Dungeons & Dragons Celebration 2020 wrapped up last week, and among the announcements was that three classic settings were in the works for publication over the next year or two. Fans have been hounding Wizards of the Coast for years in the hopes that their favorite settings from previous editions would appear.
Now, fans of all stripes have cause for hope, but Ray Winninger, the Executive Producer of D&D, didn't offer much in the way of specifics. That leaves a lot up to speculation. Piecing together clues from other publications, however, may give some insight into what's next.
Spelljammer
Originally billed for Advanced Dungeons & Dragons as "Adventures in Space," the world of Spelljammer, designed by Jeff Grubb, introduced laser guns, spacefaring illithid and the famous Nautiloid ships. Fans have been hoping for a new Spelljammer for years now, and many have seen hints throughout Fifth Edition that it's coming.
Most recently, a trailer for Baldur's Gate 3 centers on the mindflayer Nautiloid ship being chased by their great enemy, the Githyanki. The Githyanki made their 5e debut in Mordenkainen's Tome of Foes, but so far a stat block for the Nautiloid ships hasn't appeared in official material. Wizards could build on the crossover synergy between the video game and a new Spelljammer setting book, making this one of the most likely campaign settings we'll see.
Ravenloft
A new Beadle & Grimm's Legendary Edition just came out, and Wizards has a slimmed down version to go with the updated text for Curse of Strahd. Needless to say, Barovia, remains popular in 5e and is frequently cited as a fan favorite among published adventures. Occupied by the inimitable Count Strahd Von Zarovich, the demiplane has been around since 1983. It's unclear whether Wizards will want to expand on the adventure with a setting book, however. More likely, Ravenloft will continue on as the pocket dimension it is, with that popular story enough to sustain the world.
Planescape
Beside Spelljammer, Planescape, designed by David "Zeb" Cook, is one of the most outlandish and fun settings D&D has ever published. Just last August, Tony Di'Terlizzi, the beloved Planescape artist, tweeted a teaser that got fans more than a little excited about the setting coming to 5e. Di'Terlizzi tweeted "So maybe...just maybe...I'm doing a little something for my old pals at Wizards..." But after fans' swift reaction, Di'Terlizzi dashed hopes by adding that the work would be a "little something" for Magic: The Gathering, not Planescape. Regardless, Planescape could still make a 5e appearance, or even, as J.R. Zambrano has speculated, be rolled into a book on Spelljammer, as both settings feature inter-planar travel and a similar style.
Dark Sun
Dark Sun books immediately caught the eyes of those shopping game stores during the '90s. Set in the epic desert wasteland Althas, Dark Sun is Mad Max meets D&D plus psionics. Psionics have not yet appeared officially in 5e, but Wizards has indicated that psionics will finally appear in Tasha's Cauldron of Everything.
Psionics has been a controversial mechanic in D&D, with many finding the magical substitute to be over-powered or outside the flavor they prefer. Others want to see the option made official, and tying the mechanic to a world makes a lot of sense. On the other hand, psionics could be part of Spelljammer instead, perhaps leaving one fanbase unsatisfied.
Greyhawk
Fifth edition fans have come to know Toril, or The Forgotten Realms, as the original world of D&D, but Greyhawk is the game's first published setting. Gary Gygax himself designed what today is remembered as the "Folio" edition in 1980, followed by a box set in 1983.
Greyhawk is similar in style and feel to Toril, and already some of its most well-known characters appear in fifth edition. These include Mordenkainen and Iggwilv, or as fans may know her, Tasha of Tasha's Cauldron fame. Greyhawk technically appears in 5e in Ghosts of Saltmarsh, as the titular town of Saltmarsh is a fishing town in Greyhawk. Still, adding an entire setting book would allow players of those adventures to venture inland on official grounds.
Dragonlance
Among the most beloved of all D&D settings is the world of Krynn, created by Tracy and Laura Hickman and Margaret Weiss for their epic fantasy trilogy the Dragonlance Chronicles. Starting with Dragons of Autumn Twilight in 1984, the novels introduced Krynn and D&D stories to a generation of fans. Over the years, the world expanded into multiple series and arcs, totaling more than 190 books in all, making it arguably the most well known of all D&D settings.
Unfortunately for fans, no leads have developed indicating that Krynn could be coming to 5e. Of course, surprises do happen, but chances are that Wizards wants more opportunities for worlds that will offer brand new kinds of stories for players and to "diversify the voices behind D&D" as Winninger put it.