D&D (2024) I think we are on the cusp of a sea change.

[Reynard]

I think that we are looking at as big a change in D&D "culture" as we saw in the fall of TSR and rise of WotC era. I'm confident we aren't like to see huge rules changes in 5.5 (I think backwards compatibility will be a thing, for example) but I think there are a lot of thing lining up for WotC to look at, and treat, D&D as a different thing in the very near future.

Now, just because I know some folks are going to make this argument: I don't think that was true of either the 4E or 5E transition.

4E was very much a mechanical sea change but the explicitly stated goal at the time was to "still play D&D." And 5E was a course correction, the exact opposite of a sea change. It drew heavily on GenX nostalgia and was working very hard to say "D&D is still D&D!"

I don't think that is true going forward. I think the intent is to very much alter the way the game is played (story first, etc..) and aimed at a new generation -- and that generation's values -- in a way it hasn't been since Basic and D&D cartoon days.

And just to be clear, this is not a rant by a grumpy old goat. I mean, I am an old goat, but I'm not grumpy. I don't actually care much. I play D&D in general and 5E in particular largely because it has an accessible player base. I mean, I like D&D and 5E, but I like other games more that don't put bottoms in chairs around a table the way D&D does.

Anyway, what are your thoughts? Am I off my rocking chair? Is D&D changing again, or is this just 3.5 in a 5E skin?

Thanks!

 

[Oofta]

Whether your guess is correct or not doesn't have any correlation as to whether you're off your rocker. Even a broken old school clocks that you remember fondly are right twice a day.

That, and I disagree. Next version is supposed to be backwards compatible. With 5E being as successful as it is I see an evolution being more likely than a revolution. Of course as Yogi Berra supposedly said: predicting the future is difficult, especially when it hasn't happened yet.

 

[darjr]

I won’t comment on the rules changes, cause I’m tired of arguing at walls.

As far as the community? It already changed and continues to.

 

[Ancalagon]

Ok

So you think a big change is coming.

But you don't tell us what that change is going to be, and you don't tell us why you think a big change is coming.

How am I supposed to respond to that?

 

[Reynard]

Whether you're guess is correct or not doesn't have any correlation as to whether you're off your rocker. Even a broken old school clocks that you remember fondly are right twice a day.

That, and I disagree. Next version is supposed to be backwards compatible. With 5E being as successful as it is I see an evolution being more likely than a revolution. Of course as Yogi Berra supposedly said: predicting the future is difficult, especially when it hasn't happened yet.

Backward compatibility doesn't mean that the intent can't change or the assumed modes of play can be revised in a way that is really, really significant at the table. Change how rests work, for example, or what assumed encounter balance is, and you go from a game about 5-8 fights a day to a game about stories and set piece battles (not that a lot of people don't do that anyway; it's just an example). Plus, I agree with you on the word "evolution" but evolution can still be a sea change. Ask Mr mudskipper.

 

[Scribe]

I think they will do everything in their power to straddle the fence, and offend as few people as possible, providing a mechanically direct, easy to pick up experience that isnt 'filling', but passes the time inoffensively, and is forgettable from a game design perspective leaving it up to the players and DM to do all the heavy lifting in providing a rich experience.

Backwards compatibility will be a stated goal, and will be 'true' in the strictest sense, but the game will continue to diverge wildly from any nostalgic attempt at reminding older players that its 'Still D&D!'

 

[Reynard]

Ok

So you think a big change is coming.

But you don't tell us what that change is going to be, and you don't tell us why you think a big change is coming.

How am I supposed to respond to that?

How would I know the answer to any of those questions? I mean, I made it pretty clear in the title that this is a feeling I have, and further that I am not even sure it's real in my "am I off my rocker" question. And surely I can't tell you how to respond.

 

[Reynard]

I think they will do everything in their power to straddle the fence, and offend as few people as possible, providing a mechanically direct, easy to pick up experience that isnt 'filling', but passes the time inoffensively, and is forgettable from a game design perspective leaving it up to the players and DM to do all the heavy lifting in providing a rich experience.

Backwards compatibility will be a stated goal, and will be 'true' in the strictest sense, but the game will continue to diverge wildly from any nostalgic attempt at reminding older players that its 'Still D&D!'

It doesn't feel like they are shying away from offending some portion of the fan base (NOTE: I am NOT one of those offended people; I am just saying they seem to know some rules and lore changes will rankle some and they seem fine with that).

 

[Krachek]

Sea change in a cup of water!

 

[Scribe]

It doesn't feel like they are shying away from offending some portion of the fan base (NOTE: I am NOT one of those offended people; I am just saying they seem to know some rules and lore changes will rankle some and they seem fine with that).

They dont care about those folks, because offending them, entices the other side.