D&D (2024) So IS it a new edition?

[pawsplay]

Only in RPGs could you change the rules and then claim it's not a new edition.

 

[Oofta]

Only in RPGs could you change the rules and then claim it's not a new edition.

Video games and software have patches all the time, people don't consider them different games. Many physical products from cars to TVs have model year updates, but they're still considered the same product.

 

[pawsplay]

Video games and software have patches all the time, people don't consider them different games. Many physical products from cars to TVs have model year updates, but they're still considered the same product.

That's an interesting linguistic shift. In fact, we were not talking about new games, but new editions of the same game. The video games I play will tell you what edition they are to the third decimal point.

 

[Corinnguard]

Only in RPGs could you change the rules and then claim it's not a new edition.

It's the Ship of Thesus all over again. If you alter or replace any of the rules in an RPG book, is it still the same book. Some will say that it is while others will say that it is something new. In a way, they are both right.

 

[FrogReaver]

That's an interesting linguistic shift. In fact, we were not talking about new games, but new editions of the same game. The video games I play will tell you what edition they are to the third decimal point.

Yep. One might even argue that 4e was such a drastic change that instead of being a new edition it was best categorized as a new game. But then I look at madden 2023 and madden 2024 and I realize it doesn’t take a whole heck of a lot of change to be a new game either.

 

[Belen]

Video games and software have patches all the time, people don't consider them different games. Many physical products from cars to TVs have model year updates, but they're still considered the same product.

We are not playing a video game where a computer does all of the bits and bobs in the background. 5.5 is not a "patch" it is a core rules update that changes or modifies the entire game.

 

[FrogReaver]

We are not playing a video game where a computer does all of the bits and bobs in the background. 5.5 is not a "patch" it is a core rules update that changes or modifies the entire game.

Even then some ‘patches’ are big enough that they change how virtually everything works.

I don’t think any of the words we have really speak to the amount of change. Be it game, edition, patch, model, version, etc. any can involve huge changes or just minor changes.

 

[Corinnguard]

We are not playing a video game where a computer does all of the bits and bobs in the background.

If you are using D&D Beyond's character sheets (which does all of the bits and bobs for you) and using a virtual tabletop program like Tabletop Simulator, it does feel a bit like you are playing a video game. There are a number of us players who are role-playing D&D virtually these days via electronic devices.

Let's also not forget that WoTC is trying to make D&D into a completely virtual RPG.

 

[FrogReaver]

My take is if you have to go out of your way to say whatever you have is backwards compatible with the previous, to make rules for that backward compatibility, then whatever you have isn’t the same as whatever you had before. It may be similar, but it’s not the same.

 

[MGibster]

Another fun question - Is Madden 2024 (or whoever year they are on) a new edition of Madden?

It's a lot different than Madden '94.

Video games and software have patches all the time, people don't consider them different games. Many physical products from cars to TVs have model year updates, but they're still considered the same product.

I don't think I've ever paid for a patch or a software/firmware update for my electronics.

Yep. One might even argue that 4e was such a drastic change that instead of being a new edition it was best categorized as a new game. But then I look at madden 2023 and madden 2024 and I realize it doesn’t take a whole heck of a lot of change to be a new game either.

I probably would have appreciated 4th edition more if it wasn't D&D.