The new One D&D and EVERYTHING you need to know

There’s a brand new edition of Dungeons & Dragons coming with One D&D! Wizards of the Coast have just announced the latest edition of D&D and there are a whole load of changes even in just the early playtest material.
From brand new races and updated old ones, to total revamps of all the rulebooks, and a whole new way to make characters, there’s a lot to get through.
We’ve narrowed down the most exciting and interesting points Wizard’s mentioned in their announcement as well as everything from our exclusive press preview. Strap in for ten new things coming in One D&D!
00:00 - Introduction
00:41 - No More Editions
01:27 - The Future of 5E Content
02:14 - Reworked Inspiration
03:29 - D&D Virtual Tabletop
04:47 - New Take on Backgrounds
07:29 - Brand New Race
08:43 - Orcs Now in the PHB
09:48 - Races Now More Flexible
10:55 - One D&D Release Date
11:47 - Playtesting Available Now
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[@themightymash1]

Inspiration "is meant to be awarded for being true to your character" Pretty sure when I DM it's given out if someone makes me laugh or comes up with an ingenious solution I didn't see coming

[@FluffieXStarshine]

Is there negative inspiration? ... let's just say we have an awakened pole of collapsing named Poley Shore...

[@monkibro]

Same!

[@destinypurpley]

Well, hope you're ready for humans to get inspiration every long rest!

[@chrislonghurst7249]

On the subject of 'no more editions'... I feel like asserting that one has reached perfection is a risky proposition.

[@martinjrgensen8234]

It is also just marketing bollocks. Of course they will release a new rule set when they need money

[@gordo8354]

@@martinjrgensen8234 if their virtual map is tied to DNDBeyond’s subscription service they’ll have all the money they’ll need

[@jodinsan]

Yeah... it's like "Introducing D&D.... _The Live Service!"_

[@asdfjoe123]

Windows 10 and ONE DND will be the last versions we'll ever make - Microsoft and Hasbro.

[@Torthrodhel]

@@asdfjoe123 lol, nice comparison.

[@colbyboucher6391]

So many buisnesses that rely on editions / versioning try to go "this is the last one" and it *never* is. And in this case, I feel like it's an attempt to make people see earlier versions as purely inferior so they don't stick around. Making it tougher to talk about which specific version you liked certainly helps.

[@sebasbot01]

They may go the update route. Minecraft is still one game yet UPDATE 1.1 and UPDATE 1.19 are two totally different games

[@kathrynredmond5294]

@@sebasbot01 and most likely go to a subscription based model a la office365 and every other software that has relied on versions in the past.

[@psoma_brufd]

Absolutely, last edition never works as you say.

[@18ps3anos]

The general inexperienced perspective was already that earlier versions were worse and obsolete. Newcomers will by default already assume that. However WotC is most definitely trying to put that statement out there as "official", and that's a shame. They are really trying to go for the predatory "game as service" model, "the only dnd that matters" approach and control an even bigger monopoly.

[@NeekTheNook]

They will be monatising the online portion. Subscriptions are more valuable longterm than physical sales

[@Webhead123]

Thanks for covering this. And, of course, the player base is going to end up calling it either 5.5e or 6th Edition no matter what WotC has to say about it, so...there's that. They've already tried to do this once before (way back in the earliest days of 5th Edition, no less) and it didn't stick. lol

[@lyshote4537]

If your referring to D&D Next, that was a codename and so is One D&D.

[@Webhead123]

@@lyshote4537 Yes, that was the name. I couldn't remember what they were calling it, only that it didn't keep. Also, if you recall back to early days of previews and testing for D&D 4E, at the time they were stressing really hard to remove "edition" from its branding and insisted that players just call it "D&D". The problem with this kind of thing is that it breeds confusion...so players just resorted to calling it 4E for sake of clarity and simplicity.

[@phaedruslive]

As a BROSR guy, I don't like the idea of people referring to 5.5 or 6 as "One d&d" Wotc wants to totally obscure TSR and the game it created.

[@havable]

@@phaedruslive I think that is more Hasbro than Wotc

[@thomasparker6124]

@@phaedruslive TBF, Gygax started that when he wanted to stop giving Dave Arneson by releasing AD&D and claiming it was different enough that it didn't count as D&D anymore.

[@DarkKnight6six6]

"we're doing away with editions!" And the fans said "no."

[@js1817]

Hmph. No editions? What does that even mean?

[@Hyper_Fox06]

I've always felt that the monster manual should have been included in the DM's handbook

[@sebasbot01]

It's one more book they can charge you for

[@Hyper_Fox06]

@@sebasbot01 they're still better about it than Games Workshop, FFS I don't need a manual for every sub faction every 3-4 years then pay an arm and a leg to be able to field a small army

[@psoma_brufd]

@@Hyper_Fox06 being better than the most rip off table top gaming company is the bare minium, not something to even give them the chance of comparing to.

[@allluckyseven]

I like it that there are 3 separate books, despite it being more expensive. Being 3 books you can pass them around the table more easily, you don't have to deal with a massive book, and less content needs to be removed in order to fit a particular number of pages.

[@psoma_brufd]

@@allluckyseven except only one of those three books needs to be passed around at all, except for maybe a specific page of the MM and digital versions exist, it just costs more for the sake of it. Whilst I respect your opinion, I respectfully don't understand it.

[@colbyboucher6391]

Build-a-background and more integrated feats might be pretty nice. Feels like they're acknowledging what D&D has become, wheras when 5e was first developed they were trying to recapture that old-school crowd. I don't personally enjoy modern D&D much but it seems like Wizards is at picking a side and embracing it, which should lead to stronger core rules overall. Great for people who love 5e.

[@Tigerheart01]

My experience was that it brought the old grognards back (like me) and brought new people in. It pleased the veterans and opened the doors for new people interested. The culture change that made it more acceptable to be a "nerd" really helped too.

