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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Mercurius" data-source="post: 6391738" data-attributes="member: 59082">The general answer is yes, partially because I approve of the "living edition" concept. I mean the simple fact of the matter is that "fit shappens" - no edition is born perfect and new ideas and issues come up. How to incorporate that? Errata is one thing, but that's mainly typos and rules clarifications - easily incorporated into future printings. But what about things like an improved Beastmaster Ranger? They can either offer it as a free download, in Dragon (if that will exist), in a splat (which they're not going to do many of), in Basic D&D, etc. But we must be honest - at some point there are going to be enough small and moderate changes and additions to warrant a "revised edition," at least of the Player's Handbook.Now if we assume that major, structural changes will be held off until a new edition, and that the general goal is for an edition to last about a decade, then I could see one, maybe two, moderate revisions before 6E arrives. So a revised PHB in 2017 or so, which includes errata and moderate changes like improved sub-classes, maybe one or two sections expanded or improved upon, but no new math or structural changes, and perhaps no new art beyond a new cover and halfling. Then some kind of "PHB 2" or Unearthed Arcana which might offer variants and new approaches in 2022 or so, that could also preview 6E in ~2025.I'm also wondering if Mearls is under the (probably deluded) perception that 5E is the "edition to end all editions" and that further updates and revisions will just be that, and that we'll "never" see a new edition of the game. Certainly 5E was designed as sort of the "classic-yet-new" edition of D&D, both hearkening back tonally to TSR but with a 21st century, WotCian streamlined rules system. But at some point we're going to see 6E, even if they find a way not to call it that. The first revision will be called something between 5.2 and 5.5 by fans, and then a possible next 5.6 to 5.8--or maybe we'll have yearly small changes and get into the habit of saying 5.1, 5.2, etc--and then WotC (or whoever owns D&D 10-15 years from now) will offer a new version of the game that breaks the continuity enough to warrant it being considered a new edition. It is inevitable.As a side note, it actually could be that 5E is the last official, traditional form of D&D, and that any future print versions will be variations and customizations, but that the next version of D&D will be more focused online or in a virtual space. A lot can happen with technology in the next 10-15 years.I think as long as there are Gen Xers playing, there will be some demand for print books. But at some point the demand will lag behind the cost, and it won't be worth it. Or D&D could be released fully to the public domain in 2025, and we'll see a slew of fantasy heartbreakers and variants. Imagine that. But the point is, it is hard to speculate beyond the next 5-10 years. This is either hyperbole or simply you conflated your own experience with everyone's experience. I mean, I agree that the PHB had issues and I ended up not using it much beyond 2010 or so, but that was mainly because of DDI, and secondarily because the Rules Compendium was so damn useful for rules reference at the table. A couple of my players still used their PHBs for character creation, but most used DDI. But the PHB wasn't completely "worthless." But this might have to do with the fact that our group wasn't super concerned about rules minutiae. This is a tad rigid, don't you think? This follows a "you're either with us, or against us" mentality - and I think dooms you for disappointment and nerdrage because it is simply unrealistic to expect that there won't be some kind of revision, even if it is only "errata plus," which will probably be interpreted by you--based upon your post--as 5.1. In other words, it sounds like you've already decided to be mad at WotC. I've been wondering if, or rather how, 5E will distance a segment of the community, as it seems like an inevitability with every new edition, but also that WotC has done a terrific job of minimizing collateral damage. Maybe what you're describing here is is a preview of how 5E will distance some fans?Ahh, memories of 1983. I just had a flashback to pulling my Deities & Demigods out of my backpack during recess and pouring over it with friends. Those were the days.</blockquote>

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