Here you go http://rpgnews.com/?p=527395

Obviously it’s speculation at the moment but it’s definitely intriguing 

My guess if they’re doing a new setting is something like a “Dark Sun 2.0” that leans closer to Fallout than Road Warrior. Stark landscape, more thoroughly isolated settlements, some scary factions, but also some fairly stable and inoffensive societies and not so much scarcity and deprivation that 90% of the populace looks like war refugees.

Quote from The_Ace_of_Rogues >>

My guess if they’re doing a new setting is something like a “Dark Sun 2.0” that leans closer to Fallout than Road Warrior. Stark landscape, more thoroughly isolated settlements, some scary factions, but also some fairly stable and inoffensive societies and not so much scarcity and deprivation that 90% of the populace looks like war refugees.

Maybe, but I suspect part of the reason they haven't expended more effort resolving the issues with Dark Sun is that it's not actually super popular (though they could just expand Hazlan).

I can think of two big campaign types that are quite hard to do with current settings.

One is the Evil Empire. There simply isn't room for vast continent-spanning empire that have lasted for a thousand years in Greyhawk or the Forgotten Realms (it's a viable option in the 4th edition setting, because they haven't detailed much, and the main low detail supplement of the larger world is the Conquest of Nerath board game, which, being basically a Risk clone, is all about massive empires. There are probably some 2nd edition settings that are suitable as well).

The other is Urban Fantasy. That has somewhat different setting requirements, as it's generally an overlay on something resembling the real world rather than a brand new world.

I could see that, but I think the general “wasteland survival” genre has enough interest that it’s on their radar, especially if they’re working from a fresh slate rather than trying to make Dark Sun work for their current standards.

Though I feel like Eberron can already cover a lot of what “urban fantasy” does, iirc.

Lmao, so basicaly the same book, 95% are the same monsters. WotC just pulled Overwatch 2, maybe even worse. How are you people eating this?

Quote from The_Ace_of_Rogues >>

I could see that, but I think the general “wasteland survival” genre has enough interest that it’s on their radar.

Survival games don't really require a full fledged setting, they tend to be small enough in scope that you can just run them in some backwater. Also, if Wizards thought survival games interested people, they probably wouldn't have published a bunch of spells and abilities that trivialize survival.

Quote from Sheo_Of_Isles >>

Lmao, so basicaly the same book, 95% are the same monsters. WotC just pulled Overwatch 2, maybe even worse. How are you people eating this?

 Was the Dungeons and Dragons Monster Manual not supposed to have Dungeons and Dragons Monsters? Huh?

Quote from Sheo_Of_Isles >>

Lmao, so basicaly the same book, 95% are the same monsters. WotC just pulled Overwatch 2, maybe even worse. How are you people eating this?

 First time with a new edition huh?

The same claim could be made since 2nd Edition.

There is a reason and that's if you include everything the books become huge. This increases printing costs which increases retail pricing. And the more expensive something is, the fewer people can buy it. Plus they just become unwieldy in terms of game table use and even personal reading and perusing.

Additionally, it's really tough creating 500+ pages that are meant to be regularly used - opened, left open, tossed around, etc. - that are durable and hold up for reasonable amounts of time. Again, you're looking at increased production costs if you want to up the quality of the physical book.

Now, there's an argument to be made for the consumer that they could've offered digital-only versions of the PHB and MM which included more/all of the 2014 ruleset subclasses and monsters. That's not entirely unreasonable. But the time needed for converting that many items was likely prohibitive, especially given the extensive playtesting and survey efforts WOTC did for the core subclasses and monsters - and they are, after all, a for-profit company. Holding a few things back for further pubs (and more money spent by gamers) isn't an unexpected or wholly awful move.

500 monsters is already conceivably more than an average DM will use.  And some monsters are specifically in one setting or another, so they can re-sell the settings with specialized monsters like Velociraptors as "Clawfoot Raptor" in the upcoming Eberron sourcebook.

The MM is more than large enough for your average DM to have sufficient variety already.

Quote from Sheo_Of_Isles >>

Lmao, so basicaly the same book, 95% are the same monsters. WotC just pulled Overwatch 2, maybe even worse. How are you people eating this?

Of course its 95% the same. Its a new edition, updated to match the 2024 ruleset / philosophy and to correct past irregularities (namely monsters not matching their CR).

You may as well say that the 2024 Player's Handbook is 95% the same because it has all the same classes!

This what a new edition means - updated and improved (theoretically, at least).

Of course, if you're happy with the 2014 Player's Handbook / Monster Manual / Whatever then there is no need to buy the new books if you don't want to (though I feel if you're using the 2024 Players Handbook then 2014 monsters will probably feel even more unbalanced since things have changed).

