D&D 5E WotC Explains 'Canon' In More Detail

Recently, WotC's Jeremy Crawford indicated that only the D&D 5th Edition books were canonical for the roleplaying game. In a new blog article, Chris Perkins goes into more detail about how that works, and why.

This boils down to a few points:

• Each edition of D&D has its own canon, as does each video game, novel series, or comic book line.
• The goal is to ensure players don't feel they have to do research of 50 years of canon in order to play.
• It's about remaining consistent.

If you’re not sure what else is canonical in fifth edition, let me give you a quick primer. Strahd von Zarovich canonically sleeps in a coffin (as vampires do), Menzoberranzan is canonically a subterranean drow city under Lolth’s sway (as it has always been), and Zariel is canonically the archduke of Avernus (at least for now). Conversely, anything that transpires during an Acquisitions Incorporated live game is not canonical in fifth edition because we treat it the same as any other home game (even when members of the D&D Studio are involved).

D&D Canon | D&D Studio Blog | Dungeons & Dragons

In this D&D Studio Blog, Chris Perkins describes the D&D Studio's position on canonicity.

dnd.wizards.com

D&D General - WotC: Novels & Non-5E Lore Are Officially Not Canon

At a media press briefing last week, WotC's Jeremey Crawford clarified what is and is not canon for D&D. "For many years, we in the Dungeons & Dragons RPG studio have considered things like D&D novels, D&D video games, D&D comic books, as wonderful expressions of D&D storytelling and D&D lore...

www.enworld.org

 

[Crimson Longinus]

Why is it unfortunate that people who like alignment will have it, and those that don't will have traits? Why are you against us being having what we enjoy as well as you?

We've had numerous treads about that topic, so perhaps it is better to not derail this one into that?

 

[Maxperson]

We've had numerous treads about that topic, so perhaps it is better to not derail this one into that?

If you don't want it pursued, don't make comments like that.

 

[Ancalagon]

We don't know if any creatures will continue to have alignments. Fiends didn't in VGR. There's no reason to assume that there will be alignments in any of the upcoming books.

if fiends don't have alignments, then are they fiends?

 

[Hexmage-EN]

It's ironic that WotC may be doing away with alignment due to outside pressure right as Critical Role is featuring alignment more than ever (including the DM declaring in the most recent episode that a PC's alignment was changed from Chaotic Good to Chaotic Neutral due to agreeing to a deal with an evil entity).

 

[Faolyn]

Sure there is. They overreacted in a few books and took out alignment. Then the vocal majority got involved and suddenly it's back with Fizban's. That's a reason, whether you agree with it or not, to think that alignment will be in future books.

Again, until they actually show us a statblock, there's no reason to assume that they are putting alignment back in. And there's more than just Fizban's coming out as well, so we'll also get to see for Witchlight and Strixhaven.

There's also no reason to call removing alignment an "overreaction." You might not like that alignment was removed, but that's not the same as it being an overreaction.

 

[Faolyn]

if fiends don't have alignments, then are they fiends?

Yes. Because there's more to being a fiend then just having an alignment.

 

[Faolyn]

Why is it unfortunate that people who like alignment will have it, and those that don't will have traits? Why are you against us being having what we enjoy as well as you?

Why are you against us having what we enjoy?

 

[Scribe]

Why are you against us having what we enjoy?

Who is? This appears to be the best of both, because it's actually providing an alignment and non-alignment solution.

Like, options, choice.

Something that Tasha provided that we never needed to lose.

 

[Ancalagon]

Yes. Because there's more to being a fiend then just having an alignment.

I would content that fiends being evil is a bit like mammals making milk, it's a defining characteristic...

 

[Maxperson]

Why are you against us having what we enjoy?

I'm not. There are multiple ways to resolve this that account for both sides. Discounting those and just ditching alignment is an overreaction. Anyone on either side who wants the other to not be accounted for is being selfish.