D&D (2024) Where to next, WotC?

[Lazybones]

The adventure anthologies w/conversions of older content seem to be a popular choice; I imagine they're easier to make than creating something from scratch. I'm not complaining; I've used content from Ghosts of Saltmarsh and Yawning Portal in multiple campaigns.

If I had to guess, I'd say that in 2026 we'll see one rules book that catches up on the subclasses that were "left out" from the 2024 PH (e.g., the other wizard schools and cleric domains), along with some updated content from Xanathar's/Tasha's. Then one adventure book, either a new story line or an anthology. I'm sure there will be a few more products, but that's about all that interests me at the moment. I will probably get the Realms books but I'm not interested in another setting.

 

[LuisCarlos17f]

I would bet Hasbro wishes a TTRPG version of "Beyond Universes" but with 5ed it only could be fantasy franchises, for example Warcraft. They would need a new d20 system for franchises like Fortnite or Overwatch.

If the Monster Manual is published this year then the next monster compedium will have to be in the next.

I doubt seriously about an update of Dark Sun and not only because some possible controversy about slavery but because that setting imposed limits about the crunch (PC species and classes). We could watch a spiritual succesor or spin-off where crunch and monsters were update but without the metaplot of the region of Tyr. Maybe the gith queen Trinith, ruler of Yathazor created an empire around the Athaspace/Crimson Sphere, and thanks a pact with an enigmatic lich (this is really an incarnation of Vecna). Now the queen Trinith has "ascended" but she is not a lich like the queen Vlaakith but more like a construct (style queen borg from Star Treck). The giths from Yathazor have hunted the spinewyrms and using "transgenic engineering" they have created something like dragons, even with age categories, and a dragonborn subrace (let's imagine yuan-ti with bone crests). Next to this gith empire there is a rival faction when a rogue group of Vodoni (Spelljammer) created a neighbour and rival empire. A illothid group secretly supports the queen Trinith to cause wear against the other gith factions. And next to them there is other wildspace, a reimagination of Jackandor but with psionic powers, both factions are empire with multiple species and the Charonit stopped to use undead as workers but a simbiotic plant, like a transgenic or mutant version of yellow musk creeper.

Other idea is there is a plane like Dusmourn, that abducted people from the region of Tyr, but the ruler of this plane was defeated, or at least temporarily neutralized, and the "Tyrian survivors" can enjoy an opportunity to rebuild their civilitation.

 

[Mercurius]

That chart was helpful. But man I beat the 2e one is a beast

Well, here's a screenshot of my first version of it that is semi-complete (color-coded by campaign setting). I was re-formatting it with a second version, but never finished it.

 

[InkTide]

Agreed, that's why I said "anything reasonably popular".

Universes Beyond

Universes Beyond (abbreviated as UB[1]) is a “sub-brand” of Magic: The Gathering that exists in addition to, and alongside, the regular line of products.[2] Not unlike the original Deckmaster concept, Universes Beyond is a series that combines the gameplay of Magic: The Gathering with worlds...

mtg.fandom.com

Universes Beyond is a bit of a sore spot with MtG fans at the moment - while potentially not the cause, the sharp uptick in UB stuff (which is going from "zero sets in standard" to "half of all sets released into standard" this year) dovetails with a perceived decline in the care and attention put into the actual MtG IP. There are some bright spots but there are also a lot of really clunky messes, too. The most recent set is... looking like one of the clunkier and messier.

Interestingly, the Forgotten Realms MtG set was not considered UB - it slots in seamlessly with MtG, despite canonically the D&D and MtG multiverses still being separate. I've been somewhat under the impression that MtG stuff has been treated similarly in D&D spaces - I see plenty of people who like the Ravnica or Strixhaven stuff, for example. Ravnica's one of my favorite fantasy settings in general. I see fewer fans of the Theros book but they're out there.

Thankfully, I don't think we'll see anything like "half of all new adventure and/or setting books are replaced by UB." The incentive to overwhelm the WotC-sourced output with UB stuff is not really there for D&D - much harder to exploit gambling addictions with TTRPG books than with randomized packs of playing cards. You gamble in the game, not on the products.

...Knock on wood.