[@_vinterthorn]

@@Tigerheart01 Well, just wait. I predict many of the coming changes, especially those in character choice and creation, might turn old farts away in the end. I mean, if it's called "problematic" to still have baddies in a fantasy world, many certainly will see all this with some caveat.

[@pootieheadroflmao]

After dissecting the current background system, I had already figured out how to make your own and had it homebrewed into my own games. Mechanically, they just add a set number of proficiencies/languages and grant a feature, which is barely used and is situational usually.

[@18ps3anos]

@@Tigerheart01 There's a strong audience still in the OSR movement, even newcomers. Sadly 5e doesn't scratch that itch and it looks like this new version won't either. And that's fine, really. But it's just not for me.

[@omarlopezproductions]

Thankfully 5e was way better IMO than 4e

[@quantum_ogre]

Mechanically, I could take or leave half this stuff. It isn't wildly crazy, not with all the 3rd party/homebrew stuff that's been popularized. But the 'One D&D, no more editions!' is an extremely arrogant stance, and not likely to be proven a success by history. Even if they just do bi-yearly corebook updates to 'One D&D', they still will have their tweaks as they always have. I can't imagine new players trying to coordinate with their group which printing # or year # of which supplement they need. And the minute Hasbro is dissatisfied with the money One D&D is making, they'll just force another edition- in name or no.

[@18ps3anos]

This is indeed a problem cause by the modern expectations on how to play DnD. I don't run modern editions. And when players come to my table, I explicitly communicate with them how that game is gonna go and which options there are during character creation. Usually, those options are very broadly defined and allows for virtually any character concept, without needing tons of character abilities to choose from. It's simple, yet free. It's a different kind of game, one that unfortunately is not the norm or at least more encouraged and somewhat popular. That's why I can't simply relate with the average 5e crowd. We play games under very different fundamental expectations and principles.

[@rakedos9057]

You are making me think that One D&D could be like Magic The Gathering, same rules but tweaks and new rules in some themed bundles. That would be interesting but weird at the same time.

[@ExeErdna]

@@18ps3anos A nice amount of players treat 5e as a video game or they're too hardlined on RAW. Like the whole racial changes I get letting people give their free +2/1 or +1 anywhere. Sure yet getting rid of weaknesses is weak. It felt like min/maxers from MMOs wanted to D&D like an MMO and kept getting mad when they couldn't have it their way by design. Now it's looking like it's empowering players even more not realizing they were already strong. It's like some of the 5e player base fears death and it's toxic to the game. I'm fine with making strong gimmicky characters yet I know if I die oh well. Since I normally have more ideas. It's also why a lot people getting scared of class/subclass features +10 is funny most of them aren't gonna last that long. They're either gonna die, finish the journey or get bored with their gimmick and want to play something else. SO it seems like One D&D is focusing on those players that's why magic and beasts can't crit. To give that low level game some "power"

[@teratoma.]

it's not arrogance, it's corprorate trying to maximize profits (in other words, corporation being a corporation) you're naive if you think they actually believe what they are saying, it's simply an attractive statement for both old and completely new possible customers

[@LordBrittish]

@@rakedos9057 that’s part of why I never stuck with MTG. New rules each edition that sometimes overwrite earlier rules.

[@colbyboucher6391]

Building their own VTT is literally just a step towards getting people even more stuck in with D&D specifically. Keep people there and hopefully they won't even notice that other games exist, and if they ever do they'll be like "oh but I don't want to use this other VTT though"

[@evenekomi313]

I wouldn't be surprised if they are after that juicy recurring revenue from a subscription service too.

[@j.r.cilliangreen4083]

True to both of you

[@_vinterthorn]

@@evenekomi313 Of course, in the end it'll be DnDaaS... With some lame excuse like "we've come to the conclusion noone uses dead-tree versions of our releases anymore"...

[@pootieheadroflmao]

Good riddance.

[@asdfjoe123]

I already get this without a DND only VTT. Because of Stranger Things and the professional actors doing DND that's all everyone will play. No Pathfinder, no Cyperpunk Red, no Starfinder, no Coyote & Crow, ONLY DND5e!

[@avathequeen14]

I really like the idea of getting a feat from your Background, I'm much less keen on getting my ability score increases from them. I much prefer GabeJamesGames' class based version for those bonuses. It would ask you three questions and those answers would determine a +1 to a score. Like, "As a Druid to you connect more to Flora or Fauna?" and depending on your answer it would give you a +1 to Intelligence or a +1 to Wisdom. I like the agency combined with helping players come up with role-play ideas early if they're struggling with it.

[@johncox7169]

You do realize, that strait in the new rules, it says that you can put the +1 and +2 in any ability scores you want (or 3 "+1s"). So if you want your ability scores determined by questions, then you can totally do that. Those ability score bonuses will be listed under background by D&D Beyond, but you can totally decide on them any way you want.

[@RTitleySage]

Some welcome changes but the very notion of "One D&D" feels like they've decided they're never going to address the inherent problems with the system - but last time they did that they made 4e and everyone jumped to Pathfinder because WotC moved their cheese.

[@commandercaptain4664]

I just hope they keep DM Guild around, with the older editions for sale there, instead of snatching those away and pretending they never happened.

[@JayFolipurba]

It's still weird that humans and tieflings and such can be small if so choose, but dwarves have to be medium, even though they're smaller on average. There should be a choice to be a small dwarf

[@commandercaptain4664]

Dwarfling? What about small Halflings? Hobbknobs?

[@crym77]

I want to be a giant halfling.

[@splinteredmind4949]

"All new races." by this they mean fifty new types of anthropomorphic animal.

[@xionkuriyama5697]

And?

[@Kittsuera]

its the catch all race. which is fine from a player getting to play what they want perspective.

[@jeebay5188]

I didn’t mind the racial ability boosts and boons, I really enjoy how pf2e made character creation modular. You still get your racial modifiers but you get to tack on numbers depending on what background, class, etc one chooses. Perhaps wotc was unable to do this without being too similar to what paizo did. I’m interested to see what changes.

