Will There Ever Be 6th Edition Dungeons and Dragons
I’m nerd and I like to speculate over nerdy stuff like what imaginary character can kick what other imaginary character’s ass. Recently we did just one such speculation video. But this time it was about if a sixth edition Dungeons & Dragons will come out to kick the current edition of D&D’s ass? Sorry 5E D&D. To be honest we probably never would have done the video but our friend and guest Scott requested it. Being D&D nerds it wasn’t very difficult to get us talking about our favorite tabletop roleplaying game. That is not quite an accurate description of the video. It was more about if we think they’ll put out a new edition of D&D and how long before it happens.
6th Edition Dungeons and Dragons video
I’ve heard 5E D&D is the edition to last but I kind of feel like they always say this. Next thing you know revenues are dropping and Hasbro and Wizards of the Coast begin looking for a way to infuse cash back into a brand. What is the easiest thing for WotC to do? Create a new edition of course.
I can’t see this happening for at least decade personally and I’m hoping for something more like a powers and options addition to the game. It was done back in second edition Advanced Dungeons & Dragons with a far less elegant system. The great thing about 5E D&D is it really does have the ability to stick around for a long time to come.
Another benefit to us gamers who are tired of the endless new editions of our beloved RPGs is fourth edition D&D. Yup I said 4E D&D did something awesome for the hobby in a roundabout way. Actually several things. It gave us Pathfinder, not my cup of tea but I know a lot folks love it. It divided the D&D community. 4E D&D compelled WotC to come up with a better game and that is 5E D&D.
I know you are wondering how can dividing the community be good thing? Here is how I see it. WotC reacted by coming up with a version of D&D that bridges the gaps between all editions. 5E D&D has brought back a ton of the gamers who left the hobby or just D&D. Not only that WotC staffers will be licking their wounds from the beating they got over 4E D&D for quite some time to come. For these very reasons I think it’ll be a long time before WotC even thinks about going to a sixth edition of D&D.
There of course a few things that could easily alter this. One, WotC sells the D&D brand to another company and they choose to go to a new edition of the game. Two, WotC ends up with a new team on the D&D brand. I’m sure there are other factors I’m not even considering.
So in all honesty I don’t think we’ve seen the last edition of D&D yet.
I wish it were true though. The current version of the game has so much potential with the way it was designed. It’s very modular so I could see certain components taken out swapped out for different mechanic sets. The areas this works easily are race, class, background, multiclass and feats. That encompasses virtually every aspect of the game.
For instance what if a new rule book came out for different genres of D&D that replaced or added to all the races, classes, feats, equipment and backgrounds to give it that feel? That is practically a new game. Sure, it’s been done in the past but I feel like it would be easier with 5E D&D than any other previous edition of the game. The way each module of 5E D&D works it just feels right to pull them apart and put them back together in different ways.
ericlanemartin
June 1, 2017 at 1:52 pmOn the one hand, I get the necessity for WoTC to keep infusing itself with cash. But I have already purchased 3 PHBs, a MM, and a DMG. That is a lot of cash. Not to mention TftYP. And it is not like you learn the rules/mechanics etc. in just a few days, especially if you volunteer to DM. This can be both a complicated and an expensive hobby. I am not an RPG Book collector. I try and stick with the core books and I just want to play, with familiar rules. I would need a very compelling reason to drop a nickel on a 6th edition, esp. if it was on the shelves in the next 8 years.
Mike Mearls if your reading this, I am NOT asking for a 6th edition.
GloinkShpoinka
July 22, 2017 at 2:42 pmWould have*, never “would of”. Please use basic grammar.
Doug Vehovec
July 22, 2017 at 4:10 pmThanks! We’re always working on improving in all aspects.
Mark Kappert
March 8, 2018 at 12:25 pmI still play 3.0 and just got 3.5 up grade. These books still sell for cover price or more. I’ve been playing for almost 30 years, I passed on 4E and still have not got 5th.
GloinkShpoinka
March 8, 2018 at 1:49 pmwow, why?
Scott Baker
March 24, 2018 at 11:33 pmI suspect 6th edition is probably going to be something digital in nature. Internet use is just everywhere. Half of my tabletop RPGs are played online with friends from around the globe–the other half are played in person with a TV or projector displaying a digital map and using digital tools. Sometimes I just play using my cell phone (no paper, pencil, dice, nor books).
If D&D went digital, there’s a ton of options there. Digital tools for the DM to paint maps and dungeons, craft monsters and traps, make magic items, all using the built-in game rules and enforcing balance (if desired)–drastically reducing the time it takes to make adventures. Instead of buying books, just subscribe–monthly fees will give them more steady income, and they can make smaller, faster releases instead of full books with months of nothing. Putting all D&D players together online can really grow the community and build up interest. They can have larger contests, even leverage ideas like player guilds, and have online play earn points to unlock new features or even just cosmetic fluff for you online persona. Let people record their sessions and post online–people seem to love that stuff these days. Heck, even randomly throw people together into one-off games–feel like player? Get a group right then and there!
I’ve been playing/DMing D&D for 27 years now, and I for one would welcome a much more digital D&D. Digital tools like Roll20 have made creating and running adventures SO much easier. I used to play once a week and DM a game once a week. I now play 1-2 times a week and run 3-4 games a week. I have a lot less time now with life and work than I did as a teenager or in college, so it’s pretty amazing how much these tools have enhanced my capabilities (though decades of experience have probably helped).
I definitely don’t want to see 6th edition be just another rules revision. 5th edition is awesome, I don’t think there’s a reason to change the core mechanics, just add more options to the game.
Mitch McPhetridge
September 17, 2018 at 8:23 pmI still play 1e/2e, I would play 5e but it is not compatible with 1e/2e and im pretty sure when they make 6e it will be a totally different game again in everything but name.
Doug Vehovec
September 18, 2018 at 11:20 amHello! Thank you for reading. I find a lot of common ground between 5E and several other editions, especially the basics. But, if you’re having a great time playing D&D in any form, that’s awesome keep it up! Personally, I like each edition more than the previous so I’m sure when sixth edition D&D comes about it’ll become my new favorite.