D&D 5E (2024) What Is 2026's Big Adventure

[Charlaquin]

As I said before, how DS did in the past is irrelevant, because current D&D players weren’t born then. It is in effect a new setting using themes that were ahead of their time in the 1980s, but are very topical now.

They were very topical 10 years ago, when climate change was becoming enough of a problem that centrists could no longer convince themselves it was a far-off problem. Since then, we’ve gotten to the point where they’re not just topical but “too real.” A lot of people are not going to want to engage with those themes during their fun imagination game time when it’s a major source of anxiety for them in real life. We don’t need media to warn us of the dangers of climate change any more, we need it to imagine a future where those problems are being solved. That’s why grimdark has fallen out of favor and hopepunk is on the rise. Though, maybe that’s how WotC will crack the “dark sun is too problematic for modern standards” nut. Advance the timeline, show a world where the common people of Athas are starting to come together to repair the environment. The 2e boxed set purists would hate it, but it might bring in a new generation of fans.

 

[Charlaquin]

Anyway, I think the Beadle and Grimm platinum box will be for the Thay adventure. Dark Sun is probably coming, but I think it’s most likely to follow the format we saw with the Forgotten Realms books, with one player-facing and one DM-facing book “player’s guide to Athas” and “adventures in Athas” makes sense to me. Wouldn’t be surprised to see some sort of Ravenloft product some time soon too, but I wouldn’t count on a third re-release of or direct sequel to Curse of Strahd.

 

[Reynard]

environmental issues certainly were relatively new in the 80s, dictators were around since the beginning of time

Greenpeace was founded in 1971 and the Clean Water Act passed in 1972. Even Captain Planet came out before Dark Sun.

 

[mamba]

Greenpeace was founded in 1971 and the Clean Water Act passed in 1972. Even Captain Planet came out before Dark Sun.

It still was a lot less 'popular' of a fiction topic than it is now. They were not the ones who invented the topic, but I'd say they were ahead of the curve on it.

 

[mamba]

We don’t need media to warn us of the dangers of climate change any more

I maybe would have agreed with that 15 years ago, but 'recent' events do not support this

 

[Reynard]

I guess I am glad for the people who like DS, but I legitimately do not get the rose colored glasses view of that setting. Even Jakandor and Red Steel, not to mention Birthright, are more interesting settings than DS ever was. Was it the novels?

 

[Charlaquin]

I maybe would have agreed with that 15 years ago, but 'recent' events do not support this

I’m not saying there aren’t people who still deny climate change. I’m saying the people who are ever going to accept it have done so.

 

[Paul Farquhar]

I guess I am glad for the people who like DS, but I legitimately do not get the rose colored glasses view of that setting. Even Jakandor and Red Steel, not to mention Birthright, are more interesting settings than DS ever was. Was it the novels?

You still are missing the point. It doesn’t matter that original DS was good and Birthright terrible (although true) because current players don’t know anything about any of them!!!

What we will get, in effect, is a completely new setting, loosely based on something that existed in the largely forgotten past. It will have to stand entirely on its own merits.

 

[Reynard]

You still are missing the point. It doesn’t matter that original DS was good and Birthright terrible (although true) because current players don’t know anything about any of them!!!

What we will get, in effect, is a completely new setting, loosely based on something that existed in the largely forgotten past. It will have to stand entirely on its own merits.

If that were true, why would WotC be going back to the well again and again. it does not make any sense with what we have seen. And it certainly does not make any sense with Dark Sun, given that it is the most boobs, blood, slavery, and biological essentialism of all the settings.

The idea that they are picking it at random and not trying to leverage its history makes absolutely no sense whatsoever.

 

[Paul Farquhar]

If that were true, why would WotC be going back to the well again and again

Because the well contains good ideas. And they have to go somewhere for them. It’s not like any of those old settings are remembered fondly, because you can’t remember things from before you were born.

given that it is the most boobs, blood, slavery, and biological essentialism of all the settings

Sounds like you only looked at the pictures before forming your opinion. I’m sure there will be new art! And as for most fascistic biological existentialism, that would Birthright (clue is in the name).