New WotC Campaign Setting

[howandwhy99]

I'm thinkin' it's time.

I know, splitting the moneypot betwen too many campaign settings is a big no-no after seeing what happened during the 90's and 2nd Edition. However, a fresh campaign setting would bring a new influx of money to the company. When Eberron was released a flurry of old and new buyers took notice. It opened up another whole category of books to be written. As more and more of the class, race, environment, and other system books are completed, the need to fill that publishing calendar with hot titles is growing. Wizards has already begun publishing more adventures.

To bring the point home. The Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting was released in June 2001. Eberron Campaign Setting was released in June 2004. Is it wrong to think a third wouldn't split the buyer pool if it were released in June 2007? Those 3 alone could last them until 2010... 10 years after the introduction of 3rd Edition D&D. Perfect timing for another edition if not sooner.

Here's my recommendation (and suspicion given current and announced releases):

Spoiler

GREYHAWK!

What do you think?

 

[Asmor]

All I can say is...

GOD NO!

Not in reference to the idea of another official setting, mind you. I'm actually in favor of that. I meant GOD NO don't let it be greyhawk. I mean, I get it. Lots of nostalgia. Old setting. But y'know what? Greyhawk might as well be any other generic fantasy as far as I'm concerned, and I'd wager that goes for anyone else who doesn't hold the same nostalgia as other old timers do.

I'd like to see something more exotic. A ressurection of Planescape would be ideal in my mind, but I'd also like to see Dark Sun, Al'Qadim or Spelljammer. Or pretty much anything else that's fantasy with a twist... If they do start publishing a new campaign setting, I'd bet dollars to cents it would be an entirely new one as opposed to a ressurection of an old franchise, though. Like I said, I'm fine with that as long as it's not just midieval europe with elves.

If I wanted plain vanilla fantasy (and I don't), I'd pick up Forgotten Realms.

 

[Agamon]

Hmmm, didn't TSR do the same thing just before going belly-up?

Not that I'd mind, though.

Spoiler

Greyhawk

is usually where I DM when it's published setting.

 

[FCWesel]

A ressurection of Planescape would be ideal in my mind, but I'd also like to see Dark Sun, Al'Qadim or Spelljammer.

Ugh, truly "God No" to that idea. Better to see Greyhawk come back again then those.

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

Well, WotC is unlikely to do something they perceive as being too similar to Forgotten Realms or Eberron, so we can likely count out Mystara and Greyhawk from the get-go. Still, there's plenty of other settings out there.

But with the wealth of fat adventure hardcovers coming out next year, I don't know that there's a need for a third setting.

 

[Glyfair]

Ugh, truly "God No" to that idea. Better to see Greyhawk come back again then those.

I doubt WotC is looking for a new fullly supported campaign setting. As mentioned many times, they don't want to fracture their market too much.

However, I can see a handful of one-off campaign settings being released (ala Ghostwalk) over a long period of time. I doubt they would be old campaign settings directly, but might be slight twists on old campaign settings, maybe not even in a campaign setting format (ala Expedition to Castle Ravenloft).

The one exception I might see is Greyhawk. I can see some limited support, such as a 3.5 release of the Living Greyhawk Gazetteer. It doesn't really need to be updated to 3.5 at all, but I can see a new version being released, possibly with a bit more crunch like the Player's Guide to Faerun.

 

[JustKim]

The religion of Eberron and one of its several other continents have only just been scratched. I can't say that Eberron has really been my cup of tea, but it's too early to start talking about a new WotC setting and I can't say I'd really be interested. I was a Planescaper so I'd like to hold out hope of Planescape returning, sure, but it's not going to happen. A planar adventure path in Dungeon would be more than adequate.

 

[GuardianLurker]

Remember too that part of Eberron's buying frenzy was :
1) It came from the setting search. I bought a copy, over and above any other reasons, to let them know it was a good idea.
2) It coincided with 3.5. In fact, it's the only official setting that's purely 3.5.

 

[airwalkrr]

If they revived Planescape or DarkSun *drool*, this would be a great idea. Otherwise, scrap it.

 

[Kristivas]

I would like to see a new setting.

Eberron's alright, but not my thing. FR is one of my favorites, but it already feels pretty epic (old). Then again, I'm a huge fan of Dragonlance, but it's not WotC.

I guess the setting I would want would have the following:
Psionics.
Some Asian-type stuff (ancient Japan or China).
NOT a High Magic setting.
Good old middle-ages Europe for that familiar feel.
Solid, not-too-numerous deities.
No crazy ass technology.
No crazy ass technology mixed with magic.
Less than a dozen level 23+ famous world-saving NPCs.

While I certainly don't mind a little scifi in my fantasy, there is a point where it's just too much.