D&D (2024) Predictions for Playtest packet 7's arrival

[Remathilis]

Monsters require number crunching, but done seriously in "controlled" playtest groups, so I agree that the public part of that will be minimal, if done at all.

Exactly. They will make sure the new builds match their updated math. They are going to use any monster tests to see if we like certain design ideas.

 

[Ruin Explorer]

Monsters require number crunching, but done seriously in "controlled" playtest groups, so I agree that the public part of that will be minimal, if done at all.

Quite. What they really need to avoid is a 4E situation, where after they perfectly calc out the monsters and get the game working good, a bloody WotC executive comes in and just across-the-board increases the HP of the monsters just before printing, without even telling anyone. I have to admit it sometimes feels like someone did that to 5E too - an awful lot of monsters feel like they have about 15-20% too many HP.

 

[Remathilis]

So, is this the week?

 

[Parmandur]

So, is this the week?

Yeah probsvly: last Thursday of the month, like the past 3 packets.

 

[FitzTheRuke]

Yeah probsvly: last Thursday of the month, like the past 3 packets.

Yeah, I was banking on fourth Thursday, but as August has five Thursdays, I guess (and hope) we're looking at this week instead of last.

Exactly. They will make sure the new builds match their updated math. They are going to use any monster tests to see if we like certain design ideas.

Yeah, I think all they will really playtest for MM is some layout ideas. Perhaps templates at a stretch. We'll see.

And for the DMG? Absolutely Bastions, obviously. I really HOPE (but don't expect) a completely revamped DM's Toolkit chapter of optional rules for different playstyles, but that would be at least as controversial as anything in the early packets, and I think we're going conservative from here on out.

 

[Parmandur]

I really HOPE (but don't expect) a completely revamped DM's Toolkit chapter of optional rules for different playstyles, but that would be at least as controversial as anything in the early packets, and I think we're going conservative from here on out.

You know, it's interesting, but I don’t recall Perkins goijg over "alternate rules" as a section in the revised DMG? If theybfound in the past decade thst people didn't really use them...space is at a premium...

 

[FitzTheRuke]

You know, it's interesting, but I don’t recall Perkins goijg over "alternate rules" as a section in the revised DMG? If theybfound in the past decade thst people didn't really use them...space is at a premium...

Yeah, as nice as it is, it's not needed. Alternate ways to play D&D can be offered elsewhere - either in a book that WotC is never likely to make, or in 3pp where it will mostly be ignored. I sound disappointed, and I kind of am, but it is what it is. We can homebrew and use community-established alternatives without WotC's help. They may as well just try to make what D&D IS as good as they can.

I'm honestly really quite excited about the DMG.

 

[Parmandur]

Yeah, as nice as it is, it's not needed. Alternate ways to play D&D can be offered elsewhere - either in a book that WotC is never likely to make, or in 3pp where it will mostly be ignored. I sound disappointed, and I kind of am, but it is what it is. We can homebrew and use community-established alternatives without WotC's help. They may as well just try to make what D&D IS as good as they can.

I'm honestly really quite excited about the DMG.

It is going to be the biggest departure of the 3 core books, easily. I could see a lot of groups that don't "upgrade" on thenplayer side...but the DM picks this up.

 

[WanderingMystic]

They are going to hit the Christmas 2024 for the phb no matter what I think. Missing that means that they miss there anniversary and they miss out on all of the possible holiday sales. The monster manual and the dmg I think will make it out around March unless they are both already close to go and are only planing on minor twerking from ua feedback.

 

[FitzTheRuke]

They are going to hit the Christmas 2024 for the phb no matter what I think. Missing that means that they miss there anniversary and they miss out on all of the possible holiday sales. The monster manual and the dmg I think will make it out around March unless they are both already close to go and are only planing on minor twerking from ua feedback.

I suspect that they just might put them all out at once, or nearly so, some time in 2024 Q4.