Where does 3.5 go from here?

[Aesthetic Monk]

So, I predict a slowdown in Core-like publications, but a steady stream of Thematic publications, with a side of Speculative books for nuts like me.

And eventually everything will reset with a new edition, but I think we've a ways to go with this one first.

I think he's got it!

WotC will, I imagine, try to find one more DMG/PHB-like book that more or less everyone will buy. We already know they're doing more Complete books, which a large segment will buy still. A giants or fey book seems likely. A few more chance-taking subsystem books, too. And then maybe we start over in 2009, which would honestly be fine with me.

 

[DaveMage]

I think the FR and Eberron lines could continue at the same pace they have been for a while.

What I'm looking for is more in the line of their upcoming Dungeon Tiles and so forth. Accessories that are usable in every session. More tools to make DMing (and playing) easier and more vibrant (for lack of a better term).

I'd love some non-creature prepainted, plastic DDM sets, such as fountains, columns, trees, altars, statues, and other dungeon dressing.

On the deluxe side, I'd really like to see Complete Undermountain. Give it Ptolus-like treatment and really go all out with it. I'd really like to see what WotC could do with a deluxe product that's outside their normal pricing structure. I wonder if they have the authority from Hasbro to make/take a chance on such a product.

 

[Scribble]

I think the FR and Eberron lines could continue at the same pace they have been for a while.

What I'm looking for is more in the line of their upcoming Dungeon Tiles and so forth. Accessories that are usable in every session. More tools to make DMing (and playing) easier and more vibrant (for lack of a better term).

I'd love some non-creature prepainted, plastic DDM sets, such as fountains, columns, trees, altars, statues, and other dungeon dressing.

I kind of wonder if they will redo the MM 1 with the new Stat Block. I really like that stat block.

I'd like to see the dungeon dressing minis too... I'd also like to see them perhaps after the original production has gone out, start reprinting the minis in a non random fashion, maybe with a different base to distinguish them from the random ones, for DM's that want to use them as minis, but can't afford the inflated prices found online...

 

[Prime_Evil]

I think that it may be time for WoTC to start concentrating on fluff rather than crunch. This means fleshing out the various settings (ands possibly reviving some old settings) rather than churning out rules more supplements.

I suspect that there may be a natural life cycle to each edition of a game like D&D. The major rules supplements for the system are all out there now, and the next step is to publish interesting material that makes use of them. Thus, I suspect that over the next year or two we will start to see more adventures from WoTC and possibly a campaign setting or two. It wouldn't surprise me in the slightest if WoTC decides to revive some of the best material from earlier editions of the game and update it to 3.5.

In recent months, I have noticed that many of the long-term D&D geeks that I know are starting to suffer from 'rules burnout'. This condition is usually expressed as a marked aversion to any new rules sub-systems into their campaigns.

Another thing that I have noted is a growing incidence of what might be called 'option fatigue' ---- a growing realization there are simply too many options in the official WoTC products and that these options are starting to dilute the 'traditional D&D experience' in strange ways.

I'll probably be crucified for saying this, but let's face it -- without a strong GM, a typical 3.5 adventuring party is more likely to resemble a menagerie of oddballs than a collection of characters who embody strong fantasy archetypes....

 

[DaveMage]

Another thing that I have noted is a growing incidence of what might be called 'option fatigue' ---- a growing realization there are simply too many options in the official WoTC products and that these options are starting to dilute the 'traditional D&D experience' in strange ways.

My lament with this is that I just don't have the time to try all of these options. I like having the options, but wish I had more time to try them in play. With so many prestige classes and feats, many of which sound really neat to play, it's sad to me that I'll never get to use 95% of them.

 

[Shemeska]

I think that it may be time for WoTC to start concentrating on fluff rather than crunch. This means fleshing out the various settings (ands possibly reviving some old settings) rather than churning out rules more supplements.

I can see them certainly doing this. They've done most of the crunchy generic stuff, and so hopefully they're going to move more in the imaginative, fluffy material direction.

That said, I can see:
An ecology on giants
More FR regional supplements (please?)
A giant undermountain book (which I'd be tempted to buy)
More speculative books like ToM and MoI
Probably another MM or two
A combined book on the celestials (though ovbiously I'd adore a single book on each plane, but hell if I'm ever that lucky without winning the powerball lotto, purchasing WotC, and inserting myself as creative dictator for life).
Possibly a combined Yugoloth/Demodand Fiendish Codex

 

[Shade]

I think 3.5 still has a lot of life left in it.

I'd like to see:

• Fiendish Codex III!
• Expanded Epic Level Handbook
• Any other monster series books up to the quality of Fiendish Codex and Lords of Madness
• More monster manuals that live up to their name, not monsters with class levels like the MMIV.
• A book of NPCs and monsters with class levels to please that crowd (not interested personally, but I'd like my MMs back)
• FR Regional books that aren't adventures.
• A "Manual of the Worlds" detailing traveling between Material Plane worlds, as opposed to planes. It could cover spelljamming, space as en environment, etc.
• Updates of nearly any of the out-of-print campaign settings in some format, whether it be a single book or a string of books
• A Feats Compendium, breaking feats down into categories and listing them in different chapters for ease-of-reference.

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

I'd like big fluff-heavy books on iconic monster groups, similar to Draconomicon, but for things like giants, the goblin races and so on.

I want more (good) environment books.

I'd like books that let me model (in D&D) popular fantasy series. Redhurst is great as a setting, but I'm still waiting for the sourcebook that really lets me run a Harry Potter-style campaign with lots of action at school.

I'd like a modern take on Flying Buffalo's Citybooks -- I have all the large settings I'll ever need, but I can always use another well-detailed tavern, a smithy, a minor nobleman and his estate, a well-detailed temple and so on. And let's see a fully detailed thieves guild, complete with insanely tough headquarters.

I could use planar settings, such as the forthcoming City of Brass. They don't have to be player-friendly -- the gaming world doesn't need a dozen planar metropolises -- but things like a devil's fortress in Hell would be great.

I'd like to see a 3E adaptation of Lankhmar.

 

[Cergorach]

Personally i think that there's already so much content out there that something inovative is needed to further 'evolve' 3.5. Making 3.5 easier in play and too play.

- I'm thinking in the lines of introductionary games (think D&D basic set).
- Easier to run encounters (read someting about this a while back on the WotC site).
- Better presentation of information (think the new monster stat blocks or the new spell stat blocks).
- Better organization of information (think spell compendium, all related info in one place).
- Props to make the game easier and more fun to run (think the equipment cards by paizo).
- Software to organize information and quickely access it (database, map, and pc/npc/monster creation tools).
- Advice guides and howtos (not everyone is a natural born RPGer and even old dogs can learn new tricks).

 

[Mercule]

What I'd like:

Book of Giants (Gianomicon?)
Book of Fey
Book of Goblins (or, a Races of Slaughter or Book of Humanoids that details Goblins, Orcs, Gnolls, etc.)
more Speculative books, ala Tome of Magic
Heroes of Daring (Swashbuckling)
Heroes of Intrigue (city/nobility/political games)
Heroes of Antiquity (gaming in the Classical or Bronze Age)

What I really expect are more Monster Manuals, a few adventures, some collection books (Spell Compendium, etc.), and some speculative books. I don't really have any issue with that, either.