D&D 5E Is there even a new D&D setting?

Though we’ve been speculating about what the new setting recently pre-announced for D&D might or might not be (Icewind Dale being one suggestion), there's some doubt about whether it exists at all!

The press release that was sent out said:

Fans of D&D will learn all about the new setting and storyline as well as accompanying new products

The web page for the event says:

Fans of D&D will learn all about the new storyline as well as accompanying new products

The word “setting” is missing from the web page, but exists in the press release. The text is the same otherwise.

I don’t know which order the two were written in, or if the latter changed, or if the former contains extra information.

 

[FallenAkriel]

Eberron in pdf first then hardcover was a great way to reintroduce an old setting. Personally I don't feel they will do Dragonlance as its close in its genre to the Realms. Dark Sun, Spelljammer and Planescape have more chances and an old setting each 2 years is perfect: Ravenloft in 2016, Eberron in 2018 and now another oldy for 2020

 

[FallenAkriel]

For Eberron, they went with Races and the Artificier Class for more than a full year on UA. I dont see why Psionic couldnt go that route. You publish a Dark Sun pdf for the setting and open DMsGuild then up to everything concerning mechanics is in UA for a full year.

 

[Fenris-77]

I don't mind the canon too much because I like to create my own bizarre mash-up, but I worry about something like the edition wars, or the controversy with the second and the last trilogies of Star Wars, with sections of fandom complain "that is not my SW".

Not to put to fine a point on it, those sections of fandom can take a long walk off a short pier. "Their SW" can always be exactly what they want it to be, regarless of what happens in a movie, show or book. The creators of any given IP aren't beholden to the fandom of that property other than by the need to sell more IP, and certainly not to every competing faction within that fandom. Like I said, tempest in a teacup. If a given property gets mangled badly enough it won't sell and that'll be that.

 

[Remathilis]

I' m convinced they meant the setting of the new module (Icewind Dale) verse a new Setting for the game (Athas).

 

[Sunsword]

My bet is its a new storyline.

 

[Prakriti]

But the characters are awful. Walking clichés with added floppy emo hair. If you want to make a good movie you need good characters. And that is something all D&D literature lacks.

You can't tell me the characters of Dragonlance are any worse than the characters of the MCU in this regard.

 

[Undrave]

Or you could just, you know, alter the lore. Canon is only canon to the extent that you need or want it to be.

My experience is that people who like settings get REALLY REALLY hung up on the concept of 'canon'... I don't think it would sell that well if they were to massively change it :/

 

[Fenris-77]

My experience is that people who like settings get REALLY REALLY hung up on the concept of 'canon'... I don't think it would sell that well if they were to massively change it :/

I think that's actually a small but (very) vocal minority of the people who like settings. Most of are reasonable enough to realize that WotC doesn't owe us anything, and that our needs and wants don't define the whole hobby.

 

[Parmandur]

My experience is that people who like settings get REALLY REALLY hung up on the concept of 'canon'... I don't think it would sell that well if they were to massively change it :/

As someone who loves world building as an art, I couldn't care.leaa about 'canon' in an RPG Setting. Based on how WotC is approaching Settings now, I'm not alone, I think.

 

[doctorbadwolf]

Which makes me wonder. The common knowledge is that one of TSR's failings had been that they put out too many settings (along with a lot of other factors as well.) Same for Deadlands as well.

So far in 5e, no setting has been released that actually split the fan base at all, because every book is perfectly useful in every published setting.