[@marhawkman303]

yeah it just makes sense for someone who's 300 pounds to be physically stronger than someone who's only 100....etc. People aren't physically all the same.

[@jamesrogers2680]

Sounds like they are moving towards where Paizo already is. That's a good thing as Pathfinder and Starfinder in particular you can be literally anything as a player race

[@asdfjoe123]

Funny, I had the same observation. They're doing for 5e what Piazo did with Pathfinder1e for 3.5.

[@mycatistypingthis5450]

I don't think they'll make as good a system as PF2. That would take time, effort and courage.

[@gmason1725]

In other words WotC wants you to forget there is a 1E-3.5E

[@FluffieXStarshine]

I mean I love 3.5 and still use some of the extra books (tweaked) in my current games. Like adding the Brixuslty(sp) from the races of the wild as a special bonus for our halfling druid

[@johncox7169]

They wanted that from the day 4e dropped. Not sure why this is a surprise to you.

[@icanusernamebetterthanyou3853]

Then why do they still sell 1-3.5E? (hoping I don't jinx this)

[@gmason1725]

@@icanusernamebetterthanyou3853 knock on wood.

[@darkunicorn6669]

Wizard straight up went "Aight you freaks, play your fursona have a blast"

[@GoblinsCorner]

Sounds very much like Pathfinder 2nd, what with feat changes, backgrounds, etc. Not a bad thing, as Paizo does a good job with this, but I'm curious how close these two systems will get.

[@Girentina242]

I hope they aren't going to change the classes/subclasses too drastically. There are so many cool subclasses that have been released for 5e (expansion books, critical role books, etc.) that It would REALLY suck for them not to work anymore for the new edition.

[@JackgarPrime]

I'm betting that classes will be the next UA they release, so I get the feeling we won't need to wait too long to find out.

[@haravikk]

I don't like this new inspiration; the reason people never used it as-is is because single use advantage you have to declare *before* you roll is not a good bonus, as it's so easily wasted. Most groups I've played with have always treated it as a re-roll instead, which actually gets used. Also it's such a weird change to the trigger; instead of encouraging good roleplay, it's now rewarding luckier players for being lucky. I'd much rather trigger it on 1's as a bounce back mechanic for less lucky players, but a 1 single use isn't really enough for that. Wasted opportunity to properly change it IMO.

[@Aleksandrus12]

Exactly. And moreover inspiration is hardly used just because everyone just forgets about it: DMs forget to hand it out (I've told myself so many times: "this time I'll remember about the inspiration" - yes... I always forget with so many things to think about and track in the every moment of the game) and even when they do, players forget that they have it. Making it granted with a nat. 20 doesn't address elephant in the room and takes it in the even more wrong direction.

[@arcturuslight_]

It also feels weird in a sense of encouraging making more rolls for a chance to top off inspiration. Also, even playing normally, depending on the kind of characters one player can easily come to generate three times as much inspiration as another for no good reason other than making a lot of d20 rolls.

[@Aleksandrus12]

@@arcturuslight_ True, and the goal should be encouraging player to be more open and creative with descriptions and RP to the point that they sometimes don't need to roll (when the player tells, they're looking under the desk, you just tell them they've found a key hidden there - instead of "I roll for perception/investigation to search the room").

[@havable]

All we need is to roll six times before we find out if we hit. Reminds me of those games where you have to roll three handfuls of six-siders and compare them to the d6's your opponent rolled and then reroll all of them several times before you find out if you hit someone.

[@FuncleChuck]

I wish they’d just steal Mazes RPG “stars” mechanic, which as essentially an automatic very cool success akin to a crit.

[@priestesslucy3299]

I will admit though, scaling feats have been a long, long time coming.

[@Aleksandrus12]

They existed in the prior edition already and as people are saying, it was too complicated and unnecessary complex system - I haven't played then so I don't know by myself but the opinions are quite consistent on this topic, so it's risky decision to go back to it.

[@priestesslucy3299]

@@Aleksandrus12 I played every era with feats (although very little 4E) and I can tell you straight up that scaling feats were the rare exception, not the norm for any edition. When feats were being invented in 3rd edition the designers horribly overpriced the value of something being 'always available' and that's a stigma that stuck around until 5e and even 5e feats are mostly not great, just better because the designers were forced to value them against +2 to a stat. You can run a 5E game and hand out a free feat (that can't be traded for an Ability Score Increase) every level and I can almost guarantee you the players will never get more than 1 level above their actual level in terms of combat ability. Heck I once experimented with giving a PF1 fighter two bonus feats every level.

[@Aleksandrus12]

@@priestesslucy3299 Oh, if that's so, I'm sorry. I must've misunderstand some online conservation then

[@asdfjoe123]

​@@Aleksandrus12 Indeed. All the time I hear "I want 5e, not Pathfinder. Pathfinder is too complicated."

[@shallendor]

@@asdfjoe123 5E is checkers and Pathfinder is Chess!

[@jbriggsiv]

Kind of reminds me of the introduction of 2e. TSR was adamant that it was still AD&D, which it was. They basically just refined a few things, reorganized and unified miscellaneous rules into their appropriate books. The biggest change i think everyone remembers was THAC0, which was just a formula to represent hit tables (which everyone had memorized by then anyhow). However, if a player at my table had either 1e or 2e books, I wouldn't care since the difference was negligible to the overall game. I see it more as a natural evolution of a continued edition of the game, so this should be a smoother transition that it was for AD&D to d20, d20 to 4e, or 4e to 5e. Thanks for putting this info together in one concise video.

[@commanderraccoon8860]

hadn't heard about this! thanks for the info :D you guys rock

[@dice_fumbler4478]

I'm wondering if they are labelling the spell types as Arcane, Divine, and Primal will allow Wizards and Sorcerers will share the Arcane spell list instead of having separate options? Also seems like they can add a fourth in there for Psionic Spells (Powers).

