D&D 5E What comes after the 2025 Monster Manual?
- Thread starter Whizbang Dustyboots
- Start date
Vin St. John
Explorer
Three things are true:
1. The new PHB has guidance for how to smooth out the rough edges of compatibility with older subclasses, so theoretically, ANY 2014-2023 subclass can be compatible with a 2024 class, with some small adjustments (i.e. moving a subclass feature to a new level, or dealing with the fact that a subclass feature is now redundant with a standard class feature, etc.).
2. They felt that the Tasha's subclasses didn't require as much work to rebalance or streamline (at least, those that they considered pulling forward into the PHB. This would probably not be said of the Twilight cleric). This suggests that certain patterns that emerged in Tasha's subclasses - setting some features to PB uses, for example - as well as those that emerged earlier - giving sorcerer subclasses bonus spells, for example - were going to become standard in the new PHB.
3. They ended up changing nearly every subclass, including some that came from Tasha's, with small changes, if they brought them into the new PHB.
Despite all of that, I expect to see a new book that reprints, with small changes, lots of old subclasses, and a few new ones; lots of old feats, and a few new ones; and lots of old magic items, and a few new ones. That does the trick of giving stuff for both players and DMs, justifying the purchase beyond "this is just errata", getting this re-release book out of the way instead of dragging it on for ten years, and making sure there is a book in print that has all these options. I could be wrong, it's just a prediction!
FitzTheRuke
Legend
Sure, customers drop what is old and incompatible, but I think that they should have done the job of making sure that the Adventures are backwards compatible enough to keep them going without updating until it seems worthwhile to do so. I think that they will move forward. Eventually we will definitely get a revised "Everything" book, but otherwise I foresee new Adventures.
JEB
Legend
I imagine Phandelver and Below foreshadows their plans for old adventures - take popular old adventures, modify them with new material and improve their compatibility with the new rules, then take the old adventure out of print when the update is released.
I also expect only certain adventures will receive this treatment (Curse of Strahd being an obvious choice). Less well-regarded adventures will eventually just quietly go out of print.
I also expect only certain adventures will receive this treatment (Curse of Strahd being an obvious choice). Less well-regarded adventures will eventually just quietly go out of print.
Demetrios1453
Legend
Not right after the MM, but a year or two later.
Tasha's/Xanathar's type book, with updated and new subclasses, perhaps with an updated artificer.
Updated Mordenkainen's, with monsters revised to the new standards. If the previous book doesn't have updated species, then they'll show up here.
A Fizban's/Bigby's type book on either fiends or undead, or maybe both over the course of a couple of years.
I hope to see an updated Forgotten Realms setting book. It's been nearly 10 years since SCAG, which only featured a relatively small portion of the setting and was not terribly highly regarded. At worst, at least update other regions outside the Sword Coast, say like the Eastern Heartlands with Cormyr, Sembia, the Dalelands, and the Moonsea regions, which were core parts of the setting all the way up to the current edition.
Perhaps a new Manual of the Planes to expand upon the Planescape set. This could potentially be released in combination to the fiends book I mentioned before.
Tasha's/Xanathar's type book, with updated and new subclasses, perhaps with an updated artificer.
Updated Mordenkainen's, with monsters revised to the new standards. If the previous book doesn't have updated species, then they'll show up here.
A Fizban's/Bigby's type book on either fiends or undead, or maybe both over the course of a couple of years.
I hope to see an updated Forgotten Realms setting book. It's been nearly 10 years since SCAG, which only featured a relatively small portion of the setting and was not terribly highly regarded. At worst, at least update other regions outside the Sword Coast, say like the Eastern Heartlands with Cormyr, Sembia, the Dalelands, and the Moonsea regions, which were core parts of the setting all the way up to the current edition.
Perhaps a new Manual of the Planes to expand upon the Planescape set. This could potentially be released in combination to the fiends book I mentioned before.
Argyle King
Legend
Will the 2025 MM contain an entry for humans?
Stormonu
NeoGrognard
I do imagine one of the first things we'll be seeing is a new Starter set (after a 3-book core bundle, of course), followed by an adventure that can take the starter characters into a full campaign.
I believe we'll then see reworking/tweaks of the more popular adventures - Curse of Strahd, Tomb of Annihilation, Tyranny of Dragons to be tweaked for the new rules (mostly the creatures in the back, some slight encounter adjustments and reworked player sections) - but that will be a long-term project.
I very much believe we'll see Forgotten Realms in some form shortly after the new MM. Hopefully covering more than the Sword Coast, but not exceptionally hopeful in that regard.
Personally, I'd like to see another monster or environment book - Rary's Guide to Aberrations comes to mind (pun intended). Covering aboleths, beholders, mind flayers, star spawn and more (maybe oozes, slimes, jellies and fungus too) and psionic options for PCs. And if it has room, giving some coverage to the Far Realm (perhaps pulling some inspiration from the "upside down" of Stranger Things as much as Lovecraft's tales). All told from the perspective of the enemy of Mordenkainen and the eight - Rary the Traitor (whose obviously been redubbed as much as being far-realm psion moreso than a spellcaster)
I believe we'll then see reworking/tweaks of the more popular adventures - Curse of Strahd, Tomb of Annihilation, Tyranny of Dragons to be tweaked for the new rules (mostly the creatures in the back, some slight encounter adjustments and reworked player sections) - but that will be a long-term project.
I very much believe we'll see Forgotten Realms in some form shortly after the new MM. Hopefully covering more than the Sword Coast, but not exceptionally hopeful in that regard.
Personally, I'd like to see another monster or environment book - Rary's Guide to Aberrations comes to mind (pun intended). Covering aboleths, beholders, mind flayers, star spawn and more (maybe oozes, slimes, jellies and fungus too) and psionic options for PCs. And if it has room, giving some coverage to the Far Realm (perhaps pulling some inspiration from the "upside down" of Stranger Things as much as Lovecraft's tales). All told from the perspective of the enemy of Mordenkainen and the eight - Rary the Traitor (whose obviously been redubbed as much as being far-realm psion moreso than a spellcaster)
Veltharis ap Rylix
Legend
I would love an Iggwilv's Demonomicon to give a deep dive on demons and the Abyss. Maybe an Elminster's Guide to the Nine Hells to parallel it? They could justify it by saying that Nergal kidnapped him again...
I do realize I've just essentially reinvented 3.5e's Fiendish Codices, but hey, I know what I like...
Truthfully, a single deep dive book for the entire Fiend category of monsters is more likely.
I do realize I've just essentially reinvented 3.5e's Fiendish Codices, but hey, I know what I like...
Truthfully, a single deep dive book for the entire Fiend category of monsters is more likely.
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