D&D (2024) 50th Anniversary: 6E in 2024?

[Mercurius]

I started a poll and thread on this topic earlier in the year and the consensus was something akin to 5.1 to 5.2 is most likely: revised core rulebooks with new art, and maybe a few added bells and whistles. With the game's popularity, I'm sticking with that.

That said, with the various controversies and WotC's proclivity to bend to a certain vocal minority (or concerns with inclusion, depending upon how you look at it), I think it is more likely that we see heavily revised books. It will be called the "anniversary revision" or some such, but not 5.x or 6E.

Less likely but still possible is some kind of Greyhawk box set, and/or some sort of commemorative product. They already did Art & Arcana, but maybe they can do something else more game oriented that still celebrates the history of D&D, like: 50 Years of Dungeons & Dragons Worlds.

 

[Charlaquin]

I think a re-release of the core books with some of the changes we’ve seen in Xanathar’s, Tasha’s, and the like is not a bad bet. I very much doubt they’ll do a 6e that soon, unless sales take a sudden nose dive between now and then, which would be quite unexpected.

 

[Urriak Uruk]

I think a re-release of the core books with some of the changes we’ve seen in Xanathar’s, Tasha’s, and the like is not a bad bet. I very much doubt they’ll do a 6e that soon, unless sales take a sudden nose dive between now and then, which would be quite unexpected.

Yeah, something like this makes sense. Other than that, there is very little reason for a 6E when you are still getting growth in sales year-after-year.

There is also nothing close to "rules bloat" yet, so not much need for a ruleset reset.

That said, 4 years out is a ways away, so predicting what they're planning then seems ill-advised. Though I think they at minimum plan adventures starting 2 years ahead of release.

 

[CleverNickName]

I doubt if anybody at WotC is even thinking about a new edition of the game. The current edition has been, and continues to be, a huge success; they have no reason to tamper with the formula.

So my prediction for the 50th Anniversary in 2024: they might release some collector's edition 5E rulebooks, something leather-bound and super fancy. Or maybe they will release a bunch of the old classic Greyhawk campaign settings and modules from 1974, updated to the 5th Edition rules. But probably neither. No, it's more likely they will release a new campaign setting or adventure path, like they do every year.

 

[SkidAce]

I'm starting to get tired of updating my campaigns to new editions. Sure its years between versions, but I work retail now, and was in the military, so I'm slow to upgrade. (Usually only change what we are using/or going to use soon).

I am certain I am an outlier, and whenever 6th comes (2024 or later I hope) I will probably jump on the wagon again.

 

[Marandahir]

Doubt it.

WotC won't jump to 6E until 5E is no longer profitable or severe issues with 5E emerge that require a complete overhaul of the game. Even the most egregious complains re: 5E don't constitute a need for 5.5e, let alone a 6e.

That said, the 50th Anniversary will be something really big. Almost certainly they're planning on a major expansion to the game's ruleset akin to Xanathar's Guide to Everything and Tasha's Cauldron of Everything, and that will be just one tiny piece of the puzzle. I'm guessing they're working on what the themes for that book will be right now, but design for the game material in it won't begin until 2022 at the earliest.

 

[Tales and Chronicles]

I'm betting on a new ''red box'' themed 50th anniversary starter box set for (slightly updated) 5e. Give it a nice LMoP-style adventure based in Greyhawk or Mystara, with a new take on Hommlet or Borderland. Add the basic rules + sidekicks + whatever rules that would benefit from being in the basic rules. Maybe a few hand-outs or memorabilia?

I mean, I far from being a grog, but I'd buy that.

 

[R_J_K75]

Well, he left because they kept killing him. He was on his second clone, and the last time only survived because he hid one of his clones on one of the moons. The job was a bit dangerous.

I was just joking and didnt know that, now I dont blame the guy.

 

[Dausuul]

The 50th anniversary of D&D is coming up in 2024. 5E came out in 2014 and is still going strong. I'm very interested to see if WotC is going to keep pushing on with 5E, give us a 6E, or do something different this time around. A big release for the 50th Anniversary seems like a no-brainer to me, though.

Here's my suspicion: I suspect a new PHB with updated ancestries, classes, and possibly other rules, bringing in improvements learned over the ten years. Improvements like smoothing out bonus actions, increasing options, while maintaining simplicity. But, what I also suspect is that it will still be compatible with existing material, that they're going to try to keep it to the same math, so that older adventures can still be played, since 5E has been driven so strongly by adventures.

Big picture, what are your suspicions for the 50th Anniversary?

I think you pretty much nailed it.

 

[Levistus's_Leviathan]

Unless 5e is no longer making money by 2024, which I highly doubt, then 6e will not be coming out, even if it happens to be the 50th anniversary of D&D. They will definitely do something special, like a red box starting set, and a metallic gemstone dice set (ruby?), but 6e is not coming in the foreseeable future, IMO.