Honestly, if they have Dark Sun planned for this year I’d think they’d be openly hyping it with this.
I am not sure that is true. Whenever you have multiple objects in the pipeline, you need to be very careful that a later project does not suck the oxygen away from the product being released earlier. Here, they want folks talking about Ravenloft to sufficiently build hype for that next release.
Though Dark Sun is heavily implied, by not officially announcing it, Wizards can keep the official hype train focused on Ravenloft - a popular setting, albeit one that we’ve already seen done a few times in 5e. Once they announce Dark Sun, the floodgates will open, and instead of a trickle of conversation based on heavy hints, there will be formal acknowledgment and a major kick off of the “What does revisiting this setting in 2026 mean?” conversations. Particularly given Dark Sun’s controversial elements (and thus argument over whether those elements will return or be changed, a what the Ruhr answer should be), I think it really makes sense to give Ravenloft some time to establish its hype before eclipsing it with almost certainly more animated conversation.
Honestly, if they have Dark Sun planned for this year I’d think they’d be openly hyping it with this.
What Caerwyn said regarding hype curation, but also, by leaving it vague they leave the door open to swap something else in in case the product/setting isn't shaping up quite the way they want and they need more time. ("Champions") is a broad enough theme in a heroic fantasy game that it could fit just about any release really.)
I hope Arcana Unleashed is a preview of the shape of things to come—I like the idea of a slightly smaller/cheaper source book paired with a noticeably smaller/cheaper adventure is a good way to go. Smaller and more affordable adventures split from the player options feels like a good way to make the game even more accessible
They could make things even more accessible by taking advantage of the fact that dndbeyond is a digital platform. Players could have the option to buy just the character features that they are interested in rather than the entire book.
That's basically a la carte purchases again, and while Brian Perry from WotC did apologize on Reddit for how removing it was handled, he also explained why that functionality isn't coming back. (Instead, they are doing more bite-sized content releases on the platform, similar to Astarion's Book of Hungers - and I just realized I made an unintentional pun.)
"An early preview of the book revealed that the book will contain four new playable species - the Dhampir, Hexblood, Lupin, and Reborn species. The dhampir was previously released as a digital-only option in the D&D Beyond "DLC" Asterion's Book of Hungers. This seems to hint that various player options released as "DLC" may still have future in print releases. Also revealed was a new Investigator background option. The book also features Cthulhu as a Darklord, with 385 HP and a spell save DC of 25, hinting at a CR range of around 25."
I presume the Lupin is a werewolf-like species. Shapechanging lycanthropes are covered by the Shifter, so is this likely to be the classic “Wolf-Man”? (That might somewhat appease those who feel that a doggy counterpart to the Tabaxi is long overdue!)
To kick off the magic, you’ll be able to add new tools to your table in August with D&D Reference Cards, built to keep key information close at hand when the action heats up.
Is this referring to just spell cards for 5.5e (given the Arcane season)? I really hope that's what they mean, and if WotC is getting back in the card printing business, can you expand that out to help the DM too?
"An early preview of the book revealed that the book will contain four new playable species - the Dhampir, Hexblood, Lupin, and Reborn species. The dhampir was previously released as a digital-only option in the D&D Beyond "DLC" Asterion's Book of Hungers. This seems to hint that various player options released as "DLC" may still have future in print releases. Also revealed was a new Investigator background option. The book also features Cthulhu as a Darklord, with 385 HP and a spell save DC of 25, hinting at a CR range of around 25."
I presume the Lupin is a werewolf-like species. Shapechanging lycanthropes are covered by the Shifter, so is this likely to be the classic “Wolf-Man”? (That might somewhat appease those who feel that a doggy counterpart to the Tabaxi is long overdue!)
Eberron's Shifters don't do a full shapechange, they're more like the Wolf-man than a full lycanthrope. Bestial features on a humanoid. I'd personally hope Lupin would be a complete shapechanger.
