How much support are WotC's settings going to get?

[Relique du Madde]

My prediction

2008 - Forgotten Realms
2009 - Eberron
2010 - FR - Zakhara (or some other location)
2011 - Eberron - Xen'drik
2012 - Bra'nd Newsettyng

I think it will be more like...
2008 - FR
2009 - Eberron
2010 - Dragon Lance
2011 - Grayhawk
2012 - 4.5 e

 

[ZombieRoboNinja]

After FR, they've still got Dragonlance and Greyhawk as basically "must-have" settings, along with a few more that would be very nice to see (Planescape, Dark Sun... Spelljammer?)

Obviously most of those won't get as much support as Eberron or FR, but hell, just a single sourcebook would be more than Planescape saw through the entire 3e/3.5 run...

 

[amethal]

I think it will be more like...
2008 - FR
2009 - Eberron
2010 - Dragon Lance
2011 - Grayhawk
2012 - 4.5 e

There won't be a 4.5

Any changes they want to make will just go in the next year's PH / DMG / MM

 

[Najo]

There won't be a 4.5

Any changes they want to make will just go in the next year's PH / DMG / MM

I think your right about that. They can update the core rules at any time with the new model. Very intriguing


I also think we are going to see something more like this for campaign releases:


2008 Forgotten Realms
2009 Eberron
2010 Planescape
2011 Darksun
2012 New 4e setting
2013 Spelljammer
2014 Ravenloft

As for Dragonlance and Greyhawk, I don't think they are coming any time soon, unless one of them replaces the 2012 slot, and could happen. I just think that Forgotten Realms and Eberron fill the niche better than Dragonlance and Greyhawk for typical D&D style of play. The truth is, Dragonlance is too tied to the novels to work well as a campaign setting and Greyhawk has some very loyal fans and is the history of D&D, but in reality not as popular as the other settings. I think 3.0/3.5 attempted to use Greyhawk as best they could (though other than the Living Greyhawk Gazetteer it never really got a campaign setting book worthy of its name).

I also think the Expedition series, along with a few other releases, was an experiment. Those books covered Ravenloft, Greyhawk, Planescape and Forgotten Realms. The books were intentional aimed at highlevel parties and marketed entirely off of old settings. I am sure the sales of those items indicates the interest of long term players in those settings. I would bet Ravenloft and Planescape sold better than the other two.

 

[Ranger REG]

I also think we are going to see something more like this for campaign releases:


2008 Forgotten Realms
2009 Eberron
2010 Planescape
2011 Darksun
2012 New 4e setting
2013 Spelljammer
2014 Ravenloft

I'd rather have Spelljammer: Shadow of the Spider Moon (or similar standalone setting) before Dark Sun. I also rather have Dragonlance after Eberron and before Greyhawk.

Sorry, not so much of a Planescape fan.

 

[A'koss]

I think it will be more like...
2008 - FR
2009 - Eberron
2010 - Dragon Lance
2011 - Grayhawk
2012 - 4.5 e

With the exception of 4.5e, I think that's not a bad guess. I don't see Dark Sun, Ravenloft or Planescape (even though it is one of my favorite settings) coming before these as they are more "niche" settings. Spelljammer I don't think will ever see the light of day again to be honest, neither will Ghostwalk...

 

[Voss]

If the old TSR settings get any support at all (which I kind of doubt), it will be in DDI (unless it folds). You may see something further if a DDI article gets a big response, but...

Ghostwalk, in particular, likely won't get much, since it was intended as a one off.

 

[Zamkaizer]

Aren't the rights to publish Dragonlance roleplaying material owned by another company?

 

[A'koss]

Aren't the rights to publish Dragonlance roleplaying material owned by another company?

IIRC the rights returned to WotC a while back.

 

[Cam Banks]

IIRC the rights returned to WotC a while back.

Our license to create and publish official Dragonlance product expires at the end of this month. Until June of 2008, we are still able to sell this product, and even after June, the product will remain in distribution for as long as folks want it to.

Our final product (Dragons of Spring) is going to press shortly. This product ties up the Classic campaign for 3.5, starting with Dragons of Autumn, and continuing with Dragons of Winter (which was just released, and preorders have already been filled for it). Our other major recent product is Lost Leaves from the Inn of the Last Home, filled with tales, stories, poems, songs, and recipes in the style of the original Leaves from the Inn of the Last Home and the sequel, More Leaves from the Inn of the Last Home.

We have no idea what WotC plans to do with Dragonlance as a game setting after this point, but we won't be part of any decision or future plans at this point.

Cheers,
Cam