Quote from The_Ace_of_Rogues >>

My guess if they’re doing a new setting is something like a “Dark Sun 2.0” that leans closer to Fallout than Road Warrior. Stark landscape, more thoroughly isolated settlements, some scary factions, but also some fairly stable and inoffensive societies and not so much scarcity and deprivation that 90% of the populace looks like war refugees.

"Dark Sun, but more Fallout than Mad Max" frankly sounds awesome. Isolated and naive yet idealistic "vault dwellers" would be a very interesting shot in the arm for that setting.

Quote from Xukuri >>

There is a reason and that's if you include everything the books become huge. This increases printing costs which increases retail pricing. And the more expensive something is, the fewer people can buy it. Plus they just become unwieldy in terms of game table use and even personal reading and perusing.

Additionally, it's really tough creating 500+ pages that are meant to be regularly used - opened, left open, tossed around, etc. - that are durable and hold up for reasonable amounts of time. Again, you're looking at increased production costs if you want to up the quality of the physical book.

Now, there's an argument to be made for the consumer that they could've offered digital-only versions of the PHB and MM which included more/all of the 2014 ruleset subclasses and monsters. That's not entirely unreasonable. But the time needed for converting that many items was likely prohibitive, especially given the extensive playtesting and survey efforts WOTC did for the core subclasses and monsters - and they are, after all, a for-profit company. Holding a few things back for further pubs (and more money spent by gamers) isn't an unexpected or wholly awful move.

Instead they'll just make you buy 3 of them.

Having multiple monster books is something that's been a thing since first edition. Doesn't bother me.

Quote from Llethander >>

Quote from Xukuri >>

There is a reason and that's if you include everything the books become huge. This increases printing costs which increases retail pricing. And the more expensive something is, the fewer people can buy it. Plus they just become unwieldy in terms of game table use and even personal reading and perusing.

Additionally, it's really tough creating 500+ pages that are meant to be regularly used - opened, left open, tossed around, etc. - that are durable and hold up for reasonable amounts of time. Again, you're looking at increased production costs if you want to up the quality of the physical book.

Now, there's an argument to be made for the consumer that they could've offered digital-only versions of the PHB and MM which included more/all of the 2014 ruleset subclasses and monsters. That's not entirely unreasonable. But the time needed for converting that many items was likely prohibitive, especially given the extensive playtesting and survey efforts WOTC did for the core subclasses and monsters - and they are, after all, a for-profit company. Holding a few things back for further pubs (and more money spent by gamers) isn't an unexpected or wholly awful move.

 

Instead they'll just make you buy 3 of them.

 If you want one book and want it to be cheap, just print out the Free Rules (or SRD / Basic PDF once those are updated.)

Quote from Llethander >>

Quote from Xukuri >>

There is a reason and that's if you include everything the books become huge. This increases printing costs which increases retail pricing. And the more expensive something is, the fewer people can buy it. Plus they just become unwieldy in terms of game table use and even personal reading and perusing.

Additionally, it's really tough creating 500+ pages that are meant to be regularly used - opened, left open, tossed around, etc. - that are durable and hold up for reasonable amounts of time. Again, you're looking at increased production costs if you want to up the quality of the physical book.

Now, there's an argument to be made for the consumer that they could've offered digital-only versions of the PHB and MM which included more/all of the 2014 ruleset subclasses and monsters. That's not entirely unreasonable. But the time needed for converting that many items was likely prohibitive, especially given the extensive playtesting and survey efforts WOTC did for the core subclasses and monsters - and they are, after all, a for-profit company. Holding a few things back for further pubs (and more money spent by gamers) isn't an unexpected or wholly awful move.

 

Instead they'll just make you buy 3 of them.

Or since, it takes no time and effort, you can easily just use your old books and upgrade the monsters, or homebrew your own.  Easy, no time investment at all.

Quote from IDontCare90129 >>

no, the PHB 2024 should had the other subclasses.  then the PHB 2024 would been PREFECT.  but nope.

base on your logic, new people that join and buy PHB 2024 would then be FORCED to buy PHB 2014 for the MISSING subclasses.  oh, that is so logical Mr. Spock.

6 updated subclasses are coming out with the Forgotten Realms setting book. If you want to use them on D&D Beyond, you will be "forced" to buy them.

The updated Artificer class (and 3 updated subclasses) are coming out with the Eberron setting book in August.  If you want to use them on D&D Beyond, you will be "forced" to buy them.

This is how it works.  They put time and effort in, and we pay for it if we want it.  You are free to continue using the 2014 rulebooks that you own.  If you wish to have the things that they've spent time and money developing, you will have to pay for it. 

Welcome to how the world works.  Is this your first edition change?  I'm up to six now.