D&D 5E Revisited Setting News: Its not the 2023 Classic setting, but rather for 2024

[Parmandur]

Thanks, I forgot that timing. I wouldn't be surprised if the cameo is no bigger than what Fizban had for Dragonlance, though. Maybe Planescape or Greyhawk cameoing within Spelljammer?

Could also be another Adventure Anthology a la Tales From the Yawning Portal or Candlekeep Mysteries, or something more along the lines of Ghosts of Saltmarsh (more than an anthology, less than an adventure path or setting guide).

Well, partly depends on what constitutes a "cameo," I suppose.

The new Starter Set isn't much of a known factor yet, but people have already noticed that it seems to have the 80's cartoon cast on the box. Maybe that will be nominally set in Mystara, or something weird like that?

 

[Parmandur]

I get that thought; however, Descent into Avernus was a pretty dark adventure. I mean you are expected to drive war machines that use souls for fuel! I think WotC is willing to go pretty dark, but they don't see it as the default setting. I think a darker gritter campaign setting is still a possiblity.

They are willing to go PG-13 dark...which makes sense, given the target audience is teenagers.

I think PG-13 Dark Sun is totally doable.

 

[Marandahir]

That's my point. They don't want to go with darker grittier fantasy with upsetting elements. I would argue that's the opposite direction they're moving. Dark Sun 5e will very much be in name only.

I can't imagine it will be much different from 4e's changes. Probably rid the setting of Red Sonja-style chainmail bikinis, but slavery IS a reasonable subject that WotC has touched on in 5e, but only the context of evil societies. Dark Sun is about a world ruled by evil, where everything is out to kill you. They'll want to approach it with nuance, and it'll be difficult, but it's not the same deal as something like Oriental Adventures or Al-Qadim or Maztica, which are racialist caricature settings. See how Neon Dynasty is reimagining Kamigawa, for example of how a shift might happen. So cannibal halflings can remain, but they're not player characters.

The reason Dark Sun works is that the heroes are NOT Game of Thrones or Lankhmar-esque anti-heroes where no one is really good. The heroes are the ones fighting evil. It's just that the entire world is evil, and overcoming a world where everything in power is evil is EXTREMELY relevant in today's day and age.

 

[tetrasodium]

I get that thought; however, Descent into Avernus was a pretty dark adventure. I mean you are expected to drive war machines that use souls for fuel! I think WotC is willing to go pretty dark, but they don't see it as the default setting. I think a darker gritter campaign setting is still a possiblity.

No players drive war machines that are powered like coinop machines using coins looted from bad guys, it's skeletor level little e evil at best. Dread Metrol is a grimdark crapsack world & it does a great job of doing it.

 

[Marandahir]

Well, partly depends on what constitutes a "cameo," I suppose.

The new Starter Set isn't much of a known factor yet, but people have already noticed that it seems to have the 80's cartoon cast on the box. Maybe that will be nominally set in Mystara, or something weird like that?

Yeah, I could totally see Dragons of Stormwreck Isle as a reimagining of Mystara's original adventure: Isle of Dread!

 

[dave2008]

No players drive war machines that are powered like coinop machines using coins looted from bad guys, it's skeletor level little e evil at best. Dread Metrol is a grimdark crapsack world & it does a great job of doing it.

Aren't those soul coins? I don't think I own it (I forget what I've purchased digitally sometimes), but I remember reading a review where someone was disturbed by the idea of using souls top power play "fun."

 

[Remathilis]

My current guess for the 2024 revisit is in fact Greyhawk, but with the following caveats:

1. They will make it more generic
2. It will be less grimdark
3. It will become the default setting for 5.5e,
4. Number 3 is the reason for #1 and #2

You are describing what they did in 3.0, and it didn't catch fire. By 3.5, Oerth as the default D&D setting was mostly token/ignored. I can't see a value in repeating this action.

 

[dave2008]

No players drive war machines that are powered like coinop machines using coins looted from bad guys, it's skeletor level little e evil at best. Dread Metrol is a grimdark crapsack world & it does a great job of doing it.

Ok, I just read the entry on crapsack world and that, to me, is beyond grimdark and not something I am interested in playing. I generally think of our home campaign world as grimdark, but it is really nothing close to crapsack.

EDIT: I just read the teaser for Dread Metrol and it sounds interesting. If I bought that and it was indeed a crapsack setting I would be very disappointed!

 

[Marandahir]

You are describing what they did in 3.0, and it didn't catch fire. By 3.5, Oerth as the default D&D setting was mostly token/ignored. I can't see a value in repeating this action.

So much so that 4e decided to just up and gut the setting, keep the cows they like, meatgrind the cows they don't, and rebrand it as Points of Light / Nentir Vale / Conquest of Nerath / Nerathi Legends.

Honestly, if you're going to make Greyhawk lighter and fluffier, this is the way to go. Just grab the map from Conquest of Nerath and make that gazetteer.

 

[Marandahir]

Ok, I just read the entry on crapsack world and that, to me, is beyond grimdark and not something I am interested in playing. I generally think of our home campaign world as grimdark, but it is really nothing close to crapsack.

And that is how we make an adventure in the Abyss… wait, wrong thread.