[@commandercaptain4664]

"A good question... for another book." -- WotC

[@jodinsan]

Gaining Inspiration just for rolling a 20 seems UNinspired. "Use it as a reward for great roleplaying. Or... alternatively... great ROLLplaying."

[@danrimo826]

I'm liking the new take on backgrounds a lot. Also nice to get a generic "animal race" for all the people who want to play that sort of thing. Means we don't need a million races that are just animal but people (tortle, tabaxi, owlin, harengon etc...). YES for orks in the PHB. Finally :)

[@pootieheadroflmao]

They were already in the DMG I thought...

[@nolan4339]

I'm not sure how much I like the lore of them being of various celestial origin though, especially when they are giving them all 'Angelic flight'. These aren't really animal people, they are Angelic beings that look like animals. I think I'd much rather my animal people to have abilities that are slightly more feral.

[@VegaDenebAltair]

Great video, gang! Can't wait to dive into the new One D&D stuff

[@KBrandes]

Very grateful for your breakdown of changes!

[@justanotherbrokenerd2285]

Thanks all. I didn't want WotC's video, but it appears that you all did a wonderful job covering the changes!

[@matthewardill4297]

I'm excited for the physical/digital bundle. I can't wait to not have to buy books twice if I want a digital copy.

[@joesgotmore]

More concerned than excited TBH. Some changes are fine to me like adding Orcs to the PHB. But the extreme flexibility I feel will lead to more broken builds that as a DM I will be compelled to deny my players.

[@xionkuriyama5697]

So you're saying you don't trust your players? Why play with them?

[@joesgotmore]

@@xionkuriyama5697 On the contrary. I trust my players to push the boundaries. Let me ask you something. How many games have you been in where someone plays an Aaracokra at 1st, 2nd, or 3rd level to start? Or a Yuan Ti character? Players are smart and will push as far as you let them. Even if it will reduce their own fun because they tend not to understand being awesome at everything gets boring fast.

[@johncox7169]

The "Extreme Flexibility" isn't really a thing. If you read through the PDF you will see that all of the races have very set abilities, and if you choose to be a half race, you have all of the abilities of one parent, and none of the abilities of the other. All being a half race does is let you get cosmetic appearances from both parents that you can choose at creation.

[@100madmic]

@@joesgotmore I played yuan ti character and that character died. after saving her friend. Their always to make the game work and I think Yuan -ti got changed and so did some other races.

[@JackgarPrime]

I think that's why they decided to assign levels to feats. You get a bit more flexibility in creation without allow as much busted nonsense right off the bat.

[@salemfoxtrot7659]

So much of this is in Fantasy Grounds Unity already. I don't see myself changing over at all, especially because no subscription required for FGU, and if the company ever goes down I can continue using it with all my material.

[@FluffieXStarshine]

My question is how much will the vtt be? Most VTTs are free, and you can upload your own resources. How much are they expecting us to pay to use it? Does just the DM have to pay or all players,? Will other existing VTTs be forced to close?

[@pootieheadroflmao]

*greed sets in* Yes

[@asdfjoe123]

The fact they're rolling their own, instead of licensing their material to the current VTTs, sounds like they're going to do the classic move of exploiting their dominance in one market to enter a new one and destroy all the existing participants. It's Microsoft in the 80's and 90's all over again.

[@JackgarPrime]

I'm going to guess it will be bundled in with a Beyond subscription, or purchasable on its own for a small fee. Like you'll be provided with those two different options.

[@DocEonChannel]

10:25 Uh, the UA document doesn't mention races giving any ASI at all. It all comes from the background.

[@SteveJ0966]

Sure, and Windows 10 was going to be the last version of Windows, until market forces took a look at their profit margins and had some big lunches with the folks at Redmond.

[@Kittsuera]

i thought what they actually wanted to do was do a new version of windows far more frequently but compatibility issue crop up and people stick to older versions until the computer implodes or a new software is only viable on the new OS.

[@FunctionallyLiteratePerson]

Iirc neither of those caused it, the guy who had the 10 as last version idea was replaced

[@terrydaktyllus1320]

@@Kittsuera Or they just grow brains and run Linux.

[@KNic0lson]

I would love if the DM got statistics from gameplay with prompts like "Player X has rolled acrobatics 100 times

[@friarhill]

The new Spell lists being solely associated with traditions (arcane, divine, primal) instead of classes is straight up lifted from Pathfinder 2e. As are emphasis on the 'background' mechanic, redeeming a classically evil heritage (orcs, like goblins in PF), feats being more of a thing. See Paizo they like your work enough to copy it! If that isn't a compliment ...

[@louisst-amand9207]

those were all concepts in 4e (except backgrounds)

[@Anisozygoptera]

I like Pathfinder, but you might be giving them too much credit. Eberron had largely redeemed orcs in 3e. Forgotten Realms had the Ondonti, good orcs, since at least 2e. And the use of arcane, divine, and primal was used in D&D 4e, sort of even in 3e.

[@FluffieXStarshine]

Um most of this stuff is based on prior D&D editions, not pathfinder which basically took 3ed and made a new game with it before 3.5 was out.

[@asdfjoe123]

You're mentioning a not-DND game. You're going to trigger the fanbois that haven't played anything but DND.

[@davedogge2280]

So they make a change to One D&D ruleset and which version / edition of One D&D set u playing ?

[@mikerojas6513]

At the risk of being "Old Man Yells at Cloud" I really love everything except the new flexibility of races. Specifically the Size flexibility, but kind of the whole thing. At what point will we just give up Race as a mechanic? That, in itself, wouldn't be bad, imho, but right now it just feels like D&D is pretending Race is a mechanic and riding the fence. When can I say Orcs can fly? When can Kenku talk? Humans get Dark vission? Either races change how you play the character, or it doesn't. Pick a side! Everything else, tho, I'm awesome with. Even the shady sounding online element sounds pretty boss.

