Eberron: Forge of the Artificer to Be Priced at $29.99

Dungeons & Dragons is returning to the splatbook era. Today, Wizards of the Coast announced pre-orders for Eberron: Forge of the Artificer, a new "rules expansion" focused on Eberron. Buried in the pre-order announcement is that the physical version of the book will cost just $29.99, suggesting a much thinner page count and the lowest price point for a Fifth Edition book released by Wizards of the Coast.

Wizards previously teased that the new Eberron book would be different from other D&D sourcebooks, but the $29.99 price point is about half of the current $50-$60 price point for current D&D rules manuals. No page count has been confirmed for the new Eberron book, so we'll have to see just how much of a splatbook Eberron: Forge of the Artificer ends up being.

 

[Zardnaar]

Yep: Era of Eberron Ultimate Bundle - Shop D&D Beyond

“Combine the flavor and lore from Eberron: Rising from the Last War with updated mechanics and thrilling character options from Eberron: Forge of the Artificer in this Dungeons & Dragons bundle.”

And if you dint have beyond?

I bought the Eberron book so for me it's a SCAG type book.

 

[GarrettKP]

And if you dint have beyond?

I bought the Eberron book so for me it's a SCAG type book.

If you don’t have D&D Beyond, you can do what everyone else does and buy them from your LGS.

 

[Burnside]

I am thinking of 5.24 settings.

I just noticed the new Players Handbook mentions Dark Sun. Surprisingly. This seems to me, WotC decided not to discontinue it after all. I doubt they are rushing to publish it, but are open to it when they find ways to resolve some of its difficult content.

There are a few mentions of Dark Sun in the 2014 PHB and a few in the 2014 DMG as well, and references have cropped up here and there in official products since then. I wouldn’t read anything into it. It’s mainly an acknowledgment that there is such a setting and you can do stuff with it in your home game, not that they intend to do anything with it officially.

 

[Yaarel]

There are a few mentions of Dark Sun in the 2014 PHB and a few in the 2014 DMG as well, and references have cropped up here and there in official products since then. I wouldn’t read anything into it. It’s mainly an acknowledgment that there is such a setting and you can do stuff with it in your home game, not that they intend to do anything with it officially.

There was a time when WotC seemed embarrassed about Dark Sun. With Spelljammer setting literally throwing 'Athasspace' into the blackhole, discontinuing it. But. The Dark Sun setting does many interesting things well that were ahead of their time, including gender egalitarianism, ecological warning, animism, and so on. It seems WotC feels the setting is worth updating − wants Dark Sun branding to be associated with WotC, and doesnt want anyone else to have it.

 

[Burnside]

There was a time when WotC seemed embarrassed about Dark Sun. With Spelljammer setting literally throwing 'Athasspace' into the blackhole, discontinuing it. But. The Dark Sun setting does many interesting things well that were ahead of their time, including gender egalitarianism, ecological warning, animism, and so on. It seems WotC feels the setting is worth updating − wants Dark Sun branding to be associated with WotC, and doesnt want anyone else to have it.

While destroying Athasspace was an idea included in an early draft of Light of Xaryxis, it wasn’t actually done in the published adventure.

WotC owns the Dark Sun brand, so there is no danger of anyone else “having it.”

They’re not gonna do anything with it, though. They’ve said previously that there are too many ideas involved with Dark Sun that are contrary to their current standards and practices. And it’s very obvious why they don’t want the baggage that comes from a setting in which slavery and eugenics are featured so prominently. The mentions are just mentions; you’re reading too much into them.

 

[pukunui]

While destroying Athasspace was an idea included in an early draft of Light of Xaryxis, it wasn’t actually done in the published adventure.

That was because of the backlash they got from angry playtesters!

When I emailed Bill Benham my opinion of it, he responded with “We’ll always have the memories.”

 

[Yaarel]

While destroying Athasspace was an idea included in an early draft of Light of Xaryxis, it wasn’t actually done in the published adventure.

WotC owns the Dark Sun brand, so there is no danger of anyone else “having it.”

They’re not gonna do anything with it, though. They’ve said previously that there are too many ideas involved with Dark Sun that are contrary to their current standards and practices. And it’s very obvious why they don’t want the baggage that comes from a setting in which slavery and eugenics are featured so prominently. The mentions are just mentions; you’re reading too much into them.

Yes, the did make statements to this effect: "too many ideas contrary to current standards".

But then why make a point to mention the Dark Sun brand again in the CORE books of 2024?

It seems to me, WotC is open to the idea of updating Dark Sun in the future for 2024, if they have time and find a fun way to update it.

 

[Burnside]

That was because of the backlash they got from angry playtesters!

When I emailed Bill Benham my opinion of it, he responded with “We’ll always have the memories.”

At least they listened!

 

[TravDoc42]

I really hope we get more Dark Sun at some point. I'm slightly hopeful due to those references, but I won't hold my breath.

There's so much in Dark Sun that remains relevant, especially the environmental aspect.

 

[Parmandur]

On Beyond, this book has 1 Map. I wonder what that map is...?

Storm wind, maybe, as a Campaign hub...?