D&D 5E (2024) How I would do 6E.

[M_Natas]

I think that, overall, I agree that the general concept of anime has become more mainstream. However, in terms of "wuxia" and such, I think the pendulum is swinging back the other direction and has been for a little while.

Much of the discussion that I see as to why some OSR games have gained moment is because they did not continue down the modern D&D path of pew-pew laser magic and kewl power (spelling used for dramatic effect to emphasize common complaints about WoTC's D&D, not to be derogatory to those who like anime.) By the time a 6E would be released, designing for that style would be designing a game that I believe would already be catering to an outdated style by the time it hits store shelves.

I believe you could still accomplish some of those alternative ideas by embracing less wuxia rather than more. Instead of powers and anime manouvers, warriors could push themselves with grit and determination. Mechanically, that might mean taking on fatigue or some other sort of temporary penalty for a risk/reward relationship with greater effects. Earlier in the thread, I had mentioned being able to sacrifice proficiency dice size (assuming dice were used instead of a flat bonus) in exchange for extra effects.

However, for that to be meaningful at the table, it also needs to be balanced out by reigning in some of D&D's magic system. Bring back an element of uncertainty and mystery to magic. Baldur's Gate 3 -which is built using D&D 5e- did a really good job of adding those things and making the game world and the characters feel more like they actually embodied the features that the tabletop game claims to have but for which the tabletop game offers no support. I would like a 6E to go more in that direction. A warlock making a deal with a devil (or some other otherwordly patron) should mean having a cost. That should be especially true when asking for higher level world-changing effects.

I'm in the minority and this "wouldn't be D&D" to a lot of people, but I would increase casting times for higher level magic. To speed up casting, you could jointly cast with other mages (or cultists or whatever) in a ritual, burning lifeforce (either Hit Dice or taking on something like fatigue,) having a special material focus -or perhaps, for especially powerful things, all of those.

For casting, I would totally add different Casting Times.
Like always Bonus Action, Reaction and Action, but also:
An action and the effect takes place at the beginning of your next round (so when you cast this, it can be interrupted by attacking you akin to concentration between the two rounds).
2 actions (so two rounds) or even 3 actions (3 rounds) for the strongest spells.

And now the Wizards and Sorcerers need to be protected, while casting the big magic. So we need to give the other classes more options of battlefield control (So they can stop creatures from getting into melee with the casters, for example).
And so we added some more strategic dimension.

Also I would add the option to upcast above levels you know - but that creates unstable magic that can backfire. So you have your reliable magic and more powerful unstable magic.

 

[MichaelSomething]

I would require all play testers to engage in 5 minutes of mixed martial arts combat before each play session. If you can't do it while half knocked out, it's too complicated!

 

[Horwath]

For casting, I would totally add different Casting Times.
Like always Bonus Action, Reaction and Action, but also:
An action and the effect takes place at the beginning of your next round (so when you cast this, it can be interrupted by attacking you akin to concentration between the two rounds).
2 actions (so two rounds) or even 3 actions (3 rounds) for the strongest spells.

this will not happen for simple reason is that is not fun.
same way that no matter how you rebalance crossbow, not one will like or use a weapon that you need 3 rounds to reload. No matter how realistic is. maybe it will be a 1st strike weapon and then thrown to the ground. Or what we did in 3E is to carry 10 heavy crossbows in bag of holding as Loading was an Action and this exploit reduced it to movement. We would see same method in 5E.

And now the Wizards and Sorcerers need to be protected, while casting the big magic. So we need to give the other classes more options of battlefield control (So they can stop creatures from getting into melee with the casters, for example).
And so we added some more strategic dimension.

this has been done in 5E with Concentration. 1st it limits powerful spell stacking, 2nd it gives opportunity to naughty word down those spells with attacks.

Also I would add the option to upcast above levels you know - but that creates unstable magic that can backfire. So you have your reliable magic and more powerful unstable magic.

maybe with "blood casting"?
you suffer 2d6 primal damage for each spell slot level that is above your maximum?
or 5d6? whatever seems balanced somehow.