D&D (2024) So IS it a new edition?

[Aldarc]

Not necessarily, Pathfinder did a remaster of their 2E which had a decent amount of changes, but I don't remember seeing this kind of discourse around that being a new edition and everyone referring to it as a remaster, as Paizo refers to it as well.

It effectively is a new edition though. People were mostly okay with calling it a "remaster" at the time, because (1) it was pretty clearly meant to move the game away from the OGL in the wake of the OGL Fiasco, so the discourse was more focused on the latter than whether it constituted a new edition, and (2) Paizo didn't want to negatively impact sales of their still relatively new PF2 (2019).

 

[Crimson Longinus]

Same way that 3.5 and 4e Essentials were.

It is just semantics, it doesn't really matter and there is no solid enough definition of "edition" for there to be right or wrong answer to the question.

But I suggest we call it 5.5e, for the purposes of differentiating the revised material from the prerevision material in discussions.

 

[Jacob Lewis]

I think using the term "edition" is the problem, but that's all we know how to use. There isn't a slick marketing term for "upgrade", "revised", "reissue", etc., that guarantees sales and brand loyalty. WotC took the path of least resistance by not using any of these terms and letting everyone fight it out amongst themselves to determine the proper terminology. IMO, it was the smart move for their bottom line.

But speaking frankly, a lot of gamers, especially older ones who've been through this cycle many times like myself, are just tired of buying whole new sets of books to play the same darn game! I would LOVE it if some version of an RPG that I enjoyed would continue to work with the same set of rules and game mechanics, and support it with new content for actual play (i.e. settings, adventures, expansions, etc). Once I buy the core books, I shouldn't need to update or change the game just to keep up with trends decided by a corporation or company who can't figure out other ways or ideas to keep loyal customers (fans!) engaged instead of looking for new blood and more profits every day.

Unfortunate for me that 5th edition is never going to be that game for me despite trying to like it, just like WotC will never be that company again.

 

[payn]

It effectively is a new edition though. People were mostly okay with calling it a "remaster" at the time, because (1) it was pretty clearly meant to move the game away from the OGL in the wake of the OGL Fiasco, so the discourse was more focused on the latter than whether it constituted a new edition, and (2) Paizo didn't want to negatively impact sales of their still relatively new PF2 (2019).

To be fair, I think Archives of Nethys takes a lot of the sting out of the remaster as you dont have to pay a dime for it.

 

[FrogReaver]

they are calling it something, 5e, and they have done for quite some time

There can only be one.

working title, yes, at no point was the end result not 5e however

What is D&D 5e? I would answer the game created by Wotc in 2014 including the 2014 PHB,MM,DMG and rules expansions created for that game.

In that sense D&D 2024e is not D&D 5e. It’s adjacent though.

 

[payn]

Same way that 3.5 and 4e Essentials were.

It is just semantics, it doesn't really matter and there is no solid enough definition of "edition" for there to be right or wrong answer to the question.

But I suggest we call it 5.5e, for the purposes of differentiating the revised material from the prerevision material in discussions.

Na, im going with 5.2.

 

[Vaalingrade]

What is 5e?

D&D 3.8

 

[Aldarc]

To be fair, I think Archives of Nethys takes a lot of the sting out of the remaster as you dont have to pay a dime for it.

That too. But I do think that a lot of the sting of the remaster/edition was also a result of anger being directed mostly at WotC at the time. Without those circumstances, there most definitely would have been talk of the changes being a "new edition." Had those changes been implemented later down the line, it my very well have been labeled a new edition. But there was a certain element of "WotC made us do it!" that shielded Paizo from "new edition" rhetoric.

 

[mamba]

But speaking frankly, a lot of gamers, especially older ones who've been through this cycle many times like myself, are just tired of buying whole new sets of books to play the same darn game!

you never needed to, not to play the same game (and it being called D&D does not make it the same game)

I would LOVE it if some version of an RPG that I enjoyed would continue to work with the same set of rules and game mechanics, and support it with new content for actual play (i.e. settings, adventures, expansions, etc).

this might be your chance then, just don’t buy the 2024 core books

Unfortunate for me that 5th edition is never going to be that game for me despite, just like WotC will never be that company again.

oh well, not 5e then in any case…

 

[payn]

That too. But I do think that a lot of the sting of the remaster/edition was also a result of anger being directed mostly at WotC at the time. Without those circumstances, there most definitely would have been talk of the changes being a "new edition." Had those changes been implemented later down the line, it my very well have been labeled a new edition. But there was a certain element of "WotC made us do it!" that shielded Paizo from "new edition" rhetoric.

I think Paizo took advantage of the OGL fiasco for sure. I'm guessing this remaster was planned a few more years out. What I find interesting is that the editions wars have been very mild over Pathfinder. Dont get me wrong there are some strong opinions on it, but mostly fans seem to have either went away, stuck to PF1, or moved over happily. For example, this 5E update after a decade has way more folks losing their minds than PF2 being remastered in 5 years.