D&D 5E WotC: 5 D&D Settings In Development?

WotC's Ray Winninger spoke a little about some upcoming D&D settings -- two classic settings are coming in 2022 in formats we haven't seen before, and two brand new (not Magic: the Gathering) settings are also in development, as well as return to a setting they've already covered in 5E. He does note, however, that of the last three, there's a chance of one or more not making it to release, as they develop more than they use.

Two classic settings? What could they be?​

So that's:

• 2 classic settings in 2022 (in a brand new format)
• 2 brand new settings
• 1 returning setting

So the big questions -- what are the two classic settings, and what do they mean by a format we haven't seen before? Winninger has clarified on Twitter that "Each of these products is pursuing a different format you've never seen before. And neither is "digital only;" these are new print formats."

As I've mentioned on a couple of occasions, there are two more products that revive "classic" settings in production right now.

The manuscript for the first, overseen by [Chris Perkins], is nearly complete. Work on the second, led by [F. Wesley Schneider] with an assist from [Ari Levitch], is just ramping up in earnest. Both are targeting 2022 and formats you've never seen before.

In addition to these two titles, we have two brand new [D&D] settings in early development, as well as a return to a setting we've already covered. (No, these are not M:tG worlds.)

As I mentioned in the dev blog, we develop more material than we publish, so it's possible one or more of these last three won't reach production. But as of right now, they're all looking great.

Of course the phrase "two more products that revive 'classic' settings" could be interpreted in different ways. It might not be two individual setting books.

 

[Mercurius]

@Urriak Uruk @Mercurius

Quoted from the OP:

"As I've mentioned on a couple of occasions, there are two more products that revive "classic" settings in production right now.

The manuscript for the first, overseen by [Chris Perkins], is nearly complete. Work on the second, led by [F. Wesley Schneider] with an assist from [Ari Levitch], is just ramping up in earnest. Both are targeting 2022 and formats you've never seen before.

In addition to these two titles, we have two brand new [D&D] settings in early development, as well as a return to a setting we've already covered. (No, these are not M:tG worlds.)

As I mentioned in the dev blog, we develop more material than we publish, so it's possible one or more of these last three won't reach production. But as of right now, they're all looking great."

They've flatly said the new settings aren't going to be Magic the Gathering.

Yeah, I get that. But he didn't say that they won't be producing more Magic settings. He's just emphasizing that the new settings aren't Magic, because there's been a view that the only "new" settings WotC will produce are drawn from Magic (or Exandria).

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

Kamigawa we can actually rule out, as according to Winninger, he said the new settings are not MtG worlds (at least, not yet). Kamigawa would fall into that category.

I was focused on what Magic settings would be coming, independent of his list. They're not going to stop making MTG settings.

 

[Zaukrie]

Right, I typed Gamma World or Rifts as a new setting, but I guess bringing back Gamma World (and Blackmoor!) would be fun.

 

[overgeeked]

Yes, although we can do this in a couple different ways. One is to look at Earth cultures and time periods and extrapolate from there. There is a ton: pretty much anything non-European and non-Medieval. East Asia, Africa, Indian subcontinent, ancient world, mythological, etc.

Another is to look at fantasy literature and other media, and see what 5E hasn't touched on. Again, there's a ton. Science fantasy, post-apocalyptic, sword and sorcery, cosmic fantasy, non-human-centric, etc.

Well, I don't where "there" is, as it really depends upon the person. Meaning, there's no perfect place in which every person will be happy. But there's no reason that they couldn't create something right now, with the right group of designers, that would please the majority. There are always going to be folks who say they went too far or not far enough.

Agreed. My hope is one of the more gonzo ones like New Phyrexia, Zendrikar, or Ikoria. I also like what I've heard about Tarkir, which allows them to explore quasi-Asian themes without some of the potential pitfalls.

Wasn't there a writer on Van Richten's who said he was working on another project for WotC? He wrote the India-themed Domain of Dread. So it very well could be an India-themed setting as one of the new ones. That's would be amazing if true.

 

[Parmandur]

I think we can probably rule out Innistrad as a D&D setting any time soon, this close to Van Richten's.

Kamigawa seems like it might be a contender, though.

Kamigawa is a strange duck, because it has a rabid cult following, but was the least well received, well reviewed, and lowest selling Set in Magic history. It would also need to be...modernized, preferably with Asian designers on board. But if done right, it could be great.

 

[Demetrios1453]

Wasn't there a writer on Van Richten's who said he was working on another project for WotC? He wrote the India-themed Domain of Dread. So it very well could be an India-themed setting as one of the new ones. That's would be amazing if true.

South Asia has been woefully neglected as a region in inspiring D&D products, especially in comparison to its neigbors to the west and northeast...

 

[Urriak Uruk]

@Urriak Uruk @Mercurius

Quoted from the OP:



They've flatly said the new settings aren't going to be Magic the Gathering.

I think that they aren't MtG yet. Meaning, they will be new to both, but released at the same time. Much like Strixhaven.

I'm very doubtful WotC will release a new setting for D&D and not use it as a them in a MtG cardset. I do believe they would release a new one at the same time.

I think that line rules out locations like Innistrad, Dominaria, Kamigawa, etc... worlds from MtG that are already released.

 

[Faolyn]

As long as it's not audio/visual only, I'm cool.

I'm still hoping they'll produce a "world" that's nothing but individual locations of different types, leaving it up to the DM to decide where they are in relation to each other.

 

[Enevhar Aldarion]

I don't consider a setting that was released for 4E as one being "revived". so it would have to be something not getting an edition update since 3E, maybe even 2E, to be a classic setting being revived. Now, the revisiting a setting could be something updated as recently as 4E.

 

[Henadic Theologian]

Kamigawa is a strange duck, because it has a rabid cult following, but was the least well received, well reviewed, and lowest selling Set in Magic history. It would also need to be...modernized, preferably with Asian designers on board. But if done right, it could be great.

Modernized indeed, say Cyber Punk modernized? Rumours are along with Dominaria United next year we will get Neodynasty Kamigawa, the 1000 years or more older Kamilgawa will somekind of magic cyber tech or something.