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.

 

[Henadic Theologian]

The first 2 classic settings are getting different new formats, print, not digital only.

 

[Henadic Theologian]

I'm pleased with the possibilities for two "brand new D&D" settings. Always nice to see (possibly) fresh ideas. A new setting designed with 5E and "modern gaming" (whatever that means) in mind could be very interesting. Theros was a nice book, for example.
I also lack the general nostalgia/wish for old modules (I started with 2E, the Realms and homebrews, in early 2000) and the more niche old settings, so to say (Planescape, Spelljammer, Dragonlance, Birthright etc.), so I'm on the new settings team. I'd like to see what they'd do with Dark Sun, though (except I don't care about a full psionic class; I think it works just fine as wild talents and no "formal training"; I might be wrong, but I still don't care about a full psionic class).

As for revisiting a setting, I'd guess it's a Dalelands & Co. (Elminster's Guide to), perhaps with an AP. It once was one of the main supplements of the Realms, after all. Tons of lore to update.
I'd think the folks at Critical Role would want to publish a new setting book by themselves, with their own company. They sure have the fan base to do so. That would leave Greyhawk (Saltmarsh) and Eberron, I guess. The latter has a good support on DM's Guild. Keith Baker released Exploring Eberron last year, with a lot of new content. They might want to make another printed book for that setting, anyway. Saltmarsh makes me think they have plans for Greyhawk, so, maybe. (Side note: I like the setting and run games there in 5E, works just fine).

They aren't going to update a small part of FR again, the was a big part of the original mistake that angered fans, no They will do Faerun wide at minimum.

 

[elZombie]

I really now have 2 questions.

1. Would the Domains of Delight be a separate setting or part of Ravenloft?

2. Does the SCAG count as a Campaign Book as far as WotC sees it?

1. In the future, such settings could work like two sides of a coin, and could be published together. For now, I think they'll say it's a separate thing.
2. I think it counts, yes. The preface goes "In these pages, you'll learn about the history, lands, and peoples of Faerûn, of the great city-states of the Sword Coast and the North, of the world's gods, and of the factions and forces that support and threaten civilization". That's gotta be a setting, right?

 

[OblivionDrive]

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.

I mean there’s the fact that they wouldn’t be limited to just OGL compliant material or skirting the edges of talking about brand identity creatures and stuff. Small but something.

Also having the WotC marketing juggernaut behind them would shift a lot more copies than they did with Green Ronin alone. Not that they need a ton of help marketing either.

Though the synergy of doing it in concert with the release of Legend of VM does make a heck of a lot of sense and hadn’t even occurred to me.

 

[elZombie]

They aren't going to update a small part of FR again, the was a big part of the original mistake that angered fans, no They will do Faerun wide at minimum.

Fair enough. If it's worldwide, all the best.

I do think they can do it via AP and the "angered fans" will swallow whole the bait once again, happily playing the new summer adventure in the Dalelands while remaining surefooted WotC wouldn't dare to publish anything but a Realms-wide book for the setting, because "we showed 'em we got angry with SCAG". I mean, people seems to have loved the recent Ten Towns setting expansion...

On a side note, a Realms-wide book might get me on board of the 5E timeline for my local adventures in the setting.

 

[OblivionDrive]

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.

I mean if there’s one thing CR loves to do, it’s uplift artists in the community. And yeah there’s definitely some revisions due. I know Matt substantially tweaked the Cobalt Soul monk from the published version after release and feedback. He released the updates in a doc online if I remember correctly.

And I’m sure after the crazy success that was Wildemount, the ability to release an expanded Tal’Dorei could be appealing since the original was kinda of the slim side in comparison.

 

[Mercurius]

All of this makes me think that they're going to up the number of yearly books to six, or at least five hardcovers plus something else, maybe a box set.

I think six major products a year maxes out a "minimalist" publication schedule, but still fits the basic model. It is one product every two months on average, compared to twice that during the hey-day of 4E and 3.5, and far more during the craziness of 2E. It also makes sense as a way to optimize sales in this new Golden Age of D&D popularity.

 

[overgeeked]

All of this makes me think that they're going to up the number of yearly books to six, or at least five hardcovers plus something else, maybe a box set.

I think six major products a year maxes out a "minimalist" publication schedule, but still fits the basic model. It is one product every two months on average, compared to twice that during the hey-day of 4E and 3.5, and far more during the craziness of 2E. It also makes sense as a way to optimize sales in this new Golden Age of D&D popularity.

It really does feel like 5E was a greatest hits of editions and the success of it completely caught WotC off guard and they're just now catching up with that success and really capitalizing on it. And as much as I want new stuff and a return of older setting, I don't know if I want to deal with even six books a year...definitely not more.

 

[CM]

Spelljammer is ripe for re-imagining as an updated steampunk-style setting with sci-fi aspects like the living mind flayer ships shown in the BG3 trailer. I can't believe they haven't already jumped on it, myself.

I would love to see updated versions of all the old spelljammer ship designs. Despite the fact that they were fantastical-looking, most of them seemed very mundane. The elven ships, for example, were supposed to be made of living plant-like crystal, but I never really got that sense from the art.

 

[Yaarel]

The Classic Setting:
• Dark Sun

The other Classic setting
• ... Greyhawk (but Planescape and Dragonlance, ... and even Council of Wyrms ... seem possible ... but I call Greyhawk)

Revisiting Setting:
• Forgotten Realms (they have to rewrite the Players Handbook lineages!)