D&D in 2024?

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Doc Sammy

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So, January of 2024 will mark the 50th Anniversary of Dungeons & Dragons and the RPG hobby as a whole. While this is obviously quite a ways off and too early to really figure out what WOTC will do for such an occasion, it's not too early to wildly speculate about it.

On a more serious note, I've always been curious about what the 50th Anniversary would hold, since the year of the 40th Anniversary gave us 5th Edition, the best-selling edition of the best-selling RPG of all time. 5E is a dominant game even by D&D standards and it was designed to be a more "evergreen" edition to boot.

Even with some of the more recent changes made to the game, the three core books from 2014 are still widely available in print and show no signs of letting up. So I'm honestly unsure a 6th Edition would even be in the works for 2024.

I would say there would be another limited run re-release of OD&D but since all the booklets are now available for sale on DTRPG, I'm unsure if that's a given or not. It's probable but not a guarantee.

My personal theory as to what will happen for the 50th Anniversary would be we'd see another limited reprint of OD&D and probably special reprints of the other edition core rules as well. We might see a more official 5.5 series of core books but I don't see 6E being on the horizon except maybe as a very vague announcement for a future release.

Aside from what we think might or might not happen, what would you want to see happen for the 50th Anniversary of the world's oldest roleplaying game?
 
There's a new revised players handbook being worked on.

I heard my brother mention that last time we talked, as he's been helping me get back into the hobby full-time but we weren't sure if that was a sure thing or just the usual internet rumors and speculation.
 
I heard my brother mention that last time we talked, as he's been helping me get back into the hobby full-time but we weren't sure if that was a sure thing or just the usual internet rumors and speculation.
No it's definitely happening. Is supposed to be just some small tweaks and fully backward compatible.

...but then they said the same thing about 3.5.
 
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I think they probably will be looking at ways to make it even more streamer friendly. Which I'm neutral on; I haven't played D&D for years and don't really have a dog in any fight about D&D post 1990.
 
My understanding is that WotC plans on taking some of the classes and backgrounds from supplemental books (such as Sword Coast and Tasha's Guide) and integrate them into the Player's Handbook. I still like the "PH+1" rule (now abandoned in Adventurer's League) so that will open the door for players to pick all sorts of options in my campaign.
 
While the RPG hobby didn't begin with D&D, I agree that the 50th anniversary of D&D will be deservedly celebrated in 2024. WotC will roll out D&D 5.50 which, as others have described, will be backward compatible updates, not a new edition. I certainly hope WotC doesn't try to do anything with OD&D. They are not capable of doing that well. They didn't create it and don't understand it. Other publishers have already demonstrated that they understand D&D better than WotC by releasing Swords & Wizardry and other games based on the White Box. 2024 will be a year to celebrate, but be thoughtful about what you are celebrating. Hopefully it's the game and the players, not the current publisher. There is a huge, creative community out there and they will undoubtedly produce excellent products in celebration. Some will come with kickstarters and others, more quietly, as downloads from DriveThruRPG. I can't wait.
 
I certainly hope WotC doesn't try to do anything with OD&D. They are not capable of doing that well. They didn't create it and don't understand it.
Everybody else creates their own bespoke OD&D, why not WoTC? I certainly wouldn’t be averse to an OSE-compatible boxed set with gorgeous production values, and it would expose a lot of people to an inherently fun product.

That said, I think a key part of their approach is that they’re fundamentally uninterested in splitting the market, and they have a formula that already works very well for them, so I’d be very surprised if they do anything - beside perhaps an exact reprint of say the red box marked up for the nostalgia market.
 
Hmm interesting.

I’ve been playing and running 5e since it came out and I’m feeling fatigued by the system. To be honest, I think that the increased popularity in the mainstream, and the endless, widespread consumerism has made me lose interest. It’s everywhere and I can’t keep up. I don’t feel that I’m part of any “community” any longer.

I’m happy for this new wave, and all the people embarking upon this hobby for the first time in a new world, but I’m ready to move on, I think.
 
