGs as adaptations of the most popular series by EnternaimentOne/Allspark.

 

[TwoSix]

Exandria is the money setting right now. Nothing they release in 2020 will outsell the Wildemount book. If they don't release more Exandria stuff, including a hardcover adventure, they will have dropped the ball. And I'm not saying that because I particularly want Exandria stuff; it's just that it's very clearly the best business move they could make right now. WAY ahead of Planescape, Dark Sun, or Spelljammer.

I'm just spitballing, but I think doubling down on CR's popularity makes a lot of sense. Maybe WotC is working with Matt Mercer on a new continent for Exandria that can be released concurrently with the next season of Critical Role?

 

[Undrave]

ORIENTAL/ASIAN ADVENTURES - Ninjas, samurai, ronin, katana...how can we do without all of this fun stuff? Well, we have so far - and remember that there hasn't been a dedicated Oriental Adventures book in almost two decades. But it could happen...perhaps alongside a re-vamped and properly Realms-ified Kara-Tur.

There's the M:TG setting of Kamigawa. We could play rat ninjas and goblin shamans...

ANYDAY NOW!
Explorer's Guide to Ivalice/Spira/Hyrule or whatever other JRPG setting is left unexploited by official TTRPGs.

C'mon, WotC, those games are the closest I've a had to a D&D video game experience since BG 1-2-Dark Alliance!

With stats for Viera, Gria, Moogle, Bangaa and Nu Mou! I want to play a Moogle Animist!

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That would be pretty darn fantastic. Where's that Hasbro synergy at, WOTC?

Much as I like Planescape and Dark Sun, their popularity outside of guys in their 40s-50s who still use the word "module" even though WotC stopped using it 20 years ago is minimal

I don't know why but that made me chuckle.

 

[Parmandur]

Ninjas could be a Rogue subclass, but aren't really a separate thing.

To add to your point, the Shadow Monk from the PHB is blatantly a Ninja. Assassin Rogue with an appropriately tweaked background also fits the bill.

I don't think we'll see WotC to an Egyptian-themed setting, nor Greyhawk. They barely did the Forgotten Realms, and only because it's so extremely popular!

We already have a bit of Greyhawk, and I doubt we've seen the last of it. There is an Egyptian Magic Setting, Amonkhet, which I wouldn't be surprised to see return with a D&D tie-in.