D&D 5E (2024) WotC Should Make 5.5E Specific Setting

[Remathilis]

I am a little surprised at how new-setting averse folks here are. No wonder WotC won't ever do anything new.

We've had five new* settings that never had D&D support prior since 5e: Ravnica, Theros, Styrixhaven, Wildemont, and the Radiant Citadel. Three of those came with already included MTG fandom and one with the biggest streaming show in gamings fandom. How much do you think that moved the needle in terms of fandom reaction? In terms of sales? I might be out of the loop, but I don't think any of them made as big a splash as Eberron did in 2003.

Personally, I want to see more smaller support for the eight settings D&D is known for. I want another Ravenloft book with more domains. I want an actual good Spelljammer book with planets and system generators. I want an actual Dragonlance Gazetteer, a guide to the Outer Planes, an AP set in Xen'drik, etc. Adding even more settings just makes each of those less likely. I actually think that's too many already; it would take another decade at one setting per year to give each 5e setting a 2nd book. But if you're going to have them, you gotta give them some support, especially with how thin Spelljammer and Dragonlance was.

 

[Reynard]

We've had five new* settings that never had D&D support prior since 5e: Ravnica, Theros, Styrixhaven, Wildemont, and the Radiant Citadel. Three of those came with already included MTG fandom and one with the biggest streaming show in gamings fandom. How much do you think that moved the needle in terms of fandom reaction? In terms of sales? I might be out of the loop, but I don't think any of them made as big a splash as Eberron did in 2003.

Personally, I want to see more smaller support for the eight settings D&D is known for. I want another Ravenloft book with more domains. I want an actual good Spelljammer book with planets and system generators. I want an actual Dragonlance Gazetteer, a guide to the Outer Planes, an AP set in Xen'drik, etc. Adding even more settings just makes each of those less likely. I actually think that's too many already; it would take another decade at one setting per year to give each 5e setting a 2nd book. But if you're going to have them, you gotta give them some support, especially with how thin Spelljammer and Dragonlance was.

I understand that folks like the existing settings. I am just saying each new edition should have a setting built for that edition.

 

[Remathilis]

I understand that folks like the existing settings. I am just saying each new edition should have a setting built for that edition.

Which settings would you have dropped support for to accomplish that?

 

[Reynard]

Which settings would you have dropped support for to accomplish that?

I wouldn't have. I don't work for WotC. I don't know what their publishing capacity is. I don't actually buy that WotC is at production capacity.

 

[Remathilis]

I wouldn't have. I don't work for WotC. I don't know what their publishing capacity is. I don't actually buy that WotC is at production capacity.

I don't think they did so well on the Book of the Month Club schedule either.

 

[Reef]

I wouldn't have. I don't work for WotC. I don't know what their publishing capacity is. I don't actually buy that WotC is at production capacity.

The question isn't if WOTC is at production capacity. It's if the market is at purchase capacity. Every setting splits sales further, unless you are positing that most people will buy multiple settings they won't use.

Isn't that one of the reasons TSR went down? Each setting book sold to a smaller audience, who would then not buy any books aimed at any of the other settings.

 

[Yaarel]

Not at the cost and potential gain from sale that these items would be. The majority of people would not just hold these items.

It's like simply having a $2 million sword in your living room. Most people won't keep it.

They could but they would more likely sell adventure items and trade them for specific civilian items.

Our billionaires don't collect tanks

Player characters need to carry magic items and optimize around a favored item, and have pressure to streamline.

But wealthy nonplayer characters can hoard magic items, in an attic, a garage, a vault, for a rainy day when useful.

Consider the reallife wealthy who have over 50 kinds of sports cars in a garage. It isnt because they "need" these many cars. Consider the number of pairs of shoes and boots some have.

 

[Maxperson]

I am a little surprised at how new-setting averse folks here are. No wonder WotC won't ever do anything new.

Don't mistake the pushback against your premise as folks being against new settings. It's just the idea that the setting needs to be tied to the editions mechanics that is flawed. Not only isn't that a need, it really isn't ever done. Even Eberron wasn't really tied to 3e's mechanics, as I've been pointing out.

I'd love to see 1) a new setting, and 2) a unique setting rather than yet another kitchen sink.

 

[Reynard]

I don't think they did so well on the Book of the Month Club schedule either.

It seems odd to me that they say they have increased their player base by something like an order of magnitude since 5E launched, and yet we are not really seeing any increase in output despite all those new customers.

That said, it looks like they are ramping up Beyond only content, and we don't know what the 2026 slate looks like. Maybe there is one of those hinted at original settings for next year.

 

[Reef]

Don't mistake the pushback against your premise as folks being against new settings. It's just the idea that the setting needs to be tied to the editions mechanics that is flawed. Not only is that a need, it really isn't ever done. Even Eberron wasn't really tied to 3e's mechanics, as I've been pointing out.

I'd love to see 1) a new setting, and 2) a unique setting rather than yet another kitchen sink.

This is my take as well. I've got nothing against a new setting. But it would have to do something that none of the others were doing. And saying "it uses 5e!" doesn't count, because I can do that with Eberron, Forgotten Realms, and Greyhawk.