D&D 5E (2014) Is there a secret lore book WotC is hiding?

[Charlaquin]

Here. This is an article about using a similar document for campaign details; it’s probably not exactly what WotC’s looks like, but it gives an idea of what kind of thing we’re talking about here, for those not familiar.

How to Run a Biblical Campaign | The Angry GM

The Angry GM delivers advice to players and dungeon masters of fantasy role-playing games with humor, snark, and attitude. Game masters and players are sure to find something of use, whether they are playing AD&D, D&D 3.5, D&D 4E, 5E, Pathfinder, D&D Next, or any other role-playing game.

theangrygm.com

 

[ccs]

. Anybody think we can bully WotC into releasing the book? Because to me, this is an invaluable resource.

Why? We have the internet.

 

[Storyteller Hero]

Since Ed Greenwood and other authors have had to keep mum about certain subjects due to NDAs, there would have to be a lore bible of sorts compiling all the legally sealed information, at least in the hands of the legal department at WotC.

 

[Benjamin Olson]

They said "actual, physical book" in the article.

"So there’s a secret lore bible — likely an actual, physical book — filled with answers to questions that few players or even game designers have ever thought to ask. The materials inside, curated by Mearls and his team, must necessarily go back more than four decades, each one sourced from some part of the D&D multiverse."

The existence of a literal, physical book seems to be pure speculation by a journalist who primarily covers a different industry.

 

[Sword of Spirit]

"But, much like the Marvel universe, the Forgotten Realms is a multiverse, a planet-sized world with many continents and, also, entirely different planes of reality. Much of Mearls’ day-to-day work entails directing traffic, so to speak, across that multiverse. "

This kind of misinformation about the relationship between the Forgotten Realms and the multiverse contributes to why newer players think things like Lolth or Githyanki are Forgotten Realms things.

 

[Snarf Zagyg]

This kind of misinformation about the relationship between the Forgotten Realms and the multiverse contributes to why newer players think things like Lolth or Githyanki are Forgotten Realms things.

I'm not sure it's that. It's more that the newest generation always thinks that it invented the wheel, the existence of automobiles, bicycles, and mills next to rivers notwithstanding.

Same as it was when I was growing up, same as it will be 30 years from now when some 16-year old whippersnapper will be explaining to a 60 year old what Exandria is "really all about."

 

[Eltab]

OP:
I commend to your attention the book Grand History of the Realms which compiled FR lore from all available sources in the 3e era.

Trying to "bully WotC" (your words) for their 5e notes will be counter-productive.

 

[Morrus]

So I found this article on Polygon: Ask a simple question about the Dungeons & Dragons timeline, get a complicated answer

Spoiler

"“It’s rather interesting,” Vincke continued, searching for the words least likely to send Mearls, seated next to him, into a frenzy. “They ... have a lot more detail about everything that’s happening in the world and, as we started discovering that existed...”
It’s at that point that Mearls jumped in to save him. “That’s the super secret stuff,” he said, side-eyeing Vincke."
There was a long, somewhat uncomfortable pause before Mearls turned to me. “Well... I guess I can tell you a little bit.”

And it really makes sense. It's not like Wizards hasn't done something like this in the past. But, if this is true, does it mean that Mike and the other mad mages are just compiling all the lore from all editions of D&D? I think it's that AND fitting it in with other stuff. Keep in mind this was made July 4 of 2019, and a lot has happened since then. Anybody think we can bully WotC into releasing the book? Because to me, this is an invaluable resource.

Sounds like sensible behaviour. Most IP has a ‘bible’. It’s probably less a book, and more a massive bunch of (contradictory) notes. Not something you could ‘release‘.

 

[Hexmage-EN]

Man, it'd be great if this thing got leaked.

For me, anyway. WotC would probably be thrown into absolute chaos.

 

[MarkB]

It most likely primarily represents a way of keeping their own storytelling consistent, so that they don't accidentally release an adventure which contradicts facts and events established elsewhere, including in materials not yet published, rather than any great roadmap of planned events.