Reply to thread

Message: <blockquote data-quote="Li Shenron" data-source="post: 8039553" data-attributes="member: 1465">I think the lure of the 50th anniversary is way too strong, they will certainly publish something for that. It might end up being simply a "premium boxed set", for example the 3 core books in a box with alternate covers, with or without accessories e.g. dice, maps, minis... Or it might a full revision.I doubt it will be a whole new edition "designed from the ground up". It would be insane, because the game does NOT need to be redesigned as it has no inherent flaws, and their coffins do NOT need it either (although it might change in the future). The 3.5e and 4e reset were pushed by WotC's need to keep up with the sales after running short of ideas, while 5e still has plenty of room. It's supposed they also learned their lesson on fracturing the players base.Inclusivity issues however are urgent, they cannot wait until 2024. We will see a shift in language, artwork and treatment of races in all supplements from now on. I think that PHB treatment of races will be revolutionized* but this takes more time and may after all be delayed until 2024, while perhaps for the moment they will only make language changes and incorporate them into PHB/DMG/MM/else errata in the continuous reprints, while directing gamers to alternate racial abilities in the upcoming book (with the possibility to add them also to the free online Basic rules, to avoid the need for early major changes to the PHB).*one possibility for this is that they would completely replace the traditional Races mechanics with a cherrypicking system of racial abilities (with no restrictions on ability scores bonuses) where traditional races only have a "suggested list" of features. Rearranging the whole Races chapter around this is a major work, that's why I doubt they will do it as errata. Then, about a 2024 revision... Back-compatibility will be highly considered. I believe WotC is financially confident enough to finally aim at an "evergreen" edition of the game, where the core mechanics and material don't need to be changed again, at least not as a whole. But contrary to what others say, I believe that also MINOR changes like 3.5 are the worst thing they can do, e.g. adjusting a bunch of spells or feats, or buffing classes up, or merging skills, or changing combat actions. This kind of revision does break back-compatibility for minimal and debatable improvements. Players are forced into buy again all the books to stay onboard with the community at large.Instead what I think they'll do is TARGETTED changes. They won't change the game mechanics. They won't buff classes up as a marketing ploy (this was a main trick of 3.5 as in "yes you need to buy again all the books, but your character will be more powerful!"). They won't make micro-adjustments. They will instead pick a very small number of specific areas and redesign those, and I think those will be the Sorcerer core class,  the Ranger core class and the Beastmaster archetype.By doing this, there will be a 5.0 Sorcerer/Ranger and a 5.1 Sorcerer/Ranger, but it will be a confined change, nobody else will be affected. If they avoid making the 5.1 versions look like straight boosts of the originals, they can claim that the 5.0 versions are still valid choices, even though overall the 5.1 might be effectively better. In fact, perhaps the work is already almost done, if the alternate Sorcerer/Ranger class features prove popular, all they might have to do is simply incorporate those into the 2024 PHB. And I think they'll stay there beyond whatever "premium" version of the book.There is only one big mechanical change that has been talked about by WotC (Mearls) and that is getting rid of bonus actions. Unfortunately this requires massive changes to every books, as there are literally hundreds of characters and monsters abilities based on bonus actions. I don't think it's worth making a new edition for this purpose, and it will certainly have its own drawbacks.</blockquote>

Verification