Disclaimer: I am Critter, I watch the show every week and have journeyed through Exandria since I found them and started playing D&D about three years ago. I love and support the CR crew and couldn't be happier their setting is finally being published.
The newest release by Wizards of the Coast, Explorer’s Guide to Wildemount, came as a shock to many fans far and wide. Many, like myself, are excited to get their hands on this book for a number of reasons. It’s a complete campaign setting for the continent of Wildemount, the current location The Mighty Nein are adventuring in on the show. It also contains three new subclasses, the Echo Knight, the Chronurgist, and Graviturgist as well as a new school of magic called Dunamancy. In addition, there are four, yes four, starting adventures set within Wildemount that take your party of adventurers from level one to level three. Finally, the book will contain all new monsters who call Wildemount their home. While the book has a lot to offer to both fans of the show and the rest of the D&D community it seems many see this as a shift for WotC.
Ravnica and Acquisitions and Wildemount, Oh My!!
Within the last year and a half two other popular campaign setting books have also been released by Wizards, Guildmasters’ Guide to Ravnica and Acquisitions Incorporated. The former was released in November of 2018 while the latter was released in June of 2019. Guidlmasters’ Guide to Ravnica brings to life the setting of the popular card game Magic the Gathering, and Acquisitions Inc. allows players to play in the setting based around the live stream gaming group the title is named after. The upcoming Explorer’s Guide to Wildemount will be the third title by WotC in the last year and a half that brings not only a large fanbase, but a brand new setting into the folds of Dungeons and Dragons canon. All of these books bring new people into the folds of D&D and a new marketing method for WotC moving forward. They can continue to find influential let's-play live streams or podcasts and create content based on those shows. Will this be a trend moving forward, or will we see WotC go back to their roots?
Back to the Classics
Despite these new and exciting settings coming to the game, there are many long time players who were hoping for a setting from earlier editions of D&D. Settings like Planescape, Dark Sun, Greyhawk and Dragonlance are just a few that have been staples of D&D for decades. Planescape and Dark Sun seem to be the two most popular settings that people want to see in 5th Edition. Planescape was introduced late in the 2nd Edition of D&D and brought a better understanding of the Great Wheel, the representation of the different planes of existence. Dark Sun also dates back to 2nd Edition and seems to be a setting many are hopeful come out in the near future. It presented a dark fantasy realm with a savage, magic ravaged world where those inhabiting the world struggle daily just to survive. The creators even went as far as altering the typical races and classes in order to fit the dark themes of the setting. Dark Sun has no deities, magic is despised for causing the destruction of the world, and introduced psionics into D&D. These fans were disappointed at the Wildemount book and are frustrated with where they perceive Wizards is heading in the years to come. They believe that Wizards is “selling themselves out” and favoring these new settings from popular streams and podcasts. They think WotC will produce this content without publishing any new or updated materials on older settings which were important to the growth and expansion of D&D. But according to one insider source, this may not be the case.
From the Mouth of Mercer
The day after the announcement of the Explorer’s Guide to Wildemount Matthew Mercer made an announcement on reddit. The announcement, which you can read here, initially talks about Mercer working on the project, and how its is a love letter from himself to the D&D Community. He states “I wanted this to be a book for any D&D player, regardless of their knowledge of (or appreciation of, for that matter) Critical Role. I made this for ALL of you.” This Wildemount book is a testimate to a young dungeon master who through years of hard work and dedication found a way to give something back to the community he loves so much.
The second portion of the article talks about some of the negativity surrounding the book. Mercer seemed to have a very empathetic approach to this topic stating he definitely feels for those who want some of the old school settings that defined early eras of D&D. He says, “Believe me, I’m one of those who is ever-shouting “I want my Planescape/Dark Sun”, and said so loudly… multiple times while in the WotC offices.” He even states that he wants everyone to know his setting in no way “eliminates, delays, or consumes” any plans WotC may have now or in the future. He ended this section of his post with a final message saying he is not stepping on the toes of those who have written such legendary settings. “This is just the new-kid stepping into that area and hoping one of the older kids will sit and have lunch with them.” After reading this last quote I immediately understood what he meant. For someone like me who is only three years into playing D&D and DMing, Mercer and other well known DMs like him have always been the older kids on the block. I look up to them as role models hoping one day I may actually get to sit down and talk to them about the game we all love. It’s encouraging and inspirational that he feels that same way when talking about working with Wizards of the Coast.
All things considered, the future of D&D seems bright. The emergence of popular shows becoming a part of the D&D universe is something to be hopeful about. Regardless if you are a fan of the upcoming CR setting or not, Wizards is taking the time to open their doors to new ideas and new places to introduce to their fans without compromising the growth and work they are putting in to the game. And that my friends, is something to get Wilde about.
Meet the Blogger
Logan H. @dm_screening
Logan is a teacher from the Greater Philadelphia Area. A lifelong seeker of fantasy and adventure he spends his time writing campaigns and homebrews, going on adventures to local breweries, or reading all manner of tomes and scrolls to enhance his knowledge as a Dungeon Master.