I am the only one who wishes WotC would just announce the upcoming D&D settings for 2021?

Quote from JoJoBeans07 >>

I absolutely wish this, because otherwise I get my hopes up that it'll be a classic setting (Greyhawk, Mystara, Dragonlance, Dark Sun) and then boom, it turns out to be MTG or Critter fan service. Nothing against Wildemount, it's dope, but I would have preferred other settings.

I'm with you. I really don't like how many crossovers DnD (and MtG, which I don't really play now) are having. Not that I care if other players use them, but seeing more material for old non-FR settings would be cool. Like how albums sorta lose their charm when they have too many features. I don't think they'll age as well as classic settings, either.

Quote from Jacqsynn >>

Quote from IamSposta >>

Quote from Wysperra >>

Quote from IamSposta >>

Quote from RodneyMcNeely >>

Quote from The_Glimpse >>

Yeah, it would be nice if they did, but they seem to like to keep us on our toes. 

Wildemount came out of nowhere when everyone was expecting Spelljammer. 

I do hope it's Krynn or Athas though. 

Edit: Welp, I guess it won't be Krynn.

 Seriously.  "Dark Sun" is the single most unique setting EVER developed.  There's a real hunger for it, I think.

 Yeah, but it’s already kinda ruined because of how they’re treating Psionics this edition.

 But t would kind of be ideal for Dark Sun. Nobody wants to really be a caster in Dark Sun so you have psionics which is being a "caster". 

 Except there are Spellcasters on Aathas, the Defilers and Preservers. And Psionics should never ever use Spellcasting rules since that defeats the entire point of why Psionics was safe for them to use.

 Even if Psionics basically used spellcasting rules that doesn't mean you have to have them drain the world as magic does.

 You miss the point. Psionics should never use the Spellcasting rules because Psionics =/= Spellcasting.

IamSposta spoke thusly: "Psionics should never use the Spellcasting rules because Psionics =/= Spellcasting."

I used to play Champions.  In Champions you define the basic effect, define how that Generic Effect is modified by defining advantages or limitations to it, and name it what-ever-the-devil you like.  It doesn't matter a bit if you are a Mutant who is throwing beams of mutant power, a Sorcerer casting magical bolts, or a Psionic using their psychic blasts.  You're doing direct damage at range.  Which advantages and disadvantages you chose is part of your Theme.  What you want to call it is just fluff.

The point is that there is no need to create a whole new magic system called Psionics.  It's actually a pretty bad idea from a game balancing perspective.  Earlier editions of D&D never got it right, although I can't speak to 4th Edition as I never saw those rules.  The current system for spells and spellcasting will work just fine.  It's all just a question of theme and fluff.  Tinker around with the advantages and disadvantages already part of the rules and off you go.

Say for example that Psionic spells have no Verbal and possibly no Somatic component, but always require a Material component, the Psionic Focus.  A Silence spell does not hinder a Psion, nor tying their hands, but taking away the chunk of crystal they use to focus their energies shuts them down completely.  Give them a spell list cherry picked from existing spells that already suit the theme.  Create some variants of existing spells by tinkering with casting times, concentration requirements, areas of effect, or type of damage inflicted.  Create some Psionic Only spells so they get something unique.

Viola!  Psionics on the half-shell.  Can anyone explain to me what's so wrong with doing it that way?

Unpopular opinion incoming...

Tl,dr; The content and themes (not limited to psionics =/= spellcasting!!!!!!!) that make Dark Sun, Dark Sun will be written out, making it kind just Forgotten Realms but sandy and thirsty. I'd prefer not to have that and the tidal wave of complaints that would come with it.

