D&D 5E (2014) Speculation Time - What New Themes Do You See in the Future?

[Hussar]

Just some fun speculation. We have Tales of the Yawning Portal coming out shortly and some chatter that we might see a big book of crunch this year, or maybe next. But, what do you think we might see from WotC in the next few years?

Me, I'm presuming they're going to stick to their 2 big modules, 1 big(ish) support book per year with a single year tending to be loosely tied together. In no particular order:

1. A "Rule the Land" module. Sort of inspired by Birthright, the module allows players to carve out a kingdom of some sort in the Sword Coast. Includes lots of goodies for downtime, building a castle, managing the land, mass army combat, factions, that sort of thing. The module series starts with the players exploring a fairly wild land and finding a ruined castle. Play progresses through rebuilding the castle, defending it, exploring the dungeon under the caste (because, there HAS to be one) and whatnot.

2. A Hexploration module. Maybe one of those big floating islands from the 4e Spellplague comes to rest off the coast of the Sword Coast. Big chunk of totally unexplored property some 150 miles in diameter. The party is off to map the island, claim it in the name of ... well someone and probably reduce the population. Mechanical modules include a lot more dealing with long term exploration, disease and exhaustion, and lots and lots of weirdness.

3. A Far Realms incursion. Ok, here we're going to get our Psionics addition to the game. So, lots of tentacular horrors descend upon the land and our fair heroes are off to defend the people. Madness rules, psionics, and lots and lots of tentacles. Fun.

4. A planar excursion. Again, I think this one is a no brainer. People want this and it's going to happen. Maybe tie things into the City of Brass and the Efreeti, which, at least in the 5e Monster Manual, got lots of air play. Genies, demons, angels, oh my. Might be a really good place to update the Environmental Series from 3e. Since we'd have a series of adventures, each of them probably themed along various different environments, seems like a good fit to me.

So, what do you folks think? What's your wishlist?

 

[Zilong]

I like the far realm idea for introducing psionics. I'd also like to see a module that makes better use of fey creatures and, if we stick to Faerun, an eastward expansion into Kara-tur.

 

[MechaTarrasque]

Given how much the UA's have referenced the Feywild and the Shadowfell, an AP that fits in one (or both) of them seems likely, possibly the AP after the BBoC comes out.

Likewise Volvo gives us some good mindflayer and orc fluff to work with (plus something about the undead mindflayers from OotA seems worthwhile). Be a shame not to make use of that.

 

[MNblockhead]

I vote for (both in terms of I think it is likely and that I want it) a fey-themed AP. While much of the action could happen on the Sword Coast (they will want to milk SCAG for all they can), I hope that they give some map goodness of parts of the winter/unseelie and summer/seelie lands. Not sure if the shadowfel would be part of that...I'm thinking, based on past editions, that this would need to be a separate AP/setting guide than one based on the Feywild.

Also, I think that they will chose an AP based on one or more of the monsters whose lore was fleshed out in Volo's, especially those with player options: I'm thinking orcs or goblinkind. These are iconic D&D creatures and they have invested a lot into fleshing these out, give us an AP where players who want to play an orc, hobgoblin, or goblin can really shine. Also, easy to fit into SCAG. The only downside is that many players may find that "boring." They will need a very good story and, I think, they should use some form of mass-combat option encounters and include a final version of whatever optional mass-combat rules they settle on (based upon fan feedback on their Unearthed Arcana mass combat rules).

Mind Flayers are another option. Bring in the Githyanki. Base it in the Sword Coast but give a tip of the had to Planescape and have part of the AP take place on a nautiloid and one or two locations on other worlds.

I'd be happy with any of these if done right.