D&D 5E (2024) D&D 2024 Is Now OFFICIALLY Called "5.5e"

Settling a debate that has lasted for over two years, the current edition of Dungeons & Dragons, which has been known by various names up until now, has finally received an official designation: D&D 5.5e.

Previously, the current ruleset was referred to as 'One D&D', before becoming 'D&D 2024'. Other variations exist, but the most common version used by fans was D&D 5.5.

The 5.5 terminology echoes the edition names used in the early 2000s for D&D 3E and D&D 3.5.

D&D Beyond has an FAQ related to the name change. In it, they say that "Earlier on, [the 2024 rules] were referred to differently. As D&D Beyond evolved and more players used both versions side by side, it became clear that “5.5e” matched how the community already talks about the game and made things easier to understand."

The terminology will be used going forward on D&D Beyond, although unlike the 3E/3.5 hardcovers, the physical book titles will not include any edition designations.

The 2014 edition of D&D is to continue to be called "5e", with the 2024 version being "5.5e". WotC says that "5.5e refers to content that uses the 2024 updated core rules, which are fully compatible with Fifth Edition."

Despite including the "e" (for "edition") WotC continues to maintain that 5.5e is not a new edition, and merely a 'rules update', or 'version'. Whether 'edition' and 'version' are synonyms or not we'll leave people to debate.

The logo at the top of the page is our own mockup to represent the news, and is not an offical rebranding.

 

[TerraDave]

Well now we know.

Only took 2 years for them to confirm it.

 

[FitzTheRuke]

Agreed. I was a big proponent of 5.24 because the .5 language reinforces a hard break between 5e and the new books. But the loudest group won.

Hopefully it doesn't mean a shift towards away from compatibility...

If I had my way (and I've never expected to) I'd have replaced the decimal with the "e" and called it 5e24. It's only one character more than 5.5e and I think is a better method for designating the change, without a throwback to a marketing scheme from the early oughts.

Though that is itself a concession - WotC never wanted to call 5e14 "Fifth Edition" either, but lost that battle. Their fault was not marketing it with a specific alternate moniker, though the traction that the edition-names have had, in spite of pretty much all having been technically incorrect, in the very least since 2nd Edition did their revised Black Books, if not before.

I guess in the end, I'll just have to accept that 3.5 left its indelible stamp, and for D&D at least, "Half Editions" are in fact a thing. Those aforementioned Black Books are "2.5" and D&D Essentials is "4.5" and now we have "5.5".

Ugh. I don't like it, but it is what it is.

 

[Reynard]

Agreed. I was a big proponent of 5.24 because the .5 language reinforces a hard break between 5e and the new books. But the loudest group won.

Hopefully it doesn't mean a shift towards away from compatibility...

I don't know how they would. All "compatibility" ever meant was you could run the library of 5E adventures with the new books, along with vague noises about how things would not break too badly if you ran old subclasses that had not been republished for 2024 yet. It was never some guarantee that you could keep using Tasha's forever, or whatever.

 

[Charlaquin]

I mean, it’s what most players were calling it, and it’s a lot easier and more efficient to say or type than “the 2024 rules.” Not to mention, the further we get from 2024, the more that title starts to make it feel outdated. They should have just bit the bullet and given it a definitive title from the beginning, but that ship has sailed, and calling it 5.5e now is probably the least worst option.

 

[John Lloyd1]

I'll still call it 2024.

 

[Reynard]

I mean, it’s what most players were calling it, and it’s a lot easier and more efficient to say or type than “the 2024 rules.” Not to mention, the further we get from 2024, the more that title starts to make it feel outdated. They should have just bit the bullet and given it a definitive title from the beginning, but that ship has sailed, and calling it 5.5e now is probably the least worst option.

"Now THIS is D&D!"
"Dungeon And Dragon: Neverwinter Drift"
"&: The Game Formerly known As D&D"

 

[el-remmen]

Not to mention, the further we get from 2024, the more that title starts to make it feel outdated.

Given all that has happened in my life and in the world since then, 2024 already seems like a decade ago sometimes, so yeah, what Charlaquin said.

Plus, not sure why it matters or anyone cares, but since I while would grab rules from it, I am not planning on playing it as a complete ruleset, my own not caring probably colors my perception.

 

[Azzy]

I rather they had it listed as 6e instead. Still just as arbitrary as anything else, but would certainly be ballsier.

 

[Reynard]

I rather they had it listed as 6e instead. Still just as arbitrary as anything else, but would certainly be ballsier.

I mean, actually making a 6E would have been ballsier.

 

[Alzrius]

Nice to see WotC formally acknowledge what the rest of us already knew to be true.