D&D 5E WotC: 5 D&D Settings In Development?

WotC's Ray Winninger spoke a little about some upcoming D&D settings -- two classic settings are coming in 2022 in formats we haven't seen before, and two brand new (not Magic: the Gathering) settings are also in development, as well as return to a setting they've already covered in 5E. He does note, however, that of the last three, there's a chance of one or more not making it to release, as they develop more than they use.

Two classic settings? What could they be?​

So that's:

• 2 classic settings in 2022 (in a brand new format)
• 2 brand new settings
• 1 returning setting

So the big questions -- what are the two classic settings, and what do they mean by a format we haven't seen before? Winninger has clarified on Twitter that "Each of these products is pursuing a different format you've never seen before. And neither is "digital only;" these are new print formats."

As I've mentioned on a couple of occasions, there are two more products that revive "classic" settings in production right now.

The manuscript for the first, overseen by [Chris Perkins], is nearly complete. Work on the second, led by [F. Wesley Schneider] with an assist from [Ari Levitch], is just ramping up in earnest. Both are targeting 2022 and formats you've never seen before.

In addition to these two titles, we have two brand new [D&D] settings in early development, as well as a return to a setting we've already covered. (No, these are not M:tG worlds.)

As I mentioned in the dev blog, we develop more material than we publish, so it's possible one or more of these last three won't reach production. But as of right now, they're all looking great.

Of course the phrase "two more products that revive 'classic' settings" could be interpreted in different ways. It might not be two individual setting books.

 

[Zaukrie]

Format could either mean physically format (hardcover, boxed set, skywriting, etc.) or the contents (adventures, settings, etc.)

Skywriting!

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

The new settings will be sold in collectable card sets, with one page per card.

 

[overgeeked]

So..."2 classic settings in 2022 (in a brand new format). 2 brand new settings. 1 returning setting."

I'm hopeful the "new format" will be a combined adventure path and setting guide. Combine Curse of Strahd and Van Richten's Guide to Ravenloft under one cover. That would be new.

At a guess, the returning setting is WotC's take on the Tal'Dorei Campaign Setting. It would make perfect sense. Wildemount did really, really well.

 

[overgeeked]

The new settings will be solid in collectable card sets, with one page per card.

Time to corner the market on magnifying glasses.

 

[Flamestrike]

Classic settings?

Greyhawk and Dragonlance surely, with Mystara or Dark Sun a close second.

 

[Zaukrie]

So..."2 classic settings in 2022 (in a brand new format). 2 brand new settings. 1 returning setting."

I'm hopeful the "new format" will be a combined adventure path and setting guide. Combine Curse of Strahd and Van Richten's Guide to Ravenloft under one cover. That would be new.

At a guess, the returning setting is WotC's take on the Tal'Dorei Campaign Setting. It would make perfect sense. Wildemount did really, really well.

Agreed on the last part.....

 

[darjr]

Time to corner the market on magnifying glasses.

Ha! Well according to some they are trying to git rid of us grognards. It won’t work!!! My home is home to a young one who can read my cards just fine!

Now do I trust him during the game?

 

[Levistus's_Leviathan]

Awesome! Here is my bit of wild speculation:

1. Dark Sun and Planescape for the "returning old settings". They're both really popular, both fairly easy to translate to 5e (as long as WotC just uses the existing "psionics" rules from Tasha's to emulate Psions on Athas), and would get a lot of sells. Everyone keeps saying Dragonlance, but I don't just see it happening anytime soon, and Greyhawk, Mystara, and other settings are much less popular than Dark Sun and Planescape.
2. Two completely new settings!?!?! I so hope that none of these are dropped. This is exactly what I've been asking for for over a year now (I even have a thread about this here). My preferred setting ideas are a Prehistoric setting (with a barbaric-themed Druid Subclass that can animate skeletons and summon Living Fossils of Dinosaurs/Mammoths, the primary races being Orcs/Half-Orcs, Lizardfolk, Dragonborn, Leonin, Goliaths, and Halflings) and a Waterworld (no, not like the terrible movie, but a fantasy one with merfolk, tritons, sea elves, sahuagin, and other aquatic races).
3. One returning 5e settings. This is almost definitely going to be a "SCAG 2.0" book, but I could also see it being a second Exandria book or a second Eberron book. I would way prefer a second Exandria or Eberron book, but would also buy a SCAG 2.0 depending on what parts of Toril it focuses on (hopefully non-Sword Coast regions).

 

[Urriak Uruk]

Hmm, Chris Perkins does know a lot about Planescape ... crosses fingers hard

Yeah, Planescape definitely sounds like the Perkins project. It's the only classic setting (other than Ravenloft) I know he is keen on (he could like others I've just never heard him mention them).

The "formats you've never seen before" thing is intriguing. I think Winninger could very much mean boxed sets here; yes we've seen boxes like Starters/Essentials before, but not setting specific boxes before.

The returning setting... I mean, that has to be Forgotten Realms isn't it? Maybe Greyhawk, if you count Ghosts of Saltmarsh?

 

[imagineGod]

Digital Enhanced Book of Spelljammer. I can live with that. Virtual reality would be better.