D&D 5E [post-Sword Coast announcement] Speculation about WotC's product release schedule

[collin]

Based on what we have seen and read so far, I think Option A is the more likely scenario, but I would prefer Option B.

 

[Talmek]

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

I'll cast my vote for Option A, as it seems more easily achievable with a light headcount and (seemingly) more emphasis around partnerships with other publishers in order to create adventures. Without going back and rereading the announcement about the Sword Coast setting book if WotC is doing this one internally and keeping their adventures handed out to third parties, we may see a new trend emerging where they maintain creative control over the "core content" such as campaign settings, additional published play rules (like UA), new classes, etc. while allowing their representative companies like Kobold Press, et al to continue making the official adventure paths.

Baseless speculation is fun!

 

[Fildrigar]

I imagine bits of it were planned for the Adventurer's Handbook but we're just nit ready and needed more play testing.

SCAG is all Green Ronin, according to Pramas. ( In the thread about Sword Coast Adventurer's Guide. )

 

[The Myopic Sniper]

One book a quarter... maybe February, May, August, November alternating between adventure paths and setting expansion book with some splat content probably would probably be my ideal at this point in time. I have been happy with the way it has been handled so far though. I am not sure that it needs to be quite that mechanical in regular implementation especially if they come up with a great idea for a product that wouldn't fit into the Adventure and Adventurer's Guide paradigm.

 

[Jester David]

Tangible Tangent: We've have Kobold Press, Sasquatch Studios, and Green Ronin; who else can WotC hire to write their stuff? Paizo, Necromancer/Frog God, Goodman, etc?

Good question. They've hit most of the big name 3rd Parties. The rest mostly work with B&W books and have looser layout skills. I don't think they're able to do a full colour hardcover.

Margaret Weis Productions does have a good relation with WotC, having done the 3e Dragonlance books, which were high quality. And their layout chops and quality are top notch, having only improved since then. Cam Banks did a solid AP for that company in 3e, getting rid of one of the dragon overlords.
They'd be my choice.
But I'd also like to see Kobold Press get a second shot, while the game system is not in flux.

 

[mach1.9pants]

Good question. They've hit most of the big name 3rd Parties. The rest mostly work with B&W books and have looser layout skills. I don't think they're able to do a full colour hardcover.

Margaret Weis Productions does have a good relation with WotC, having done the 3e Dragonlance books, which were high quality. And their layout chops and quality are top notch, having only improved since then. Cam Banks did a solid AP for that company in 3e, getting rid of one of the dragon overlords.
They'd be my choice.
But I'd also like to see Kobold Press get a second shot, while the game system is not in flux.

[sidetrack]what was Cam Banks AP called, if you can tell me? Thanks[/sidetrack]

 

[pedr]

I'm not sure if there was an overall name aside from "An Age of Mortals Campaign" but the adventures are Key of Destiny, Spectre of Sorrows, and Price of Courage.

 

[Jeff Carlsen]

I don't see the Sword Coast book as a sign that they are moving on to another setting. Quite the opposite.

What it means for the release schedule is that there is room for physical products that they think people will want. It implies nothing as to the rate we might see those products.

 

[Jester David]

[sidetrack]what was Cam Banks AP called, if you can tell me? Thanks[/sidetrack]

I'm not sure if there was an overall name aside from "An Age of Mortals Campaign" but the adventures are Key of Destiny, Spectre of Sorrows, and Price of Courage.

As [MENTION=33464]pedr[/MENTION] says, it didn't have a firm name beyond "Age of Mortals" campaign. There was Key of Destiny by Christopher Coyle, and then Specter of Sorrows and Price of Courage by Cam Banks.
WotC even extended the licence for Dragonlance with MWP by a few months to let them release this book (and another couple planned books). Which I always thought was super classy. Like they did with Paizo so they could finish their AP series.

While these adventures were softcover and black-and-white, much of the rest of the Dragonlance line was full colour and hardcover. While MWP is mostly doing FATE now, they could probably be pushed into 5e.

 

[mach1.9pants]

Thanks guys, I'll look it up.