I'd expect any UB stuff in D&D to fall somewhat into a splat/setting hybrid category, possibly with included brief adventure modules. I don't see it being feasible to split that over multiple books for how briefly they're likely to engage with one UB crossover at a time. It'd probably look like the Magic books in being relatively standalone and self-contained. How well that would translate to stuff people will enjoy... idunno. MtG has the benefit of every D&D class and many playable species slotting almost seamlessly into basically any of its planes - UB settings may struggle with that compatibility.

rehashing Xanathar and Tasha

Maybe this'll make me look silly in the future, but I think a rehash may end up combining the two - a bit like MotM did for Volo's and MToF. I actually kind of hope they do something like this.

Naturally, the word "Everything" must appear in the title. Now, would it be "Xanathar's Tasha to Everything," or "Tasha's Xanathar of Everything"...? Perhaps "Xanathar & Tasha's Guide to Cauldroning Everything?"

...Maybe I look silly already.

 

[Paul Farquhar]

Where are you fitting the Exodus TTRPG in here? That seems like the biggest departure this year for WotC.

 

[Hussar]

This reminds me what occasionally happens with self-publishing: if it is popular enough, a big publisher snatches it up and (re)publishes under their imprint. Obviously rare, but not entirely so.

Possible but unlikely. That would be some serious take stepping on WotC’s part. But I could easily see collaboration.

 

[LuisCarlos17f]

I suspect the Exodus TTRPG is like a testing for a future d20 Modern 2.0. Some day we will see a playtesting demo but let's remember it will be like start from zero a new edition.

A licence is like a "limited edition". The WotC's team is too busy to want to publish more sourcebooks in one year.

Maybe the mistery book is about a new M:tG plane that will appear in 2026.

I doubt it was with a new class because the artificier will be updated this year.

A psionic handbook? For the current standards it would be a risky bet. Not yet.

Other option could be a mash-up collab, like a crossover, a D&D version of some famous franchise.

And what about a new setting from another game-live show like Critical Role?

 

[Reynard]

I expect we will see more and more 3PP products getting Beyond implementation, and those partnerships may grow.

I don't foresee that WotC is particularly motivated to change up its 5E publishing strategy too much. But I'm also wrong all the time, so maybe they'll do a big (Star Wars?) licensed game.

 

[sevenbastard]

Thank you! That is beautiful.

In 92 I count I bought 17 of those books that year ( picked up a lot more on the list since then).

In 93 I count I bought 20 in the year.

I know I purchased some Basic D&D books at that time as well. Plus I had a Dungeon Magazine subscription and purchasing Dragon Magazine a few times a year.

Even before you adjust for inflation I was spending more money on D&D in the early 90s than I am now.

I also spent a lot on other non D&D RPG products.

 

[Parmandur]

To what degree are they going to re-incorporate/re-use old material from 2014-23 in upcoming books? For instance, Monsters of the Multiverse already "revised" two earlier works, but if they were to do a "Monster Manual 2" or "Fiend Folio," might they draw upon past books and put them in the 2025 MM format?

Probably way less than people think.

What settings will they cover after the Forgotten Realms, and will they start back up with Magic settings? (I know rumors of Tarkir have gained some traction of late)

I think there are extremely good odds that the "Mystery Book" this year will be a sort of Magic version of "Monsters of the Multiverse" with some world info.

Will we ever see 5E Dark Sun? I mean, wouldn't a slipcase set make too much sense not to do?

Possibly. It is listed in the DMG as a Setting to use, unlike say Birthright.

Are there still new settings in the works?

I believe ao, yes: personally I think the DMG and MM, in particular, are seeded with major hints at these. I am betting they are working on a "Domains of Delight" Setting flowing out of Witchlight, sort of a Feywild take on Ravenloft. There is sooooo much Feywild stuff in the Cosmology section and Lore Glossary of the DMG, new stuff too. Similar with the Inner Planes, which were notably absent from Planescape.

I've seen "Universes Beyond" mentioned, but don't know what it is beyond inference. Is there a link I can check out?

It is a program where WotC is licensing other IP for making Magic: the Gathering sets. So they have had Lord of the Rings, Warhammer, Fallout, Final Fantasy, Doctor Who and so on legal Magic cards and card sets. Pretty near, somewhat controversial.