Will there be a release date for D&D sixth edition and other details about what this new edition of Dungeons & Dragons might mean for players? Not likely. Here’s why…
According to an article on the TheGamer.com, Mile Mearls, Co-Lead Designer for 5th Edition D&D, there likely won’t be a sixth edition of Dungeons & Dragons. At least not anytime soon. The reason is that they want to get as many players as possible using a single system and support that ruleset for as long as possible. This is similar to the strategy Microsoft is using for Windows 10. It makes it easier to support the players.
From the Article:
Mearls clarified in an AMA on reddit that the goal of 5th Edition is ultimately to gather all D&D players into a single edition and support it as long as possible. He compared it to what Microsoft is doing with the Windows 10 operating system, and said that he expects 5th Edition to last longer than the usual edition lifespan of half a decade or so. He said that a new edition would likely only be developed when “the warts of the current one are bothersome enough that people want them excised.”
PATRICK TIERNEY MAY 20, 2020
Now, that doesn’t mean there won’t ever be a sixth edition of Dungeons & Dragons, but I wouldn’t expect one for at least a few more years. Fifth edition D&D is the longest running edition in the history of the tabletop game which is saying something as the game goes back multiple decades to its birth in Geneva, Wisconsin.
However, this isn’t necessarily bad news. For one thing, there have already been five major additions to 5e since it came out. Additionally, the wizards at Wizards of the Coast are constantly working on improving the existing ruleset.
Why We Need a D&D 6e
Despite the above, I think we might need a new edition of D&D. Below, I’m going to give you ten reasons why they should drop Dungeons & Dragons 5th edition now and not wait to release the next edition. This list might be controversial, but I have to get my thoughts about this down.
Reason #1 – The Game is Getting Old
Released in 2014, D&D fifth edition has been around for over six years. Frankly, I think it’s past time for a major update.
Reason #2 – Science Fiction
There are some cool rules for doing science fiction within the D&D 5th edition rules, but they’re still kind of an afterthought. I think it’s time for a major expansion to the ruleset for science fiction. A return to Spelljammer, anyone?
Reason #3 – Too Vanilla
Another problem I have with D&D 5e is that it tries too hard to be inclusive. Frankly, “inclusive” is just a code word for “boring”. I want to play D&D as a dwarf or an elf that is NOT a stereotype. I don’t want to have to play something that’s “inclusive” because others think Drow shouldn’t all be evil or racial adjustments shouldn’t exist.
Reason #4 – Adventure Tropes
I like campaigns that have a lot of interesting adventures. However, I think the D&D 5e adventure design is a little…boring. Granted, I could (and do) rely on homebrew a lot, building my own game worlds, but it would be nice to have a long series of interconnected modules instead of just one huge book every so often that’s super expensive.
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Reason #5 – No Support for the Old
Sure, things like Greyhawk Initiative exist in the Unearthed Arcana as unofficial rules, but they don’t have anywhere near the support they should. Let’s face it, the old school D&D community is not as big as it used to be and Wizards of the Coast really only caters to the newer D&D players. There should be more support for those of us who played D&D in the 80s and 90s. If you can’t think of anything else, just publish an old version of the game.
Reason #6 – No Real Goals
Sure, there have been some campaigns that have been around for a long time, but I don’t think there’s any sort of overarching storyline since the Sundering. That was many years ago. A lot of players don’t even know that there was a Sundering or what it was, and that’s a shame!
Reason #7 – Lack of Unique Worlds
Sure, we have Eberron, but what about Greyhawk? Blackmoor? Even Forgotten Realms had a lot more flavor. D&D 5e’s replacement should, in my opinion, have a wider variety of worlds available. Oh, and bring back Spelljammer, please!
Reason #8 – No More D&D Novels?
As you likely know if you read this website, I’m a huge fan of old school D&D novels. They were the inspiration for my own Tower of Gates LitRPG series. If you’ve noticed, not that many new D&D books come out anymore. Sure, we still get Drizzt books and maybe a few others, but there’s been no super series to bring the D&D world to life like Dragonlance and even the Gord the Rogue series did.
Reason #9 – Lack of Fun
I’m not the only one who thinks D&D 5th edition has gotten too serious. A lot of people I talk to complain about how it’s not as much fun as it used to be. If you ever get a chance, read some of the comments on the D&D Facebook page. There are a lot of people who are really unhappy with how D&D 5th edition is today. A lot of people are tired of the same old thing every month and they want a more fun experience.
Reason #10 – Rules Over Gaming
D&D is a game. Sure, some of the more hardcore players might argue that it’s more of a roleplaying game, but it is still supposed to be a game. It’s supposed to be fun. I think D&D has gotten too rules-heavy. It feels more like a miniatures game instead of a roleplaying game.
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Now, I’m not saying that fifth edition D&D is horrible. However, I don’t think it should take another six years to release D&D 6e.
Do We Need a Sixth Edition D&D?
What do you think? What are your thoughts about the future of the D&D game? Should there be a D&D sixth edition sooner rather than later? Leave a comment below.
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