D&D (2024) What's Your 2026 WotC D&D Wishlist?

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

I haven't read this since it came out in Jan of 1998, so my memory is a little vague. I remember it being a similar premise as Strixhaven. I recall liking the book, but as I'd assume as the same with Strixhaven it's a very niche D&D setting and experience. I got the impression that the premise can only go so far before it gets boring and stagnant, unless you have a really good group of players excited for the concept. I couldn't see a campaign lasting more than a few levels before it fizzles out.

2E AD&D - College of Wizardry

I think it's possible to give it a better try than WotC did. There are whole series of novels set in wizard schools with very gameable adventures. The Strixhaven book gave us a sort of anemic and unsatisfying adventure that ate up space that probably should have been used to flesh out the setting more.

I would have preferred to see something similar to Redhurst: Academy of Magic from the 3E era (sadly no longer legally available anywhere that I know of), which was a much more fleshed-out setting for wizard school adventures.

 

[R_J_K75]

I think it's possible to give it a better try than WotC did. There are whole series of novels set in wizard schools with very gameable adventures. The Strixhaven book gave us a sort of anemic and unsatisfying adventure that ate up space that probably should have been used to flesh out the setting more.

I would have preferred to see something similar to Redhurst: Academy of Magic from the 3E era (sadly no longer legally available anywhere that I know of), which was a much more fleshed-out setting for wizard school adventures.

I haven't read or own Strixhaven, seemed to Harry Potter-ish to me so I didn't bother checking it out. Not that I have anything against Harry Potter, I've just never watched any of the movies or read the novels. I'm just speculating whether it's similar to College of Wizardry, but from what I gather it seems so. Redhurst looks to be available on Amazon used, first thing that came up when I did a google search. Think I had quit playing RPGs for a time around 2005 when this came out, but regardless there was such a glut of 3PP material for 3.x by this point I stopped buying it around 2003.

EDIT: Im not a fan either of every book by WotC needing an adventure in it.

Redhurst

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

I haven't read or own Strixhaven, seemed to Harry Potter-ish to me so I didn't bother checking it out. Not that I have anything against Harry Potter, I've just never watched any of the movies or read the novels. I'm just speculating whether it's similar to College of Wizardry, but from what I gather it seems so. Redhurst looks to be available on Amazon used, first thing that came up when I did a google search. Think I had quit playing RPGs for a time around 2005 when this came out, but regardless there was such a glut of 3PP material for 3.x by this point I stopped buying it around 2003.

Redhurst

College of Wizardry is a setting first and foremost, along with some noodling about the theory of magic in D&D, which is appropriate for a campaign using it.

Strixhaven uses a ton of its page count for a pretty mediocre adventure inspired by Harry Potter, to the point that using the rest of the book as a setting is pretty hard, since the DM will need to invent most of it, despite having shelled out $30-$50 for a setting book.

I was really excited about the book and ended up selling it after running one game set there.

 

[R_J_K75]

College of Wizardry is a setting first and foremost, along with some noodling about the theory of magic in D&D, which is appropriate for a campaign using it.

I seem to remember there being potential for using this book either as a standalone setting or dropping it into an existing campaign with little trouble provided the group wants to play that type of game.

Strixhaven uses a ton of its page count for a pretty mediocre riff on Harry Potter, to the point that using the rest of the book as a setting is pretty hard, since the DM will need to invent most of it, despite having shelled out $30-$50 for a setting book.

This definitely seems to be the trend from WotC for 5E. Why I'm leery about picking up the new FR books in November. I think it's going to be a bare-bones rehash of the last 4 editions with little new in it. hopefully I'm wrong. Which is why I don't really care or want any more setting updates from them anymore. Spelljammer and Planescape left much to be desired, insofar as the few things I looked for in them were missing. Ship to ship combat being omitted from SJ is just crazy.

I was really excited about the book and ended up selling it after running one game set there.

Sometimes you're better off cutting your loses.

 

[BruceWright]

More anthology one-shot collections like Candlekeep Mysteries or Keys from the Golden Vault. Not updates of old adventures, but new adventures by diverse groups of authors with distinctive tones, but solidly within micro-settings like a shadowy organization or a wondrous location.

And then within those books, a bit more of a guidance garden on how to flesh them out into mini-arcs or campaigns, and how to mix and match one-shots.

Also these one shots should ACTUALLY be one-shottable. Actually runnable in 3-4 hours without major plot surgery.

Adventures that are easier to run, and have direct and gettable story hooks, with explanation and summary of the story at the HEAD of the adventure, or the chapter rather than reading the whole adventure to figure out the plot.

 

[GrimCo]

Book of 9 swords updated to 5e.

D&D 2024 modern - urban fantasy adventures

Space opera rules set, with appropriate new classes and cool new items. After all, it's just fantasy in space.

This is wishlist and not one of those things will come out ever.

 

[SlyFlourish]

More sourcebooks like Eberron Rising from the Last War and Ravnica. A bigger focus on campaign material instead of larger adventure paths. More books like Van Richten's Guide to Ravenloft. Those three books are fantastic models of the sorts of books I like.

 

[TheMercile]

Old school art.

Two versions of the core books (heck, all books they sell), one being the current and the other with different old school illustrations. The version I'd buy is the one with the old school feel, gritty 1970s or 1980s styles, maybe even some of the 3e style art . Lots of B&W art. ZERO digital art. I'd probably pay double for it, because the art on the books really puts me in the right frame of mind, and I just can't do "mixing modern and medieval".

I might even play online if I could toggle off the modern looking art styles.

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

Old school art.

Two versions of the core books (heck, all books they sell), one being the current and the other with different old school illustrations. The version I'd buy is the one with the old school feel, gritty 1970s or 1980s styles, maybe even some of the 3e style art . Lots of B&W art. ZERO digital art. I'd probably pay double for it, because the art on the books really puts me in the right frame of mind, and I just can't do "mixing modern and medieval".

I might even play online if I could toggle off the modern looking art styles.

Man, that would have been a neat idea for a special edition for the 50th anniversary, but just getting the two version of the core books they did do out the door was more than enough work for them.

That said, definitely pick up Art & Arcana if you haven't yet. So much good art.

 

[Eyes of Nine]

Old school art.

Two versions of the core books (heck, all books they sell), one being the current and the other with different old school illustrations. The version I'd buy is the one with the old school feel, gritty 1970s or 1980s styles, maybe even some of the 3e style art . Lots of B&W art. ZERO digital art. I'd probably pay double for it, because the art on the books really puts me in the right frame of mind, and I just can't do "mixing modern and medieval".

I might even play online if I could toggle off the modern looking art styles.

I wonder how much of that old art they own the rights to, and how much they'd have to renegotiate?