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

[CreamCloud0]

Considering that 5.5e isn't too different from 5e, WoTC went half of the way instead of all of the way like they did when they made 4e.

5.5 isn't too different from 5e, but seeing as there was never a proper 5e setting made in the first place that's a bit of a moot point don't you think?

 

[Minigiant]

Considering that 5.5e isn't too different from 5e, WoTC went half of the way instead of all of the way like they did when they made 4e.

They half butted many of the conversions of pre5e settings to 5e. Hence the many controversies, failed experiments, and "missing" content..

If they were forced to start from scratch they would have to question everything then included and how. Created better setting due to being forced.

 

[CreamCloud0]

I think updating or converting an old setting well would cost the same as creating a new one.

If you halfway do it, it's a lot cheaper.

That's the issue right there.

They half butted many of the conversions of pre5e settings to 5e. Hence the many controversies, failed experiments, and "missing" content..

If they were forced to start from scratch they would have to question everything then included and how. Created better setting due to being forced.

alot of the 'conversion' for 5e just seemed to be
'well, these things are here now, part of the world, didn't arrive from anywhere overly specific but now they're included'
'what, but how did they get here?'
'they're here now!'

 

[Corinnguard]

5.5 isn't too different from 5e, but seeing as there was never a proper 5e setting made in the first place that's a bit of a moot point don't you think?

I am okay with WoTC using an older setting such as the Forgotten Realms for 5e and 5.5e. If WoTC had come out with a new setting for 5e, I also would have been okay about it. I would still be role-playing D&D and having fun while doing so in either case.

 

[Paul Farquhar]

alot of the 'conversion' for 5e just seemed to be
'well, these things are here now, part of the world, didn't arrive from anywhere overly specific but now they're included'
'what, but how did they get here?'
'they're here now!'

Practically every adventure ever published adds new monsters to the world. But no one worries about were they came from. They were always there, the world is vast and mysterious and full of stuff that people don’t know about.

 

[Minigiant]

alot of the 'conversion' for 5e just seemed to be
'well, these things are here now, part of the world, didn't arrive from anywhere overly specific but now they're included'
'what, but how did they get here?'
'they're here now!'

"Have Johnson figure it out."

(33% chance Johnson is lazy or a gremlin and the deadline comes before things can be fixed.)

 

[Mustrum_Ridcully]

Practically every adventure ever published adds new monsters to the world. But no one worries about were they came from. They were always there, the world is vast and mysterious and full of stuff that people don’t know about.

A core player species is not the same as a monster. The monster can be an oddball and exist only for this adventure, maybe being a creation by the villains, result of an arcane mystery, dimensional breach, curse or whatever. Maybe the Medusa in this adventure is the Medusa, not a Medusa, because it's the only being like this.

But we're talking about species defined in the core rulebook. I want people to know about this species! People should have heard of its existence and some knowledge, rumours or superstitions about it! I like to have an idea what kind of organizations, nations and cultures this species are part of. I want it to be a part of the common lore and history of the world.

That isn't so easy to do with an existing setting, that has already has a rich lore and history. But it is something you can do when you create a new setting.

 

[Paul Farquhar]

A core player species is not the same as a monster

Yes it is, it’s just the same.

The monster can be an oddball

And so can the PC. Indeed, all PCs are oddballs - that is something that is baked into the rules.

I want people to know about this species

You might want it, but the game in no way requires it. Indeed, the game has planer travel and space travel by default. And if you take all the official playable species in the game (remember everything in 5.0 is still considered part of the game), then it’s unlikely an average person would know about many of them.

It’s a plot point in Lord of the Rings that many people in the south don’t know what a hobbit is, never mind an ent.

 

[Mustrum_Ridcully]

Yes it is, it’s just the same.

And so can the PC. Indeed, all PCs are oddballs - that is something that is baked into the rules.

I am not sure, you really don't understand me, apparently. If I say it matters to me that the core species is an integrated part of this the setting, I really mean that. It is important to me. And it's not important to me that every monster appearing in an adventure is also equally strong decided.

Of course you can have settings where you're the only sapient octopus in the world. But if there is a core rulebook that includes a desription of sapient octopus people, I'd like to have at least one setting where they are a well integrated part of that setting, and are not just oddballs where your character might be the only that exists anywhere in the adventuring region, no one has ever heard of it, and you have to make up every little detail about it and have no existing lore to work with.

 

[Corinnguard]

That isn't so easy to do with an existing setting, that has already has a rich lore and history.

Introducing the Abeiran Dragonborn to the Forgotten Realms IMO was easy because they were relative newcomers to the setting. They had no major impact on the lore and history that had existed in every edition version of the FR prior to their appearance in 4e. However, the introduction of the Torilian Dragonborn in 5.5e throws something of a spanner into the works because we really don't know how they contributed to the existing lore and history of the setting from those past editions.