Summary

• One D&D is the newest edition of the classci TTRPG, introducing new rules and mechanics, but is still backward compatible with 5e adventures.
• The new Player's Handbook for One D&D will officially be released on Sep 17, 2024, with changes to character creation and leveling feats.
• Wizards of the Coast aims for One D&D to be the "forever" edition of DnD, integrating digital tools and potentially eliminating the need for future editions.

With Wizards of the Coast announcing One D&D, there is some confusion as to what it is and how it is different to Dungeons & Dragons' fifth edition. Basically put, One D&D is the newest edition of the legendary TTRPG and is the version that Wizards of the Coast will be working with beyond 2024. It will also involve D&D Beyond and D&D Digital as official companion tools that will help shape the future of the game.

As with any new edition of Dungeons & Dragons, there will be a new rule set with a new rule book, also called the Player's Handbook, which will introduce fundamental changes when it releases on September 17, 2024. A new Dungeon Master's Guide is in the works too, meaning this edition will retread the ground covered by the fifth edition. 5e has been out for over 10 years, so a new edition should be expected, but the changes in One D&D may not be as extreme as players may expect.

One D&D Versus D&D 5e

An Iteration On Fifth Edition D&D

There are many changes to the rules, including character creation which, if the playtest is representative of the final version, largely formalizes the additions seen in Tasha's Cauldron of Everything. This source book added floating ability score increases, so races like orcs, gnomes and elves receive bonuses to any ability score, rather than the specific choices in the fifth edition. This was done with the mentality of avoiding the assumptions of the races, such as orcs being strong, dumb brutes.

The ability score improvements are now tied to a character's backstory instead, meaning that their past experiences affect their stats rather than their race.

Although there have been some tweaks to classes, they have largely remained the same. No new classes have been added, but with the sheer number that players have at their disposal, this isn't necessarily a bad thing. The big change to leveling is with feats instead. In order to better balance them, One D&D adds level requirements to certain feats, preventing access to the most powerful ones at low levels.

Spellcasting was tinkered with during the playtest's run, but ultimately remained largely the same. They are still class specific in both editions, but the preparation for casting is slightly different. In 5e, spells are either prepared from a spellbook or known at all times, but now players can switch out spells depending on their class. For instance, ranger and paladin can change one prepared spell per day. Individual spells have changed as well, such as counterspell now requiring a saving throw from the targeted creature.

One D&D Isn't Vastly Different To 5e

Overt Changes Would Make It Incompatible

When players hear of a new DnD edition, big changes akin to the jump from 4e to 5e might be expected, but One D&D doesn't seem to be going down this route. In fact, the community had already started to call the edition "5.5e" when it was announced, and this is somewhat apt. One D&D is backward compatible with fifth edition, which seems to be a large selling point. It means that adventures from 5e will work with One D&D. For instance, something like Vecna: Eve of Ruin can still be run using DnD's new edition.

This backwards compatibility is something that Wizards of the Coast hasn't done before with prior editions of Dungeons & Dragons and shows an unwillingness to make big changes. This can partially be attributed to the community too. There was a pushback against some of One D&D's potential changes in the playtest, such as attempting to ditch non-class-specific spells. Some additions, like weapons now having secondary properties to give martial classes more variety, were widely welcomed, however.

Some minor tweaks include: ritual casting applying to all casters, hiding and grappling only needing one, simple check, and interrupted sleep no longer ruining the effects of a Long Rest.

Although most of One D&D's changes involve tweaks and minor additions to allow for backward compatibility, there is a brand-new and exciting gameplay mechanic. One D&D introduces the Bastion, a mechanic that allows players to create their own stronghold with useful facilities like a library, armory, and even a permanent teleportation circle. Players can also employ people to look after the Bastion during their absence, allowing DMs to add minor NPCs for their players to interact with.

One D&D Is The Future Of Dungeons & Dragons

WOTC Wants A Forever Edition

Wizards of the Coast is moving forward with One D&D and its integration with digital tools. Thanks to backward compatibility, those still running a campaign with 5e during the release of the new rules can still use the new material, and DnD's best adventure modules can still be accessed. This helps One D&D deal with the issue of a lack of content some editions of TTRPGs face during their first few years.

One D&D is marketed as the "forever" edition of Dungeons & Dragons, potentially doing away with the need for a sixth or seventh edition.

Still, the changes may not be enough for some players to justify buying all the new books when they come out. One D&D is more like a 5.5e than a sixth edition and the playtest shows that the community may not be ready to move on from fifth edition Dungeons & Dragons. With the controversy Wizards of the Coast has often found itself in of late, One D&D's release could be make or break for the company, and its path forward integrating D&D Beyond and D&D Digital has to work well on launch.