"Dust" and "Midway" - Codenames for Upcoming D&D Hardcovers

Tales from the Yawning Portal was codenamed Labyrinth. Curse of Strahd was Cloak, and Storm King's Thunder was Dagger (or vice versa). Now two new codenames have emerged, spotted by EN World member kettite. Dust is dated 19 Sep 2017, hardcover, $49.95, and Midway is dated 21 Nov 2017, hardcover, $49.95. These have both appeared over on edelweiss' catalog. They do not match the four unnamed RPG Accessories on Amazon. Engage speculation mode - two new hardcovers later this year!

Typically the September release has been an adventure, and the November release a rules book (Sword Coast Adventurers Guide; Volo's Guide to Monsters). WotC has been hinting at a "major rules expansion" for a while now.

My guess? Take it with a massive truckload of salt, but I'm going to guess that Dust is fey or fey wild related. Possible the thing Adventure Time's Pendleton Ward helped with. But it really is a wild guess.

"Dust"
Wizards RPG Team
FRONTLIST
On Sale Date: 19 September 2017
9780786966103, 0786966106
Hardcover
$49.95 USD, $63.95 CAD


"Midway"
Wizards RPG Team
FRONTLIST
On Sale Date: 21 November 2017
9780786966110, 0786966114
Hardcover
$49.95 USD, $63.95 CAD

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[pukunui]

I know. It's very weird. "Here's the entrance to a dungeon that you can't actually explore because it's not in this book!"

I would like to see Undermountain updated for 5e, but I don't think we'll be seeing it this year. There's too much evidence pointing to Chult. (See upthread.)

 

[gyor]

I wouldn't call it a spoiler since the info is already out there, but the yawning portal is a tavern in Waterdeep with a well in the center that is an entrance to Undermountain. But Undermountain's not in this book. That dungeon could easily serve as its own book. And Dust is one of two 50 dollar books announced for this year. Why tell where the entrance is if you're not going to release more on the dungeon? Also dust is a good code name for something that involves a lot of underground adventuring.

It's not in the book because the DnD movie is in Undermountain, so they will not release an Undermountain until the movie releases to maximize synergy, the movie won't come out till 2018 at the earliest I believe (I could be wrong, but I doubt it).

 

[Hussar]

It's not in the book because the DnD movie is in Undermountain, so they will not release an Undermountain until the movie releases to maximize synergy, the movie won't come out till 2018 at the earliest I believe (I could be wrong, but I doubt it).

Really? Hadn't heard that. Where's that from?

 

[machineelf]

I would like to see Undermountain updated for 5e, but I don't think we'll be seeing it this year. There's too much evidence pointing to Chult. (See upthread.)

If they go back to the original Undermountain Level 1 instead of the 4th ed Undermountain, I'm all for it. And I hope they will. In 4th edition's "Halls of Undermountain" they cut out whole sections of the dungeon (and some of the best sections, too).

In the meantime, I will do my own conversion of the original so that if my characters decide to go down the hole, I'll be ready for that.

 

[Valetudo]

Im guessing a desert and a naval adventure. Didnt read the thread so if already guessed. Thats fine.

 

[Jester David]

Listened to the relevant podcast recently. The one with the Chult "Lore You Should Know" segment. And it occurs to me that Chult would make a freakin' awesome location for an update/ re-imagining of Isle of Dread. You have a remote location with dinosaurs and prehistoric/ primal races but also ancient ruins and tribes of humanoids.
Would be a cool.

 

[pukunui]

Im guessing a desert and a naval adventure. Didnt read the thread so if already guessed. Thats fine.

We've established that "Midway" is going to be the big rules expansion, not an adventure, and signs point to "Dust" being located in Chult, so a jungle adventure, rather than a desert one.

 

[Nickolaidas]

We've established that "Midway" is going to be the big rules expansion, not an adventure, and signs point to "Dust" being located in Chult, so a jungle adventure, rather than a desert one.

Jungle? Whoa, hope it's Yuan-Ti focused.

 

[schnee]

That would be kinda new. I don't remember any 'old school' adventures being really jungle focused.

Did I miss a big set of modules that did that?

 

[Hussar]

That would be kinda new. I don't remember any 'old school' adventures being really jungle focused.

Did I miss a big set of modules that did that?

Isle of Dread would be one. Isle of the Ape is another. Arguably Hidden Shrine of Tomoachan is pretty jungle focused.