No it's definitely happen. Is supposed to be just some small tweaks and fully backward compatible.

...but then they said the same thing about 3.5.
Next year's monster book is meant to be a preview of it, but from what they've said it's basically just a tidy-up and making things easier to run (Like, for example, representing a monster's favourite spells as specific abilities in their stat block rather than directing the GM to the spell list, to make them easier reference).

Add in some targeted nerfs to the Monk and 17 new Tiefling subraces, and you've got a solid PHB revision.
 
Next year's monster book is meant to be a preview of it, but from what they've said it's basically just a tidy-up and making things easier to run (Like, for example, representing a monster's favourite spells as specific abilities in their stat block rather than directing the GM to the spell list, to make them easier reference).

Add in some targeted nerfs to the Monk and 17 new Tiefling subraces, and you've got a solid PHB revision.
The largest thing for many players is I think the move away from fixed racial stat bonuses/abilities by default. I think it's Tasha's that presents it as an option and I think something like that is planned to be default.
 
The largest thing for many players is I think the move away from fixed racial stat bonuses/abilities by default. I think it's Tasha's that presents it as an option and I think something like that is planned to be default.
It's only the stat bonuses and proficiencies that are configurable, racial abilities are unchanged. IMO it doesn't really change much other than remove bad race / class combos as a concept.
 
It's only the stat bonuses and proficiencies that are configurable, racial abilities are unchanged. IMO it doesn't really change much other than remove bad race / class combos as a concept.
There's also something regarding custom lineages I think but I read it fast. It sure does remove bad race/class combos.
 
I wish them the best of luck yet between the many versions I already have of D&D, lack of space and removing some elements I wish they left in and not really blaring able to justify spending the money both on a personal and financial level I will pass.
 
There's also something regarding custom lineages I think but I read it fast. It sure does remove bad race/class combos.
"Custom lineage" is effectively it's own race. You get the choice of being Small or Medium, 60' darkvision or a skill proficiency, Common and one other language, a 2pt stat increase, and a feat. What you don't get is any of the benefits of being a regular race, like racial feats; the intention is for it to be weird one-off things or half-races.
 
If Hasbro is smart they will release a mega 50th anniversary product, pre-order in time for the holidays. Perhaps a limited edition white box reprint. Done right it should be a money maker and they can get pull through to 6th edition from the hype.
 
Next year's monster book is meant to be a preview of it, but from what they've said it's basically just a tidy-up and making things easier to run (Like, for example, representing a monster's favourite spells as specific abilities in their stat block rather than directing the GM to the spell list, to make them easier reference).

Add in some targeted nerfs to the Monk and 17 new Tiefling subraces, and you've got a solid PHB revision.
One thing that has clearly needed fixing for a long time is the Ranger class.

I'd be surprised if they don't do something about that. But it will be hard to actually fix the Ranger while remaining backwards compatibility with previous sublass material.
 
If Hasbro is smart they will release a mega 50th anniversary product, pre-order in time for the holidays. Perhaps a limited edition white box reprint. Done right it should be a money maker and they can get pull through to 6th edition from the hype.
They did that a few years back. Wood box with reprints of all the originals (-chainmail) and special dice. It's a nice set.
 
And you think all the collectors are going to say "not again":grin:?
They should take a cue from the music industry.

"It's going to be exactly the same, but we've added a replica of Gygax's note reminding himself to buy more milk so you need it all again!"
 
They should take a cue from the music industry.

"It's going to be exactly the same, but we've added a replica of Gygax's note reminding himself to buy more milk so you need it all again!"
...you hate RPG collectors, don't you:devil:?
 
And players and GMs and designers and publishers.

I don't know why I'm here, tbh.
...I kinda suspect you're being facetious:shade:.
But calling for any other hobby industry to take a cue from the music industry is just cruel to the customers, IMO:grin:!
 
Honestly, I'd love to see an official reprint of Holmes Basic as well as OD&D. Maybe even make Meepo's level extensions officially canon or something.
 
