D&D 5E Repercussions of the 'Story Arcs'

[aramis erak]

Okay, so initially I loved Adventure Paths, but having run one, I am not a huge fan. (I love to create a lot more for my games).

But that is not why am here. WotC are going ahead with them and I can see advantages in 'themed products'.

I am actually here to ask, "What happens to the setting when the story arc is done? What assumptions are there for the next story arc?"

I just read the small blurb on the Rise of Tiamat and it says something like 'no matter if you win or lose the Realms will be changed forever''.

So, how? I see the next story arc is set in the Realms close to the original one. So does the 'Elemental Eye' (Or whatever the 2nd one is called) assume:

1. The PCs defeated Tiamat and her cronies?
2. They lost and the land is overrun with dragons.
3. It completely ignores that story arc and takes place in a 'parallel Realms'?

I am just wondering HOW they will manage this change. Seems odd to have these regional wide-sweeping ideas and then ignore them for the next arc. A pretty disappointing perspective for players that 'won' (or even lost).

So how will the start of the next arc look? Will it discuss possibilities?

They're going to determine the outcome with a collation of the results from the Epics module play, if I read between the lines of their press releases correctly.

I suspect that we may see season two actually set in Greyhawk...