D&D 5E (2024) Predict WotC's 2026 D&D releases

[FitzTheRuke]

I’m not talking about my circle. As a school teacher (and someone with other hobbies) I come into contact with quite a lot of people who play D&D who are not part of my own group. You may not believe me, but your bubble of D&D players who play AL is a tiny hardcore. There are lots of normal people playing casually these days, with the emphasis being on the social side.

I was about to agree with you, but on further reflection, I think you're mistaken. I think that (in spite of your attempts otherwise) you are affected by your own low opinion of FLGSes.

For example, I would say that I haven't played D&D at my own FLGS with a "hardcore player" in many many years. Nearly ALL of the players of my open D&D games are NEW. New to the Store. New to D&D. They sought out the place to simply find somewhere to learn to play the game. They learned of it through BG3, CR, Stranger Things, and other sources. A small handful played D&D "20+ years ago". I wouldn't call them hardcore players, either.

I certainly have hardcore players as customers. But all of them play with their own groups, and most probably wouldn't like the game I run. I honestly can't think of any exceptions.

Even ten years ago, your idea might hold water, but it does not now.

 

[FitzTheRuke]

I would be very surprised if we do not see updated reprints of most of the catalogue if 5E 2024 remains the current edition for another decade.

I'll say it again: The WHOLE POINT of making 2024 "backwards compatible" was to NOT do this!

 

[FitzTheRuke]

Only time will tell.

I do think there will be a X&T replacement sooner rather than later.

Now, this, I agree with.

 

[Reynard]

I'll say it again: The WHOLE POINT of making 2024 "backwards compatible" was to NOT do this!

Those books are going to need new printings eventually. I think WotC will taker the opportunity to update at least some of them.

 

[FitzTheRuke]

Those books are going to need new printings eventually. I think WotC will taker the opportunity to update at least some of them.

Maybe eventually, with minimal effort. Even then, I doubt the main goal would not be to sell it to you again. I mean, it would be on the goal-list as a nice "perk", sure, but not a main feature. If they do it at all (beyond a basic errata) I would expect it to be to "fix" monster stablocks, where they are included and not much more. Anything that would require much of a layout change I think would be a step too far. There's simply no point.

I don't think people realize how much of a change 5e had over previous editions when it comes to keeping books in print. Most versions of the game, a book came out and was available until it sold its run. Core books and quick-selling supplements would get reprints, sure, I'm not saying that they didn't, but Adventure books? Ones that are years and years old? This is very different.

 

[mamba]

Those books are going to need new printings eventually. I think WotC will taker the opportunity to update at least some of them.

I would not count on it. What would they change, that stat blocks? I am sure they had some print runs since MotM came out but I don't believe they updated any of them then either

 

[FitzTheRuke]

Mid Feb. No announcements. What does this mean?

Not much. If we don't hear anything by the end of March, I'll probably start to worry, though!

Based on the... leak? By B&G about their fancy edition, which appears to be out in May or June, we'd need to hear something within the next six weeks, but it could be near the end of that, without any problems. I'd expect (and hope for) sooner, but it's not panic-zone yet, not at all.

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

I'll say it again: The WHOLE POINT of making 2024 "backwards compatible" was to NOT do this!

Nah, the whole point of 2024 was to not split the fan base by giving them a 4E-style offramp. "Stay! It's basically the same game, but different enough that you will want to buy the new core books!"

There's no way that WotC isn't going to -- at a minimum -- remix 2014 content into "new" 2024 books (which mysteriously have a large percentage of updated content). But if those quarterly projections aren't where Hasbro wants them to be, they will 100% be updating and reprinting old books, even if it's mostly new trade dress and one or two updates (errata + 2024 conversions).

The customers didn't want WotC to not reprint the 2014 books, but I don't recall anyone at WotC ever committing to that in public. And if they did, I assume Hasbro execs threw them out a window 30 seconds later.

 

[GarrettKP]

They have been playtesting2024 updates to 2014 subclasses in UA since the moment the Core books released. Eventually they will reprint all the crunch from pre-Tasha's 5e to bring them in line with 2024 standards.

 

[mamba]

They have been playtesting2024 updates to 2014 subclasses in UA since the moment the Core books released. Eventually they will reprint all the crunch from pre-Tasha's 5e to bring them in line with 2024 standards.

yes, as a new Xanathar's equivalent, not as updates across a dozen or so old adventures