D&D 4E My prediction for the hot new thing for 4e

[Gundark]

With 3rd edition we saw a ton of 3rd party products for 3e. The "hot" items changed as the years went on. Class and race books seemed popular at 3e's beginning while adventures and adventure paths/mega adventures seemed to be the hot item at 3e's end.

So here is my prediction of the hot item for 4e (and of course here is the place to post your picks)


I think generic locations will be the popular. For example the city of (insert name here), or the forest of (insert ominous name here) that could be stuck in any world or setting. These locations will be detailed just enough to make them usable in any setting, but not too much where it doesn't work. I think this will be the hot item is due to WotC default PoL 4e setting of places that don't really make up a world. The temple of elemental evil is mentioned as existing but where is up to the DM. I envision these locations as having no history, or assumptions. For exampled the city of generica has no mention of a kingdom or empire. The ruler could be a mayor or a ruling counsel (whatever fits for the campaign). Geographic surroundings would be minimized as to make placing in any world doable.

This isn't a new idea of course, we saw these in 3e too, however there was generally a setting tied to them. Freeport could in theory be placed in any setting, however Freeport was part of a larger world (although not detailed very much).

Thoughts? Agree? Disagree? What do you think will be the hot item for 4e.

 

[Voss]

I think we'll see some of this, at least for a while. But I suspect people will get tired of it and actually want a setting.

Generics tend to lose their appeal rather quickly.

 

[Scribble]

Persoanlly, just like we see/saw a lot of books full of feats, spells, and prcs... now we're going to see a lot of books full of powers. (and probably rituals and feats... but I think powers will overshadow feats...)

 

[Rechan]

I'm betting the hot new thing is the Warlock (Pacts, et al). Providing alternate feats/powers for races. Paragon paths.

 

[Dragonblade]

Given that a lot of classes will probably have class-specific powers, I think that class sourcebooks will be given new life in 4e.

For example, in 3e the spell lists are largely shared by all caster classes. Pretty much any arcane caster uses the arcane spell list, and pretty much any divine caster uses the cleric or druid spell list. Any caster class presented in any WotC or 3rd party product was little more than a variant wizard, or cleric. Differentiated only by a few minor level based abilities.

With 4e, every class can truly be unique because it can have a suite of level based powers available only to it. Furthermore, since the class powers for these new classes will be available only to it, balance becomes less of an issue. With 3.5, there is always the danger that a new class or spell will have unforeseen synergy with a spell, or feat from another sourcebook. Some of that will remain, but to a much lesser degree than before since shared power sets and spell lists will likely be less common.

This really frees up WotC and 3rd party designers to really come up with some cool and innovative class designs.

 

[Wormwood]

I vote for plug-n-play Encounters, encounter zones, etc.

 

[Ruin Explorer]

I think we'll certainly see some of what Gundark suggests, but unless a lot of it is really mind-blowingly good, as Voss says, I think people will get bored of it pretty quickly. If a lot of it really is very very good, then it may stick around, particularly if a couple of companies produce consistently good "lines" of places.

I think the SRD $5000 limitation will make there be less "hot new things". I mean, without that, I'd expect about a half-dozen books "reintroducing" various "lost" classes and races into 4E, but I think in practice only Necromancer games will do that.

I do think we'll see various adventures that attempt to link in with the "implied setting" locations, like "The Ruins of Bael Turath" (or whatever the Bael Turathi capital city/holy city was called).

I do think, and I indeed hope we'll see a fair few books of "Paragon Paths" and "Epic Destinies". I mean, a "few" Epic Destinies doesn't sound very er, Epic to me, so hopefully the third parties can expand on that nicely.

 

[Fundin Strongarm]

I'm much more apt to buy only those class/powers/paragon path/etc. books produced by WotC. I trust their ability to playtest/balance their stuff reasonably well. However, I'd be very much interested in Anyone's generic locations (and/or adventures). I generally agree with the OP.

 

[Mighty Veil]

At first I think it'll be books on "the missing stuff". The classes, races (e.g. classic gnome), game rules (like alignment) that are gone or changed. Adventures and gazetteers on the PoL world, even a map. Stuff like that. Otherwise, just updating their 3e published stuff.

 

[Fallen Seraph]

I am looking forward to plug-and-play encounter books and setting books. As well as books that draw out the settings for the core cosmology so a Feywild book, Shadowfell book, Far Realm book. I think these would sale well, since they can be used by basically everyone.