D&D General 6e guesses

[Tigris]

My assumption is that if they're already in the process of recoding DDB, they'll do so in a manner that doesn't hardcode any specific design requirements. The "edition" will just be a skin that fits on the core framework. That just seems like basic project management common sense, especially when they already are doing a redesign because the original was a jury-rigged rush job.

Well one would hope but I can totally see them still doing a bad job with it as often in IT projects especially with WotC...

 

[bsss]

Actually many people are saying this, many people are complaining about not being able to find games except for D&D main edition.

Are they literally only looking on WotC's website? If so, that's probably the first problem. One step outside of that and there's a universe of options.

 

[TwoSix]

I still play cribbage after learning it 40 years ago. I dont think D&D needs radical change to remain an interesting game. Nobody else is waiting for D&D to change to come up with innovative game design in the RPG space. Not that compelling a reason to force change on D&D.

Sure, but I'm assuming you don't also only play cribbage to the exclusion of other games. There are an awful lot of games that are variations of the "Let's play a card game with a 52-card poker deck" theme, and the existence of one doesn't invalidate the others.

And no one is questioning the ability of other game makers to innovate; the difference is that no one else can innovate with the scope and impact of a new D&D release.

And crucially, it's not like 5e would suddenly go away with the release of a non-backwards compatible 6e; it will continue to exist and maintain a fanbase just like every other D&D edition has.

 

[TwoSix]

Well one would hope but I can totally see them still doing a bad job with it as often in IT projects especially with WotC...

You can never rule out people doing a bad job. But they have an already working project, and aren't under some major time crunch, and this isn't the hardest tech job in the world. I maintain some optimism that a more flexible D&D Beyond remains a possibility.

 

[Scribe]

You can never rule out people doing a bad job. But they have an already working project, and aren't under some major time crunch, and this isn't the hardest tech job in the world. I maintain some optimism that a more flexible D&D Beyond remains a possibility.

Its never been easier to code as well.

 

[timbannock]

What do you think it will look like based on current trends?

I am recently super interested in shadowdark…but have a feeling that is not the direction D&D will go. I have not looked at new games like daggerheart so wondered what folks more into the current zeitgeist predict.

I think simple(r) rules are trending high, and metacurrencies don't seem to have as much stigma tied to them -- or at least, I believe this is the case among casual gamers, which is certainly the vast majority. I bet D&D will be happy to shed a few complexities here and there, and add more class-specific metacurrencies for balance, in order to move more in line with that.

But I doubt it will be a lot; it won't be some big shift towards either of those things. Reason being, D&D Beyond will remain king for delivering the content, and because of that, they don't really have to simplify much since the service does plenty of that already be keeping some of the "math behind the curtain". So you might see something like (just spit-balling here) removing Ability Scores in favor of Ability Modifiers, but not something like removing damage types, or some huge push away from the move-action-bonus action-reaction world, or getting rid of spell slots, ki points, etc.

It’s fine saying what you hope for, but what do you think the reality will BE?

I hope they work more on creating tools to help DMs come up with their own content, but that goes totally against the idea of monetizing the game, so I actually suspect they'll do the opposite: devote less words to giving DMs guidance on building their own stuff and instead spend more of that on how to utilize the stuff they publish (adventures) or develop (digital tools) to keep you in their subscription world.

 

[AlViking]

I think this is writing off a whole lot of interesting RPGs simply because they aint D&D. Also, things you like or prefer have nothing to do with elegance. Thats just sparkle talk.

I still play cribbage after learning it 40 years ago. I dont think D&D needs radical change to remain an interesting game. Nobody else is waiting for D&D to change to come up with innovative game design in the RPG space. Not that compelling a reason to force change on D&D.

Adding "sparkle talk" to my dictionary.

 

[Tigris]

You can never rule out people doing a bad job. But they have an already working project, and aren't under some major time crunch, and this isn't the hardest tech job in the world. I maintain some optimism that a more flexible D&D Beyond remains a possibility.

Sure you are right, its more that I fear that the "its implemented this way" could in the end really influence 6E which I would find a bit sad. I had not thought about that before, so the argument was a bit of a shock.


Of course being optimistic about 6e (that its a completely new innovative system) is better than just fearing the worst.

 

[AlViking]

Elegance is a known design goal in gamedesign. Having a simple constant formula for monster math is more elegant. Needing 2 XP tables is not. This is literally a design goal in good gamedesign in boardgames and computer games, and also many RPGs can do that. I dont call stuff elegant because I like them, I like them because its elegant.

Elegant is just more (ooh! a chance to use my new phrase!) sparkle talk. Dressing your opinion on what the game should be as "elegant" doesn't change that it's just your preference.

Yes some people dont adapt to new things, but they also can keep playing their old games, no reason to make new games for people who want to play old games.

Good news is there are plenty of new games being released all the time.

Well people are not waiting for D&D but people are copying D&D
Even games like Dragonbane "which historically is totally not D&D" heavily copied 5th edition D&D.
Pathfinder 2 heavily copied D&D 4E, so even the biggest competitor did not manage to do something on their own.
Shadowdark is a 5E homebrew.

So do we need more innovation or more D&D?

Nothing brings soo much change and innovation into the RPG scene than a new Edition of D&D this is just a fact, because its the industry leader. And D&D has just a bigger budget, which means they can have more designers and can come up with new things (for others then to copy).

Again, why do you have to wait for D&D to get something new? Why would WOTC, who's target is to go after the biggest market possible which includes a significant percentage of casual players, make drastic changes if what they've got sells? Innovative is not automatically good nor does it necessarily have mass appeal.

Actually many people are saying this, many people are complaining about not being able to find games except for D&D main edition.

Which supports my position that what they have works and there's no demand for dramatic changes. Meanwhile finding other games is easier than ever, especially if you can play online. But that's not a D&D problem. You're banging the drum of "D&D needs to change" but the reason I see is "Because it's not the game I personally want to play".

 

[Rainbow Scissors]

I think the future of D&D will try to incorporate AI in some way.