[@AbominationalFailure]

As of the release of "Monsters of the Multiverse" Kenku no longer have the limited speech mechanic and can speak normally

[@erispapps9929]

@@AbominationalFailure what the fuck

[@TheLyricalCleric]

Being a human with dark vision could be an interesting backstory note-maybe it’s a sign that several generations back one of the parents was a drow, and that drow lineage could have remained in dark vision and possibly some other traits. I’d be more hopeful that each “trait” or ability has a cost, so that you can’t just be a flying speedy small dark vision super human with draconic fire resistance. That would be an awkward conversation with your parents.

[@_vinterthorn]

That's kinda the way I see it, too. The new flexibility, of course, will benefit those that thus far felt unrepresented or unable to represent what they had in mind for their characters. However, it also washes away all the different approaches to playing made necessary by basic mechanics aswell as proper and thorough thinking about what to play before Session Zero because people will, broadly speaking, be able to mix and match whatever they want. But I guess it remains to be seen if it's only ramblings of the "old guard" or if it will actually translate into tangible shortcomings of the "don't call it a new edition"-edition.

[@johncox7169]

Races aren't nearly as flexible in One D&D as you are making it sound. Sure a few of the races let you choose between Small and Medium (to reflect the fact that in the real world there are people who are less than 4 foot tall), but other than that and choosing subraces (like Drow, High Elf or Wood Elf if you are an Elf), there isn't really much in the way of flexibility. Even if you choose to be a Half race all of your gaming stats will be from one of your parent races, it is only appearance differences that you can take some of both races.

[@pauldrew7485]

Am I the only one who thinks some of these additions have been lifted from/inspired by Pathfinder 2e

[@FluffieXStarshine]

More like based on rules and parts of older editions being polished (which were ripped off by pathfinder)

[@AntonyBrotherton]

The direction of travel is online and monetisation. WotC are well behind the curve on VTT and their past attempts in this field have been beset with delays and false hope. With OBS and Roll20 getting together this space is going to be super competitive and it will be interesting to see how it pans out.

[@cliffhamrickwrites2378]

I'm old enough to remember when WotC said that 4th edition was going to be the last edition. How did that work out?

[@adobohutt2849]

The "new take on character backgrounds" is just WotC going back to the DND Next playtest backgrounds. From memory, the playtest a background as a "knight" gave you a martial melee weapon proficiency and an armor proficiency. It also gave you a fighting style as "protector." Finally, you had law enforcement powers in your realm. Obviously these are huge differences from the current backgrounds, a lot more powerful and comprehensive. A PC Knight who is also a Wizard is essentially an Eldritch Knight at 1st level, no need to multi-class unless you want specific class features. 5e really needed those types of backgrounds.

[@PatMullen13]

New background/feat rules sound cool! Very interested to see what they do with that. Gaining inspiration everytime you roll a 20 on anything could be okay, but if you house rule cool stuff happening on any nat 20 like a lot of folk do, it seems like too much going on. A better way to insure inspiration is used might be to hand out an inspiration token to each player at the start of the session, then let players gift them to each other at any point in the game.

[@psoma_brufd]

Literally, just include them in the starter set, only change they need to make.

[@confettius]

Did you checked play test? Backgrounds give even more - stat bonuses (races does not give those anymore), feat (yes, it looks that feats become more important in character development) and proficiences.

[@AggroJordan86]

Honestly, I am really on the fence about this update. It feels like restrictions are being removed more and more from the game, but frankly, working within restrictions is the "core" of a game. It is the whole premise and a big part of the charm for many (the majority.) of DnD players. I am not just talking about minmaxing, being it's own separate "sport" in the community, but the general idea of "I can't do everything, but need to find a way to succeed." That is at the core of a sense of achievement and I really feel they risk taking this away to a certain extent. If I want to fell "all powerful" or unrestricted, I can just write a book...

[@AlanAndrei]

it seems like they want to allow everything, to all characters, and make them almost invincible at level 1. I think that takes away from the fun. Its like playing easy level with your dad, who is obvioulsy letting you win.

[@PixPunxel]

So even more munchkin superpowered impossible to die easy mode version, 5.5 and calling it one D&D ? Count me out

[@Rub-A-Duck]

Am I confused or didn't the Healer Feat already NOT needing you to be able to cast healing spells? Like she is saying at 07:00

[@crouchingmarker]

It's been in there since the PHB; it just never got a lot of travel since it's most useful at low levels and with the exception of variant humans characters never used to get feats until 4th level. But yes, it was implied that it was a whole new thing in the video.

[@Xenophaige_reads]

Part of the challenge was having set race characteristics. And having level adjustments for more powerful races was equally good in previous editions too. My opinion but I've seen it mirrored by others too.

[@KingZNIN]

Part of the problem would be missing out on higher level abilities and spells because your race started at something like level 3. I would cut back on certain abilities and stuff to lower my characters starting level to 1 or 2.

[@erupendragon7376]

"The secret we should never let the game masters know is that they don't need any rules"-Gary Gygax, creator of DnD. This is DnD Inc. Prepare to suffer under the corpos. Monetization of everything!!!!!

[@xczechr]

It's absolutely a new edition, they're just not saying that so as to prevent sales of current 5e book plummeting.

[@stevensantana8349]

This “new edition” apes so much from pathfinder second edition it’s hilarious

[@silvermatter1739]

One thing I’m kinda afraid of is the new spell list’s because while I get that restricting players to a certain spell list according to their class is, well restricting I feel as though restricting certain spells to certain classes makes sense but then again this is just my opinion

[@Torthrodhel]

They could still have additional spell lists for specific classes or subclasses and my guess is that there will be some spells that don't even have a type, and only appear on these. Although that could be wishful thinking on my part. Worst case scenario, Magical Secrets just got a lot less special.

