D&D (2024) Jeremy Crawford: “We are releasing new editions of the books”

[doctorbadwolf]

I believe there is clarity in this effort, and it is a worthy effort, as it helps all 3rd parties who have already contributed to the 5E-compatible design environment

This is a big point. If you’re using the PHB (2024) and want to use some subclass from DMSGuild, or from LevelUp, or from Xanathar’s, that hasn’t been updated, you can. You’ll follow whatever rules they establish for when to get your subclass levels, and that will be the biggest deal in the whole endeavor. A whole paragraph of reading.

 

[gban007]

I think part of the issue ultimately is that most of us here aren't really WOTC's ultimate intended audience for these books - like I've said previously in other threads, I think WOTC is mainly targetting these books for the players who each year buy the core books, coming into the hobby or having been introduced to the hobby. There will be a bump in sales for those existing players who do want the new books, but I don't think this is the intended primary market.
For their intended primary market, WOTC doesn't want them to go to a store / online store and see a 5.5 or 6 edition book, and thus feel that all those adventures / supplements that are labelled 5th edition won't be usable when they are, or go in from being introduced to the game, and feeling like they can't get the core books that belong to the game - for this latter I can see some downstream confusion when the info in the books don't line up with the books from the people who introduced them to the game, but I think this issue would be outweighed by the issue outlined above from WOTC's point of view.
Ironically (?) I think if 5e wasn't selling so well, and had more of a base similar to 4e / late 3.5e, then maybe WOTC would have been more inclined to make it 5.5 as the main buyers would understand what that means, but instead they are focussing on new players, where that presence of a .5 would add confusion.

 

[Maxperson]

The PF Remasters certainly feel an awful lot like 2.5e to me. Just as the 2024 D&D books feel an awful lot like 5.5e. YMMV, of course.

It is 5.5e. The One D&D gimmick they are using in an attempt to avoid the stigma of a half edition isn't something I'm going to entertain. I will be referring to it as 5.5e from here on out, regardless.

 

[Maxperson]

staggered in 2024, we do not have more than that

As to learning 5e now being a waste, much of the mechanics and all of the actual DMing will stay the same. What will change the most is what your class and subclass look like.

The playtests show enough mechanics changing that people will need to buy the updated core books, which is the entire point of so many changes. It wouldn't be very smart for them to make three new books and not change enough to get people to actually fork over money to buy them.

The old 5e books will be obsolete because the new ones will also have everything that doesn't change.

 

[FitzTheRuke]

It is 5.5e. The One D&D gimmick they are using in an attempt to avoid the stigma of a half edition isn't something I'm going to entertain. I will be referring to it as 5.5e from here on out, regardless.

Meanwhile, I absolutely WON'T be referring to it as 5.5, in spite of probably agreeing with you as to how much of a rules revision it is, because I don't think that the "point five" name is anymore indicative of what it is than any other name. Honestly, I think it sucks and I wish they'd called 3.5 "Revised Third Edition".

Like I said before, "point five" was used ONCE in something like 15-20 rules revisions. It IS NOT the be-all end-all tell-tale name that designates a partial rules change. "5e Revised" would mean just as much. "One D&D" is the name of the PLAYTEST. Just like D&DNext was the name of the 5e playtest. The 2024 books will have a name. Wait for it. You can argue with what they are called when it is announced.

 

[Parmandur]

Meanwhile, I absolutely WON'T be referring to it as 5.5, in spite of probably agreeing with you as to how much of a rules revision it is, because I don't think that the "point five" name is anymore indicative of what it is than any other name. Honestly, I think it sucks and I wish they'd called 3.5 "Revised Third Edition".

Like I said before, "point five" was used ONCE in something like 15-20 rules revisions. It IS NOT the be-all end-all tell-tale name that designates a partial rules change. "5e Revised" would mean just as much. "One D&D" is the name of the PLAYTEST. Just like D&DNext was the name of the 5e playtest. The 2024 books will have a name. Wait for it. You can argue with what they are called when it is announced.

I mean, my goodness, I am flabbergasted that people are complaining about WotC current messaging as corporate propeganda...while at the same time pining for the raging corporate BS of a ".5 Edition." Which ain't a thing in the publishing industry, at all.

 

[mamba]

The playtests show enough mechanics changing that people will need to buy the updated core books, which is the entire point of so many changes. It wouldn't be very smart for them to make three new books and not change enough to get people to actually fork over money to buy them.

that very much depends on what the goal of the 2024 books is, getting current players to buy them again, or having a new version for new players that is ironing out problems 5e has.

I don’t think WotC cares much whether you stick with 2014. They would care if there were a break and two incompatible camps, leaving half their players behind, as happened with 3e to 4e

The old 5e books will be obsolete because the new ones will also have everything that doesn't change.

the 2014 books will keep on working just fine with the 2024 adventures. This does not make them obsolete, it just makes the 2024 ones stand alone, as they should be (they are not a second and third Xanathar)

Those who want to switch to the 2024 core books, will. Those who allow either, can mix, and those who stick to 2014 for whatever reason, are not left behind

 

[Maxperson]

that very much depends on what the goal of the 2024 books is, getting current players to buy them again, or having a new version for new players that is ironing out problems 5e has.

I don’t think WotC cares much whether you stick with 2014. They would care if there were a break and two incompatible camps, leaving half their players behind, as happened with 3e to 4e

the 2014 books will keep on working just fine with the 2024 adventures.

When did they say this? They've said that the 2024 rules can still run 2014 adventures, claiming backwards compatibility. I haven't seen them say that there will be forward compatibility where the 2014 rules will run 2024 adventures.

 

[mamba]

When did they say this? They've said that the 2024 rules can still run 2014 adventures, claiming backwards compatibility. I haven't seen them say that there will be forward compatibility where the 2014 rules will run 2024 adventures.

Compatibility goes either way. If you can run 2014 adventures with 2024 classes, the reverse is also true.

At a minimum they said you can mix 2014 and 2024 chars, they did not limit that to 2014 adventures, and why would it be.

I only see WotC talking about the two being compatible, I never heard them say 2024 is backwards compatible with 2014, but 2014 is not forward compatible with 2024. Compatibility is symmetrical.

 

[Hussar]

When did they say this? They've said that the 2024 rules can still run 2014 adventures, claiming backwards compatibility. I haven't seen them say that there will be forward compatibility where the 2014 rules will run 2024 adventures.

Why wouldn't it? We've seen basically zero actual rules changes. The basic math of the game isn't changing. None of the combat mechanics or skill mechanics are changing. Why wouldn't you be able to run a newer module with a 2014 core set?