D&D 5E (2024) Next issue of Game Informer will have details on the two upcoming Forgotten Realms books

[Parmandur]

I think 8 subclasses, even with illustrations will take up 8 to 12 pages max, not 20, only Wild Magic Sorcerer takes up 2 pages never mind 2+ pages.

I think species section would probably max out at 1 page each except for maybe Humans, Dwarves, and Elves. Still it they have pages for say Gobliniods, Genasi, and a some other major FR species mentioned in Monsters of the Multiverse as well. So it could be shorter or longer depending if that is PHB Species only or MotM as well at all. Although if it's only setting lore for each species, it could be part of the 50 general lore pages as well. Hardest one to guess.

Feats really don't take up alot of room, nor do backgrounds, so 40 pages is really the high end, probably more like 30 pages, that's still room enough for a ton of backgrounds and feats.

I agree with on spells, except I think Circle Casting will be included in that 30 pages and outside of more basuc circle casting rules & universal alternations that can be applied to PHB and other spells, will mechanically be mostly contained with the books Spells themselves, So say Doomtide may have as part of the spell itself unique circle casting mechanic. That could push that up to 40 pages, but probably 30 pages like you said.

The one thing you may not know about, but which I heard about on reddit, is the Faction Section uses Faction Renown to grant new Bastion Options. That could take a fair size chunk of the book.

If I'm right and the species thing is part of the 50 pages of lore, then we have say 30 pages for feats and Backgrounds, 30 to 40 ,pages for spells/circle casting, 12 pages for Subclasses. Add a few more pages for odds & ends and you have roughly the same page count as the SCAG. 159 pages.

That would leave the rest of 480 pages to whatever they are calling the other book, I forget, 321 pages, about the size of Waterdeep: Dungeon of the Mad Mage, which is a big ass book, Undermountain basically being a big highly detailed mini setting in its own right as well as an adventure.

320 pages for the DM book would put it at the same length as the PHB or DMG, so that makes sense. Your breakdown of the player book makes sense at around 160 pages, as the successor of SCAG.

So, out of a theoretical 320 pages, we know that 50 pages are for the 50 low prep Adventures, there are 5 key mini-Setting which are likely to be no less than 10-12 pages each (maybe significantly more), assume about 60-70 pages for fhe Bestiary...

 

[Demetrios1453]

320 pages for the DM book would put it at the same length as the PHB or DMG, so that makes sense. Your breakdown of the player book makes sense at around 160 pages, as the successor of SCAG.

So, out of a theoretical 320 pages, we know that 50 pages are for the 50 low prep Adventures, there are 5 key mini-Setting which are likely to be no less than 10-12 pages each (maybe significantly more), assume about 60-70 pages for fhe Bestiary...

There will a magic item section, so let's give it about a third of the length of section in the DMG at around 30 pages. If we give 15 pages to the 5 mini-settings, that's 75 pages. That gives us around 100 pages left. If the book is this length, I very much lean towards much of that balance being taken up as a gazeteer of the 10 big regions they mentioned in the article.

 

[DarkCrisis]

What's with adding Jaraxle in the art?

Jarlaxle isn't the oddest addition. Unless I'm just blanking on the who that wizard is in the background.

 

[Henadic Theologian]

320 pages for the DM book would put it at the same length as the PHB or DMG, so that makes sense. Your breakdown of the player book makes sense at around 160 pages, as the successor of SCAG.

So, out of a theoretical 320 pages, we know that 50 pages are for the 50 low prep Adventures, there are 5 key mini-Setting which are likely to be no less than 10-12 pages each (maybe significantly more), assume about 60-70 pages for fhe Bestiary...

To be clear you mean the 2014 PHB, the 2025 PHB has 384 pages.

I'll also add the 5 locations that form mini settings aren't regions they are locations within Regions.

Icewind Dale, Moonshaes, and Baldur's Gate are considered to be part of the Swordcoast region. Calimshan is part of the Lands of Intrigue Region, along side Amn & Tethyr (and some minor nations). The Dalelands are part if the Eastern Heartlands, which also includes Vesprin, Cormyr, Sembia, the Moonsea, and the Dragon Coast City States.

