D&D 5E D&D New Edition Design Looks Soon?

WotC’s Ray Winninger has hinted on Twitter that we may be seeing something of the 2024 next edition of D&D soon — “you’ll get a first look at some of the new design work soon.”.

 

[tetrasodium]

Counterpoint: Advantage/Disadvantage.

Has there ever been a ttrpg with a mechanic that was a more glaring case of maslow's hammer?

 

[OB1]

VTTs have come very far since roll20 was the new thing many years ago. That goes for both online and in person play.

Is there another you would recommend that doesn't require hosting, integrates with DDB and is free to use

 

[Charlaquin]

Having now played out the Vecna scenario a few times on ENWORLD, I am starting to agree with you. Before I was pretty neutral on the changes of spells -> abilities, I got the appeal, and as a DM I had often felt overwhelmed by the big spell lists, so I could sympathize.

But having seen how many rules arguments broke out on Vecna's abilities because they were no longer spells soured me to the idea. I think the rules changes have actually created confusion rather than solve it. Spells for all of their baggage has a ton of rules support that explains how they work, so when I cast a spell, a lot of questions are already answered. When I cast an ability, it leaves a lot of unanswered questions for the DM to figure out.

I think most of the arguments about Vecna’s abilities had more to do with them having been worded ambiguously than them nor bring spells, but

 

[Stalker0]

I think most of the arguments about Vecna’s abilities had more to do with them having been worded ambiguously than them nor bring spells, but

but that's the point. With spells, you have a lot of background to ground your decisions, a lot of vagueness in the ability itself is settled by the core rules on spells.

But once you remove that backing, the ability has to stand on its own, and that's where any ambiguity really starts to kick you.

 

[Mind of tempest]

What in Pelor’s name is a meat mage?

what Psychometabolism honestly does, high per cent chance of flesh crafting and stuff out of a Kronenberg film the hyper-edgy version was the cancer mage.
or this guy for an image:

but that's the point. With spells, you have a lot of background to ground your decisions, a lot of vagueness in the ability itself is settled by the core rules on spells.

But once you remove that backing, the ability has to stand on its own, and that's where any ambiguity really starts to kick you.

have they tried just adding a bar that says whether they are abilities or spells?

 

[tetrasodium]

Is there another you would recommend that doesn't require hosting, integrates with DDB and is free to use

You won't find much ddb integration because the API was never actually released leading to all sorts of problems for using it described here.

I think owlbear rodeo is free
talespire is one that rings a bell
foundry has a lot of supoport. You can run it locally on one PC I believe
I personally use arkenforge with a much smaller touch screen than this one for in person play & it has a 30 day free trial.
There are almost certainly others I've left out

 

[Reynard]

Something just occurred to me on the WotC VTT front: a standard platform for online D&D might facilitate remote organized play, from AL to big virtual cons, and including ways to spectate those games. That is a space that makes me think it might be worth WotC's effort and resources to have their own VTT.

 

[Micah Sweet]

There is probably nothing D&D needs to revise more to bring it in line with modern magic (from video games to cartoons to premium TV) than its spell system. It's frustratingly stubborn in its adherence to one specific, esoteric imagining of how magic works in fantasy.

Even so, I feel that a game without discreet, leveled spells (an effect-based system, for example), wouldn't feel like D&D to me.

 

[UngainlyTitan]

Something just occurred to me on the WotC VTT front: a standard platform for online D&D might facilitate remote organized play, from AL to big virtual cons, and including ways to spectate those games. That is a space that makes me think it might be worth WotC's effort and resources to have their own VTT.

I used to think that a VTT was an obvious path for WoTC but now I am not so sure. It could split their market even put off some DMs. On the other hand doing licencing deals with the VTT providers to allow easier integration of D&D Beyond to their product might be a better way to go.

 

[UngainlyTitan]

An other thing WoTC might think about on the software side would be an AR/VR telepresence software with integration with a VTT