"An early preview of the book revealed that the book will contain four new playable species - the Dhampir, Hexblood, Lupin, and Reborn species. The dhampir was previously released as a digital-only option in the D&D Beyond "DLC" Asterion's Book of Hungers. This seems to hint that various player options released as "DLC" may still have future in print releases. Also revealed was a new Investigator background option. The book also features Cthulhu as a Darklord, with 385 HP and a spell save DC of 25, hinting at a CR range of around 25."
I presume the Lupin is a werewolf-like species. Shapechanging lycanthropes are covered by the Shifter, so is this likely to be the classic “Wolf-Man”? (That might somewhat appease those who feel that a doggy counterpart to the Tabaxi is long overdue!)
Lupins for the record have been in D&D before - see Dragon Compendium from 3.5. (And the fact that they're revisiting this one gives me hope that we can get an updated Dvati one day, man that was a unique species!)
Well, that sucks. I'm just entering the final act of my Strahd campaign. The Ravenloft book might have been a purchase a year ago!
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If you're not willing or able to to discuss in good faith, then don't be surprised if I don't respond, there are better things in life for me to do than humour you. This signature is that response.
Based on past UAs I think we're more likely to get Dark Sun than Dragonlance. Unless they're already set to publish the revamped 5.0 subclasses and the "Mystic" classes and shoehorn them into the setting, but those make more sense in a Tasha's or Xanatha's style book.
I wouldn’t put my hopes high for Dark Sun (unfortunately)
My guess is : Champions of Krynn .
It is not merely the "Champions" label - the current playtest content includes the Psionic class, as well as Preservation Druid, Defiled Magic Sorcerer, Sorcerer-King Warlock, and Gladiator subclasses, all of which have flavor directly referencing important aspects of Dark Sun's worldbuilding. Further, all of these subclasses were labelled "Apocalyptic Subclasses" - and not sure Wizards would apply the word "apocalyptic" to Kyrnn.
At the present time, the overwhelming majority of evidence points directly at Dark Sun, with no significant data pointing toward Krynn. I think there is plenty of cause to be hopeful (if Dark Sun is the kind of thing one would be hopeful for).
I see people being very resistant to the idea of "champions" referring to Dark Sun because of the setting's apocalyptic themes, but "Champions" is a great title to refer to heroic characters in Dark Sun if the proposed chronological moment is at the end of "The Verdant Passage," when a group of heroes manage to kill a Sorcerer King. Which, incidentally, is exactly the same chronological point as the last Dark Sun adaptation made by WOTC.
I'm guessing Spring release for Ravenloft is meant to give DMs time to finish up their current campaigns if they need to, get familiar with the material, and prep to start a Ravenloft campaign starter to spooky season.
They announced that it would be coming out in “early March” back around January and they haven’t made any announcements about pushing the release back. But they also said 3rd party releases are subject to change so who knows
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I am not sure that is true. Whenever you have multiple objects in the pipeline, you need to be very careful that a later project does not suck the oxygen away from the product being released earlier. Here, they want folks talking about Ravenloft to sufficiently build hype for that next release.
Though Dark Sun is heavily implied, by not officially announcing it, Wizards can keep the official hype train focused on Ravenloft - a popular setting, albeit one that we’ve already seen done a few times in 5e. Once they announce Dark Sun, the floodgates will open, and instead of a trickle of conversation based on heavy hints, there will be formal acknowledgment and a major kick off of the “What does revisiting this setting in 2026 mean?” conversations. Particularly given Dark Sun’s controversial elements (and thus argument over whether those elements will return or be changed, a what the Ruhr answer should be), I think it really makes sense to give Ravenloft some time to establish its hype before eclipsing it with almost certainly more animated conversation.
What Caerwyn said regarding hype curation, but also, by leaving it vague they leave the door open to swap something else in in case the product/setting isn't shaping up quite the way they want and they need more time. ("Champions") is a broad enough theme in a heroic fantasy game that it could fit just about any release really.)
