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<blockquote data-quote="Dungeonosophy" data-source="post: 8941864" data-attributes="member: 6688049"><p>(Continued from above.)</p><p></p><p><span style="font-size: 26px">Tier 3: <strong>Design/Product Actions:</strong></span></p><p></p><p>As "President of D&D", this is the approach I'd make to the product line:</p><ol> <li data-xf-list-type="ol">As I said above, I'd dial down the hype and rename "One D&D", as the more right-sized and humble "D&D 5.2." I'd let this stably roll along.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol">Different playstyles in D&D (e.g. ultra-crunchy/simulationist vs. ultra-lite/math-lite/narrative/freeform) would begin to be met by the re-statting of D&D Classics PDFs into other (non-WOTC) systems as mentioned above (PF2, Index Card RPG, Savage Worlds, FATE, Apocalypse Engine, etc.) We would have access to their D&D Classics Conversions' sales numbers, and so we'd know what playstyle trends to tap into for future editions or D&D variants. If any of these were radically successful, I'd have sales numbers (and royalties) to justify a more intensive collaboration, whereby even new D&D books which are just coming out, would simultaneously be published in those rules sets. (e.g. PF2-statted D&D releases.) As long as it's lucrative for us both, then why not?</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol">Besides D&D 5.2e, I'd begin development on a totally new edition (D&D7e). I'd skip "6e", since many people refer to the maligned OneD&D as "6e"; D&D 5.2 would be that. D&D 7e would have these design goals:</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol">D&D 7e would NOT be compatible with 5e.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol">In 7e, every single trait/feature/ability of every race/lineage, background/kit, and class/subclass ever published by TSR/WOTC, every skill/proficiency, every feat, every spell, every piece of equipment, every magic item, every monster ever published, would be incorporated into the game from the start. This would require a huge feat of "scholarship" on our part. But that's what quality is about! It would all be footnoted or endnoted, documenting the textual source of each feature. (I look to [USER=9849]@Echohawk[/USER] 's Monster ENcyclopedia as an example!)</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol">7e would be digestible, in a hygenic way. You'd start off with no more than three traits/features/spells. You'd gain one feature per Level Increment. You'd gain a Level Increment at the end of every Session. Every ten (or maybe twelve) Increments (i.e. ten or twelve Sessions of play), you'd gain a Level, which is where you'd gain an Ability Boots and Hit Points.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol">In 7e, you'd be free to multi-species and multi-class at any time. The powers/traits/features would be listed in "power trees" which recreate each species and class (as synthesized from all editions). But at any time, you could take a first level power in that tree, and start to work your way up that power tree.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol">Though a group could choose "bean counting" modularities (e.g. XP, counting the GP and encumbrance of each piece of equipment), the baseline way of dealing with these would be "no bean counting". e.g. gain a Level Increment after every Session.</li> </ol><p>7e product series:</p><ol> <li data-xf-list-type="ol">In 7e, the core product line would consist of a <strong><em>Basic Game/Starter Set</em></strong>, a 7e <strong><em>Rules Compendium</em></strong> (combined PHB/DMG, including only the core species and classes, core spells/skills/feats/gear, and covering all the rules situations ever covered in any edition), and <strong><em>Monster Manual I</em></strong> (containing all, and only, the monsters which are found in the core monster books of each previous edition).</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol">Beyond that, the 7e product line would consist of a massive series of hardback compendiums:</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol"><strong><em>Species Handbook</em></strong> (multivolume). All the PC races/lineages ever published. Including the 3e Savage Species monster PCs with Equivalent Levels, BECMI Creature Crucible PC monsters, and 3.5e racial paragons, all folded into 7e stats.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol"><strong><em>Class Handbook </em></strong>(multivolume). All classes, subclasses, kits, and backgrounds ever published. In 7e, all Kits/Backgrounds would be folded into their synonymous or essentially synonymous Classes. E.g. the features of the 5e Knight Background would be folded into the features of 1.5e Cavalier Class, 3e Knight Class, 4E Knight Class, etc., to make the 7e Knight Class.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol"><strong><em>Arms & Equipment Guide</em></strong> (multivolume). All the D&D weapons, armor, and gear ever published.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol"><em><strong>Skills & Feats Compendium</strong></em>. All the proficiencies, skills, and feats ever published in any D&D book. There were, historically many, many different skills (e.g. AD&D non-weapon proficiences, BECMI GAZ skills, Rules Cyclopedia skills) -- all this flavor has been collapsed and genericized in recent editions. In 7e, this flavor would be returned via skill trees and/or skill focuses.