WotC Why WotC SHOULD Make A New Setting

[Uta-napishti]

Mike actually even turns around at the end of the segment on settings and says he would love to see more new settings from WoTC when they do a good job. His point is that people are often ignoring the 20+ settings that have come out in the lifetime of 5E from third parties and from Wizards themselves at an extremely high level of quality. He is just trying to frame the discussion around what is a good setting book, and get people to check out all the great ones out there rather than waiting for that mystical 1 in 1000 setting that Wizards will make one day that is exactly what YOU and you alone wanted. I am wondering if a better direction for this discussion would be to ask what is a hole that a new setting might fill that hasn't been done 50 times already? What type of stories can't you tell now that some new WoTC setting would make easier?

 

[Tigris]

Based on the reaction from WotC fans when Hasbro announced the Potter partnership with toys, adding official Potter to D&D would result in a revolt larger than the OGL debacle.

There was also an outcry against Hogwards Legacy, and then the game still sold 40 million copies, and the game is not even anything special. (like a 7/10 game which is fine but its clear that its the harrys potter which sold it).


OGL had no fans, only people against it, so its a bit different, but I agree WotC does most likely not take that risk.

* My own theory is to create a new setting according to preferences of Japanese market. I have read something about Japanese creators hired by WotC. Today the "progression fantasy" is becoming a very popular genre (but I start to feel sick when the only goal is to become strongest warrior in that world).

A good reason to publish a new setting is a hook for otaku community who loves isekai genre.

Thats a good idea! Not only japanese but also Korean market. Having a Sololeveling setting as one example could be a good cash cow. New setting, potential new market, and the setting is from the start made for a game.

 

[Zardnaar]

New setting these days is one book so even if its not my thing who cares?

 

[Scribe]

I want them to leverage those things in order to create a setting that is as fresh, as cool, and interesting, as playable, and as frankly awesome as Eberron was when it debuted. The long and short of it is that I want to be excited for a new, official D&D setting.

Anyway, to bring this back.

This is a noble goal, and nobody else has the resources to do it like Wizards could.

 

[bedir than]

New setting these days is one book so even if its not my thing who cares?

Nope, under the seasons and franchise system it's not "one book."

 

[Zardnaar]

Nope, under the seasons and franchise system it's not "one book."

Can be. Strixhaven, Exandria etc. If its popular it might get follow up material. Or 3pp can do it.

Unless youre a classic setting I dont think many will have any lasting impact though.

 

[Alzrius]

OGL had no fans

I disagree with you here; I remain a big fan of the OGL, and I'm not the only one.

 

[Tigris]

I disagree with you here; I remain a big fan of the OGL, and I'm not the only one.

Sorry I have expressed myself poorly.

What I mean is that unless a big franchise like harry potter, getting rid of the OGL (so the things people revolted against) would in no means bring new fans to the franchise.


Of course many people like the open license (me included overall), but there are not many active fans of "lets kill the OGL" and even if there would be, they would be a subgroup of the people being already D&D fan and not new fans from outside.

 

[DEFCON 1]

Or Wizards can see the people who have given up on them and moved on, and realized the wheel needs to turn back.

Maybe why they have this Greyhawk outreach?

Sure! Just gotta hope that whatever Luke ends up writing gets through the editorial process without getting things changed to a more modern paradigm.

One can hope, right?

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

I said this on another thread, but this is sort of a Disney situation.

It would be irresponsible of Disney to not continue servicing their big brands that have an established audience: Star Wars, MCU, Pixar, classic Disney animation, the Muppets. But they also need to periodically try new things, to create the next tentpoles.

One of WotC's goals nowadays is to create franchises that can cross over into videogames, movies and TV shows. And their existing brands have a bit of a headstart there, although the amount that the general public knows them varies wildly and none of it approaches the awareness of even the most obscure Disney stuff. So they'll want to service most of those. (Not you, Jakandor, sorry.)

That said, WotC has many bases already covered, but not most. They don't need another kitchen sink setting -- they've got two -- and they have fantasy space, the planes and horror-flavored stuff covered. But new settings that cover cozy fantasy or Studio Ghibli/anime/Asian pop culture fantasy, all of which are huge now? They got nothin'.

I hope they do expand into new territories and, based on the fact that they've struck out in new directions over the past few years, with stuff like Wild Beyond the Witchlight and Journeys Through the Radiant Citadel, I'm optimistic that we'll hear some new directions in the coming years.