D&D (2024) Jeremy Crawford: “We are releasing new editions of the books”

[Azzy]

But what about all the variations of Basic?

Oh, on that fork lies madness. There's the Holmes (1978), B/X Moldvay (1981), BECCMI Mentzer (1983), Rules Cyclopedia and Black Box (1991) and Classic D&D (1994). The Holmes and Moldvay revisions each had multiple printings with different contents (so may have had different ISBNs, I couldn't find that info, though).

 

[Remathilis]

Oh, on that fork lies madness. There's the Holmes (1978), B/X Moldvay (1981), BECCMI Mentzer (1983), Rules Cyclopedia and Black Box (1991) and Classic D&D (1994). The Holmes and Moldvay revisions each had multiple printings with different contents (so may have had different ISBNs, I couldn't find that info, though).

Basic Set

 

[Emberashh]

I feel like the people haggling over the exact definition of "editions" is missing what people like @Emberashh and I are really pointing to: the fact that you have a second, older PHB out in the wild that is useable is just a messy thing. The whole point to revising something is to replace it, but we're not really getting a replacement as much as they are creating a rival and hoping it supersedes the original. And I think that's likely for a lot of classes... but if they want to do some needed nerfs to certain classes and builds, I think it becomes much harder when you are giving players an exit to go and just continue to use the old ones.

I think the disparity comes from a big whiff of Oberoni Fallacy; it can be dealt with therefore there is "no" problem.

If nothing else, its thematic.

 

[DarkCrisis]

Speaking of Essentials.

I never realized it was a .5 style upgrade.

The name made me think it was just more extra stuff like a DM screen and an adventure etc.

If they had called it 4.5, I might have bought it.

 

[OldSchoolGamerGirl]

The only thing that makes it ‘messy’ is the same class names are being used, and maybe the same subclass names. If these were Mage instead of Wizard and so on, we would basically be back at 4e essentials.

if these had been add on classes not remade classes and most of the feats were new feats not remade feats and the condition changes and spell changes were called out as optional and it wasn't call PHB/DMG/MM I at least would feel less likely to call it a new edition.

Over time the 2014 books will get phased out as people adopt the 2024 ones. I don’t think the rate of adoption will differ much based on whether 1D&D is called 5e or 5.5

that is my point, and one I have harped on since I came back to this board, no matter what they call it, it will act as an edition break after a bit.

 

[mamba]

that is my point, and one I have harped on since I came back to this board, no matter what they call it, it will act as an edition break after a bit.

except that this does not make it an edition break, because the adventures from 2014 and 2024 stay one edition. It makes it a revision of the rules for that edition, just like Tashas already did for 5e, 4e essentials did, or the 2e player options did.

 

[Micah Sweet]

Can you imagine the uproar of selling a new book with 12 renamed classes and other renamed options? "Buy 5.5 Essentials! Play as a Wildling, Troubadour, Warpriest, Warrior, Shaman, Mystic, Hunter, Guardian, Scoundrel, Witch, Channeler and Mage! Argue endlessly if Treeskin and Barkskin stack, if the shaman can use spells and subs for the druid in Tasha's, or if you can multi-class fighter and warrior to get action surge twice! Fight Azure or Crimson Dragons and other slight variants, or wield the power of a +1.5 sword! Pickup 5.5 Essentials on D&D Beyond today!"

Sounds exciting.

 

[OldSchoolGamerGirl]

except that this does not make it an edition break, because the adventures from 2014 and 2024 stay one edition. It makes it a revision of the rules for that edition, just like Tashas did, 4e essentials did or the 2e player options did.

except going forward tasha's has been optional add on, and nothing in 4e essentials replaced anything in 4e PHB.
the 2014phb is being replaced with 2024 phb

edit: did the player options of 2e like the name said just give new options?

 

[Parmandur]

But what about all the variations of Basic?

Yhat way lies madness and chaos: the entire idea of "Edition" is already totally booked by the AD&D lineage, the multiple editions of Basic make it a total dog's lunch.

 

[OldSchoolGamerGirl]

Can you imagine the uproar of selling a new book with 12 renamed classes and other renamed options? "Buy 5.5 Essentials! Play as a Wildling, Troubadour, Warpriest, Warrior, Shaman, Mystic, Hunter, Guardian, Scoundrel, Witch, Channeler and Mage!

I would love the new warlock to be it's own 1/2 arcane caster class and still have the old warlock with pact magic with both supported.