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol"><strong><em>Spell Compendium</em></strong> (multivolume). All the D&D spells ever published. Would include known verbal components, as heard in D&D novels. e.g. “Shirak!” = Light spell. And also known somatic components, e.g. as depicted in the recent D&D Rock, Paper, Wizards card game, or as described in novels.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol"><strong><em>Encyclopedia Magica: The Book of Marvellous Magic</em></strong> (multivolume). All the magic items ever published.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol"><strong><em>Monster Manual: A Creature Catalogue and Monstrous Compendium</em></strong> (multivolume). All the D&D monsters ever published.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol"><strong><em>Manual of the Planes</em></strong> (multivolume). All the planes, demi-planes, dimensions, and realities (i.e. edition-based/rules-based lenses, from an in-world perspective) ever published.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol"><strong><em>Worldbuilders Guide</em></strong>. Containing all of the random worldbuilding charts from the 2e Worldbuilders Guide and 2e Spelljammer Planetology books. Along with a systematic way of building a world, starting from a local sandbox adventures.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol"><strong><em>Cultural Adventures </em></strong>(multivolume). Split into more granular cultures (i.e. China = one book; Japan = one book; Korea = one book, etc.) All of the lead designers and artists for each volume would be representatives of that real-world culture. Includes a "gamer glossary" for all of the species, classes, equipment, spells, magic items, and monsters, translating those into the key language(s) of that culture. You can see my research on the <a href="https://www.enworld.org/threads/radiant-citadel-a-chart-of-parallel-earth-cultures-and-motifs-across-the-d-d-multiverse.690212/" target="_blank">Earth-parallel cultures of the D&D Multiverse (here)</a>, where I started to gather a (still very incomplete!) list of all the real-world cultural motifs which can be found in D&D.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol"><strong><em>Deities & Demigods: Legends & Lore of the Gods of the D&D Multiverse</em></strong>: 7e stats for all the gods of the D&D Multiverse.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol"><em><strong>I</strong></em><strong><em><strong><em>m</em></strong>mortals Rules: Divine Ascension</em></strong>. Extends the PHB to cosmic-level play. Folds in all of the powers from Gold Box, Wrath of the Immortals, and divine-level rules from later editions.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol"><strong><em>Rogues Gallery/Shady Dragon Inn</em></strong>: D&D's version of the "Who's Who in the DC Universe" series. Includes a one or two-page bio, statblock, and illustration of all the iconic characters from all the worlds. Morgan Ironwolf, Aleena, Bargle, Drizzt, Elminster, Mordenkainen, Regdar (and all the 3e iconics), the characters from the novels, etc. Gives names, world-specific bios, and stats to all of the unnamed characters seen in illustrations found in all editions. (Some of these from the 2e era were probably named in obscure Spellfire cards.)</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol">Again, if it was justifyable from a business perspective, I'd facilitate the conversion (or even simultaneous production) of some or all of those Compendiums into other lucrative rules-systems (e.g. our own 5.2e, PF2, etc.)</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol">Besides those rulebooks, I'd publish these rules-free, system-agnostic, coffee-table-sized books:</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol"><strong><em>Atlas of the D&D Multiverse</em></strong>. (multivolume) Including: 1) a map of the Multiverse, showing the location of all the planes and deific dominions (and dimensions, realities, etc.) ever mentioned; 2) a map of how the named D&D worlds are located in the astral sea and/or phlogiston and/or galaxy (depending on which edition-based Reality we're speaking of), and a world map of all of the D&D Worlds. For those worlds which don't have a complete world map, I'd get the map filled out by gosh! Let's drawn in some continents, so that we know what we're seeing when our Spelljammer ship arrives! Further volumes of the series would cover each world in detail, down to local maps and buildings interiors, like Karen Wynn Fonstad's (RIP) lovely atlases. Also, all of the "generic" (unplaced) adventures ever published would be official placed on the map of some world or another, such as the key world of their edition. Adventures which had suggested placements in multiple worlds, would be located in all of those worlds, as uncannily parallel fragments of the First World.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol"><strong><em>Grand History of the D&D Multiverse</em> </strong>(multivolume): A chronology / timeline of all the D&D worlds. I'd synchronize all of their calendars in a scientific way, taking into account that some have years longer or short than 365 days. (I'm well aware that the 5e timeline is basically a rebooted alternate timeline, compared to the Legacy timeline. And that the 4e timeline may be distinct as well. This would all be taken into account by alternate realities, etc. It would all be laid out.)