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

[Parmandur]

I think the idea of Wild Talents originated in DS, not 100% sure of that.

Outside chance this is for the Eberron or FR books instead.

Eberron is the other setting where Psionics plays a major role, and FR is probably the midway point between DS & Eberron on one side and DL, GH, BR on the other. It's not important to the setting, or as common, but FR does gave significant Psionic Lore, such as Ancient Jhaamdath, and a bunch of psionic characters in the novel, plus BG3 might have amplified the influence of Psionics in the setting (the tadpoles functioning as a kind of Psionic Gesalt class).

The only thing that sticks out as being unDS in flavour about the UA, is that piece of Artwork which looks very un Dark Sun like.

Wild Talents are a Dark Dun thing, yes. And the idea of a bunch of Wild Talent themed Backgrounds? Doesn't really scream FR or Eberron (we already know how many Geats and Backgrounds are in Eberron, and there is not enough room).

 

[Parmandur]

An informed assumption, if you will. With Dark Sun being the only setting mentioned in the New PHB that has yet to be published, and now this, I feel pretty good Dark Sun is coming in 2026. It'll be reimagined for a modern audience, probably focusing more on post apocalypse gameplay than the other less savory elements.

Doesn't cinch it, but certainly the odds are increased.

 

[mamba]

Yes, the suggestion of a plethora of Psionic themed Backgrounds to match the Feats. Doesn't really fit anywhere but Dark Sun.

well, I certainly would be curious about a 5e Dark Sun book, so let's hope you called it correctly

 

[Henadic Theologian]

An informed assumption, if you will. With Dark Sun being the only setting mentioned in the New PHB that has yet to be published, and now this, I feel pretty good Dark Sun is coming in 2026. It'll be reimagined for a modern audience, probably focusing more on post apocalypse gameplay than the other less savory elements.

I hope it's not reimagined for modern audiences, that rarely goes well, you end up angrying the OG audience, and sometimes you offend the new audience too.

If it's the slavery thing, that's just a matter of presentation.

But I'm not completely convinced it's for DS, the art from the UA is not in DS style at all.

 

[Henadic Theologian]

Yes, the suggestion of a plethora of Psionic themed Backgrounds to match the Feats. Doesn't really fit anywhere but Dark Sun.

They fit fine in FR & Eberron, but it would ge easier in DS so perhaps your right.

 

[Parmandur]

They fit fine in FR & Eberron, but it would ge easier in DS so perhaps your right.

Thing is, we know the Forge of the Artificer won't have these Backgrounds...we know how many there are now, and itmoatly Dragonmarked Backgroudns.

I doubt that the FR book will spend ten Backgroujds on Wild Talents, I really do.

Dark Sun, meanwhile...that would fit like a weird fiction glove.

 

[pukunui]

the art from the UA is not in DS style at all.

That's because they were just recycling existing art. There's no new art in that video at all. The guy with the glasses mentally zapping a troglodyte is the illustration of the Mind Sliver cantrip in Tasha's, for instance.

 

[Osgood]

For last times horror UA, I suspect we will see a “Rules Expansion” for Ravenloft similar the Forge of the Artificer (with a lower age count and price point) because there’s already a campaign guide out. The latest UA for the Psion could be for a general psionics expansion, but I feel like a full Dark Sun campaign setting seems likely.

It could even be a new pattern of each year bringing a full setting and a small rules expansion for an existing setting (Spelljammer, Planescape, maybe Dragonlance).

 

[DavyGreenwind]

The only thing that sticks out as being unDS in flavour about the UA, is that piece of Artwork which looks very un Dark Sun like.

It's old art of the mind sliver cantrip from Tasha’s.

 

[Misanthrope Prime]

That's because they were just recycling existing art. There's no new art in that video at all. The guy with the glasses mentally zapping a troglodyte is the illustration of the Mind Sliver cantrip in Tasha's, for instance.

On top of everything else, the art of the dark-skinned guy with white hair using psionic powers to fight gnolls in a desert while holding an obsidian knife always screamed Dark Sun to me.