D&D 5E What is the future of the forgotten realms?

ECMO3

Hero
Between 2014 and March 2019 there were I believe 12 5E adventures published by WOTC that were set in the forgotten realms, including LMOP and DOIP. They started to scale back in 2020 and 2021 with only one published each of those years (ROFM, CKM).

Now it seems there is no forgotten realms adventure that is going to be published in the next year.

Is WOTC planning to scale back or abandon the Forgotten Realms setting?
 

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Between 2014 and March 2019 there were I believe 12 5E adventures published by WOTC that were set in the forgotten realms, including LMOP and DOIP. They started to scale back in 2020 and 2021 with only one published each of those years (ROFM, CKM).

Now it seems there is no forgotten realms adventure that is going to be published in the next year.

Is WOTC planning to scale back or abandon the Forgotten Realms setting?
Do you have some inside info on the likely September adventure release?
 

ECMO3

Hero
Do you have some inside info on the likely September adventure release?
No. But that is 11 months away (I guess I was slightly off when I said 1 year) and even if that is forgotten realms, that will be by far the longest time (18 months) without a Forgotten Realms adventure since 5E started.
 


tetrasodium

Legend
Supporter
Epic
Is WOTC planning to scale back or abandon the Forgotten Realms setting?
kill-it-with-fire-kill-it-with-fire.gif
 

Forgotten Realms is the most remembered D&D setting. It is the most famous thanks the videogames Baldur's Gate and Newerwinter Nights. My doubts are about the possible spin-off: Kara-Tur, al-Qadim and Maztica, because now the audence has got a different sensibility. Other question is the possible retcon of the crystal sphere, to can add new elements.
 


Mercurius

Legend
I think it is mostly a matter of perception, based on a couple factors. For one, the increase in yearly books from 3 (2015-17) to 4 (2018-20) to 5 (2021), and potentially 6 or more eventually. The only really "Realms-dominant" period was 2014-15, with the single adventure of '14 being a two-parter in the Realms, and then all three books in 2015 set in the Realms.

Since 2016, only one year had more than a single Realms book, that being the two Waterdeep books in 2018. But then the book count went up 4 and then 5 this year. So while there's still one Realms book this year, it accounts for 20% of product, compared to 25-50%, depending on the year. But again, not really fewer books than most years.

Anyhow, I've speculated that they're going to be spreading their wings a bit, especially once more of the classic settings come out. It might be really hard to do Planescape, Dark Sun and Dragonlance without some further support, unless the "new format" for these are some kind of mega box sets or slip-cases with multiple volumes.

But I don't think they're going to abandon the Realms anytime soon. In fact, I think it will continue to be "homebase," even as they diversify D&D into other worlds and types of stories. My guess is that we'll still see one Realms product each year, mostly an adventure, but maybe eventually a setting book (in 2024?).

And again, we're going to be getting at least 5 books a year going forward, possibly more. If there are six books, only one for the Realms, that's 16.7% of books set in the Realms--half the percentage of 2016-17, but the same amount of books.
 

tetrasodium

Legend
Supporter
Epic
I think it is mostly a matter of perception, based on a couple factors. For one, the increase in yearly books from 3 (2015-17) to 4 (2018-20) to 5 (2021), and potentially 6 or more eventually. The only really "Realms-dominant" period was 2014-15, with the single adventure of '14 being a two-parter in the Realms, and then all three books in 2015 set in the Realms.

Since 2016, only one year had more than a single Realms book, that being the two Waterdeep books in 2018. But then the book count went up 4 and then 5 this year. So while there's still one Realms book this year, it accounts for 20% of product, compared to 25-50%, depending on the year. But again, not really fewer books than most years.

Anyhow, I've speculated that they're going to be spreading their wings a bit, especially once more of the classic settings come out. It might be really hard to do Planescape, Dark Sun and Dragonlance without some further support, unless the "new format" for these are some kind of mega box sets or slip-cases with multiple volumes.

But I don't think they're going to abandon the Realms anytime soon. In fact, I think it will continue to be "homebase," even as they diversify D&D into other worlds and types of stories. My guess is that we'll still see one Realms product each year, mostly an adventure, but maybe eventually a setting book (in 2024?).

And again, we're going to be getting at least 5 books a year going forward, possibly more. If there are six books, only one for the Realms, that's 16.7% of books set in the Realms--half the percentage of 2016-17, but the same amount of books.
They night not abandon it & I suspect probably wont, but I doubt that they will even consider thinking about the mechanical changes to the core rules that would be required to make anything else more than fr with a paint job pretending its something else.
 

Mercurius

Legend
They night not abandon it & I suspect probably wont, but I doubt that they will even consider thinking about the mechanical changes to the core rules that would be required to make anything else more than fr with a paint job pretending its something else.
I'm not really sure what you're saying. They've already published a couple settings that are different enough to the Realms, and required minimal new rules, and they're publishing several classic settings--and probably another Magic plane and up to new settings--before the revised rules come out. The point being, I think the 5E rules as-is can accommodate a range of settings.

Or maybe I'm misunderstanding?
 

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