So I think the Regions it will be like this.

1. Swordcoast & The North (Expands on BG, IWD, and MSI)
2. Eastern Heartlands (The Western Heartlands are a smaller subset of the Swordcoast) (Expands on the Dalelands).
3. Lands of Intrigue (Expands on Calimshan)
4. Cold Lands
5. Unapproachable East
6. Old Kingdoms (but will include Tymanther and possibly High/Deep Imaskar, whatever is left of Akanul, and Okoth as well as the usual 3 & Thesk, but said no expanded locations).
7. Shining Lands
8. The Underdark
9. The region with Nathlan, Turmish, Blade Kingdoms, and possibly Chondath if it returned to Toril. Don't remember what it's called.
10. The Lake of Steam & The Shaar

Not a region likely a few pages mentioning Kara Tur, Maztica, Laerakond, Zakhara, etc...,

Then Monsters, Items, Small Adventures, mini 1 page Adventures.

 

[Henadic Theologian]

There will a magic item section, so let's give it about a third of the length of section in the DMG at around 30 pages. If we give 15 pages to the 5 mini-settings, that's 75 pages. That gives us around 100 pages left. If the book is this length, I very much lean towards much of that balance being taken up as a gazeteer of the 10 big regions they mentioned in the article.

I think 15 to 20 pages of Items is more likely, but I could be wrong.

 

[Parmandur]

To be clear you mean the 2014 PHB, the 2025 PHB has 384 pages.

I'll also add the 5 locations that form mini settings aren't regions they are locations within Regions.

Icewind Dale, Moonshaes, and Baldur's Gate are considered to be part of the Swordcoast region. Calimshan is part of the Lands of Intrigue Region, along side Amn & Tethyr (and some minor nations). The Dalelands are part if the Eastern Heartlands, which also includes Vesprin, Cormyr, Sembia, the Moonsea, and the Dragon Coast City States.

So I think the Regions it will be like this.

1. Swordcoast & The North (Expands on BG, IWD, and MSI)
2. Eastern Heartlands (The Western Heartlands are a smaller subset of the Swordcoast) (Expands on the Dalelands).
3. Lands of Intrigue (Expands on Calimshan)
4. Cold Lands
5. Unapproachable East
6. Old Kingdoms (but will include Tymanther and possibly High/Deep Imaskar, whatever is left of Akanul, and Okoth as well as the usual 3 & Thesk, but said no expanded locations).
7. Shining Lands
8. The Underdark
9. The region with Nathlan, Turmish, Blade Kingdoms, and possibly Chondath if it returned to Toril. Don't remember what it's called.
10. The Lake of Steam & The Shaar

Not a region likely a few pages mentioning Kara Tur, Maztica, Laerakond, Zakhara, etc...,

Then Monsters, Items, Small Adventures, mini 1 page Adventures.

Dollars to donuts each of the 5 for used micro-settings will be part of distinct regions: I expect the Western Heartlands with Baldur's Gate to be seperate from the Savage Frontier with Icewind Dale, and the island nations with the Moonshaes to be seperate as well.

 

[Kobold Avenger]

Jarlaxle isn't the oddest addition. Unless I'm just blanking on the who that wizard is in the background.

I recognize her as the Wizard that's on the cover of the Monster Manual with Minsc and on page 176 of the PHB with Drizzt.

 

[TravDoc42]

Vajra Safahr, the wizard on the cover, and Minsc (and Boo, of course), both are in the new DMG's lore glossary. I don't think Jarlaxle is, and I know Karlach isn't (although she is apparently quite beloved in BG3 communities).

 

[DarkCrisis]

Vajra Safahr, the wizard on the cover, and Minsc (and Boo, of course), both are in the new DMG's lore glossary. I don't think Jaraxle is, and I know Karlach isn't (although she is apparently quite beloved in BG3 communities).

surfs web Ah, 5th eds created current "Blackstaff". Now I see. Thank you.

Edit: Maybe 4th ed?

 

[TravDoc42]

surfs web Ah, 5th eds created current "Blackstaff". Now I see. Thank you.

Glad I could help!