</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol"><strong><em>Eye of the Beholder: Art of the D&D Multiverse</em></strong> (coffee-table book series + online database): A searchable collection of all the D&D art and illustrations ever published. With a geographic tag showing where and when the scene took place in D&D atlas and timeline. Intended to be used as a resource for showing illustrations to players during an adventure.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol"><strong><em>Comprehend Languages: The Languages of the D&D Multiverse</em></strong> (multivolume): A phrasebook, glossary, and basic grammar of all of the core languages of the Multiverse. The glossary for each language gives their name for all of the species, classes, gear, spells and spell commands words, monsters, etc. The phrasebook would include key phrases used in battle, parley, and gear shopping. Affirms the fantasy linguistic principle (as found in 2e Planescape), that all of the Common languages of the core worlds are actually the same language (they developed in uncanny parallel via divine influence). Uses the Thorass Script as the actual Common script of the Multiverse, which is only translated by TSR/WOTC editors into the English Roman Alphabet (or other earthly Language of Translation). Affirms that the other core languages (e.g. Elvish, Dwarvish, Gnomish, Orcish, Primordial, etc.) are essentially the same across the Multiverse, though there may be some "local flavor words." Would include a phonetically systematic way of slightly altering those languages in order to represent their “dialects” (e.g. Aquan variety of Primordial, Dryad variety of Sylvan, and the many other species languages which were considered to be distinct languages in earlier editions.) Also, the various alphabets (including Auld Gnomish and Hin Runes from BECMI GAZes), and how to write them letter-by-letter (English Alphabet Mode), or phonetically/phonemically (Phonetic Mode). I'd research the D&D books (incl. novels) for each and every word any any D&D language. Also addresses Alignment Languages which exist in some realities. <img src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7" class="smilie smilie--sprite smilie--sprite1" alt=":)" title="Smile :)" loading="lazy" data-shortname=":)" /></li> </ol><p>I'd make all sorts of agreements which bring forth worldbooks for D&D worlds which have only been glimpsed in official publications so far:</p><ol> <li data-xf-list-type="ol">Gary Gygax's and Dave Arneson's Great Kingdom. The OD&D-era, pre-WOG continent map(s) were very different.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol">Rob Kuntz's World of Kalibruhn</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol">Jeff Grubb's World of Toricandra, the OD&D source of the gods of Dragonlance, and of the name of the planet of the Forgotten Realms.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol">Tom Moldvay, Lawrence Schick, and Bill Wilkerson's Original Known World, the shared world of Akron, Kent State, and Cleveland, Ohio, c.1976. The OD&D source of the World of Mystara. <a href="https://www.enworld.org/threads/original-known-world-documents-released.685499/" target="_blank">As reported in ENWorld news</a>, I met with Bill in Akron, Ohio during a snowstorm, and scanned Tom's Moldvay's hand written and hand-typed campaign notes, which Shannon Appelcline then reformatted into the OKW PDF booklet.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol">Francois Froideval's Empire of Lynn: The Black Moon Chronicles of Southwestern Oerik.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol">Frank Mentzer's Continent of Aquaria. (May be unfeasible due to social fallout. Maybe amends could be facilitated.)</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol">John Eric Holmes' and Chris Holmes' Globe of Peril: The BASIC World of the Boinger and Zereth Stories, 1977-1980. Name provisionally coined by me from the phrase "Humans and non-humans from all over the globe meet here." (at the Green Dragon Inn) Holmes BASIC, p.41...plus the <em>Tales of Peril: Complete Boinger and Zereth Stories</em> book, which I've read and heartily recommend. Thus world does have a couple of Greyhawk placename references, and so may or may not correspond with, or overlap with, OD&D Oerth or Folio Oerth. I've corresponded some with Chris Holmes, JEH's son about this.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol">Gary Gygax's World of Ærth. WOTC reportedly owns this world due to TSR's successful litigation of Gary Gygax.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol">Stephen D. Sullivan's World of Illion, including Narrion and the Land Surrounding from "The Pit of the Oracle" AD&D Module in DRAGON Magazine (1980), of the Enchanted Lands of the Marvel/DC D&D Comic Strips (1981-1982), and of <em>The Twilight Empire: Robinson’s War</em> Comics from DRAGON Magazine (1990-1994). I've spoken with Steve at length, and he affirms that these various facets are located in the same world. (See conversations <a href="https://thepiazza.org.uk/bb/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=27638&p=288558#p288558" target="_blank">here</a> and <a href="https://kuronons.blogspot.com/2010/05/d-comics-review-part-1-cartoon-ads.html" target="_blank">here</a>.)</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol">Bill Willingham's World of Ironwood: the Epic Illustrated Series of D&D Comic Strips (1981-1982) and the Eros Comix Series (1991-1996). It’s adult-themed though.