So what happens after 4E?

[Melkor]

Hi folks,

I have played and enjoyed all editions of the D&D game starting with Basic Moldvay through to 4E. While I enjoy some of them more than others, and actually really like the gameplay of the 4th Edition (and more recently, Essentials), 4E is probably me least favorite edition. That might change over time, but at the moment, that's how I feel.

Bias stated, I am not starting a thread to bash one edition or praise another, rather, I was just sitting her this morning thing about how the game has changed through the editions, and was wondering what you people believe will happen with the next edition.

How will 5E look?

This is not necessarily a "tell me your wish list for 5E," but rather - how do you honestly think the game will change and evolve from 4E?

Will it be a drastic change?

What elements will stay, what will be thrown out?

Thanks.

 

[Mournblade94]

D&D 5e will be a diceless video game with a CCG component.

Its evolution will be fully realized.

 

[Doug McCrae]

If it's anything like previous new editions it will have a number of features that are completely new, not seen in D&D before, while at the same time rolling back the more radical innovations of the edition immediately prior to it and being, in many respects, a return to earlier editions.

2e is radically dramatist and world-focused, anti-gamist, anti-dungeon, the anti-Conan, pro-LotR edition.
3e's most radical change was to do away with discrete subsystems, embrace simulationism and (almost) do away with classes. After 2e it is a return to the dungeon, and a return to system.
4e is heavily gamist, but a different type of gamism than 1e. It retains most of the unity of 3e but rolls back some of the the PC/monster unity, does away with a lot of the simulationism and restores the class divide.

One radical possibility for 5e is that it will go back to the 2e style, non-gamist, but with a system that supports story, instead of advising the DM to fight the system. I don't think this will happen, I think the public want gamist play, but it would be cool.

One thing is for certain, the computer, or the smartphone, will be more strongly integrated.

 

[ggroy]

It would be highly dependent on which game designers are assigned to do 5E D&D.

If Mike Mearls is assigned to be the lead designer for 5E D&D, it would not be surprising if the 4E Essentials books are like a "sneak preview" of Mearls' vision for 5E D&D.

If somebody else other than Mearls is assigned to be the lead designer for 5E D&D, then all bets are off. It could be anything, but most likely they will still preserve a subset of tropes common to 4e and earlier editions (ie. races, classes, levels, hit points, etc ...).

 

[Cor_Malek]

Well, since 4e seems so much like first edition (though adjusted to what new generation of players might expect), I'd think 5e might be a lot like ADnD 2e. Pick up the momentum that new players are in, and focus on what they'd like to see. This of course will be more complicated this time, as there's also a big group of players who know past editions.
I think it will depend a lot on electronic gadgets, endorse them more. It's something that's been predicted forever, but the gadgets are more and more accessible. I fart in general direction of iThingies, but when I first saw iPad presentation, all I could think of is "omigod, this would make such a cool world map and combat map and oracle mirror and...". Those aids creep into all systems, more or less. With big fan base it'd be easier for WoTC than for other developers to harness this and actually make their game use them more. Of course this depends on how well 4e and DDI does (income-wise), so I hope they do well

I also think there will more more emphasis on graphical representation of various items. I wouldn't be surprised to see next gen CB have a portrait, or even entire body creation like we see in so many cRPG's - as 3D printers are more and more common. This of course depends on how well pioneer companies like Figure Prints fare.
If WoTC implements this much before 5e, maybe some younger players will become more addicted to making their own metal and plastic minis, and new edition will use this?

So who knows! 5e will pick up current momentum. So it all depends on what is the situation of our hobby that given time. You guys really want to have impact on next editions? Pick up some youngsters and introduce them into game. Or maybe buddies from work? In age of market research, this might do more than some wishful thinking on forums*.

*Not that we have to give that up ;-)

 

[NewJeffCT]

It will all be done electronically through our smart phones, which will soon be surgically implanted into our bodies on our way to becoming The Borg.

Resistance is Futile.

 

[Diamond Cross]

Okay, what the heck is a non gamist RPG?

WTH?

 

[delericho]

I honestly have no idea what 5e might look like. Indeed, I have a sneaking suspicion there may never be a 5e, at least as we'd recognise a tabletop RPG.

Part of this is down to the DDI, which may (should) increase the lifespan of the edition. With a regular income from subscriptions, WotC will have less need to go to a new edition, while simultaneously having less incentive to do so (as it probably means starting over with a new DDI).

Part of it is down to Hasbro's expectations of the brand, which I suspect are barely being met, and will become ever more difficult to meet.

And a large part of it is the merge with the electronic sphere. There comes a point where the computer is so pervasive that it's not really the same type of game.

 

[Doug McCrae]

Okay, what the heck is a non gamist RPG?

WTH?

Gamist means challenge the players. 1e AD&D puts a strong emphasis on challenging the players (it was, after all, the edition that gave us the extremely challenging module, Tomb of Horrors), so is strongly gamist. 2e is, I feel the least gamist edition of D&D. More emphasis is put on, for the GM, world-building and telling a story and, for the players, acting in character and experiencing the world.

 

[NewJeffCT]

I honestly have no idea what 5e might look like. Indeed, I have a sneaking suspicion there may never be a 5e, at least as we'd recognise a tabletop RPG.

Part of this is down to the DDI, which may (should) increase the lifespan of the edition. With a regular income from subscriptions, WotC will have less need to go to a new edition, while simultaneously having less incentive to do so (as it probably means starting over with a new DDI).

Part of it is down to Hasbro's expectations of the brand, which I suspect are barely being met, and will become ever more difficult to meet.

And a large part of it is the merge with the electronic sphere. There comes a point where the computer is so pervasive that it's not really the same type of game.

Part of the problem right now is that the economy has been down for almost 3 years now - I would think that alone would extend the lifespan of 4E.

However, I do think 5E is inevitable. They'll keep some of the ideas of 4E and Essentials, and also bring back a few things in the past to hopefully win back those lost to 3.5, Pathfinder and 1E/2E., and then hopefully create what some will love and others will hate and will generate a lot of passionate responses on enworld.