[@JackgarPrime]

Eh, I prefer the generic spell lists as opposed to the class-specific ones. It can become annoying to flip through all the different spell lists and re-checking them all together when you're reading through a splatbook just to figure out what your specific class has.

[@Torthrodhel]

@@JackgarPrime honestly I like the idea too.

[@jasonGamesMaster]

I mean, take this with a grain of salt, since I'm not a fan of class and level to begin with and prefer games like RuneQuest, etc, but this is the best thing they could do. Sounds like they have the terminology in place to still have some restrictions, (wizards choose from the Arcane list, or whatever it was called, but so do bards, while clerics and paladins choose from the divine list, or some such thing) there are already plenty of convoluted feat and subclass features that give you some of this. This will ultimately simplify everything and allow players who want to play a wizard/cleric hybrid of a magic god the ability to easily do that. Just my two cents but I hope this brings about the collapse of the class model altogether (we are approaching it with all the sub-classes) so that you just build what you want and don't get stuck with all the stupid little things that may or may not fit a character concept.

[@Torthrodhel]

@@jasonGamesMaster hmm. Seems odd to me to be playing D&D if you're not into the class system, it's pretty integral to it. I hope they don't get rid of classes, I quite like 'em.

[@chrisrathbun4148]

Actually there is Backgrounds. That is how you get Stat bonuses,

[@charlottewalnut3118]

Secondarily yes your species which is what race in DND actually is should determine at least partially something like an ability score an orc will almost always be stronger than an elf as would a Goliath A goblin would never be as strong as a fully grown human because they are the size of children the same goes for something like a gnome or kobold

[@asdfjoe123]

I'm a human who, before anything is handed to me, tells people to do the two-finger test (if they can't hold the item pinched between two fingers they should not hand it to me). I'm sure a stout goblin wouldn't have such a problem. Then there are humans who could drag me, my wheelchair, and the van me and my wheelchair are in, down the block while barely breaking a sweat. There's a large spread of capacity among humans. I would imagine the same variation exists among members of other species. I know I have owned dogs with dramatically different mental stats. Why should goblins be different? Goblin fighter with a floating bonus applied to STR? Clearly, they were the most swole little guy/gal in their clan and are an exceptional individual among a world full of STR penalized and DEX boosted goblins.

[@TonySamedi]

Except they can be, because D&D is about where you place your stats way more than it is race, and the +2 isn't that big a deal. Lets say me and my friend are making level 1 characters. Say we both get lucky and unlucky as it is. Each of us have an 18 and each of us have a 3. I make an Orc Wizard. He has STR of 5, and INT of 18. He makes High Elf Barbarian. STR of 18, INT of 4. His Elf is stronger than my Orc, my Orc is smarter than his High Elf. Let's even take the extremes out of it. Say we are using point buy or standard array so neither character can have under an 8 Well now my Orc has 10 STR. his Elf has 15 STR That +2 is not the massive effect unless you're going to be literally ordering your players to go "Nope, you're an orc so you HAVE to put a higher number in STR than anything else"

[@MaurizioBonelli]

It seems really similar to what level up adventurers’ guide did with their manual on background and races. I look forward to go more deep in the changes they did - it seems quite cool!

[@commandercaptain4664]

1:28 2.5E will be playable????? THAT'S FANTAST- oh. Nevermind. 3:07 Devs: We have to code this format of inspiration to be compatible to the VTT / DMs to players: Yeah, go ahead and pass it on.

[@davidcopplestone6266]

I won't hold my breath on the virtual tabletop. Anyone remember the same announcement for 4th Ed.?

[@ianwood5362]

There is certainly that aspect and I have a lot of questions of how a VTT using Unreal Engine would be implemented. Not to mention there are a few VTTs on the market that have firmly established themselves and not likely going anywhere.

[@Zotob1975]

Why did they remove the bonus on characteristics given by races?

[@AleksandrStrizhevskiy]

My prediction is the new background and race changes will not succeed. I think the basic 5E character creation system is what people will continue to use. I look forward to seeing how things will change.

[@colinhanrath5351]

I agree. I dont really dig the idea that every race in the game can have the stats of any other. Like if I wanted to play a goblin barbarian than that was a super cool and funny idea/build because that's not something that would normally happen. Goblins are known for being small and kinda weak unless in a group. Things that take away the individuality of races I feel will only take away from their flare. It sounds like this new system will basically say "goblins are just green halflings"

[@100madmic]

@@colinhanrath5351 I heard some people are liking the new changed I was never really into multi tasking. But never really got a chance for feats yet. Because everyone wanted to their ability scores to be max. the Abilty score thing I don't mind it I do love playing the reborn class. She is my favorite charater. And I think this for people that like to roll dice has stats.

[@jakecalderburby]

“One D&D”wotc speak for “our home brew rules we’ve been playing since the 1970’s”

[@AJarOfYams]

Will the AD&D 2e be translated over?

[@mbalogh]

I loved 5E back in 2015-2016, then started playing OSR. This is not going to make me return to WOTC e ither.

[@Auridus]

I'm gonna reserve my thoughts on this until I get my hands on it but the inspiration system seems interesting and the racial size choices could be fun as someone who loves rp.

[@Willie5000]

They claim "no new editions" but they refuse to admit that, yes, this is in fact D&D 5.5E...

[@charlottewalnut3118]

Yeah I am not getting a subscription-based service for something I can just buy the books for especially when they might change some thing where I would hate it

[@kalleendo7577]

Awesome!

[@bow-tiedengineer4453]

I'm generally not too big on most of those things. Personally, I think the existing feats almost all scale perfectly fine with level, aside from some like great weapon master that give a purely numerical bonus, so that feels fairly unnecessary. Also, it really feels like they are trying to blur the lines between all the classes and races, which part of me loves and part of me hates. Personally, I think that keeping stats tied more firmly to your race helps make races more than just an aesthetic choice, and tend to just use the base 5e rules for that myself. For the things to gain things like healing or inspirations from other classes, we'll have to see how that plays out. One thing I like is the changes to the spell list, although if they do, I think they will need to add some buffs to the Wizard's ability to learn new spells, and similar for the sorcerer. Their wider variety of spell options is the main thing that makes them stand above other casters. Long term, I think I'll have to see. If they do genuinely try and keep all future additions backwards compatible to 5e, basically making 5.5, I think 5e will start to gain some of the benefits of 3.5, as well as gaining some of it's detriments. We'll have to see, I suppose.