Honestly, I'd love to see an official reprint of Holmes Basic as well as OD&D. Maybe even make Meepo's level extensions officially canon or something.
Moldvay Red Box would still make a really good entry point into the hobby I think. It's aged very well.
 
Everybody else creates their own bespoke OD&D, why not WoTC? I certainly wouldn’t be averse to an OSE-compatible boxed set with gorgeous production values, and it would expose a lot of people to an inherently fun product.

That said, I think a key part of their approach is that they’re fundamentally uninterested in splitting the market, and they have a formula that already works very well for them, so I’d be very surprised if they do anything - beside perhaps an exact reprint of say the red box marked up for the nostalgia market.

Yeah reworking an earlier ruleset makes little sense, especially after the umpteen variations the OSR has produced.

Much more likely is some kind of reissue series. I doubt they'll revisit a OD&D reissue but I guess you never know...I think a 1e reissue with the original covers seems more likely.

Considering the current popularity of B/X with the OSR a reissue of Moldvay/Cook in a Goodman Games style hardback and/or BECMI seems like a possibilty. Making them available POD at least seems like a no-brainer.

Or even...a complete reissue of every early edition from in one huge, insanely expensive collector's set.

I've said it before but a reissue series that includes the original cover and then new alternate covers by original artists like Erol Otus, Jeff Easley and Larry Elmore would be catnip for obsessive grognards.
 
I'd just like to see the current basic set that's free on-line as a print book with art and a setting and adventure. It could be a boxed set but I think a lower cost of entry would be nice.
 
I'd just like to see the current basic set that's free on-line as a print book with art and a setting and adventure. It could be a boxed set but I think a lower cost of entry would be nice.

The Essentials set is pretty much this with some nice extras (GM screen, cards, etc.) and quite cheap.
 
Yep, in agreement with a number of others here. What I’d like to see in 2024 is:

  • A commemorative box set re-release of OD&D.
  • Maybe the Red Box Set (as it was, for many of us, what introduced us to RPGs).
  • Some tweaks made to 5E in a commemorative update 'core three' edition, with some flash cover set and a slip case (and then with a regular updated edition).
In the case of the updated edition, I’d like to tweaks made to:

  • The Ranger Class - make their abilities less circumstantial in all cases (not just an optional design) and give some more compelling reasons to play.
  • More sub-Classes for Rogues generally included in the core - Mastermind, Scout, Swashbuckler.
  • Include the various fighting builds for the Battlemaster sub-Class for the Fighter (as they have done in the Tasha supplement, I think).
  • Make the Warlock more balanced in some of its options, and also include more demon summoning-style spells as standard (for Wizards and Sorcerer’s too).
  • Include the Alchemist Class, if this is a an official Class now, maybe in the Dungeon Master’s Guide if there is no room in the Player’s Handbook.
  • If there is still more room needed, take out some of the magical sub-Class options for non magical Classes, and just rely on Multi-Classing as needed.
 
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I've heard rumors, mostly unsubstantiated, that WotC are working on a 5.5e edition of DnD that will among other things eliminate or change the Alignment the Good-Evil, Law-Chaos dual axis Alignment system. That wouldn't be the worst idea. Alignment has long been the most problematic (in the classical sense as in "causes problems") rule in DnD: a source of endless arguments weird interpretations and yet another example of how DnD's rules from AD&D On have really gotten in the way of roleplaying rather than assisted it. I've heard endless arguments of "you're just not using it right" but at this point we've had 40+ years of test cases and AD&D and on's 9 Alignment system has consistently proven to be a problem.

I wouldn't mind either replacing Alignment with something resembling the Allegiance system from d20 Modern, reverting to the Law/Chaos/Neutrality system from DnD Basic or just eliminating Alignment altogether.
 
