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.

 

[Parmandur]

I think they prefer releasing setting books, setting books allow them to offer different things for different tastes and wants in a single package, and because setting book are each off in their own corner, but easily reusable for home brew compared to general books with player options, they don't get nearly as much complaints about bloat.

So why would they set an artificial limit on how many of the books in a given year can be settings?

They don't release none setting players options books every year nor MM with playable sub/races, so a year that a side from an Adventure Anthology and Summer Adventure, is all setting books, say 3 or 4 even, is very, very possible.

I think we Safeway at this point that the new Setting books have been a hit, since they are going all-in so hard now.

 

[overgeeked]

Yeah.

Ajit George. He's retweeted Ray's thing about the new settings. I can't find the tweet Ajit made about working on another project with WotC, but he did.

For those who can't see the tweet: "But right now I'm deep in an incredible new project with @Wizards_DnD that is taking up all my time. It won't come out until 2022, but buckle your seatbelts, because it's going to blow your mind! I so eager to share it with you all--it's been an unbelievable ride."

So Ajit could be working on one of those settings (new or otherwise). Or it could be a completely different project.

Here's to hoping it's D&D India.

 

[Henadic Theologian]

And FR's has been very minimal, just a few relatively small areas in the Utter East. By comparison SW Asia and E Asia all have huge subcontinents of their own.

Actually Faeruns South Asian inspired region is in the Shining South, Kara Tur's is on the Malatra Plateau, Zakhara's is an small island.

 

[Zaukrie]

Yes, emphasis on mythic. Imagine the Rakshasa Imperium, and the ongoing war of the Asuras and Devas. They could draw from the literally hundreds (if not thousands) of different Hindu sects, from Kashmir Shaivism to Vedanta to Samkya philosophy. And just imagine a yogic martial artist, like this gem of cinematic history...

That is an amazing video! The sound effects alone....

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

The main reason I don't think we'll see the "points of light" setting is that I don't think it really exists, at least other than Nentir Vale. I could be wrong, but I don't think that the world was every really developed beyond Nentir Vale except as names on a map for a board game.

A Nentir Vale book in the style of SCAG seems like it would be a pretty easy book.

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

New format? My guesses are a bucket of loose pages. A text tattooed to a raw hide. Someone shouts rules at you from a roof with a bull horn. Homing pigeons.

Magnetic poetry sets, for the nostalgia factor.

 

[imagineGod]

New format? My guesses are a bucket of loose pages. A text tattooed to a raw hide. Someone shouts rules at you from a roof with a bull horn. Homing pigeons.

Monte Cook is the king of New format, especially for elite hobbyists, cue Invisible Sun.

 

[Sithlord]

5e Dark Sun boxed set leak!

And now I've made myself sad knowing that it won't be that...

awwww....

Noooo!!! Not a boxed set. Anything but that. Hardback is what is needed. Even a softcover. Armageddon has come.

 

[Urriak Uruk]

So why would they set an artificial limit on how many of the books in a given year can be settings?

They don't release none setting players options books every year nor MM with playable sub/races, so a year that a side from an Adventure Anthology and Summer Adventure, is all setting books, say 3 or 4 even, is very, very possible.

Well, if there current cap of books is 5 per year, I'm doubtful they'll use 3 of those spots on just settings. 2 makes sense to me, 3 seems like a lot (I'm thinking they'd be worried about cannibalizing sales).

 

[univoxs]

Magnetic poetry sets, for the nostalgia factor.

Choose your own adventure magnets. Genius.