[@pootieheadroflmao]

They are treating races as races, not species. This is a problem.

[@bow-tiedengineer4453]

@@pootieheadroflmao Not really. Races will presumably still have their unique abilities, such as a tiefling's hellish rebuke, a tabaxi's claws, or a halfling's luck. The point is to remove the disadvantages of playing a class with a race that isn't optimized for it. I personally tend to prefer just running a less optimal build, but I see why some players would find this necessary. This isn't some sort of political statement, it's purely a game balance concern.

[@heathentongue]

nice job! i am both excited and queasy over te new stuff. Its all sausage but is it a brat or a vienna?

[@jefferycarter7169]

"editions are out" HAHAHAAHAH!!! Right..sure. This is just 5.5. I'm super excited to see how this plan explodes in their face.

[@Darkfiretiger]

Doesn't matter if WotC says that there's "No More Editions" if the players use particular phrases there's nothing they can do to enforce their BS.

[@bennybobs]

Anyone have a source for the new inspiration rules? can't find any WOTC content that mentions it haha

[@olhristov]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/o4C0kHiunZV3o7s There was some more info on it here. Around the 30 minute mark I think. The video doesn't load for me right now, so I can't check. Basically any time you roll a 20 on the D20 you get inspiration and if you already have one you can immediately decide to give it to someone else. Also a feat or something that let's you give out inspiration during short rests if you sing your party a song.

[@bennybobs]

cool thanks!

[@johncox7169]

Also, if you just goto D&D Beyond you can download a PDF with the playtest rules (including the inspiration rules.)

[@CrimFerret]

I mostly like the the changes to backgrounds. The standard starting stat bonuses are where things needed to go. This will open up races to being used for classes they weren't really able to because of the set bonuses most had. Two skill and one tool proficiency is pretty good IF races and classes keep some as well. Obviously a starting feat for everyone is really nice and more or less makes variant human and custom lineage obsolete (no tears shed there). Getting to choose the 2 skill and 1 tool proficiencies will let you choose things that will actually get used. I'm sure my current sailor background's navigator tools, and waterborne vehicles skills are great and all, but I'll never use them in the game I'm currently in (our DM doesn't use hooks like that). The muddling of racial stuff makes me wonder how many from the add-on books are going to be badly nerfed. I know I sure wouldn't want to trade my Owlin for an owl headed Ardling. I would have liked to see at least one official race with full flight.

[@commandercaptain4664]

Shouldn't the fact that you picked a sailor background tip the DM off to what kind of game you wanted to play?

[@CrimFerret]

@@commandercaptain4664 If he were a more skilled and experienced DM, it would. I'm hoping to DM a game for he and the group in the near future. I'm not mega-incredible at it, but I do try to key off character backgrounds and traits to include some of them in the story.

[@Nagrandt]

So stat bonuses not tied to races anymore? Idk how I feel about that. On the one hand, yes, it's good that it allows to play a determined race for aesthethic reasons only, without worrying about your build. But on the other hand, it kinda blurs the line of what each race is good at, or excels at.

[@johncox7169]

Races still have a TON of abilities tied to them. Like Dwarves get Tremorsense, resistance to poison, bonus tool proficiencies, etc. It is literally ONLY to stat bonus at character creation that is being moved to background. Everything that makes an Elf an Elf will still be included in race choice.

[@100madmic]

you could go back to rolling the dice.

[@Nagrandt]

@@johncox7169 The problem is then, if I have ALL the advantages of being an Elf, and NONE of the drawbacks, then Elves are gonna be too powerful? You could always make a human for flavour, but, as of right now, making a non-human char is just better.

[@johncox7169]

@@Nagrandt What? All of the races have good benefits for being that race. Humans get a feat, they get inspiration after a long rest, they get proficiency in a skill of their choice. Have you even read the new rules yet? Or are you just making assumptions off of this video?

[@JackgarPrime]

From what we've seen from the UA, what they've done instead is make it so races have more distinct abilities, like the Dwarf getting Tremorsense.

[@meikahidenori]

Some of these changes just feel unnecessary so far so we'll see how that all goes. I just be happy the put all the new stuff in ONE place (which is appreciated though if Artificers aren't included in the PLAYERS HANDBOOK from the get go I'll be disappointed) that is easily accessible for free so we don't have to repurchase old stuff just to get the new changes - especially for us groups that prefer books over digital apps. Also can we have some more adventures for the other settings? I know we've gotten some for Wildermont & probably the magic settings in future but can we PLEASE have some of the 3.5e Eberron adventures updated? And some of the older GreyHawlk campaigns? Or failing that maybe some new ones? 🤔 I dunno if they ever will but one can only hope since they only recently remembered Dragonlance and Spell Jammer exist (maybe hope for Dark sun and Planescape? Who knows)

[@LordBrittish]

I like this news about as much as I liked Sonic’s original teeth.

[@tomtrite6832]

"Six-Eee." "Sexy?" "Sixee!" Wizards Marketing: *Surprised Pikachu Face*

[@jameskyle7943]

Yeah, like 5th Edition is actually called "Next". Don't remember many people calling it that after the first couple of weeks.

[@DocEonChannel]

It was just the playtest that was called that.

[@johncox7169]

And they have already said that "One D&D" is just the production name for the next version. It won't be called that after release (It will probably just be called "Dungeons & Dragons" with no version number attached to it.)

