D&D (2024) 50th Anniversary: 6E in 2024?

Enevhar Aldarion · Oct 30, 2020

Considering all the talk of 5E being an evergreen edition, and that WotC does not want to change the core books enough to make people buy them again, I do not see anything about the core of the game changing just for the 50th anniversary.

EzekielRaiden · Oct 30, 2020

We won't see a 6th edition until at least 2030, probably more like 2034 to coincide with the 60th anniversary. The current D&D team isn't large enough to design a game in anything less than "several years." Given the glacial pace of new content for 5e (which, yes, I know some like it, you don't have to remind me of that), they can probably spool things out for at least another 6 years or so before enough people get antsy, and they can do an interim 5e Revised to fill the gap if necessary.

In fact, I suspect they will at some point in the next six to eight years. They'll have enough content published that they can go through, touch on all the places they weren't happy with like Fighter subclass blandness, Beastmaster Ranger, Bladelocks vis-a-vis Hexblade patron, Sorcerer subclass stuff, etc. Further, they'll be able to put out content "faster" because it's all theoretically just updates/revamps/streamlining, keeping the brand fuelled long enough that, if something like a movie deal/TV show/whatever has gone well, they could persuade the corporate types that an investment in a new edition would drive sales and work well as a promotional effort for future entertainment media beyond the tabletop.

Raith5 · Oct 30, 2020

I like 5e but I think I will be ready to move on to 6e by 2024. I would like the keep the core math of 5e - with some small tweaks (especially by marking it harder for low level PCs to get to 20 AC and making some high monsters have a slightly higher AC).

But I think they will need to revise the race/ancestry space for starters, rethink higher level play in general, make some of the martial characters a touch more interesting, make monsters a bit more interesting, and create more opportunities for PCs to spend money.

Li Shenron · Oct 30, 2020

There will CERTAINLY be a 50th anniversary release.

My guess is core books updated to include bits and pieces from supplements like a "best of". Not an enormous addition, maybe +5-10% (limited by printing constraints such as a specific number of pages). Sadly for me, I predict it will include Tasha's rules changes i.e. free "versatility" boosts to classes as default, effectively making it 5.5.

Second most probable is a limited-run "premium" version of core books (with additions, or simply with alternate covers, ribbon, box, or other easy bells and whistles) but without stopping printing regular core books.

I don't see 6e very probable yet, unless it ends up being 5e + additional material from supplements + a few more changes. But a core game rewrite? I think it would do WotC more harm than good this time.

Older Beholder · Oct 30, 2020

I think they're more likely to release a bunch of special '50th year edition' covers of books already out than they are to put out a whole new edition based on the games 50th birthday.

Horwath · Oct 30, 2020

Advanced 5th edition could be a trademark for 50th year edition.
And as some mentioned 6th edition could be projected for 2034 for 60th birthday.

But that is 4 and 14 years away;
and as we look now at 2020, we might have 6e in 2034 in VR/holodecks or on stone tablets as all electronics were fried with EMPs in WW3.

ART! · Oct 30, 2020

CleverNickName said:
I doubt if anybody at WotC is even thinking about a new edition of the game. The current edition has been, and continues to be, a huge success; they have no reason to tamper with the formula.

So my prediction for the 50th Anniversary in 2024: they might release some collector's edition 5E rulebooks, something leather-bound and super fancy. Or maybe they will release a bunch of the old classic Greyhawk campaign settings and modules from 1974, updated to the 5th Edition rules. But probably neither. No, it's more likely they will release a new campaign setting or adventure path, like they do every year.

One approach might be a standard format revised PHB (and maybe MM and DMG) and then high-end, gussied-up, faux-leather, gilt-edged 50th anniversary slipcase edition, with a DM screen and maybe other whistles and bells.

glass · Oct 30, 2020

I do not think there will be a full-fledged sixth edition in 2024, simply because it would be a missed opportunity. Even if sales are starting to flag by then, an "aniversary edition" with new art, clarifications, and maybe an index like SR4A will give them a boost with considerably less investment. And keep the actual new edition in reserve for a later date.

_
glass.

LuisCarlos17f · Oct 30, 2020

Maybe a special anniversary edition, something like a revamped edition of Curse of the Strand, without nothing new about crunch or rules.

My theory is the 5.5-6th edition will not D&D brand yet, but something to can be used by the rest of publishers for all genres, even sci-fi and superheroes, but also the ultimate d20 system to be used by the videogame studios. Something like a new edition of d20 Modern, or a WotC's videogame using a variant of d20 system to test new ideas, and to try find the right balance power with the firearms and high-tech.