While Im very keen on the idea and theming of Dark Sun, having only joined the DnD bandwagon with 5e, but I kinda don't want to see the watered down version we'd get in today's movement of censorship. Don't get me wrong, I completely agree with the need for equality, equal representation and rethinking concepts perceived as racism or other triggering circumstances. And now that that PSA is out of the way, majority of the concepts involved in Dark Sun already go against the thing WotC are working towards modifying/leaving behind. So rather than have the years of complaining about 'YOU RUINED MY DARK SUN" that would come from what may happen to it with the current re/writing movement of campaigns and material, I'd be happier for them not to touch it all. To not to sully the memory of it in its unadulterated form from editions gone by, when Rambo-level gore in mainstream film and punch ups in footy were still allowed and accepted. We live in a different time, it would not be the Dark Sun you want, and that'll be worse than not getting it. Much worse.

Quote from Spikepit >>

Unpopular opinion incoming...

Tl,dr; The content and themes (not limited to psionics =/= spellcasting!!!!!!!) that make Dark Sun, Dark Sun will be written out, making it kind just Forgotten Realms but sandy and thirsty. I'd prefer not to have that and the tidal wave of complaints that would come with it.

While Im very keen on the idea and theming of Dark Sun, having only joined the DnD bandwagon with 5e, but I kinda don't want to see the watered down version we'd get in today's movement of censorship. Don't get me wrong, I completely agree with the need for equality, equal representation and rethinking concepts perceived as racism or other triggering circumstances. And now that that PSA is out of the way, majority of the concepts involved in Dark Sun already go against the thing WotC are working towards modifying/leaving behind. So rather than have the years of complaining about 'YOU RUINED MY DARK SUN" that would come from what may happen to it with the current re/writing movement of campaigns and material, I'd be happier for them not to touch it all. To not to sully the memory of it in its unadulterated form from editions gone by, when Rambo-level gore in mainstream film and punch ups in footy were still allowed and accepted. We live in a different time, it would not be the Dark Sun you want, and that'll be worse than not getting it. Much worse.

 This, 100% this. As much as I want older settings to be updated, I feel that in todays society it just wouldn't work. As you said, I have nothing against equality and equal representation and stopping racism, but gosh darn are people little snowflakes these days, so I don't think the full Dark Sun experience could be delivered to us.

Quote from JoJoBeans07 >>

Quote from Spikepit >>

Unpopular opinion incoming...

Tl,dr; The content and themes (not limited to psionics =/= spellcasting!!!!!!!) that make Dark Sun, Dark Sun will be written out, making it kind just Forgotten Realms but sandy and thirsty. I'd prefer not to have that and the tidal wave of complaints that would come with it.

While Im very keen on the idea and theming of Dark Sun, having only joined the DnD bandwagon with 5e, but I kinda don't want to see the watered down version we'd get in today's movement of censorship. Don't get me wrong, I completely agree with the need for equality, equal representation and rethinking concepts perceived as racism or other triggering circumstances. And now that that PSA is out of the way, majority of the concepts involved in Dark Sun already go against the thing WotC are working towards modifying/leaving behind. So rather than have the years of complaining about 'YOU RUINED MY DARK SUN" that would come from what may happen to it with the current re/writing movement of campaigns and material, I'd be happier for them not to touch it all. To not to sully the memory of it in its unadulterated form from editions gone by, when Rambo-level gore in mainstream film and punch ups in footy were still allowed and accepted. We live in a different time, it would not be the Dark Sun you want, and that'll be worse than not getting it. Much worse.

 This, 100% this. As much as I want older settings to be updated, I feel that in todays society it just wouldn't work. As you said, I have nothing against equality and equal representation and stopping racism, but gosh darn are people little snowflakes these days, so I don't think the full Dark Sun experience could be delivered to us.

I appreciate the back up, but for the record, I wasn't toting the 'snowflake society' concept. While my playgroup and I are going to vigilantly stick with the original rulings for racial stats and no monocuturalism (the history of Drow are just TOO good not to maintain), Im also aware that some narrative choices in certain stories can upset some people because of the things they've experienced. Victims of s*#t things should be able to feel safe and comfortable to play this awesome game too.

I wouldn't want to feel like I can't play in a campaign anymore because I feel uncomfortable that the story picks on really really handsome people. ;)

But I/we digress. My intention wasn't to spark up the 'don't change my game' discussion again like many others.