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol">Tom Moldvay and Zeb Cook's B/X World of the Continent, 1981-1982. There are implications that this is really a distinct world from later (Mentzerian and Heardian) iterations of Urt or Mystara. Moldvay’s Atruaghin Clans were Scottish Gaels, and Principality of Glantri was Welsh. Ierendi was Ireland (not Hawai’i).</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol">Frank Mentzer's BECMI Age of Magic / The Realm of Man / World of Urt / Atlantis / Pangaean Jurassic Earth, 1983-1986. This is really a different world and timeline than Bruce Heard's World of Mystara, with a very different cosmology and planetary configuration.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol">The Realm of the D&D Cartoon Show, 1983-1985. There are two sticker maps of this world.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol">Mike Grey's Motherland: The World of the LJN AD&D Action Figures and of the Fantasy Forest boardgame and gamebooks. This world was named and mapped by Mike Grey in personal correspondence with myself. (unpublished)</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol">Rose Este's QuestWorld: The World of the Endless Quest, Super Endless Quest, and HeartQuest gamebooks. In personal correspondence, Rose Estes picked out a name and world map for this world. (unpublished) The Endless Quest gamebooks (except for those which are set on a specific world, such as Krynn) are located in a leminiscate shape starting from the center of the world map, going clockwise, evenly spaced, with last game book being near the world center. The recent Endless Quest books are not part of this world since they're explicitly located in the Forgotten Realms.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol">The World of Pelinore: The house setting of TSR UK's IMAGINE Magazine. Like all TSR UK publications, has exceptionally well-crafted black & white line art. And an unusual cosmology: a flat world, surrounded by numimous gray mists on all sides.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol">The Dream Land of Symslvch: The World of the <a href="http://www.tsrarchive.com/in/hb/hb-hcm.html" target="_blank">Hebrew Companion Modules</a> (HCM1 & HCM2), 1991</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol">Colin McComb's Thunder Rift: The Valley of Adventure. The dimensional gateway to the Known World is described as leading to another world. Which implies that it's its own world, not part of Mystara.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol">Douglas Niles' World of Karawenn. Seen in the First Quest novels. The novels do say that it's its own world. Not part of Mystara.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol">William John Wheeler's and Peter L. Rice's Islandia Campaign. <em>BX1: The Islandia Campaign</em> was advertised, and a cover mockup was posted, but it was vaporware.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol">Bruce Cordell's World of Neverness. The implied setting of several late AD&D 2e books.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol">James Wyatt's World of Pharagos. And other worlds of James Wyatt's which were glimpsed in WOTC books and magazine articles in the 3e era.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol">Chris Pramas' Dragon Fist: The World of Tianxia</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol">Chris Pramas' The Sundered Empire of Northwestern Oerik</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol">Chris Perkins' World of Iomandra.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol">I'd make perpetual agreements with as many Appendix N literary estates that I could, allowing for us to reference those worlds as being part of the D&D Multiverse, irrevocably. (e.g. Lankhmar)</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol">I'd publish the second-place winner of the WOTC Setting Search (which placed second after Eberron).</li> </ol><p>Other bits n' bobbles:</p><ol> <li data-xf-list-type="ol">I'd do another Setting Search contest.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol">Maybe, just to switch it up, use the 1e MotP name for the Multiverse...the Polyverse. The D&D Polyverse.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol">I'd let Goodman Games do as many Original Adventures Reincarnated books as they wanted. And I'd support those just like any other storyline. (In contrast, in present-day WOTC, the Reincarnated modules weren't included in D&D Beyond, and weren't listed as 5E Storylines at DMs Guild)</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol">I'd give Shawn Stanley (webmaster of the Vaults of Pandius, the Official Mystara Fansite) permission to post Jeff Grubb's 2e Mystara Worldbook manuscript, which Shawn has in hand. TSR's squelching of this document was the reason Jeff left TSR. I was the person who mounted <a href="https://www.change.org/p/wizards-of-the-coast-wotc-release-jeff-grubb-s-lost-ad-d-2e-mystara-worldbook" target="_blank">the petition</a> for WOTC to allow Shawn to post it. As far as I can tell, someone at WOTC gave Shawn a green light to post it, and then when WOTC saw the news report on ENWorld, another person at WOTC put out a stop order, for some unknown (probably lame) reason.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol">I'd scan and post all the "lost" works (e.g. 3e City of Sin) and draft notes which are sitting around the WOTC vaults and filing cabinets. If there needs to be some lucrative justification, they could be sold for a few dollars on DTRPG.