D&D (2024) Based upon what we currently know, what degree of "edition update" is 5.5?

[Parmandur]

If they’re requiring you to buy new books to be compatible, then it’s more likely a new edition. But they said it’s backward compatible, so if new adventures and options can be attached to 2014 books, it’s not really a new edition…

They aren't using the word Edition because there is no consensus what that means, as demonstrated in this thread.

 

[Parmandur]

+1 to all is not markedly better than +2/+1, because those tertiary stats are mostly meaningless (especially if using standard array where 4 out of 6 scores are even).

+1 to all stats is mathematically equivalent to 3 Feats, which is what a Rave in 2014 essentially is. With OneD&D, they have made the Rave part a Feat and a half, and pit the other Feat and a half of ASI in Background along with a full bonus Feat for good measure.

 

[Parmandur]

The underlying logic for Races was worked out a while ago:

D&D 5E - Second Edition Reverse Engineered D&D 5e race design and over 40 example races

After another year of play-testing and numerous changes and fixes I present a new edition of the Race Creation rules! After a couple of years of work I ask the following as a courtesy. You may use this to create races for publication if I am credited as “Additional game design by Karl David...

www.enworld.org

 

[Charlaquin]

Yes, a new version that was fully compatible and usable alongside. Do you really believe that using the 2014 humans and the 2024 human alongside each other will be intended or feasible?

I don’t think the 2014 version(s) of humans will appear in the 2024 book if that’s what you mean, but nor did the classic 4e classes appear in the Essentials books. But I don’t see any reason the 2014 version(s) of humans (or of any other races) wouldn’t work with the 2024 rules, at least from what we’ve seen so far.

 

[fluffybunbunkittens]

+1 to all stats is mathematically equivalent to 3 Feats

Only if you could apply them to where-ever you want (like +6 to one stat, or +3/+3 split). There has been no feat that says '+1 to your weakest stat' for a realistic comparison.

 

[Parmandur]

Here's the real skinny in depth, for anyone who wants to see the work of reverse engineering:

Dungeon Masters Guild

www.dmsguild.com

 

[Parmandur]

Only if you could apply them to where-ever you want (like +6 to one stat, or +3/+3 split). There has been no feat that says '+1 to your weakest stat' for a realistic comparison.

A stat is a stat. Speaking as someone who played a Standard Human Wizard, it was really nice to get 6 bumps.

 

[Charlaquin]

Essentials is essentially 4.5e, only WotC also published free errata to update the 2008 books to the Essentials Standards.

But the class design is completely different, because the ideas about what the game was and how power sources and class features and combat vs out of combat worked. It’s as much a Change as 3.5e or 2e from 1e were.

And that’s the sort of shift we’re looking at now. Building on the framework of 5e but refining to the new audience.

I wouldn’t call it a new edition, but I also wouldn’t split Basic from OD&D and 1e AD&D, or BECMI from B/X from RC, or 2e from late 1e. The boundaries are fuzzy.

Publishing-wise, it comes down to whether they offer free errata for 2014 books to update the mechanical options to 2024, or if they assume we need to buy the new versions and just throw the old ones to Legacy Content on D&D Beyond.

If they’re requiring you to buy new books to be compatible, then it’s more likely a new edition. But they said it’s backward compatible, so if new adventures and options can be attached to 2014 books, it’s not really a new edition…

Yeah, Essentials had different design and structure than classic 4e, but was entirely backwards-compatible with and usable alongside classic 4e. I believe the same will be true of 1D&D and classic 5e. Because that’s what WotC has been saying will be the case.

 

[fluffybunbunkittens]

A stat is a stat.

If a stat was a stat, then a Wizard with Int 10 Wis 18 is as capable as a Wizard with Int 18 Wis 10?

 

[Marandahir]

Yeah, Essentials had different design and structure than classic 4e, but was entirely backwards-compatible with and usable alongside classic 4e. I believe the same will be true of 1D&D and classic 5e. Because that’s what WotC has been saying will be the case.

agreed.