That's basically a la carte purchases again, and while Brian Perry from WotC did apologize on Reddit for how removing it was handled, he also explained why that functionality isn't coming back. (Instead, they are doing more bite-sized content releases on the platform, similar to Astarion's Book of Hungers - and I just realized I made an unintentional pun.)
I presume the Lupin is a werewolf-like species. Shapechanging lycanthropes are covered by the Shifter, so is this likely to be the classic “Wolf-Man”? (That might somewhat appease those who feel that a doggy counterpart to the Tabaxi is long overdue!)
Is this referring to just spell cards for 5.5e (given the Arcane season)? I really hope that's what they mean, and if WotC is getting back in the card printing business, can you expand that out to help the DM too?
https://www.dndbeyond.com/forums/d-d-beyond-general/general-discussion/229622-monster-manual-card-set-please
Eberron's Shifters don't do a full shapechange, they're more like the Wolf-man than a full lycanthrope. Bestial features on a humanoid. I'd personally hope Lupin would be a complete shapechanger.
Lupin are Dog people
DM, player & homebrewer(Current homebrew project is an unofficial conversion of SBURB/SGRUB from Homestuck into DND 5e)
Once made Maxwell's Silver Hammer come down upon Strahd's head to make sure he was dead.
Always study & sharpen philosophical razors. They save a lot of trouble.
Lupins for the record have been in D&D before - see Dragon Compendium from 3.5. (And the fact that they're revisiting this one gives me hope that we can get an updated Dvati one day, man that was a unique species!)
Well, that sucks. I'm just entering the final act of my Strahd campaign. The Ravenloft book might have been a purchase a year ago!
If you're not willing or able to to discuss in good faith, then don't be surprised if I don't respond, there are better things in life for me to do than humour you. This signature is that response.
I wouldn’t put my hopes high for Dark Sun (unfortunately)
My guess is : Champions of Krynn .
Based on past UAs I think we're more likely to get Dark Sun than Dragonlance. Unless they're already set to publish the revamped 5.0 subclasses and the "Mystic" classes and shoehorn them into the setting, but those make more sense in a Tasha's or Xanatha's style book.
It is not merely the "Champions" label - the current playtest content includes the Psionic class, as well as Preservation Druid, Defiled Magic Sorcerer, Sorcerer-King Warlock, and Gladiator subclasses, all of which have flavor directly referencing important aspects of Dark Sun's worldbuilding. Further, all of these subclasses were labelled "Apocalyptic Subclasses" - and not sure Wizards would apply the word "apocalyptic" to Kyrnn.
At the present time, the overwhelming majority of evidence points directly at Dark Sun, with no significant data pointing toward Krynn. I think there is plenty of cause to be hopeful (if Dark Sun is the kind of thing one would be hopeful for).
I see people being very resistant to the idea of "champions" referring to Dark Sun because of the setting's apocalyptic themes, but "Champions" is a great title to refer to heroic characters in Dark Sun if the proposed chronological moment is at the end of "The Verdant Passage," when a group of heroes manage to kill a Sorcerer King. Which, incidentally, is exactly the same chronological point as the last Dark Sun adaptation made by WOTC.
Am I the only one who thinks it's odd that SEASON OF HORROR is timed for the spring instead of autumn? Weird dissonance.
That said, the Strahd stuff sounds interesting.
It's autumn here :-p
What you're meaning I think is "Around Halloween"
Sigh, yes. I was being hemisphere-centric!
I did mean "closer to Halloween."
Coincidentally, it does also happen to be the hemisphere WotC is in, and the hemisphere that most of their market is in.
I'm guessing Spring release for Ravenloft is meant to give DMs time to finish up their current campaigns if they need to, get familiar with the material, and prep to start a Ravenloft campaign starter to spooky season.
Don't mind me, just casually strolling by to confirm Heliana's Pt. 2 is going to drop any day now.
Source?
They announced that it would be coming out in “early March” back around January and they haven’t made any announcements about pushing the release back. But they also said 3rd party releases are subject to change so who knows