  • The Ranger Class - make their abilities less circumstantial in all cases (not just an optional design) and give some more compelling reasons to play.
  • The Favoured Enemy feature has been re-written for simplicity. Your favoured enemy is now Jeff. He's just such a total asshole, y'know? Every time that he shows up or does anything, you may make a snide remark as a bonus action.
    • Rather than gaining new Favoured Enemy choices at levels 6 and 14, you are now permitted to hate Jeff just a little bit more.
    • The Foe Slayer ability has now been renamed Foe Player. It lets you imitate anything Jeff says, but in a high-pitched mocking tone of voice, as if you were pretending to be him.
  • Hunter's Mark as a spell didn't sit right, as this ability is core to the Hunter's damage output. We have resolved this by removing the Ranger's spell slots, spells known, and spellcasting ability sub-features.
    • This change also alters the Primeval Awareness feature.
  • The Ranger's Two-weapon Fighting fighting style now permits them to hold (But not fire) a bow in each hand. Bitchin'.
  • Remove the text "above 20" from the Ranger's Ability Score Improvement feature.
  • The Vanish feature has been re-designed to fit better with the Exploration pillar. It now allows you to expend a spell slot to remove any stains from any one item of clothing.
  • Feral Senses has been re-written for simplicity. It now allows you to sense if a creature is feral. You may use this ability once per day. In addition, you are also aware of the location of any visible creature within your current visibility range, provided you are not deafened.
 
I've heard rumors, mostly unsubstantiated, that WotC are working on a 5.5e edition of DnD that will among other things eliminate or change the Alignment the Good-Evil, Law-Chaos dual axis Alignment system. That wouldn't be the worst idea. Alignment has long been the most problematic (in the classical sense as in "causes problems") rule in DnD: a source of endless arguments weird interpretations and yet another example of how DnD's rules from AD&D On have really gotten in the way of roleplaying rather than assisted it. I've heard endless arguments of "you're just not using it right" but at this point we've had 40+ years of test cases and AD&D and on's 9 Alignment system has consistently proven to be a problem.

I wouldn't mind either replacing Alignment with something resembling the Allegiance system from d20 Modern, reverting to the Law/Chaos/Neutrality system from DnD Basic or just eliminating Alignment altogether.
Alignment is basically already gone anyway. Racial alignments are gone (Bad guys are bad because of what they do, not their race) and iirc in future statblocks it will just relate to that character and their moral outlook instead.
I'd much rather they replaced it entirely with the Ideals / Bonds / Flaws system, because it's far more descriptive for roleplaying.
 
The mathematical issue that needs to be addressed most is saving throw scaling.

Because unlike in previous editions there is no secondary scaling, it becomes increasingly impossible to pass save on ability scores which are low and you have no proficiency.

Doing that directly wouldn't allow backwards compatibilty, although you could just jury rig a solution by putting a saving throw bonus in as class features at various levels.

My guess is that they'll do nothing about this however, on the grounds that people don't play high levels.

The other thing which would improve the game a lot is removing as many bonus actions as possible to make the action economy less annoying (entering a Barbarian rage does not need to be an action, neither does starting a Blade song - Two weapon Fighting needs an entirely different mechanic. Also removing Concentration from any spells where it should now be clear that doing so would not cause any balance issues.
 
The mathematical issue that needs to be addressed most is saving throw scaling.

Because unlike in previous editions there is no secondary scaling, it becomes increasingly impossible to pass save on ability scores which are low and you have no proficiency.

How that? Yes saving throws don't scale unless you have proficiency. Yes there are a handful of DCs higher than 20 like the Kraken's Ink Cloud, or Ancient Gold Dragon's Frightful Presence with a DC24 Wisdom save. But most tap out around 18 to 20. Combined with a modest ability bonus of +1 or +2 can often give you a 1 in 4 chance to save to a 1 in 5 chance of saving at 20th level.

I don't think it reasonable that at 20th level every character should have a 50-50 change of save with their worst ability against the toughest monsters. Especially when there are magic items that give save bonuses available.

Personally I view this aspect of 5e as a feature not a problem.
 
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