My first and foremost hope is that the various Kickstarters that I have been waiting for years for actually ends up being delivered next year. Not naming names, but the major frustration from last year is just how few RPG companies that I've backed actually deliver on their own estimated time plans. I will mention Atlas Games, however, who delivered the excellent Feng Shui 2 precisely on time.
My second hope is that we see a final end game to the RuneQuest/BRP schisms with less attempts at providing more 'core rules' books from different, competing companies. There has been way too many overhauls and confusion in this line over the last 10 years, but in Glorantha's 50th Year we can see a full colour RuneQuest game realised to match the Guide to Glorantha set and, following on, a lot of other standalone games with related self contained systems that are tailored to the setting provided. I'm hopeful, in particular, for a Mythic Greece game written by Pete Nash.
My third hope is that we continue to see an expansion on actual playing numbers in D&D and other games, through mechanisms like the Adventurer's League. I'd also like to see more settings for 5E like Primeval Thule along with scripted campaigns and adventures, from both Wizards and third parties (Dark Albion!). Official PDF releases on drivethrurg of the core three books would be nice too.
The whole White Wolf/Onyx Path thing looks a little clearer, and positive, with recent statements. Basically, the old/new WoD division is no more with the 'Chronicles of Darkness' (previously nWoD) now being a separate brand and line. The 'Classic WoD' lines will continue in their 20th Anniversary forms, including Wraith and Changeling, but the mooted 4E Vampire game has now been assimilated into the new White Wolf's plans for the WoD line. That is, we will likely see a new line of games designed to be in tune with online applications of the various games and a reemphasis on retail sales. Not likely to be happening for a while though I think - just sit back and enjoy the ongoing Onyx Path publications in the meantime.
Mongoose's Traveller 2nd Edition ought to be good, I think, too. It's basically the same old game with a bit of tweaking here or there - and there are some great settings land Campaigns lined up - hopefully including, but not limited to, Pirates of Drinax, Prime Directive, Mindjammer, the Clement Sector, and 2300AD. With an improved layout and appearance, and a mooted intro Box Set in the making, I would hope it would finally be recognised as THE sci-fi equivalent of D&D (as it always has been in my mind).
There are some other games likely to be kickstarted in the next year - although my own patience for backing unreliable 'creative projects' is a bit stretched now, I have to say. I just hope those companies that run them take a bit more time planning them properly in the future.
And for me, arriving back in NZ just in time for the New Year (after a novel Christmas spent in the Middle East), I hope that my two planned games (Mage: The Ascension and the new Traveller edition) are well received, along with my Adventurer's League duties, while I get a bit more chance to
play in other people's campaigns. Oh, and Kublacon is coming up!
Happy New Year!