D&D (2024) Potential other "rules expansion" books

[tombowings]

Which is the issue. This is not the only interpretation of what a ranger is (and is covered by fighter). To some people, the word Ranger means: a member of a military reconnaissance unit; a law enforcement officer responsible for a large area; someone who is friends with a talking bear, etc. and the original D&D ranger, Aragorn, was more of a grimy paladin with magical healing powers.

To some extent, you are correct. Yet, I don't think the rogue scout matches many conceptions of the ranger, if any.

Which ranger in literature goes from being the type of person that speaks the secret language of thieves to suddenly (around 3rd level) waking up a wilderness expert?

 

[dave2008]

Curious that all your rangers know Thieves' Cant, have proficiency with Thieves' Tools , and lack proficiency with longswords, longbows.

That would be fine I guess but we replaced the Cant with "Voices of Nature" (allowed the Scout to identify, mimic, and communicate with animal calls), we replaced Thieves tools with "Forager's Tools" (aid in identifying, foraging, and preparing herbs and natural ingredients to make poultices - aka a healers kit), and replaced crossbow prof. w/ longbow prof. The rogue already has longsword prof.

 

[tombowings]

That would be fine I guess but we replaced the Cant with "Voices of Nature" (allowed the Scout to identify, mimic, and communicate with animal calls), we replaced Thieves tools with "Forager's Tools" (aid in identifying, foraging, and preparing herbs and natural ingredients to make poultices - aka a healers kit), and replaced crossbow prof. w/ longbow prof. The rogue already has longsword prof.

Sure. We can homebrew. But that doesn't change the fact that the rogue scout (as written) is not a low magic ranger replacement. If WotC wanted it do what you've written, they would have written it to do so.

And as of 2024, rogues are no longer proficient with longswords.

 

[dave2008]

Sure. We can homebrew. But that doesn't change the fact that the rogue scout (as written) is not a low magic ranger replacement. If WotC wanted it do what you've written, they would have written it to do so.

OK.

And as of 2024, rogues are no longer proficient with longswords.

As of 2024 there is no scout subclass either. So I kind of feel it is obvious we are still using the 2014 version for that.

 

[Henadic Theologian]

The FR players guide is a full size book (so far as we know). But the term "Rules Expansion" I take to refer to smaller books like Forge of the Artificer.

We do not know if the "Horror Subclasses" UA is intended for a full sized book, a smaller Rules Expansion book, or a couple of different books, as has been done in the past to obfuscate unannounced titles.

Is Rules Expansion an official term?

 

[Parmandur]

Well, we'll see. I personally will be surprised if they're looking to replace Van Richten's Guide, but it could happen.

Nobody is talking about anything replacing anything: WotC is selling Forge of the Artificer in a bundle with Rising from the Last War...because forge of the Artificer is a Supplement to Riaing from the Last War, not a replacement. Similarly, seems likely that the October book is a Supplement to Van Richten's that WptC plans to bundle together, not a replacement.

 

[Parmandur]

We do not know if the "Horror Subclasses" UA is intended for a full sized book, a smaller Rules Expansion book, or a couple of different books, as has been done in the past to obfuscate unannounced titles.

We do not know, but given the UA a Forge of the Artificer expansion seems most likely.

 

[Parmandur]

Is Rules Expansion an official term?

Iton the cover in big letters for Forge of the Artificer.

 

[aco175]

I could see doing regional book for Forgotten Realms (FR). If the point of 128 page / $30.00 supplement is to expand on something more niche than a big book, then it would be easy and cheaper than developing something new. Take the older lore and update it with some new stuff.

Tell me how the Rashamen barbarian is so different from the Uthgardt or Ten-Town barbarian that they need a new subclass. Add special spells from the Simbol or Elminster. Add new items collected from the 7-sisters and throw in a few regional organizations. They would be mostly flavor, but they could add enough crunch for players and DMs.

 

[Reynard]

It is unlikely that WotC would return to the kinds of splits it put out in the 3.5 era, but I think setting agnostic, themed books would be interesting. A splat for war and military fantasy, with subclasses for all core classes that support that theme. Same for heists or thieves. Etc.

But WotC is way too invested in its own multiverse to put out any books that would count as "genre guides" without cramming their settings in.