D&D 5E (2024) So what's going on with the October book?

mamba · Jul 21, 2025

Henadic Theologian said:
Wouldn't it be broader themes then?

or simply several themed UAs

LuisCarlos17f · Jul 21, 2025

Maybe the original plan for the horror-themed sourcebook isn't for this year but the next, and then we should see a second UA, maybe about new PC species. Could the "necropolitan" from Libris Mortis to become a new PC specie? Shifters appeared originally in Eberron but they are perfect for Ravenloft or Innistrad. Crooked Moon and Grim Hollow have got "new" PC species.

Duskmourn has got magitek but not firearms. It could be adapted to D&D althought it is not gothic horror but other subgenre.

I guess WotC would rather a sourcebook about some M:tG plane should be published near of a M:tG event linked to that plane.

Demetrios1453 · Jul 21, 2025

Remathilis said:
We already know that Game Informer is going to feature the Forgotten Realms books coming in November. So they are already hyping November's releases next month and not even announced the title of the October book? Unlikely.

If I'm not mistaken, that Game Informer issue comes out this coming Tuesday.

Paul Farquhar · Jul 21, 2025

Parmandur said:
I think the Horror stuff wasn't for the October book at thisnpoont: think they really are working on a new Everything book.

I am now even more convinced than ever that the "horror theme" was a deliberate red herring.

Consider hexblade. This was originally an "Elric" themed subclass, and was in Xanathar's. Calling it "horror" is tenuous. If it had appeared on it's own, without "Horror" in the title box, no one would have inferred a horror book was in the pipeline.

But there is more than that. There is an artificer subclass. The artificer base class is in the Eberron book. You are not going to put in a hypothetical Ravenloft book: "You must own the Eberron book to use this subclass". Ergo, whatever book the Reanimator is in must reprint the artificer base class. That certainly seems to point to a Tasha's style core rules supplement. The Reanimator being the only way to make a balanced pet based necromancer subclass in 5e. So it fills a demand.

Missing wizard subclass: clearly fits a Tasha's style book.

Then there are several unrepresented base classes. I would infer that is because, whilst those classes will get new/revised subclasses in the upcoming book they could not be described as "Horror themed".

It's also possible that a couple of subclasses have been included from other sources in order to further muddy the waters. For example the folk horror ranger could fit in Shadowmoor.

TDLR: Most of the "Horror" subclasses are for a Tasha's style general core rulebook, scheduled for early 2026. The postponed book that was originally scheduled for October was the MTG tie in.

GarrettKP · Jul 21, 2025

Ya the “themes” for the UAs are just excuses to package certain subclasses together for playtesting. These are definitely for the Tasha’s/Xanathar’s combo book they teased a while back.

Paul Farquhar · Jul 21, 2025

News just in: it looks like the October thing isn’t postponed or cancelled, but nor is it what we thought: it’s a Stranger Things tie-in called Welcome to the Hellfire Club. Appears to be boxed, contains a couple of adventures and Stranger Things tuned props.

Nikosandros · Jul 21, 2025

Paul Farquhar said:
News just in: it looks like the October thing isn’t postponed or cancelled, but nor is it what we thought: it’s a Stranger Things tie-in called Welcome to the Hellfire Club. Appears to be boxed, but not sure what is in it.

They should put in BX and/or AD&D adventures...

Nikosandros · Jul 21, 2025

'Stranger Things,' 'D&D' game lets you play Eddie Munson's Hellfire Club adventures (exclusive)

'Stranger Things' will let fans play Eddie Munson's Hellfire Club 'Dungeons & Dragons' games in a new role-playing release. Get the exclusive details.

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