D&D 5E OK WotC, I've had just about enough of this...

[Mercurius]

You've got the Elemental Evil story arc duology coming out in March and then...nothing. Nihilo. As if an Orb of Annihilation got loose in your office.

So what's next? Tell us something, anything.

(Or am I missing an announcement or two, having been only lightly following things over the last few months?)

So here's a question to generate actual conversation. I take it that everyone reading this knows little to nothing more than I do, and if you do you won't share. But for the rest, here's a question that we can speculate about a bit: Why do you think they haven't announced anything? I mean, we're talking about two months from now. In the past, if I remember correctly, WotC has had the product catalogue filled up six months and more in advance. This is just...odd.

A couple thoughts that come to mind:

1. 5E was more popular than expected, and they've decided to offer a heavier publication schedule but aren't sure yet how it is all going to play out.

2. They're scrambling to figure out what to put out, how to finish what they're working on, etc. All hell has broken loose in Renton -- dogs and cats living together, mass hysteria!

3. They're playing it coy to build up anticipation, a sense of mystery, yada yada yada.

What say you?
Or some combination of the two.

 

[GMforPowergamers]

I though Chris Perkins said they where working on an ALice in WOnderland inspired setting for an adventure path at the end of the year...

also we may HAVE 6 months of info if the next book after the two we know is the gencon book, then that is 8 months away.

either way we know at the end of this month some articles will be up on the wotc Web site, maybe we will hear more then...

 

[Astrosicebear]

With 5E's success, they dont want to tip their hand too early to their competitors.

 

[Craddoke]

They want to compete with LotF/Zak S.'s Red & Pleasant Land? That sounds insane -- it would be impossible to not suffer by comparison. Or perhaps they're rethinking that now?

 

[Gadget]

Well, they did say that they want to have a slower release cycle this time around, get off the splat train and focus on the transmedia experience (i.e. board games, lunch boxes, licensing out to various other markets, etc.). They have reduced staff compared to previous editions, and they still seem to be working on exactly how they will do a OGL or its equivalent this time around.

Also, it seems like if they did have a full release cycle going on, people would be complaining about system bloat and poorly tested product, and such. So it does seem like a damned if you do, damned if you don't type of situation.

 

[CapnZapp]

In the past, if I remember correctly, WotC has had the product catalogue filled up six months and more in advance. This is just...odd.

A couple thoughts that come to mind:

1. 5E was more popular than expected, and they've decided to offer a heavier publication schedule but aren't sure yet how it is all going to play out.

2. They're scrambling to figure out what to put out, how to finish what they're working on, etc. All hell has broken loose in Renton -- dogs and cats living together, mass hysteria!

3. They're playing it coy to build up anticipation, a sense of mystery, yada yada yada.

4. The D&D dept at WotC nowadays is a very small business, probably not very much larger than all the traditional 3PP publishers. If so, it is a pale shadow of the organization you remember pumping out sourcebooks by the bucket-load.

 

[GMforPowergamers]

wasn't there something going to be playtested... the battle rules for mass combat as well?

 

[halfling rogue]

my guess is #3 minus the 'playing it coy' part

I think they've been pretty up front about wanting every release to be hush hush until they're ready to go. This builds anticipation and keeps them at the forefront of our minds and Mearls at least has been open about that being the way they'd like for things to go with 5e.

Just because we don't know what's coming down the pike doesn't mean they don't. They're still working on finalizing the Basic document and the OGL. No doubt once those are put out there'll be an avalanche of options.

Plus it looks like they've been busy on the video game/comic book front. I don't really care about either of those, and nor do I really care much about a mulit-platform storyline, but the reality is that it's a route they've opted to take, and they are doing it, which will pull time away from the tabletop dept.

 

[delericho]

Despite the fact that their next set of deadlines is looming, they've decided to blow the entire reward from the core rulebooks on ale and...

Nah, I've got nothing. I'm sure they'll announce when they're good and ready.

 

[Nebulous]

Well, they did say that they want to have a slower release cycle this time around, get off the splat train and focus on the transmedia experience (i.e. board games, lunch boxes, licensing out to various other markets, etc.). They have reduced staff compared to previous editions, and they still seem to be working on exactly how they will do a OGL or its equivalent this time around.

Also, it seems like if they did have a full release cycle going on, people would be complaining about system bloat and poorly tested product, and such. So it does seem like a damned if you do, damned if you don't type of situation.

I'd just like to see third parties fill in the gap with physical products and WotC manage the other media end, as you mentioned.