Rappan Athuk is a revamped 1st edition dungeon crawl. A very lengthy dungeon crawl, but also nothing but a dungeon crawl. Tried to play through it in Pathfinder, wasn’t impressed. There’s more to modules than length or how many levels you’ll gain during a playthrough. More to the point, I really don’t see how recycling material wholesale from one edition to the next is evidence of good writing ability.

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Quote from pangurjan >>

Rappan Athuk is a revamped 1st edition dungeon crawl. A very lengthy dungeon crawl, but also nothing but a dungeon crawl. Tried to play through it in Pathfinder, wasn’t impressed. There’s more to modules than length or how many levels you’ll gain during a playthrough. More to the point, I really don’t see how recycling material wholesale from one edition to the next is evidence of good writing ability.

 I like having the option of playing a large gygaxian dungeon from the 70's myself.

 And there’s nothing wrong with that. I don’t think that shows WotC’s new offerings are bad though.

Quote from Geann >>

IamSposta spoke thusly: "Psionics should never use the Spellcasting rules because Psionics =/= Spellcasting."

I used to play Champions.  In Champions you define the basic effect, define how that Generic Effect is modified by defining advantages or limitations to it, and name it what-ever-the-devil you like.  It doesn't matter a bit if you are a Mutant who is throwing beams of mutant power, a Sorcerer casting magical bolts, or a Psionic using their psychic blasts.  You're doing direct damage at range.  Which advantages and disadvantages you chose is part of your Theme.  What you want to call it is just fluff.

The point is that there is no need to create a whole new magic system called Psionics.  It's actually a pretty bad idea from a game balancing perspective.  Earlier editions of D&D never got it right, although I can't speak to 4th Edition as I never saw those rules.  The current system for spells and spellcasting will work just fine.  It's all just a question of theme and fluff.  Tinker around with the advantages and disadvantages already part of the rules and off you go.

Say for example that Psionic spells have no Verbal and possibly no Somatic component, but always require a Material component, the Psionic Focus.  A Silence spell does not hinder a Psion, nor tying their hands, but taking away the chunk of crystal they use to focus their energies shuts them down completely.  Give them a spell list cherry picked from existing spells that already suit the theme.  Create some variants of existing spells by tinkering with casting times, concentration requirements, areas of effect, or type of damage inflicted.  Create some Psionic Only spells so they get something unique.

Viola!  Psionics on the half-shell.  Can anyone explain to me what's so wrong with doing it that way?

 I am trying super hard to not derail this thread, so I will suffice it to say that I disagree strongly with this. To be clear, everything you just wrote makes me grind my teeth in anger over the topic.

The whole point of Psionics was that it did not work the same as spellcasting. The entire point was that it was mechanically different and not just a boring vanilla re-skin of the same mechanic we already have. That’s what’s wrong with it. It should not just be a matter of theme and fluff, but an actual mechanical alternative to Spellcasting. If you don’t want that, congratulations, your just like the majority of 5e players. You are getting it your way. Your camp won, and those who agree with me can just go pound sand in the corner until we get our hopes up again when 6e happens.

Please just drop the subject or go find one of the other half-dozen pre-existing threads on the topic as I have gone on for pages in all of them about it.

Quote from Heartofjuyomk2 >>

Dude, you're the one who launched into the tirade on psionics. You don't really get to be angry when people respond who don't automatically know about your seething hatred for spell slots. 

 

 I launched into no tirade. In fact, I have been refraining from doing just that.

I get to be angry about whatever makes me angry. You do not have the right to invalidate my emotions.

Please drop it meow.

I would love if they announced their products with this much time in advance, but I don't think it would work well for marketing reasons. 

Companies don't like to announce things way in advance if there's a meaningful chance their plans will be delayed or changed. It's likely they're testing out a bunch of settings, and may be unsure of which to release and in what order.

Except for the fact that they do that for M:tG. I don't know if they'd announce that they're going to make 3 classic settings in 5e unless they specifically knew which ones they wanted to do. WotC D&D staff like to tease things in upcoming products. 

Most of the work on the M:tG sets is done by the time that they announce it.