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol">I'd reaffirm the existence of the Official Fansites for each world. I.e. Beyond the Moons (Spelljammer), Birthright.Net, Vaults of Pandius (Mystara), The Burnt World of Athas (Dark Sun), and Secrets of the Kargatane (Ravenloft; archived). And link to them via the official D&D website, like Jim Butler did back in the early 2000s.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol">I'd invite everyone who was ever credited in any D&D product to be a member of a D&D Legacy Council. Everyone from big names (like Ryan Dancey, Lisa Stevens, Monte Cook, Margaret Weis, Tracy Hickman, Eric Mona, Ed Greenwood, Chris Pramas, Lawrence Schick, Steve Winter, Rob Heinsoo, Zeb Cook, and R.A. Salvatore) to persons who were only credited for one little tidbit in one D&D book. It would be a symbolic cultural body, with its own website, featuring a bio page for each member, including promotional links to their present-day endeavors. Though a symbolic body, it would have an informally elected leadership, and would serve as the voice of the D&D legacy.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol">I'd apologize and make amends for the ugly racial aspects of GAZ10: The Orcs of Thar. See my newest research here: "<a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/13O0Fc1h4ouhje3bD50xmfyfx9icwTsmv/view?usp=sharing" target="_blank">Hasbro's Asian Yellow Orcs, Native American Red Orcs, and Black Orcs: A Research Document and a Course of Action</a>" (PDF; February 13th, 2023)</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol">I'd do the same thing for other problematic D&D Classics (e.g. Oriental Adventures). There's only so many wrong things. They can be identified, apologized for, and concretely amended via a Web Enhancement which is bundled with the PDF.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol">[Edit add on: Coins of the D&D Multiverse Kickstarter. Potentially covers all the known coinage of all the known nations in the Multiverse. e.g. various steel pieces from Krynn, Chinese-style Shou coinage, etc.]</li> </ol></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Dungeonosophy, post: 8941864, member: 6688049"] (Continued from above.) [SIZE=7]Tier 3: [B]Design/Product Actions:[/B][/SIZE] As "President of D&D", this is the approach I'd make to the product line: [LIST=1] [*]As I said above, I'd dial down the hype and rename "One D&D", as the more right-sized and humble "D&D 5.2." I'd let this stably roll along. [*]Different playstyles in D&D (e.g. ultra-crunchy/simulationist vs. ultra-lite/math-lite/narrative/freeform) would begin to be met by the re-statting of D&D Classics PDFs into other (non-WOTC) systems as mentioned above (PF2, Index Card RPG, Savage Worlds, FATE, Apocalypse Engine, etc.) We would have access to their D&D Classics Conversions' sales numbers, and so we'd know what playstyle trends to tap into for future editions or D&D variants. If any of these were radically successful, I'd have sales numbers (and royalties) to justify a more intensive collaboration, whereby even new D&D books which are just coming out, would simultaneously be published in those rules sets. (e.g. PF2-statted D&D releases.) As long as it's lucrative for us both, then why not? [*]Besides D&D 5.2e, I'd begin development on a totally new edition (D&D7e). I'd skip "6e", since many people refer to the maligned OneD&D as "6e"; D&D 5.2 would be that. D&D 7e would have these design goals: [*]D&D 7e would NOT be compatible with 5e. [*]In 7e, every single trait/feature/ability of every race/lineage, background/kit, and class/subclass ever published by TSR/WOTC, every skill/proficiency, every feat, every spell, every piece of equipment, every magic item, every monster ever published, would be incorporated into the game from the start. This would require a huge feat of "scholarship" on our part. But that's what quality is about! It would all be footnoted or endnoted, documenting the textual source of each feature. (I look to [USER=9849]@Echohawk[/USER] 's Monster ENcyclopedia as an example!) [*]7e would be digestible, in a hygenic way. You'd start off with no more than three traits/features/spells. You'd gain one feature per Level Increment. You'd gain a Level Increment at the end of every Session. Every ten (or maybe twelve) Increments (i.e. ten or twelve Sessions of play), you'd gain a Level, which is where you'd gain an Ability Boots and Hit Points. [*]In 7e, you'd be free to multi-species and multi-class at any time. The powers/traits/features would be listed in "power trees" which recreate each species and class (as synthesized from all editions). But at any time, you could take a first level power in that tree, and start to work your way up that power tree. [*]Though a group could choose "bean counting" modularities (e.g. XP, counting the GP and encumbrance of each piece of equipment), the baseline way of dealing with these would be "no bean counting". e.g. gain a Level Increment after every Session. [/LIST] 7e product series: [LIST=1] [*]In 7e, the core product line would consist of a [B][I]Basic Game/Starter Set[/I][/B], a 7e [B][I]Rules Compendium[/I][/B] (combined PHB/DMG, including only the core species and classes, core spells/skills/feats/gear, and covering all the rules situations ever covered in any edition), and [B][I]Monster Manual I[/I][/B] (containing all, and only, the monsters which are found in the core monster books of each previous edition). [*]Beyond that, the 7e product line would consist of a massive series of hardback compendiums: [*][B][I]Species Handbook[/I][/B] (multivolume). All