D&D 5E 3 Classic Settings Coming To 5E?

Aldarc · Feb 25, 2021

Zardnaar said:
There's no link there though. Anyone reviving those beliefs is doing cultural appropriation.

Those cultures are long dead and they're not even that accurate in a lot of cases to what they've revived.

Isn't that what cultural appropriation is?

It seems odd to answer so assuredly before even asking. If you are asking "isn't that what cultural appropriation is?" and its connection to neo-paganism, maybe it's worth first familiarizing yourself with the issue of cultural appropriation (though I recommend elsewhere rather than this topic) before making assertions like in the bold. This is not to say that there isn't cultural appropriation in neo-paganism, but I don't think you can really answer that without having much awareness of what is generally meant by 'cultural appropriation.' Again, I would recommend familiarizing yourself with the issue elsewhere rather than dragging this topic yet again into the realm of real world religions, especially after a mod warning several pages back.

Zardnaar · Feb 25, 2021

Aldarc said:
It seems odd to answer so assuredly before even asking. If you are asking "isn't that what cultural appropriation is?" and its connection to neo-paganism, maybe it's worth first familiarizing yourself with the issue of cultural appropriation (though I recommend elsewhere rather than this topic) before making assertions like in the bold. This is not to say that there isn't cultural appropriation in neo-paganism, but I don't think you can really answer that without having much awareness of what is generally meant by 'cultural appropriation.' Again, I would recommend familiarizing yourself with the issue elsewhere rather than dragging this topic yet again into the realm of real world religions, especially after a mod warning several pages back.

I look at it from historical pov. Studied classics etc at University.

That's where I draw my line no real world stuff but extinct ones are fine. PHB just has names and domains you flesh it out as you see fit.

JEB · Feb 25, 2021

Urriak Uruk said:
I'll hold that the WotC folks are likely looking at their survey material and using that to decide what settings are most important to publish. The only survey we know some results for is this one: D&D Monthly Survey | Dungeons & Dragons

There are 3 tiers of popularity based on these results:

1. Eberron, Ravenloft, Dark Sun, Planescape, and the Forgotten Realms
2. Greyhawk, Dragonlance, and Spelljammer
3. Everything else

Of the "top-tier," we have already gotten FR (if you seriously think you're getting an FR campaign book when there is the SCAG and mini-settings packed into every annual adventure, you're crazy), Ebberon, and now Ravenloft. That leaves both Dark Sun and Planescape in the top-tier.

So I hold that the two being worked on are Dark Sun and Planescape. They will both sell very well, and I think that people over-estimate the hassles of new rules and adjusting them to modern sensibilities.

I'll also hope Spelljammer comes out with an adventure book, ALA Descent into Avernus, but that's just blind hope.

Besides popularity in the poll, Planescape and planar stuff generally was referenced several times in Tasha's, and I believe it's an acknowledged favorite of some of the D&D design team. It's also one of the settings that would require the least new rules to execute.

I would have been with you on Dark Sun, since they also have psionics rules now, but folks in the thread have pointed out its themes could be more trouble to address than they're worth. So I wouldn't be so sure.

Meanwhile, Dragonlance has new novels coming out, and they released that UA with dragon-themed subclasses, which clearly indicates something dragon-related is in the works. (Though I suppose they could be doing some unrelated dragon-based book in 2022.) Plus, celebrity D&Der Joe Manganiello has been shilling for Dragonlance for years now. Of course, Hickman and Weis certainly aren't doing the Dragonlance IP any favors lately, but if they were doing a Dragonlance setting book, I imagine they started it a while back and wouldn't be likely to toss all that work aside (unless the brand became really toxic).

As a sidenote, a planar/Planescape book could also let them make nods to more of the less popular settings. And there was already a lot of Greyhawk, and one mention of Mystara, in Tasha's...

The Glen · Feb 25, 2021

Whizbang Dustyboots said:
The vaults are just fan work, though. They don't alter the fact that Mystara, like most RPG settings and games, could get pretty sketchy whenever they depicted peoples other than Western Europeans and European-descended Americans. Some of the settings were fine -- from memory, Ylaruam was OK, for instance -- but plenty more were problematic.

There were four non European settings compared to four European settings in the Known World, the rest were either pure fantasy like Minrothad or Alphatia. The only nation that was considered a problem was Atruaghin, mainly because it was incomplete. Ethengar did a great job of making fantasy Mongols and Ierendi while short, presented the Polynesian culture in a fantasy setting rather well.

Mind of tempest · Feb 25, 2021

mystra would be a risk by nature if done badly there would be fallout which could be terrible but if done well it might sell well for the inclusions of none europian cultures plus all the space would be giving the player built stuff concept a chance to be done properly.

