D&D 5E Seriously, why no setting support?

[Twiggly the Gnome]

As far as setting support for Eberron is concerned, I only need three things:

1. Good mechanical updates for races (Warforged, Changeling, Shifter and Kalashtar), Dragon Marks, the Artificer and Psionics.

2. Open up the setting to the Dungeon Master's Guild.

3. Keith Baker setting up a Patreon account.

 

[doctorbadwolf]

It really depends where the break point lies: would you rather play a game you enjoy less but that has built-in support for your preferred setting, or would you rather play a game you enjoy more but have to adapt the setting?

Different people will answer that differently. But an even better solution is not to have to answer it at all - if the game you prefer also has built-in support for the preferred setting.

Also, I play both 4e and 5e, and am working on a set of modules and house rules for 5e that make it play more like a streamlined 4.5e.

if I was demanding a campaign and players guide for each published setting, I'd understand the reaction some people have. And in the case of DL, I get that what sets it apart isn't very mechanical, so I get that argument hat it doesn't need an update, but I don't really want the old books. I want a new setting writeup that makes sense of the setting, and moves the setting forward a bit to bring it full circle to the "feel" of the WoTL, but with the PCs set up to be the Heroes. The old books are there for playing in older eras. Just give me a solid timeline/history, and then info on where everything is after the last novel, and move some things forward to bring it full circle.

Ie, create a miracle in the face of impending darkness that has the chance to give the world hope again, and place the PCs in a position to go out and save the world. Maybe the great trees of Solace magically regrow, complete with buildings in their branches, over night. And the heroe's monument/tomb thing opens, and...here's an adventure that sets the party on the path to saving the world.

Could be a small suppliment in an online article, or if they are willing to invest a bit, get Weis and Hickman to team up with the wotc team and make a full storyline of it.

Or don't. Just do some subclasses and race options, and some monsters, and make the old books printable.

anyway, I did appreciate Mearls answering the question on twitter.

 

[Parmandur]

Also, I play both 4e and 5e, and am working on a set of modules and house rules for 5e that make it play more like a streamlined 4.5e.

if I was demanding a campaign and players guide for each published setting, I'd understand the reaction some people have. And in the case of DL, I get that what sets it apart isn't very mechanical, so I get that argument hat it doesn't need an update, but I don't really want the old books. I want a new setting writeup that makes sense of the setting, and moves the setting forward a bit to bring it full circle to the "feel" of the WoTL, but with the PCs set up to be the Heroes. The old books are there for playing in older eras. Just give me a solid timeline/history, and then info on where everything is after the last novel, and move some things forward to bring it full circle.

Ie, create a miracle in the face of impending darkness that has the chance to give the world hope again, and place the PCs in a position to go out and save the world. Maybe the great trees of Solace magically regrow, complete with buildings in their branches, over night. And the heroe's monument/tomb thing opens, and...here's an adventure that sets the party on the path to saving the world.

Could be a small suppliment in an online article, or if they are willing to invest a bit, get Weis and Hickman to team up with the wotc team and make a full storyline of it.

Or don't. Just do some subclasses and race options, and some monsters, and make the old books printable.

anyway, I did appreciate Mearls answering the question on twitter.

One of the issues, if not the major issue, with that approach is (as they have talked about on occasion) that there is nothing "better" about a latter moved forward timeline: each time they have moved the chronology for the FR, a significant number of people have not followed, the moreso when the changes were dramatic. Newer is not superior per se, and there is nothing that the PDF of the Gygax box set for Greyhawk doesn't provide for 5E gaming: even the monster tables need barely any tweaking. That's the challenge, particularly now that they are offering old books in print: they would be competing with their own sales, and between the options of stopping old product sales and directly competing with the better products of the 80's, it makes sense why they are trying something different altogether.

 

[doctorbadwolf]

One of the issues, if not the major issue, with that approach is (as they have talked about on occasion) that there is nothing "better" about a latter moved forward timeline: each time they have moved the chronology for the FR, a significant number of people have not followed, the moreso when the changes were dramatic. Newer is not superior per se, and there is nothing that the PDF of the Gygax box set for Greyhawk doesn't provide for 5E gaming: even the monster tables need barely any tweaking. That's the challenge, particularly now that they are offering old books in print: they would be competing with their own sales, and between the options of stopping old product sales and directly competing with the better products of the 80's, it makes sense why they are trying something different altogether.

The issue with which approach? I listed more than one before explaining that I'm not especially invested in any given one.

 

[Parmandur]

The issue with which approach? I listed more than one before explaining that I'm not especially invested in any given one.

Sorry, that wasn't very clear: "moving the setting towards," timeline and metaplotwise.

 

[doctorbadwolf]

Sorry, that wasn't very clear: "moving the setting towards," timeline and metaplotwise.

Timeline is already moved forward. Only acceptable option, IMO, is to bring the setting back to a similar point to where it was in the beginning, but cyclically rather than with a reboot, and then either make the 3.5 book that has support for all the eras printable, or streamline that support in a new suppliment.

 

[Parmandur]

Timeline is already moved forward. Only acceptable option, IMO, is to bring the setting back to a similar point to where it was in the beginning, but cyclically rather than with a reboot, and then either make the 3.5 book that has support for all the eras printable, or streamline that support in a new suppliment.

SCAG, plus print on demand DMs Guild = done?

 

[Parmandur]

So, [MENTION=697]mearls[/MENTION] said on Twitter today that we "have not seen the last of the Raven Queen..." Which is doubly interesting, as she was not mentioned in connectionsith the Geave Domain today...

 

[doctorbadwolf]

SCAG, plus print on demand DMs Guild = done?

Like I already said, sure. A SCAG-like product and print option on the guild would be fine.

However, I think a vaguely SCAG-PHB sized book with support for multiple settings, and a handful each of new races, subclasses, feats, and at least one new class, and some optional rules, would sell like vodka in Siberia.

 

[MechaTarrasque]

So, @mearls said on Twitter today that we "have not seen the last of the Raven Queen..." Which is doubly interesting, as she was not mentioned in connectionsith the Geave Domain today...

Given the Shadowfell is a thing in 5e (and one that has largely been unexplored), and the whole "Torog: god or demon lord" tweet, I wonder if she might show up as an archfey or goddess of the shadar-kai (good candidates for a race for the BBoC).


I can't speak for anyone else, but I would be good with AP's that focused on the Feywild and/or the Shadowfell. It would also be good to take some more 4e stuff into 5e (We Want Zehir! We Want Zehir!).