the PC races/lineages ever published. Including the 3e Savage Species monster PCs with Equivalent Levels, BECMI Creature Crucible PC monsters, and 3.5e racial paragons, all folded into 7e stats. [*][B][I]Class Handbook [/I][/B](multivolume). All classes, subclasses, kits, and backgrounds ever published. In 7e, all Kits/Backgrounds would be folded into their synonymous or essentially synonymous Classes. E.g. the features of the 5e Knight Background would be folded into the features of 1.5e Cavalier Class, 3e Knight Class, 4E Knight Class, etc., to make the 7e Knight Class. [*][B][I]Arms & Equipment Guide[/I][/B] (multivolume). All the D&D weapons, armor, and gear ever published. [*][I][B]Skills & Feats Compendium[/B][/I]. All the proficiencies, skills, and feats ever published in any D&D book. There were, historically many, many different skills (e.g. AD&D non-weapon proficiences, BECMI GAZ skills, Rules Cyclopedia skills) -- all this flavor has been collapsed and genericized in recent editions. In 7e, this flavor would be returned via skill trees and/or skill focuses. [*][B][I]Spell Compendium[/I][/B] (multivolume). All the D&D spells ever published. Would include known verbal components, as heard in D&D novels. e.g. “Shirak!” = Light spell. And also known somatic components, e.g. as depicted in the recent D&D Rock, Paper, Wizards card game, or as described in novels. [*][B][I]Encyclopedia Magica: The Book of Marvellous Magic[/I][/B] (multivolume). All the magic items ever published. [*][B][I]Monster Manual: A Creature Catalogue and Monstrous Compendium[/I][/B] (multivolume). All the D&D monsters ever published. [*][B][I]Manual of the Planes[/I][/B] (multivolume). All the planes, demi-planes, dimensions, and realities (i.e. edition-based/rules-based lenses, from an in-world perspective) ever published. [*][B][I]Worldbuilders Guide[/I][/B]. Containing all of the random worldbuilding charts from the 2e Worldbuilders Guide and 2e Spelljammer Planetology books. Along with a systematic way of building a world, starting from a local sandbox adventures. [*][B][I]Cultural Adventures [/I][/B](multivolume). Split into more granular cultures (i.e. China = one book; Japan = one book; Korea = one book, etc.) All of the lead designers and artists for each volume would be representatives of that real-world culture. Includes a "gamer glossary" for all of the species, classes, equipment, spells, magic items, and monsters, translating those into the key language(s) of that culture. You can see my research on the [URL='https://www.enworld.org/threads/radiant-citadel-a-chart-of-parallel-earth-cultures-and-motifs-across-the-d-d-multiverse.690212/']Earth-parallel cultures of the D&D Multiverse (here)[/URL], where I started to gather a (still very incomplete!) list of all the real-world cultural motifs which can be found in D&D. [*][B][I]Deities & Demigods: Legends & Lore of the Gods of the D&D Multiverse[/I][/B]: 7e stats for all the gods of the D&D Multiverse. [*][I][B]I[/B][/I][B][I][B][I]m[/I][/B]mortals Rules: Divine Ascension[/I][/B]. Extends the PHB to cosmic-level play. Folds in all of the powers from Gold Box, Wrath of the Immortals, and divine-level rules from later editions. [*][B][I]Rogues Gallery/Shady Dragon Inn[/I][/B]: D&D's version of the "Who's Who in the DC Universe" series. Includes a one or two-page bio, statblock, and illustration of all the iconic characters from all the worlds. Morgan Ironwolf, Aleena, Bargle, Drizzt, Elminster, Mordenkainen, Regdar (and all the 3e iconics), the characters from the novels, etc. Gives names, world-specific bios, and stats to all of the unnamed characters seen in illustrations found in all editions. (Some of these from the 2e era were probably named in obscure Spellfire cards.) [*]Again, if it was justifyable from a business perspective, I'd facilitate the conversion (or even simultaneous production) of some or all of those Compendiums into other lucrative rules-systems (e.g. our own 5.2e, PF2, etc.) [*]Besides those rulebooks, I'd publish these rules-free, system-agnostic, coffee-table-sized books: [*][B][I]Atlas of the D&D Multiverse[/I][/B]. (multivolume) Including: 1) a map of the Multiverse, showing the location of all the planes and deific dominions (and dimensions, realities, etc.) ever mentioned; 2) a map of how the named D&D worlds are located in the astral sea and/or phlogiston and/or galaxy (depending on which edition-based Reality we're speaking of), and a world map of all of the D&D Worlds. For those worlds which don't have a complete world map, I'd get the map filled out by gosh! Let's drawn in some continents, so that we know what we're seeing when our Spelljammer ship arrives! Further volumes of the series would cover each world in detail, down to local maps and buildings interiors, like Karen Wynn Fonstad's (RIP) lovely atlases. Also, all of the "generic" (unplaced) adventures ever published would be official placed on the map of some world or another, such as the key world of their edition. Adventures which had suggested placements in multiple worlds, would be located in all of those worlds, as uncannily parallel fragments of the First World. [*][B][I]Grand History of the D&D Multiverse[/I] [/B](multivolume): A chronology / timeline of all the D&D worlds. I'd synchronize all of their calendars in a scientific way, taking into account that some have years longer or short than 365 days. (I'm well aware that the 5e timeline is basically a rebooted alternate timeline, compared to the Legacy timeline. And