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

[Reynard]

I was a big champion for the "Forgotten Realms is the default setting" structure that would treat it like Golarion is in Pathfinder. Obviously, they are opting for the Multiverse setup instead.

We know that most GMs create their own worlds and their own adventures. The game should support THAT.

 

[Remathilis]

We know that most GMs create their own worlds and their own adventures. The game should support THAT.

Yeah Pathfinder model. The core is lightly flavored, but there is place everything in one place to be used seamlessly in one setting. The lore on drow or goblins or magic in the books IS the setting lore; no "drow are different in Eberron, don't exist on Dragonlance, and replaced by shadow elves on Mystara" stuff. If you read the entry on drow in the PHB or MM, you are reading the official lore in the Realms.

Now, if you don't WANT to use that info, you can. Replace it with what you want, but the default lore exists if you aren't interested in making your own. The core books aren't a FR setting book, but the stuff in the books all fit with no alternations needed. A beginning or lazy DM can use the FR default as a "just works" setup while a more creative or experienced DM could use what they want and change it how they like.

Best of both worlds.

 

[WanderingMystic]

Backgrounds tend to be universal regardless of what species your player happens to be in D&D. But they could be tweaked to reflect aspects found in one species and not in another using the Background customization rules in the DMG. An Elven Soldier, for instance, could have proficiencies in skills and tools that a Human Soldier does not.

As for growing up in specific racial cultures, Level Up already has that covered.

It was Level Up that made me think that racial cultures would make great backgrounds instead of sub races. To me it's not something like elven soldier but more like Raised in Rivendell, for Forgotton Realms backgrounds like raised in Rahsemen or Talenta plans nomad

 

[Corinnguard]

It was Level Up that made me think that racial cultures would make great backgrounds instead of sub races. To me it's not something like elven soldier but more like Raised in Rivendell, for Forgotton Realms backgrounds like raised in Rahsemen or Talenta plans nomad

I am starting to wonder why D&D and Level Up equate Background with Profession.

 

[bedir than]

I am starting to wonder why D&D and Level Up equate Background with Profession.

Because it is the time before the character was a hero.
DIfferent subsets of 5e agree on a few things, one of those being that there is a time between nature&nurture and being a hero. That space is Backgrounds.

Without Backgrounds that time would be ignored.

 

[Corinnguard]

Because the time before the character was a hero.
DIfferent subsets of 5e agree on a few things, one of those being that there is a time between nature&nurture and being a hero. That space is Backgrounds.

Without Backgrounds that time would be ignored.

True. In Level Up, Background equates to what your character did before they became an adventurer. And that time was mostly taken up by whatever job they had at the time.

 

[I'm A Banana]

So Eberron: Forge of the Artificer is being builed as a rules expansion that primarily is giving a bunch of PC options (1 class, 5 subs, 40 feats, 5 species, etc) at a moderately low price point ($30 US). Using that as a model, what other books could be done with that model and price point?

"Somehow, the splatbook survived."

I'd pay $50 for Forge of the Artificer + an anthology of 20 shortish adventures set in Eberron.

Boats of player options are what we had in 2e/3e/4e, and I think it is an edition ouroboros, content for content's sake that eats its own tail in the end. I like the spartan character options of 5e so far (and haven't gotten to try a fraction of the stuff I'm interested in!).

It's OK as one bit in a more layered strategy, I think, and there's ALWAYS going to be a market for it, but I wouldn't want it to be the only thing we get for Eberron (even though it probably will be for a long time).

 

[Remathilis]

"Somehow, the splatbook survived."

I'd pay $50 for Forge of the Artificer + an anthology of 20 shortish adventures set in Eberron.

Boats of player options are what we had in 2e/3e/4e, and I think it is an edition ouroboros, content for content's sake that eats its own tail in the end. I like the spartan character options of 5e so far (and haven't gotten to try a fraction of the stuff I'm interested in!).

It's OK as one bit in a more layered strategy, I think, and there's ALWAYS going to be a market for it, but I wouldn't want it to be the only thing we get for Eberron (even though it probably will be for a long time).

To be perfectly honest, I am kinda liking about 100 pages of character options and campaign ideas for $30. It's a price point where a player who doesn't collect D&D books might pick it up because their DM is running Eberron and wants to be a warforged or artificer or have a dragonmark along with some additional lore. And for the digital price, you could not buy the species ala carte (RIP) for the cost of the book. I think it's a good idea that there are some lower price books alongside the major books slipcase sets.

Put another way: the Forgotten Realms Players Guide as a $60 book is a wait until the holidays are over purchase. At $30, it's a Black Friday grab.

 

[I'm A Banana]

I can definitely see that, and I don't hate the lower price point. I do think there's another edge to that sword, but as long as WotC knows how this cuts, I think it's good.

I'd hate to see a flood of $30 character options that mostly appeal to people who read and collect D&D rather than play D&D, though. I don't need a repeat of 3e's Prestige Class glut or 4e's Powers Powers Everywhere. That's a blockage for onboarding new folks, it's a breeding ground for CharOp theorycrafting, and it's leaning into the Paradox of Choice

But they're not at that point with this book, yet. Just hope they're aware of how this sword cuts.