[@ianwood5362]

@@johncox7169 I would not be shocked if they ultimately call 5.5 50th Anniversary Edition and down the line they will more then likely relent and end up doing a 6th edition and call it just that if anything because of precedence.

[@johncox7169]

@@ianwood5362 I think the reason they are trying to do a "no version number" is so that they can update the core rules any time they feel they need to without having to make it a huge "new edition" event. But maybe I am reading too much into it.

[@Larren12]

No more editions? So, D&D will reach perfection with this upcoming edition. We live in an amazing world for TTRPG players.😆

[@johncox7169]

No, it just means that EVERY version from here on out will be called "Dungeons & Dragons" and that they will revise the core rules any time they feel they need to be revised instead of waiting for some huge event to revise them.

[@jgn1977]

Versionless DND is just PHB version 2014 or version 2022 or version 2035. They are just switching the year for the version number. Kinda stupid really.

[@jasonwow9]

Parhfinder 2e!!

[@metalman895]

I feel like inspiration on a 1 would be better. Soften the blow of abject failure and all.

[@everettwatson4966]

Yeah, One Dnd until Hasbro needs increased revenues and force a new edition. When you realize every single decision by Wizards is solely money-based, they are so predictable.

[@johncox7169]

The point is that they are just going to call it "Dungeons & Dragons" from here on out (they already said that One D&D is just a production name, much as D&D Next was a production name for 5e) This means that they can put out revision to the core rules whenever they want, instead of having to make it a huge ordeal of making a new edition. (And yes, charge us for those revisions to the core rules.)

[@everettwatson4966]

@@johncox7169 not trying to come across as the “grognard” type, but I’m good with 5e. I don’t think I’m gonna take the leap to this next iteration. I’m not hating on anyone who does. I’m happy with the current game and I’m also okay with not spending as much on it as I have been. I was hoping for Dark Sun rather than Planescape for the final classic setting but it’s fine. I was hoping to do some Mad Max dnd type stuff! Lol

[@KNic0lson]

Ooo new race is like Egyptian Gods ♡

[@Ishanaroya]

This sounds a lot like Pathfinder 2nd edition. Good stuff to use, for sure.

[@FluffieXStarshine]

Sounds more like they took parts of older editions (that pathfinder ripped off) and improved them

[@Ishanaroya]

@@FluffieXStarshine You have to explain that a bit more, because the modular building of character backgrounds for example sounds a lot more like the Pathfinder 2e approach than any previous edition of D&D.

[@CM-wv8ns]

I feel character creation is heading towards a psuedo 'point based' free distribution mechanic in a lifepath setup. I'm not complaining just trying to articulate my observations. Personally, I'm in favor of a game system where I don't need a Math degree to understand [ie. GURPS, Champions ...oh, the memories]. I still have my 5e PHB character drafts, but I am curious how they translate/convert over to 'One D&D' [so, it's not called "5.5e"?].

[@arcturuslight_]

Might be mistaken, but I think the current one was not supposed to be universally known as just "5e" either, but what you gonna do against everyone doing just that. We will have to see If their marketing comes out on top, or wisards are gonna cave and accept that people are just calling the new one 6e or 5.5e. In terms of character creation, with how flexible they are making ability score bonuses and proficiencies gained from races and backgrounds, it now feels like more of a complication than anything. It's a weird mixed trend with races losing some individuality, especially when losing negative traits, but also new races always coming out with unique abilities, but I think by this point we can stop pretending that those bonuses add any flavour. Could just strip away floating ability scores and floating proficiencies from races, backgrounds and other places and just give some to every new character, like adjusting the stats generation/point buy (or even not bumping that, and instead disconnecting feats from ability scores, so you are not forced to sacrifice your stats on feats), while your origin can also provide some more narrow, or very narrow bonuses that are actually thematic for the character.

[@johncox7169]

"One D&D" is just the production name, like "D&D Next" was the production name for 5e. I am pretty sure when it launches, it will just be called "Dungeons & Dragons" and wont have a version number tied to it at all.

[@hallking7441]

Ugh of course they're going all in on VTT's. My group wants to go back to playing 1e.

[@videogamephilosophersaurim7732]

Do we have to wait 2 years for a wizards backed VTT?

[@hiddenmanna463]

This is D&D 5.one D&D

[@Betterthenme]

No half dwarves... my dreams broken yet again

[@dragonstryk7280]

They've literally said "No more editions" since 3rd. Also still waiting for that VTT software they've been promising since then as well.

[@KingZNIN]

That was 4th edition and it looks like they think there's enough people playing now to actually make it this time

[@dragonstryk7280]

@@KingZNIN It was 3e as well. It was going to "just be iterative', and everything was going to be backwards compatible. The software started as mapping, then they went to 4e, in part to get out from under their own OGL, and threw out the promises, moving and altering the promised software as well.

[@casualterror]

I don't think the "One D&D" and "No More Editions" is true. the playtest for 5e was called D&D Next so I think its just a name for the playtest.

[@garylane6227]

If I am buying new core rulebook it is a new edition.

[@ForTheSuperEarth]

So basicly, D&D went Live Service

[@palgaea]

Um.. so.. the Ardling are basically the official take on dnd furries 😂

[@_vinterthorn]

Obviously, every niche needs representation these days. Here's hope there's enough cat litter for all the Tabaxi's and cat-like Ardlings out there. /endsarcasm

[@daviddaugherty2816]

"No more editions" leaves me wondering how long till 7e comes out.

[@raven_moonshine39]

New race?! Come on hamadryad! Hamadryad! Hamadryad! Ardling...? Ugh!!! I just want to be a tree again, WotC! WHY WON'T YOU GIVE THIS TO ME?!!!

[@Facetiously.Esoteric]

I haven't played in 30 years and looked into playing again. It seems super nerfed now.

[@shallendor]

Pathfinder 2E simplified!

[@markziff7234]

Wonder when they'll be telling us you need to buy all the new stuff, because it helps fight COVID & looks after the environment.