D&D 4E New 4e Info! GAMA Tradeshow Scoop

[Mouseferatu]

There's always the possibility of a brand-new setting - I expect 4e will see at least one of those.

I hope so. There's plenty of old settings I'd love to see come back, but yeah, I love the idea of a "built-for-4E" PoL setting or two.

 

[Shroomy]

I'd rather like to see a brand new setting actually.

While I'm not sure it will get its own books devoted to it, the implied setting is certainly getting some loving in the core and DDI. Isn't the Tiefling empire Bael Turath being exposed in the first 4e issue of Dragon. There's your new setting right there. Won't be long before someone gives it a name.

 

[pukunui]

While I'm not sure it will get its own books devoted to it, the implied setting is certainly getting some loving in the core and DDI. Isn't the Tiefling empire Bael Turath being exposed in the first 4e issue of Dragon. There's your new setting right there. Won't be long before someone gives it a name.

Good point. They originally implied that it wasn't going to be anything more than context for the core rules ... but if they're going to expand on it in Dragon, then it might very well blossom into its own setting. I certainly wouldn't mind. I've liked all the PoL stuff they've put out so far.

 

[DandD]

Planescape might still employ the old Great Wheel. Eberron for example didn't ditch its own plane-constellations. The Forgotten Realms did, because it's the new poster-child and first campaign setting for 4th edition, to introduce all that new gimmicky stuff like the Elemental Chaos, the Astral Dominion and such, especially to complete newcomers who never read a FR-novel, nor played any D&D at all (safe for the computer games).
Of course, Planescape might possibly also have changed completely, and this time focuses only on Sigil, which has the very unique property to allow access to any place in creation, no matter how powerful the wards against teleportations might be, even if created by the gods themselves, and now the goal would be to gain somehow control of that special city/astral dominion/whatever, and still be on the good side of its dreaded Lady of Pain.
You can always reconceptualize some things and put focus on another thing, just like Marvel and DC do it all the time. Heck, just like Transformers Animated.

 

[Shroomy]

While Sigil is interesting and apparently appears in the DMG, I don't think that a PS setting without the Great Wheel would be very successful.

 

[A'koss]

While a new setting could be interesting, my gut tells me we probably won't see one, at least not for many years. I think we'll get whispers and teases of it long, long before it sees the light of day. I think for the time being they'll likely continue to update their settings in order of (predicted) popularity.

 

[Irda Ranger]

You know, I am really torn on the idea of WotC doing 4E updates for Dark Sun, Ravenloft and Spelljammer.

I mean, on the one hand, SWEET!!!!! Dark Sun!!! Spelljammer!!! And lets face it, when WotC decides to do a campaign setting, they do it really, really well.

But on the other hand, one setting per year means we could be waiting a long, long time before those settings get any love. A license to a 3PP would see a much faster release cycle.

And now for some cheap (and easy!) speculation about the settings:

To avoid duplication, Dark Sun can not be released until after the Psionic power source has been fully developed (PHB II, but also "Psychic Power" or whatever that splat is called). The Dark Sun DM's guide will have rules to support generic "Desert-based Adventures" which, when combined with some DDI articles, will allow you to run Al-Quadim.

Spelljammer (or possibly, a Spelljammer-Planescape combo: Planejammer!) can not be released until (1) after Manual of the Planes II develops the concept of "multiple worlds, much like our own", and (2) PHB III presents rules for firearms and powder-based artillery. Alternatively, Spelljammer will be the source of firearms rules.

Ravenloft can not be released until after the Shadow power source has been fully developed. It will introduce the Demonic (Evil Primal) power source. Shadar Kai will be given a realm, and purists will hate that.

 

[Irda Ranger]

I don't think that a PS setting without the Great Wheel would be very successful.

PS is about Factions, cant and politics, not geography. No one walked anywhere anyway - you used portals or Teleport.

 

[Fallen Seraph]

While Sigil is interesting and apparently appears in the DMG, I don't think that a PS setting without the Great Wheel would be very successful.

I dunno. I could see it working like this.

Sigil is a Dominion that exists in the space outside of the Astral Sea in the emptiness of the Cosmos. The Lady of Pain having built this Dominion there to stay away from the peering eyes of the Gods.

This has allowed it to gain a certain infamy amongst the various Dominions of the Astral Sea, Dominions that also reside outside it and other locations throughout the Cosmology. As such it has become a beacon for all manner of thought and trade. Its gateways always busy with new travellers from the City of Brass, the home of the Modron in the Dominion of Regulus to the Nine Hells.

The Gods still try to find ways of entering Sigil, and the other Dominions that have found refuge outside the Astral Sea but currently to no avail.

 

[AZRogue]

I don't think Planescape would be difficult to do. They could even use the Great Wheel, if they wanted, but I wouldn't care either way as I was a HUGE Planescape fan and the Great Wheel was never important to me, just the way things were set up. Sigil, the City of Doors, would just be pure awesome. Throw in Al'Qadim and Dark Sun and I'll be very, very happy. I wouldn't buy any of the others, though. I have my own generic fantasy campaign homebrew worlds.

edit: Oh, I would buy Spelljammer too.