WOTC may insist the latest version of D&D isn't a new edition, but third parties have already started labeling it 5.5.
No wonder then that WOTC insists there isn't an edition change. It's just "One D&D":
I've discussed in the past the plan to create a D&D that receives frequent updates, patterned after software and video games, instead of major changes. It's an interesting balancing act, because print products are not software, and thus new updates only update existing rules to the extent a group agrees to make the change.
Or to put it another way, the only way any rules changes happen in a D&D game is if the group agrees to it. That's important, because it means what's considered enough rules changes to warrant the "new edition" moniker is not determined by WOTC at all.
It's notable that WOTC focuses on adventure compatibility. The changes happening to D&D are not insignificant. Ability score changes will be tied to background instead of species:
Every third party supplement that features new species or backgrounds are no longer compatible with the rules. That said, this isn't a huge deal as it largely affects character creation, and for existing games the change isn't all that disruptive.
More drastic changes are afoot with weapons:
This means that every new weapon created in every third party supplement no longer offers the same features as in the core rules. It's not a hard change to make, but it does require updating any product that features new weapons. Which is why third parties are starting to identify themselves as "5.5" compatible.
They won't be the last. It will be increasingly important for third parties to show that they are compatible with the latest version of D&D, and whether or not it's an "edition" is largely semantics. Judging by Moonsoon's success ($300K over the $50K goal), it seems declaring compatibility helped.
We're All D&D
It's understandable that Dungeons & Dragon's brand owner Wizards of the Coast doesn't want to identify the latest changes to the game as a new edition. Trying to balance existing customers with future customers isn't easy, and since D&D is largely customized by game masters anyway, some groups may see the transition as largely cosmetic. "Edition Wars" have also roiled the industry; Second Edition's campaign settings were considered largely incompatible with each other, harming the D&D brand back when it was under TSR's management.No wonder then that WOTC insists there isn't an edition change. It's just "One D&D":
I've discussed in the past the plan to create a D&D that receives frequent updates, patterned after software and video games, instead of major changes. It's an interesting balancing act, because print products are not software, and thus new updates only update existing rules to the extent a group agrees to make the change.
Or to put it another way, the only way any rules changes happen in a D&D game is if the group agrees to it. That's important, because it means what's considered enough rules changes to warrant the "new edition" moniker is not determined by WOTC at all.
The Downside of No New Editions
When Dungeons & Dragons transitioned from Third Edition to 3.5, it caused confusion downstream thanks to the third parties who created Open Game License (OGL) compatible content. There was no clear identifier on the differences between editions. Similarly, WOTC's insistence on "backwards compatibility" has some very important caveats:It's notable that WOTC focuses on adventure compatibility. The changes happening to D&D are not insignificant. Ability score changes will be tied to background instead of species:
Every third party supplement that features new species or backgrounds are no longer compatible with the rules. That said, this isn't a huge deal as it largely affects character creation, and for existing games the change isn't all that disruptive.
More drastic changes are afoot with weapons:
This means that every new weapon created in every third party supplement no longer offers the same features as in the core rules. It's not a hard change to make, but it does require updating any product that features new weapons. Which is why third parties are starting to identify themselves as "5.5" compatible.
5.5 in the Wild
As Egg reported in his RPG Crowdfunding Roundup, Moonsoon from Arcane Minis listed it's latest Kickstarter as having "D&D 2024 Compatibility":They won't be the last. It will be increasingly important for third parties to show that they are compatible with the latest version of D&D, and whether or not it's an "edition" is largely semantics. Judging by Moonsoon's success ($300K over the $50K goal), it seems declaring compatibility helped.
