Dragon #389 Ampersand

[Mouseferatu]

I have no insider knowledge of this--I first heard of the Abyssal Plague when I followed the link, yesterday--I think people are forgetting one tiny detail:

Unless WotC is suddenly changing their plans, a metaplot can't affect the ongoing development of existing settings, because there isn't any. Three books and out, remember? So even if the Abyssal Plague is supposed to affect all the worlds--and from my reading, that's ambiguous--it will only do so via novels, and maybe DDI articles. The only setting that's really "ongoing" enough to have a metaplot is the core pseudo-setting of Nentir Vale & Friends. If it has any impact on the others, it'll have to be minimal, by definition.

 

[ggroy]

I have no insider knowledge of this--I first heard of the Abyssal Plague when I followed the link, yesterday--I think people are forgetting one tiny detail:

Unless WotC is suddenly changing their plans, a metaplot can't affect the ongoing development of existing settings, because there isn't any. Three books and out, remember? So even if the Abyssal Plague is supposed to affect all the worlds--and from my reading, that's ambiguous--it will only do so via novels, and maybe DDI articles. The only setting that's really "ongoing" enough to have a metaplot is the core pseudo-setting of Nentir Vale & Friends. If it has any impact on the others, it'll have to be minimal, by definition.

There's one very maximal way of drastically affecting the existing 4E settings: nuke Forgotten Realms, Eberron, and Dark Sun completely out of existence, and subsequently throw them all into the trash.

 

[occam]

I find even the faintest whiff of metaplot sickening, disheartening and morale-breaking.

D&D has always had worlds-spanning metaplot: the conflict between Demogorgon and Orcus, the story of Vecna, other D&D-original deities and NPCs out the wazoo, etc. But as FireLance mentioned, the long-lasting effects are light and easily ignored. The Abyssal Plague could be no different in its impact.

 

[The Little Raven]

D&D has always had worlds-spanning metaplot: the conflict between Demogorgon and Orcus, the story of Vecna, other D&D-original deities and NPCs out the wazoo, etc.

That's not metaplot, that's backstory.

Metaplot is picking up PHB1 and Vecna is a living deity, then picking up PHB2 to find that Vecna has now been slain by a group of adventurers and is no longer a living deity. Or back in 3e Forgotten Realms, where they advanced the timeline (and thus changed the world for anyone using canon) through the life of the edition.

The Abyssal Plague could be metaplot if it is taken as canon by all following supplements. That's if they don't present it as an optional event.

 

[Scribble]

I have no insider knowledge of this--I first heard of the Abyssal Plague when I followed the link, yesterday--I think people are forgetting one tiny detail:

Unless WotC is suddenly changing their plans, a metaplot can't affect the ongoing development of existing settings, because there isn't any. Three books and out, remember? So even if the Abyssal Plague is supposed to affect all the worlds--and from my reading, that's ambiguous--it will only do so via novels, and maybe DDI articles. The only setting that's really "ongoing" enough to have a metaplot is the core pseudo-setting of Nentir Vale & Friends. If it has any impact on the others, it'll have to be minimal, by definition.

Yeah my guess is if they DO have a "meta plot" they'll come out with something describing what an abyssal plague IS, then have dungeon articles about using the abyssal plague in the various settings... (like how they did that with KoTS...)

 

[MatthewJHanson]

I think the abyssal plague will probably be their way of introducing the elemental power source, sort of like how the encroaching of the far realms is how they brought on the psionic power source.

 

[M.L. Martin]

I think the abyssal plague will probably be their way of introducing the elemental power source, sort of like how the encroaching of the far realms is how they brought on the psionic power source.

This appears likely, given that the preview in The Ghost King includes Tharizdun, the Elder Elemental Eye, and cults of Elemental Evil.