that the 4e timeline may be distinct as well. This would all be taken into account by alternate realities, etc. It would all be laid out.) [*][B][I]Eye of the Beholder: Art of the D&D Multiverse[/I][/B] (coffee-table book series + online database): A searchable collection of all the D&D art and illustrations ever published. With a geographic tag showing where and when the scene took place in D&D atlas and timeline. Intended to be used as a resource for showing illustrations to players during an adventure. [*][B][I]Comprehend Languages: The Languages of the D&D Multiverse[/I][/B] (multivolume): A phrasebook, glossary, and basic grammar of all of the core languages of the Multiverse. The glossary for each language gives their name for all of the species, classes, gear, spells and spell commands words, monsters, etc. The phrasebook would include key phrases used in battle, parley, and gear shopping. Affirms the fantasy linguistic principle (as found in 2e Planescape), that all of the Common languages of the core worlds are actually the same language (they developed in uncanny parallel via divine influence). Uses the Thorass Script as the actual Common script of the Multiverse, which is only translated by TSR/WOTC editors into the English Roman Alphabet (or other earthly Language of Translation). Affirms that the other core languages (e.g. Elvish, Dwarvish, Gnomish, Orcish, Primordial, etc.) are essentially the same across the Multiverse, though there may be some "local flavor words." Would include a phonetically systematic way of slightly altering those languages in order to represent their “dialects” (e.g. Aquan variety of Primordial, Dryad variety of Sylvan, and the many other species languages which were considered to be distinct languages in earlier editions.) Also, the various alphabets (including Auld Gnomish and Hin Runes from BECMI GAZes), and how to write them letter-by-letter (English Alphabet Mode), or phonetically/phonemically (Phonetic Mode). I'd research the D&D books (incl. novels) for each and every word any any D&D language. Also addresses Alignment Languages which exist in some realities. :) [/LIST] I'd make all sorts of agreements which bring forth worldbooks for D&D worlds which have only been glimpsed in official publications so far: [LIST=1] [*]Gary Gygax's and Dave Arneson's Great Kingdom. The OD&D-era, pre-WOG continent map(s) were very different. [*]Rob Kuntz's World of Kalibruhn [*]Jeff Grubb's World of Toricandra, the OD&D source of the gods of Dragonlance, and of the name of the planet of the Forgotten Realms. [*]Tom Moldvay, Lawrence Schick, and Bill Wilkerson's Original Known World, the shared world of Akron, Kent State, and Cleveland, Ohio, c.1976. The OD&D source of the World of Mystara. [URL='https://www.enworld.org/threads/original-known-world-documents-released.685499/']As reported in ENWorld news[/URL], I met with Bill in Akron, Ohio during a snowstorm, and scanned Tom's Moldvay's hand written and hand-typed campaign notes, which Shannon Appelcline then reformatted into the OKW PDF booklet. [*]Francois Froideval's Empire of Lynn: The Black Moon Chronicles of Southwestern Oerik. [*]Frank Mentzer's Continent of Aquaria. (May be unfeasible due to social fallout. Maybe amends could be facilitated.) [*]John Eric Holmes' and Chris Holmes' Globe of Peril: The BASIC World of the Boinger and Zereth Stories, 1977-1980. Name provisionally coined by me from the phrase "Humans and non-humans from all over the globe meet here." (at the Green Dragon Inn) Holmes BASIC, p.41...plus the [I]Tales of Peril: Complete Boinger and Zereth Stories[/I] book, which I've read and heartily recommend. Thus world does have a couple of Greyhawk placename references, and so may or may not correspond with, or overlap with, OD&D Oerth or Folio Oerth. I've corresponded some with Chris Holmes, JEH's son about this. [*]Gary Gygax's World of Ærth. WOTC reportedly owns this world due to TSR's successful litigation of Gary Gygax. [*]Stephen D. Sullivan's World of Illion, including Narrion and the Land Surrounding from "The Pit of the Oracle" AD&D Module in DRAGON Magazine (1980), of the Enchanted Lands of the Marvel/DC D&D Comic Strips (1981-1982), and of [I]The Twilight Empire: Robinson’s War[/I] Comics from DRAGON Magazine (1990-1994). I've spoken with Steve at length, and he affirms that these various facets are located in the same world. (See conversations [URL='https://thepiazza.org.uk/bb/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=27638&p=288558#p288558']here[/URL] and [URL='https://kuronons.blogspot.com/2010/05/d-comics-review-part-1-cartoon-ads.html']here[/URL].) [*]Bill Willingham's World of Ironwood: the Epic Illustrated Series of D&D Comic Strips (1981-1982) and the Eros Comix Series (1991-1996). It’s adult-themed though. [*]Tom Moldvay and Zeb Cook's B/X World of the Continent, 1981-1982. There are implications that this is really a distinct world from later (Mentzerian and Heardian) iterations of Urt or Mystara. Moldvay’s Atruaghin Clans were Scottish Gaels, and Principality of Glantri was Welsh. Ierendi was Ireland (not Hawai’i). [*]Frank Mentzer's BECMI Age of Magic / The Realm of Man / World of Urt / Atlantis / Pangaean Jurassic Earth, 1983-1986. This is really a different world and timeline than Bruce Heard's World of Mystara, with a very different cosmology and planetary configuration. [*]The Realm of the D&D Cartoon Show, 1983-1985. There are two sticker maps of this world. [*]Mike Grey's Motherland: The World of the LJN AD&D Action