It’s Time for D&D to Introduce a New Original Setting After 20 Years

As the new Dungeons & Dragons rulebooks for 2024 take shape, the call for an innovative and original game setting grows increasingly urgent. Nearly two decades have passed since the last dedicated original setting publication, which was Eberron, introduced in 2004 during the 3.5 Edition era. Eberron was masterfully crafted to align with its system, creating a world where each aspect of gameplay seamlessly integrated with the mechanics. Now is the time for D&D to introduce a new world that properly showcases the upcoming revised rules.

Recent job postings from Wizards of the Coast hint at potential new settings in development. While WOTC has released setting books for 5e Dungeons & Dragons, they largely adapt existing intellectual properties rather than being founded on the tenets of the current rules set. Settings like Theros and Ravnica were adapted from the Magic: The Gathering universe, and Wildemount originates from the Critical Role series, which initially employed the Pathfinder system. Unfortunately, none of these adaptations capture the depth and suitability that Eberron provided for 3.5 Edition.

Eberron’s Tailored Design for 3e D&D

Game Mechanics Define Eberron; 5e Requires a Similar Framework

A battle artificer in a shop environment in D&D.

Each edition of Dungeons & Dragons introduces unique approaches to its gameplay mechanics, which inherently influences world-building. The third edition provided a comprehensive magic item creation system that relied on both material components and player experience points. By integrating magic item crafting into Eberron’s economy, it portrayed this practice as a concrete aspect of life rather than a mysterious relic of the past. Classes like the Magewright and Artificer reinforced this concept, illustrating how D&D mechanics can profoundly influence a campaign’s narrative.

Currently, playtests for 2024 Eberron content are underway, yet both 4e and 5e Eberron adaptations stem from a world originally designed for 3.5. Each edition lends itself to a distinct portrayal of heroic fantasy, emphasizing the need for new Eberron-style settings that elucidate the unique facets of the revised rules. Fourth Edition opted for a loosely interpreted “implied setting” in the Nentir Vale instead of offering a dedicated setting book, which left game masters without the detailed backdrop that Eberron provided.

Despite Nentir Vale complementing the fourth edition’s “Points of Light” theme, it lacked the depth of a full-fledged setting, as demonstrated by Eberron’s enduring popularity two editions post its initial release. While past editions have misused beloved settings like Greyhawk and the Forgotten Realms, it’s clear that a fresh campaign world, ideally designed for the revised rules, is both needed and overdue.

Absence of Original Settings in 5e

Third-Party Creators Have Pioneered Original 5e Gaming Worlds

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The collaboration between 5e Dungeons & Dragons and Critical Role has yielded several books based on Exandria, yet it must be noted that this world’s origin lies in Pathfinder gameplay. While Exandria has been integrated into 5e, its mechanics were not fully developed with 5e’s rule set in mind, contrasting with the original design of settings like Eberron. Similarly, WOTC’s other fifth edition settings have also been adaptations or reimaginings of older editions or alternate franchises.

In light of WOTC’s shortfalls in providing original settings, an array of third-party publishers have stepped up to the plate, offering a wealth of versatile campaign worlds tailored for the fifth edition rules. Titles such as Esper Genesis and Somnus Domina deliver sci-fi settings, while Cloudsea and Crystalpunk reinvent traditional fantasy paradigms. Additionally, darker themes are explored in settings like Soulmist and Nightfell, creating fresh alternatives to established concepts. Notably, some independent publishers managed to design entirely new worlds that forgo magic altogether, as seen in Everyday Heroes and Dr. Grordbort’s Scientific Adventure Violence. The diversity and innovation from third-party creators is indeed remarkable.

To genuinely rekindle excitement in the 2024 revised Dungeons & Dragons, simply updating conservative rules won’t suffice. An original, compelling setting, akin to what Eberron achieved, is crucial for reenergizing interest within the player community.

The immense popularity of the 5e system and its initial open licensing model attracted myriad third-party products, diversifying the gaming landscape. This trend continued until D&D faced challenges with its OGL 1.1 revisions, which, thankfully, were retracted. Several adaptations, like those based on Numenera and Copperhead Coast, utilized the 5e engine, yet these adaptations often fall short of the fresh creativity players seek. Examples of innovative settings like Planegea, exploring a prehistoric D&D world, or The Wagadu Chronicles, rooted in African mythology, demonstrate the untapped potential of original settings that WOTC has yet to explore.

Revitalizing D&D 2024 with an Official Original Setting

Rehashing Greyhawk & Faerun Fails to Captivate

Greyhawk Campaign Setting in Dungeons & Dragons.

The reliance on third-party settings demonstrates a significant gap in WOTC’s offerings, especially since the company is well-equipped to create a new world each year. While devoted players yearn to explore beloved realms such as Spelljammer and Planescape, this does not justify going over two decades without introducing an original world from its primary publisher. The foundational content of the 5e D&D system primarily revolves around the long-established Forgotten Realms, first released in the 1980s.

With the 2024 revision, the return of Greyhawk is a notable mention in the Dungeon Master’s Guide, but its revival lacks excitement. Given Greyhawk’s legacy dating back to the original D&D, its reintroduction feels underwhelming, much like the familiar terrain of the Forgotten Realms, which struggles to adapt its extensive backstory to accommodate ongoing edition changes. To breathe new life into the 2024 revised Dungeons & Dragons, it’s imperative to integrate an original world that showcases fresh rules and innovative mechanics, reminiscent of how Eberron once redefined the game.

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