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.

 

[Urriak Uruk]

Tal'Dorei is out of print and the rights are no longer with Green Ronin. I would expect a revised edition of the setting when Legends of Vox Machina drops, or soon after. They have a bunch of concept art from the show they can repurpose for a new book.

That said, I don't know why they'd want to sell it through WotC.

Yeah, I just don't think Matt Mercer would want to work on a whole new Tal'Dorei book, just because I don't think he'd be interested in working on it again (been there, done that). I could be wrong of course, just an opinion.

 

[Parmandur]

Undersea? That would be very new for them.....

Outrageous!

 

[Urriak Uruk]

He doesn't mention Magic settings - I assume they are going to continue with those?

I'm pretty confident the new settings will also be released for MtG. Much like Strixhaven, the new settings will be released at similar times for both games. So new card set centered around that new setting, D&D book soon after/before that card set's release.

 

[lkj]

Gotta be honest, think folks are expecting something waaaaaaay more original than we are likely to see.

Yeah, it being in a physical format doesn't really leave a ton of room once you acknowledge that they aren't likely to mass produce an expensive 'novelty design'. (As awesome as that scroll case thing looked). I honestly have no idea what Winninger might mean at this point. Which, I suspect, is intentional.

As for new settings-- I think looking for non western designs makes a lot of sense. They've obviously been working with designers that have backgrounds in non-western cultures. You might consider Candle Keep and Ravenloft as first runs in that respect (for some adventures and some domains).

AD

 

[Tsuga C]

Leave Planescape the [bleep] alone. Other than transposing from 2E to 5E, don't mess with it in any way, shape, manner, or form.

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

Yeah, I just don't think Matt Mercer would want to work on a whole new Tal'Dorei book, just because I don't think he'd be interested in working on it again (been there, done that). I could be wrong of course, just an opinion.

I'm not sure how much "new" work would be required. Get it laid out with new art, incorporate errata, and add/remove anything critical. They could even outsource most of the work to a contractor.

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

I'm pretty confident the new settings will also be released for MtG. Much like Strixhaven, the new settings will be released at similar times for both games. So new card set centered around that new setting, D&D book soon after/before that card set's release.

How far much do we know about future MTG sets at this point?

 

[Urriak Uruk]

I'm not sure how much "new" work would be required. Get it laid out with new art, incorporate errata, and add/remove anything critical. They could even outsource most of the work to a contractor.

Oh sure. But then, I don't think WotC would be willing to do it. For WotC to partner with CR again, it's got to be a whole new book essentially.

 

[Mercurius]

Probably the most productive line of inquiry is what new flavors are missing for D&D and then develop backwards from there.

Yes, although we can do this in a couple different ways. One is to look at Earth cultures and time periods and extrapolate from there. There is a ton: pretty much anything non-European and non-Medieval. East Asia, Africa, Indian subcontinent, ancient world, mythological, etc.

Another is to look at fantasy literature and other media, and see what 5E hasn't touched on. Again, there's a ton. Science fantasy, post-apocalyptic, sword and sorcery, cosmic fantasy, non-human-centric, etc.

Maybe it's non-European fantasy, which would be good, but I also don't know that Curse of Strahd 1.1 suggests that they're there yet, skills-wise.

Well, I don't where "there" is, as it really depends upon the person. Meaning, there's no perfect place in which every person will be happy. But there's no reason that they couldn't create something right now, with the right group of designers, that would please the majority. There are always going to be folks who say they went too far or not far enough.

Unless something very strange happens and Strixhaven doesn't move a zillion copies, then yeah. MTG has the benefit of a lot of settings, many of them with different flavors than are available in D&D currently. I know almost nothing about MTG, and I know there are chivalric settings, Asian-inspired settings, etc.

Agreed. My hope is one of the more gonzo ones like New Phyrexia, Zendrikar, or Ikoria. I also like what I've heard about Tarkir, which allows them to explore quasi-Asian themes without some of the potential pitfalls.

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

Oh sure. But then, I don't think WotC would be willing to do it. For WotC to partner with CR again, it's got to be a whole new book essentially.

I don't expect any more Critical Role books to be released by WotC. CR doesn't need them.