Very true. Depending on just how different 2024 edition winds up being, this could create some dramatic reactions on release...As an aside, an awful lot of people who actually run/play D&D are unaware of the 1D&D playtest right now, outside of the "extremely online" types. For example, my most rules-attentive and generally up-to-date-on-D&D player? He didn't know about it until last weekend when I told him. My friend who regularly runs D&D for his kids and their friends, and is a long-time player, and buys a lot of 5E stuff? He didn't know until even more recently, and again, only because I told him. These people are representative of more "typical" D&D players, I would suggest, and they know nothing about it.
Wizards calling it a new edition or not, new rules always cause some division. The fact that these new rules are compatible with older ones will avoid a break like 3e to 4e, but there will be groups playing old and new rules and moving from one to another will require some adaptation, not to much different than conversion rules from edition to edition, just a little smoother.
In the end of the day, the new rules will be like a new edition.
I disagree. In the context of D&D, the word "edition" has a specific meaning that WotC is expressly abandoning: substantial changes that make the previous version obsolete. You had to buy new books or you were in effect playing a different game than new players. This is why we still have communities playing 1e, 3.5 e, 4e, etc.Wizards calling it a new edition or not, new rules always cause some division. The fact that these new rules are compatible with older ones will avoid a break like 3e to 4e, but there will be groups playing old and new rules and moving from one to another will require some adaptation, not to much different than conversion rules from edition to edition, just a little smoother.
In the end of the day, the new rules will be like a new edition.
We definitely cannot all agree that MotM integrates perfectly. They cut out a ton of spells from soellcasting monsters across the board, for example.I disagree. In the context of D&D, the word "edition" has a specific meaning that WotC is expressly abandoning: substantial changes that make the previous version obsolete. You had to buy new books or you were in effect playing a different game than new players. This is why we still have communities playing 1e, 3.5 e, 4e, etc.
So if OneD&D is truly backwards compatible, then that will not be like a new "edition" as that word is commonly understood in the context of D&D. Again for my example, I point to Monsters of the Multiverse, which I think we can all agree integrates quite seamlessly with 2014 books.
I don't follow your last point. What word is being redefined, and by whom?We definitely cannot all agree that MotM integrates perfectly. They cut out a ton of spells from soellcasting monsters across the board, for example.
I also expect 6e will not be nearly as backwards compatible as folks who care about more just the base math would like. Deciding to redefine a word to suit your purposes requires a good deal of buy-in to work. I can't speak for others, but I don't buy it.
I disagree. In the context of D&D, the word "edition" has a specific meaning that WotC is expressly abandoning: substantial changes that make the previous version obsolete. You had to buy new books or you were in effect playing a different game than new players. This is why we still have communities playing 1e, 3.5 e, 4e, etc.
So if OneD&D is truly backwards compatible, then that will not be like a new "edition" as that word is commonly understood in the context of D&D. Again for my example, I point to Monsters of the Multiverse, which I think we can all agree integrates quite seamlessly with 2014 books.
This video does a decent job of breaking it down. The current necrotic gnome webpage lays out the differences between their products as well. But yeah it could be simplerAah so - in example, is the BASIC thief class identical to the ADVANCED one? The ADVANCED just adds druids and illusionists and whatnot?