D&D (2024) The Ray Winninger Era of D&D 5e

[Henadic Theologian]

Okay so Ray started as the Executive Producer of D&D around 2020, but the books he really shaped came out later including this year as he mentioned in an interview last year.

That would include from 2022 to 2025 Journey's Through The Radiant Citadel, Call of the Netherdeep, Spelljammer, Heist of the Golden Keys, Dragonlance, Staircase of Infinate, Vecna: Eve of Ruin, Planescape, 3 Core Books, Phendelver Campaign, Monsters of the Multiverse, Glory of the Giants, Deck of Many Things, Dragon Delve, Eberron: Forge of the Artificer, Lorwyn/Shadowmoore, and the 2 FR books Forgotten Realms Player's Guide and Forgotten Realms Adventurer's Guide.

4 years of releases basically.

The big notable things is the explosion of released & and updated settings, Radiant Citadel, Dragonlance, Spelljammer, Planescape, Greyhawk, Eberron, Lorwyn/Shadowmoore, 2 Forgotten Realms books, and of core the new 5.5e Core Set.

I think it was largely more experimental, some of which worked out like Radiant Citadel, the Core Books/Greyhawk, some of the adventures anthologies, Monsters of the Multiverse and some stuff that did not work out well, the Setting Slipcases & the Dragonlance Book & Board Game for example. Exodus was done by a separate team.

So how would you say the Ray Winninger era compares to the Mike Mearls era? Whose in charge now and going forearm for 2026+

 

[Zardnaar]

I would say very weak releases quality wise. Best products were about a B+ and they're mostly anthologies eg Golden Vault and Candlekeep. They have some A tier adventures but also duds.

Other stuff was niche to out right bad. Monsters of Multiverse was interesting but came so late 5.5 was around the corner in effect being obsolete very quickly.

I only bought around half the product released and didn't pay for most of it. Very little bought with my own money up until 2023 at least. That store closed.
Experimental, niche and poor quality imho

 

[Scribe]

I don't know how much of it can be laid at one person's feet.

I will just say I prefer pre-Tasha's, considerably, in regards to anything 5 or 5.5.

Exceptions being, Fizban's, and Glory of Giants.

And in the tradition of 'if you have nothing nice to say, say nothing' thats all I'll say.

 

[pukunui]

That would include from 2022 to 2025 Journey's Through The Radiant Citadel, Call of the Netherdeep, Spelljammer, Heist of the Golden Keys, Dragonlance, Staircase of Infinate, Vecna: Eve of Ruin, Planescape, 3 Core Books, Phendelver Campaign, Monsters of the Multiverse, Glory of the Giants, Deck of Many Things, Dragon Delve, Eberron: Forge of the Artificer, Lorwyn/Shadowmoore, and the 2 FR books Forgotten Realms Player's Guide and Forgotten Realms Adventurer's Guide.

That made me LOL. It’s Keys from the Golden Vault. Also: Quests from the Infinite Staircase.

I don’t really pay much attention to who’s in charge when. I think there were some hits and some misses and plenty of meh in between.

Fizban’s and Bigby’s were real highlights, as was The Book of Many Things.

Radiant Citadel fell a bit flat for me but I like that they made it.

I liked Planescape but not Spelljammer (but then I never particularly liked that setting anyway).

The Dragonlance book is fine but the add-on game was a dud. Nice to see them experimenting with things, though.

Call of the Netherdeep is bad from what I’ve read. Jury’s out on Vecna.

The Phandelver update is a real stinker, but I’d say that’s more on Amanda Hanson than Ray Winninger.

 

[pukunui]

Monsters of Multiverse was interesting but came so late 5.5 was around the corner in effect being obsolete very quickly.

Something that I find interesting is that only the following items have a "Compatible with the 2024 Core Rulebooks" label on the DDB Marketplace:

• Vecna: Eve of Ruin
• Keys from the Golden Vault
• Quests from the Infinite Staircase
• Journeys from the Radiant Citadel
• The Book of Many Things

An example:

 

[Zardnaar]

Something that I find interesting is that only the following items have a "Compatible with the 2024 Core Rulebooks" label on the DDB Marketplace:

• Vecna: Eve of Ruin
• Keys from the Golden Vault
• Quests from the Infinite Staircase
• Journeys from the Radiant Citadel
• The Book of Many Things

An example:

Yup. Wife's playing 2015 g8th using tashas and the 2024 page 38 rule. She really wanted medium armor on a warlock

 

[doctorbadwolf]

I would say very weak releases quality wise. Best products were about a B+ and they're mostly anthologies eg Golden Vault and Candlekeep. They have some A tier adventures but also duds.

Other stuff was niche to out right bad. Monsters of Multiverse was interesting but came so late 5.5 was around the corner in effect being obsolete very quickly.

I only bought around half the product released and didn't pay for most of it. Very little bought with my own money up until 2023 at least. That store closed.
Experimental, niche and poor quality imho

Monsters of the multiverse is still legal for 5e using the 2024 core books. It isn’t remotely obsolete.

 

[Zardnaar]

Monsters of the multiverse is still legal for 5e using the 2024 core books. It isn’t remotely obsolete.

Monsters are with power creep. I used one last night they shut it down with level 1 spell.

It got 1 action once. CR 14.

 

[TheSword]

I would say for the most part very good. I read most of these books and used at least half. The edition update is excellent and a better game than the 2014 version. Very excited to see how the books at the latter half of this year turn out.

Highlights for me are Planescape, Keys from the Golden Vault and the three core books. All of which I would consider A+ products.

 

[cbwjm]

Planescape was definitely a highlight for me. I quite liked that ravenloft guidebook as well, not sure when it came out. Can't remember if I have the book or just DDB access. I think after a while I ended up with DDB versions only, except for Planescape where I bought a proper copy.