Mercurius
Legend
There has been all kind of speculation about what the future of D&D products will be, mainly because WotC hasn't given us a lot except implication, which of course has been read into too much and all sorts of scenarios dreamed up (like I'm about to do in this post!). Some believe (or believed) that it would be "two story arcs only," but the Sword Coast product seems to break this up a bit. Actually, the announcement is rather big in that regard - it proves that we won't only be seeing two story arcs, but other products as well.
So with this new bit of information, what could be the future plan for D&D? What might the product schedule look like?
We can start with the two story arcs, which seem to be the back-bone of the 5E release schedule. But here's an idea. WotC will have released three story arcs before Sword Coast comes out, and at least two of them were set in the Sword Coast region - presumably Out of the Abyss will be as well. Perhaps this is what we'll see going forward: 2-3 story arcs then a campaign book for "further adventures" in that region. After the campaign book comes out, the next 2-3 story arcs will be in either another region of the Forgotten Realms or another campaign setting all together. If it is still the Realms, the obvious guess would be that we'll see a series of story arcs set in and around the Dale Lands - Anauroch, Myth Drannor, the Moonsea, etc. Or it could be another world altogether - Eberron, Greyhawk, Planescape, Dark Sun, or maybe a new one.
That said, I don't see WotC letting go of the Realms altogether, and at the least we will see a sprinkling of product continue - at least one story arc per year, with perhaps a setting expansion every couple years. I also don't think we'll be "stuck in the Realms," so at some point they'll want to expand to at least two active settings.
I would guess that we'll also see a splat sprinkled in every year or two, whether a Field Folio, Psionics Handbook, Manual of the Planes, an Unearthed Arcana compilation, etc.
So I see two options:
Option A: "Light Schedule"
- Two story arcs per year, probably Forgotten Realms
- One setting expansion every year or two (alternate with splat)
- One splat/rules supplement every year or two (alternate with setting)
Total: 3-4 books per year
Option B: "Medium Schedule"
- 3 story arcs per year, 1-2 in the FR, 1-2 in another world
- 1-2 setting books every year, alternating Realms expansion and another setting
- One splat/rules supplement every year
Total: 5-6 books per year
Now I think Option A is more likely, and that B is more wishful thinking on my part, mainly because I like the idea of multiple worlds being supported and a regular rules supplement every year. In fact, I think B gives a nice sweet spot, maybe with one big box set - like a sandbox mega-adventure - thrown in every so often.
But here's the thing: Sword Coast changes everything. It breaks the two story arcs only cycle, and reminds us that WotC has surprises up their sleeve. To be honest, I wouldn't be surprised to see a surprise product at GenCon this year, or an announcement of some big plan for next year - like Chris Perkins' campaign setting? In other words, maybe the plan has been this:
2014: Get the core rule books out (starter set, 3 core rulebooks, a two-part adventure)
2015: Solidify the game with strong stories and a campaign setting book (two story arcs, one setting book)
2016: Expand the game outward (?)
In other words, maybe 2014-15 were about setting a strong foundation and 2016 will be the next "wave," an expansion outward to a fuller product schedule. We know they'll (hopefully) never go back to glut, but I could definitely see something a bit more than 2015.
What say you?
So with this new bit of information, what could be the future plan for D&D? What might the product schedule look like?
We can start with the two story arcs, which seem to be the back-bone of the 5E release schedule. But here's an idea. WotC will have released three story arcs before Sword Coast comes out, and at least two of them were set in the Sword Coast region - presumably Out of the Abyss will be as well. Perhaps this is what we'll see going forward: 2-3 story arcs then a campaign book for "further adventures" in that region. After the campaign book comes out, the next 2-3 story arcs will be in either another region of the Forgotten Realms or another campaign setting all together. If it is still the Realms, the obvious guess would be that we'll see a series of story arcs set in and around the Dale Lands - Anauroch, Myth Drannor, the Moonsea, etc. Or it could be another world altogether - Eberron, Greyhawk, Planescape, Dark Sun, or maybe a new one.
That said, I don't see WotC letting go of the Realms altogether, and at the least we will see a sprinkling of product continue - at least one story arc per year, with perhaps a setting expansion every couple years. I also don't think we'll be "stuck in the Realms," so at some point they'll want to expand to at least two active settings.
I would guess that we'll also see a splat sprinkled in every year or two, whether a Field Folio, Psionics Handbook, Manual of the Planes, an Unearthed Arcana compilation, etc.
So I see two options:
Option A: "Light Schedule"
- Two story arcs per year, probably Forgotten Realms
- One setting expansion every year or two (alternate with splat)
- One splat/rules supplement every year or two (alternate with setting)
Total: 3-4 books per year
Option B: "Medium Schedule"
- 3 story arcs per year, 1-2 in the FR, 1-2 in another world
- 1-2 setting books every year, alternating Realms expansion and another setting
- One splat/rules supplement every year
Total: 5-6 books per year
Now I think Option A is more likely, and that B is more wishful thinking on my part, mainly because I like the idea of multiple worlds being supported and a regular rules supplement every year. In fact, I think B gives a nice sweet spot, maybe with one big box set - like a sandbox mega-adventure - thrown in every so often.
But here's the thing: Sword Coast changes everything. It breaks the two story arcs only cycle, and reminds us that WotC has surprises up their sleeve. To be honest, I wouldn't be surprised to see a surprise product at GenCon this year, or an announcement of some big plan for next year - like Chris Perkins' campaign setting? In other words, maybe the plan has been this:
2014: Get the core rule books out (starter set, 3 core rulebooks, a two-part adventure)
2015: Solidify the game with strong stories and a campaign setting book (two story arcs, one setting book)
2016: Expand the game outward (?)
In other words, maybe 2014-15 were about setting a strong foundation and 2016 will be the next "wave," an expansion outward to a fuller product schedule. We know they'll (hopefully) never go back to glut, but I could definitely see something a bit more than 2015.
What say you?