Whizbang Dustyboots · Feb 25, 2021

The Glen said:
There were four non European settings compared to four European settings in the Known World, the rest were either pure fantasy like Minrothad or Alphatia. The only nation that was considered a problem was Atruaghin, mainly because it was incomplete. Ethengar did a great job of making fantasy Mongols and Ierendi while short, presented the Polynesian culture in a fantasy setting rather well.

Oh, man, hard disagree on Ierendi. The writers treated the islands like a joke -- ho ho, look there's Fantasy Island and Magnum, PI! -- and it's a largely unusable supplement. If I were to return to Ierendi, I would replace that gazetteer with something more fleshed out and respectful. Even Disney's Making of Moana art book would be a better sourcebook for Polynesian fantasy than Ierendi.

I don't think it was actively racist, but it was dismissive as hell, with barely a token effort to make something that either represented a good take on fantasy Polynesia or even something useful at the table as something other than a comedic setting.

Urriak Uruk · Feb 25, 2021

JEB said:
Besides popularity in the poll, Planescape and planar stuff generally was referenced several times in Tasha's, and I believe it's an acknowledged favorite of some of the D&D design team. It's also one of the settings that would require the least new rules to execute.

I would have been with you on Dark Sun, since they also have psionics rules now, but folks in the thread have pointed out its themes could be more trouble to address than they're worth. So I wouldn't be so sure.

Meanwhile, Dragonlance has new novels coming out, and they released that UA with dragon-themed subclasses, which clearly indicates something dragon-related is in the works. (Though I suppose they could be doing some unrelated dragon-based book in 2022.) Plus, celebrity D&Der Joe Manganiello has been shilling for Dragonlance for years now. Of course, Hickman and Weis certainly aren't doing the Dragonlance IP any favors lately, but if they were doing a Dragonlance setting book, I imagine they started it a while back and wouldn't be likely to toss all that work aside (unless the brand became really toxic).

As a sidenote, a planar/Planescape book could also let them make nods to more of the less popular settings. And there was already a lot of Greyhawk, and one mention of Mystara, in Tasha's...

Yeah people keep talking about Dark Sun and slavery, and all I say to that is... they can publish the setting without talking about slavery. Maybe a few references to gladiatorial games and that sort of stuff, but beyond that it doesn't need to be mentioned. Let DMs decide whether they want that in their games or not. Believe me, I'm a huge DS fan, and the setting doesn't break down if slavery doesn't exist.

If you're referring to Dark Sun and things like "boob armor," then I think that's also something that's pretty easily updated (it's also completely inaccurate to deserts, people wear coverings to avoid stuff like sunstroke).

As for Dragonlance, I think it's a distinct possibility. However, considering how WotC just recently flip-flopped on the publishing of new Dragonlance novels, I'd be surprised if they're plan was "Block the release of the new novels, but release a new DL setting book for 5E." That seems pretty wonky.

Personally I think the new dragon material is for a new Volo's/Mordenkainen's style monster book, but that's just a guess (it aligns with some gem dragon material we are eventually supposed to see published).

Faolyn · Feb 25, 2021

teitan said:
I wasn't. I was pointing out that religion has always been fodder for fiction and the weird need some feel to be offended for others of other religions or cultures,

IMO, if you won't stat out the Abrahamic god, then you shouldn't stat out Vishnu or Ganesh either.

The Glen · Feb 25, 2021

All of the pop culture references were largely restricted to Safari Island. There still nine more islands in the Nation. Even if you take out the two pure Fantasy Islands out, you still have a well presented Nation. The people aren't cartoonish, they have their own goals and motivations. If the book had a flaw it would be the fact that there was not much in the way of internal conflict. People remember the pop culture references that they don't remember that it was just a fraction of the book

Whizbang Dustyboots · Feb 25, 2021

The Glen said:
If the book had a flaw it would be the fact that there was not much in the way of internal conflict.

Another strong disagreement. People make the same argument about the Five Shires -- the old MML was full of people coming up with "Dark Five Shires," because that's apparently the only way anyone could think to play in the late 1990s.

Some place are places to be from or places to protect. The Sea of Dread has plenty of threats and, since it's a sea, almost any of them can arrive on Ierendi's shores (or Minrothad's shores) at any time.

Every setting doesn't need to be riven by conflict. There are always invading monsters and other nations, pirates, magical threats (Mystara is lousy with irresponsible wizards) and so on.

D&D 5E 3 Classic Settings Coming To 5E?

Aldarc

Legend

Zardnaar

Legend

JEB

Legend

The Glen

Legend

Mind of tempest

(he/him)advocate for 5e psionics

Whizbang Dustyboots

Gnometown Hero

Urriak Uruk

Gaming is fun, and fun is for everyone

Faolyn

(she/her)

The Glen

Legend

Whizbang Dustyboots

Gnometown Hero

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