Figures and of the Fantasy Forest boardgame and gamebooks. This world was named and mapped by Mike Grey in personal correspondence with myself. (unpublished) [*]Rose Este's QuestWorld: The World of the Endless Quest, Super Endless Quest, and HeartQuest gamebooks. In personal correspondence, Rose Estes picked out a name and world map for this world. (unpublished) The Endless Quest gamebooks (except for those which are set on a specific world, such as Krynn) are located in a leminiscate shape starting from the center of the world map, going clockwise, evenly spaced, with last game book being near the world center. The recent Endless Quest books are not part of this world since they're explicitly located in the Forgotten Realms. [*]The World of Pelinore: The house setting of TSR UK's IMAGINE Magazine. Like all TSR UK publications, has exceptionally well-crafted black & white line art. And an unusual cosmology: a flat world, surrounded by numimous gray mists on all sides. [*]The Dream Land of Symslvch: The World of the [URL='http://www.tsrarchive.com/in/hb/hb-hcm.html']Hebrew Companion Modules[/URL] (HCM1 & HCM2), 1991 [*]Colin McComb's Thunder Rift: The Valley of Adventure. The dimensional gateway to the Known World is described as leading to another world. Which implies that it's its own world, not part of Mystara. [*]Douglas Niles' World of Karawenn. Seen in the First Quest novels. The novels do say that it's its own world. Not part of Mystara. [*]William John Wheeler's and Peter L. Rice's Islandia Campaign. [I]BX1: The Islandia Campaign[/I] was advertised, and a cover mockup was posted, but it was vaporware. [*]Bruce Cordell's World of Neverness. The implied setting of several late AD&D 2e books. [*]James Wyatt's World of Pharagos. And other worlds of James Wyatt's which were glimpsed in WOTC books and magazine articles in the 3e era. [*]Chris Pramas' Dragon Fist: The World of Tianxia [*]Chris Pramas' The Sundered Empire of Northwestern Oerik [*]Chris Perkins' World of Iomandra. [*]I'd make perpetual agreements with as many Appendix N literary estates that I could, allowing for us to reference those worlds as being part of the D&D Multiverse, irrevocably. (e.g. Lankhmar) [*]I'd publish the second-place winner of the WOTC Setting Search (which placed second after Eberron). [/LIST] Other bits n' bobbles: [LIST=1] [*]I'd do another Setting Search contest. [*]Maybe, just to switch it up, use the 1e MotP name for the Multiverse...the Polyverse. The D&D Polyverse. [*]I'd let Goodman Games do as many Original Adventures Reincarnated books as they wanted. And I'd support those just like any other storyline. (In contrast, in present-day WOTC, the Reincarnated modules weren't included in D&D Beyond, and weren't listed as 5E Storylines at DMs Guild) [*]I'd give Shawn Stanley (webmaster of the Vaults of Pandius, the Official Mystara Fansite) permission to post Jeff Grubb's 2e Mystara Worldbook manuscript, which Shawn has in hand. TSR's squelching of this document was the reason Jeff left TSR. I was the person who mounted [URL='https://www.change.org/p/wizards-of-the-coast-wotc-release-jeff-grubb-s-lost-ad-d-2e-mystara-worldbook']the petition[/URL] for WOTC to allow Shawn to post it. As far as I can tell, someone at WOTC gave Shawn a green light to post it, and then when WOTC saw the news report on ENWorld, another person at WOTC put out a stop order, for some unknown (probably lame) reason. [*]I'd scan and post all the "lost" works (e.g. 3e City of Sin) and draft notes which are sitting around the WOTC vaults and filing cabinets. If there needs to be some lucrative justification, they could be sold for a few dollars on DTRPG. [*]I'd reaffirm the existence of the Official Fansites for each world. I.e. Beyond the Moons (Spelljammer), Birthright.Net, Vaults of Pandius (Mystara), The Burnt World of Athas (Dark Sun), and Secrets of the Kargatane (Ravenloft; archived). And link to them via the official D&D website, like Jim Butler did back in the early 2000s. [*]I'd invite everyone who was ever credited in any D&D product to be a member of a D&D Legacy Council. Everyone from big names (like Ryan Dancey, Lisa Stevens, Monte Cook, Margaret Weis, Tracy Hickman, Eric Mona, Ed Greenwood, Chris Pramas, Lawrence Schick, Steve Winter, Rob Heinsoo, Zeb Cook, and R.A. Salvatore) to persons who were only credited for one little tidbit in one D&D book. It would be a symbolic cultural body, with its own website, featuring a bio page for each member, including promotional links to their present-day endeavors. Though a symbolic body, it would have an informally elected leadership, and would serve as the voice of the D&D legacy. [*]I'd apologize and make amends for the ugly racial aspects of GAZ10: The Orcs of Thar. See my newest research here: "[URL='https://drive.google.com/file/d/13O0Fc1h4ouhje3bD50xmfyfx9icwTsmv/view?usp=sharing']Hasbro's Asian Yellow Orcs, Native American Red Orcs, and Black Orcs: A Research Document and a Course of Action[/URL]" (PDF; February 13th, 2023) [*]I'd do the same thing for other problematic D&D Classics (e.g. Oriental Adventures). There's only so many wrong things. They can be identified, apologized for, and concretely amended via a Web Enhancement which is bundled with the PDF. [*][Edit add on: Coins of the D&D Multiverse Kickstarter. Potentially covers all the known coinage of all the known nations in the Multiverse. e.g. various steel pieces from Krynn, Chinese-style Shou coinage, etc.] [/LIST] [/QUOTE]
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