D&D 5E (2024) WotC Should Make 5.5E Specific Setting
- Thread starter Reynard
- Start date
I know this probably isn’t directed at me specifically but don’t get me wrong - I love new settings and welcome them. I’m just saying a new setting based around a new system for the purpose of highlighting said system may not work out if the system isn’t really that different from the preceding one.
Reynard
aka Ian Eller
The math isn't different between 5.0 and 5.5, but there are differences in play based on what they changed and how they shifted things. Characters are different for sure, and they underpin the world since the PCs are the focus of play.
But even if 5.5 is not "that different" there is still room for a new setting that embraces what the game is like now and who the audience is (hint: it ain't us oldies). And most importantly, we can stop regurgitating 40 and 30 year old settings that weren't that popular to begin with.
What would be an example of a feature in a new setting that is specific to 5.5? I’m having a mental block here. All I can think of is weapon masteries but I don’t really see how that turns into a distinct feature unique to a setting versus any other setting.
Mustrum_Ridcully
Legend
But it wasn't limited by just that, so we got Warforged, Shifters, Artificiers and Dragonmarks as well.
I wonder how much of that was a consequence of thinking about the 3.x implied setting and maybe responsses to play-styles, and how much of that was just because it worked for the setting? I could see new races as a desire for players to play more "out-of-the-norm" species. A construct and a were-creature like being without too much complicated baggage that's hard to balance. The Artificers might be an answer to who's creating all those magic items in magic item shops to light up your magic item christmas tree, it can't be all Wizards blowing their feats and XP on Item Creation feats! And couldn't all this use of magic and magic items in the setting create new approaches to using magic and item creation?
An interesting question might be - would a 5E Setting also introduce new elements? Are there aspects in the setting implied by the rules that could shape the world and lead to new elements?
Reynard
aka Ian Eller
Why wouldn't it?
As I stated up thread, the shift away from species to background as more important for characters, and the reduction of importance of species in "monster" NPCs, suggests a world that is more culturally focused and cosmopolitan. That is just an example. There is a lot of implied setting in 5.5 that can be developed into an actual setting.
And, just in case it isn't clear, my intent here is not to have a default setting. Eberron was not the default setting for 3.5E. The idea is simply to have something new, built for the current version of the game.
Paul Farquhar
Legend
You can only play in one setting at a time, I find it difficult to understand why people keep asking for more.
Corinnguard
Hero
But are there enough of these differences to actually warrant the creation of a new setting? Between 2e and 3e, there were a lot of changes made between the two editions to warrant the creation of the Eberron setting. Ditto for 3e and 4e with the creation of a Points-of-Light setting. 5e and 5.5e, not so much IMO. Like @TiQuinn, I can't really see what it is about 5.5e that would make WoTC come out with a new setting for it.
Now if WoTC had made something like Level Up: A5e, I could see the potential of a new setting. It certainly had made quite a number of changes to warrant the idea.
A more customizable character origin, combat traditions and maneuvers for all of the martial classes, more emphasis on the three pillars of gameplay in each class/subclass, etc.
Reynard
aka Ian Eller
5E never got its own setting. 5.5 is the current version of the game. WotC should make a setting for 5E -- now that is 5.5E.
Paul Farquhar
Legend
Because it didn’t need one. 5e is akin to GURPS Fantasy, not The One Ring.
