6E Theory 6e guesses

[tombowings]

I think it generally means "they aren't making the game exactly the way I like it."

Or it could mean, the things he liked about a previous edition of the game have become something he now dislikes.

Which is why everyone should run their own homebrew instead of relying on WOTC posy to please them.

 

[SkidAce]

Or it could mean, the things he liked about a previous edition of the game have become something he now dislikes.

Which is why everyone should run their own homebrew instead of relying on WOTC posy to please them.

I teach all D&D newcomers to homebrew campaign settings, and modify rules (after they learn the basics of course).

Most of them continue to do so, some do not. But all still play the game.

 

[bsss]

D&D will never have an edition that is right for everyone, after all. Better for individual tables that people should make the homebrew and/or find the different edition/game that works for them if they are looking for something different, rather than hoping on a dream that WotC (or any company) will nail it next time.

 

[Zardnaar]

I don’t think there will ever be what I would call a 6e. The 3.5e to 4e lesson they learned is that major changes to d&d fragments the playerbase too much.

Well eventually most people will get sick of 5E and wsnt something new.

Very rapid edition cycles rushed out the door with severe changes isn't good.

 

[Shogunbirds]

I think that 6e would be an iteration of 5.5, which is to say an iteration of an iteration. It would look different enough from 5e that it likely wouldn't be super backwards compatible but I think a few core pillars would remain. In my mind, there are two potential futures:
Future A, it's feats on feats and prestige classes; basically the 3.5 of 5.X and will see some success where they try to tone it down in another "rules revision" where they'll find themselves being better off returning to 5e.

Future B is the timeline where it's a generic system that's a cross between GURPS 4e and WFRP 4e and will be marketed as "we provide the rules and theme, you create the flavor". Personally, I think that would be a bad approach for them. Partly because at that point it'll be Mythcraft but made by WOTC and partly because they'll kill alot of specific stuff they could make. It would be a significant departure I think from their current design philosophy. I also think that that sort of design approach would leave a lot of homebrewers feeling a little.... directionless, which will kill a lot of chatter and 3pp innovation around the game.

Do I think that a 6e is innevitible? probably, not because I think they need to change the system but I think at a certain point they'll have it done for hype and shareholders in the company or something. When 6e does arrive, I probably won't be playing it and will sound like my dad talking about the good ol days of 3.5 but instead I'm talking about 5e. I'll have other systems I'll be playing- and at that point I'll be making 5e content calling out to the people like me who do the same thing.

 

[Shogunbirds]

My wild take on 6E is that it will be highly modular for chargen;

• Choose 2 Ability Score Increase
• Choose 2 Species Trait
• Choose 2 Class Feature
• Choose 2 Saving Throw Proficiency
• Choose 2 Language Proficiency
• Choose 3 Armor Proficiency
• Choose 3 Weapon Proficiency
• Choose 2 Skill Proficiency
• Choose 1 Tool Proficiency
• Choose 6 Equipment

I agree

 

[I'm A Banana]

• Simplification trend will continue. Tables spend too much time in combat and chargen right now, they will likely try to find a way to thread that needle to make both quicker (so, probably removing some granularity)
• Digitalization trend will continue. A bias toward explicit mechanical resolution over rulings in most options. A system a computer could run.
• Possibly move to a "subscription model" -- digital-first, where releases are fed onto a platform (Beyond) and books become more like collector's items.
• "The TTRPG is just one of many ways to engage with D&D. We have board games, video games, toys, accessories, movies, and TV shows." -- possibly a move toward fewer, bigger releases in a year.

 

[SkidAce]

• Simplification trend will continue. Tables spend too much time in combat and chargen right now, they will likely try to find a way to thread that needle to make both quicker (so, probably removing some granularity)
• Digitalization trend will continue. A bias toward explicit mechanical resolution over rulings in most options. A system a computer could run.
• Possibly move to a "subscription model" -- digital-first, where releases are fed onto a platform (Beyond) and books become more like collector's items.
• "The TTRPG is just one of many ways to engage with D&D. We have board games, video games, toys, accessories, movies, and TV shows." -- possibly a move toward fewer, bigger releases in a year.

 

[Stalker0]

Not really. Their statement makes it clear that WotC's position hasn't changed and emphasizes the word "evolution" for the umpteenth time since they announced "OneD&D." All they announced is, to paraphrase, that "this is what the fans have settled on calling it, so fine." Edit: probably because 3PP were asking for clarification for marketing purposes, which makes sense.

The underlying, immovable object of D&D is now DnDBeyond. Nothing will be published that breaks it, which means you aren't getting radical change.

Yeah got to echo this. Considering just how light a touch 5.5 was....I think WOTC has very little appetite for big uphevals as long as those DndBeyond dollars are rolling in.

What was the entire point of this exercise after all, move away from a constant need for rulebooks to get income (and therefore compete with every past edition), instead move to an evergreen edition that gets periodic "version updates" and focuses on clean user experiences.

I don't see that changing anytime soon. I can see basically bug fixes to various subsystems. Maybe we finally get a stealth ruleset worth a damn. Maybe they give Bastions another crack. Certainly another balance pass on spells could be there, etc. But a true "new edition" like 3e -> 4e -> 5e.....not in the current climate.

Now we move ahead a few years, maybe beyond collapses and suddenly they have to go back to the well, but I can't see that yet.