D&D dev says there isn't a new edition of the game because players can't get enough of this one

Tabletop GamingDungeons & DragonsD&D dev says there isn’t a new edition of the game because players can’t get enough of this oneWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.

Tabletop GamingDungeons & DragonsD&D dev says there isn’t a new edition of the game because players can’t get enough of this oneWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.

When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.

(Image credit: Rollin Bishop)

A slide show with an illustration of a dragon amidst a celebration, with the words 'Player's Handbook sneak peek' to one side

Changes to the D&D rules are all your fault.

No, really. When you’re tinkering with something as beloved as D&D, you’re going to upset someone. It’s inevitable. But you’re also going to make the game better for others. That’s why game design architect Chris Perkins and his team have spent as long as possible listening to fan feedback, combing over data, and sending playtests into the wild. It’s also why Dungeons & Dragons isn’t getting a new edition like it might have done in the past, and why Fifth Edition is here to stay… for now.

Home(brew) improvements

Chris Perkins, left, discusses the new Player’s Handbook at Gary Con(Image credit: Rollin Bishop)

Chris Perkins and the D&D panel discuss the new Player’s Handbook at Garycon, with images on a projector behind them

For Perkins, the objective with updating one of thebest tabletop RPGsis to ensure D&D’s new core rulebooks are more accessible, straightforward, and informative. This isn’t a flippant or cosmetic change, either. In his eyes, this will make running the game as a Dungeon Master or building a character easier. It’s been 10 years since the last rulebooks came out, after all, and the team has learned a lot in that time.

“This is not a vanity press we’re doing,” says Perkins. “This is not me trying to prove myself as a designer to the world. We’re trying to answer the question of ‘what is the D&D that fans really want to play, and how do we deliver that for them? So in things like the Unearthed Arcana [playtests], we will sometimes put things in the articles that we know probably won’t fly, that the community will push back on because they’re not ready for it or they don’t think it’s right for the game that they want to play. We do that because we have to know, and that’s the only way we can really know. So the playtest process has been very interesting to look at because I found that the fans don’t want us to move too far from where Fifth Edition is now.”

To an extent, that fondness for Fifth Edition (5e) simplifies things. Why try to fix what isn’t broken?

The important thing there is to make sure that what you’re getting is more than what you had, not lessChris Perkins, D&D game architect

The important thing there is to make sure that what you’re getting is more than what you had, not less

That feeds directly into the lack of new classes in these rulebooks. For Perkins, it’s all about reducing overhead and complexity for new players. For anyone coming into D&D for the first time, 12 different classes (with a bonus one in the form of an Artificer) can be overwhelming enough as it is. Plus, the design team felt that there was already enough choice within a set ‘role’ –  e.g. Fighters, Barbarians, and Monks offer three different approaches to being the party tank, while Clerics, Paladins, and Druids fulfill a similar function as the group’s support. As soon as you venture out beyond those 12 core classes, Perkins says, you start to get repetition and choice paralysis.

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In fact, Perkins is of the mind that the core rules may have too many classes to begin with.

New rulebooks, same game(Image credit: Wizards of the Coast)Gary Con revealed plenty of juicy info on the new core rulebooks. Here are some details we picked up:- 48 subclasses in the Player’s Handbook, all with artwork- Lore glossary to be included in Dungeon Master’s Guide, explaining everything from Lolth to Castle Ravenloft- Monster Manual has everything from old version, plus more, and all entries are getting finetuned

New rulebooks, same game

(Image credit: Wizards of the Coast)Gary Con revealed plenty of juicy info on the new core rulebooks. Here are some details we picked up:- 48 subclasses in the Player’s Handbook, all with artwork- Lore glossary to be included in Dungeon Master’s Guide, explaining everything from Lolth to Castle Ravenloft- Monster Manual has everything from old version, plus more, and all entries are getting finetuned

(Image credit: Wizards of the Coast)

Dungeons & Dragons art featuring a woman with glowing eyes levitating behind a magical shield

Gary Con revealed plenty of juicy info on the new core rulebooks. Here are some details we picked up:- 48 subclasses in the Player’s Handbook, all with artwork- Lore glossary to be included in Dungeon Master’s Guide, explaining everything from Lolth to Castle Ravenloft- Monster Manual has everything from old version, plus more, and all entries are getting finetuned

“Speaking frankly, [and] this is my own personal opinion, 12 classes is actually a lot,” Perkins says. “If I were redesigning, if I could go back to 2012 to when we were talking about fifth edition for the first time, I would probably put a strong case forward that we could actually do with less classes in the core game. You know, keep the choices simple. Because when you’re asking somebody to choose between a Sorcerer and a Wizard, to the untrained eye, it’s not clear what the difference is until you start to drill down and you realize where they get their power from and how their spell-casting works. When you look at it superficially, they seem pretty much the same. And you know, what is the difference between a Barbarian and a Fighter? A Barbarian could almost be a subclass [for a] Fighter if we were designing this game from scratch.”

On the topic of subclasses, though, Perkins has a very different opinion.

“Subclasses, as far as I’m concerned, [are] the Wild West,” he adds. “There is no end of subclasses that we can do to basically explore a niche within a world.”

This doesn’t mean Perkins and co. are going to do away with any of the existing classes that already exist, however. The options we have now are here to stay – even if certain elements have been tweaked.

If this were a new edition, we might err on the side of taking the risk, of making the change, but it’s not. So we’re more conservative… That idea can wait for a later timeChris Perkins, D&D game architect

If this were a new edition, we might err on the side of taking the risk, of making the change, but it’s not. So we’re more conservative… That idea can wait for a later time

“The important thing there is to make sure that what you’re getting [with the new rulebooks] is more than what you had, not less. We don’t want to take away any of the big toys that people enjoy,” Perkins says. “That said, it’s OK if some things go away because they still exist in the game. This is still Fifth Edition. So if you want to play something and there is an option that has changed and you don’t want to play the changed version, that’s OK. You can keep playing the character that you have, or maybe you’re not ready to update your character yet because you’re kind of at the end of a campaign. You can still pick off the new spell list. You can still pick the new feats that we’re squeezing into the Player’s Handbook. There are still going to be toys and things that you can enjoy.”

Gaining inspiration

D&D has been through many different iterations, as seen in the new The Making of the Original Dungeons & Dragons(Image credit: Rollin Bishop)

A projector showing pages from the Making of Dungeons & Dragons

On the subject of rule changes, we were curious about whether a certain award-winning video game based on the Dungeons & Dragons world had any impact on decisions for this new spin on Fifth Edition. Baldur’s Gate 3 omitted certain aspects and tweaked others, after all, so would the team be taking inspiration (no pun intended) from it for this pen-and-paper update? Not necessarily – Perkins compares the latest installment of Baldur’s Gate to house rules. Specifically, he likens it to how DMs are encouraged to pick and choose the mechanics they enjoy. Developer Larian did exactly this to make sure the project worked as a video game first and foremost, and Wizards of the Coast apparently encouraged this.

One of the delightful features of D&D that I don’t think gets enough press is that it’s eminently flexibleChris Perkins, D&D game architect

One of the delightful features of D&D that I don’t think gets enough press is that it’s eminently flexible

Perkins explained that, “as a game architect on D&D… I’m making sure that the game’s foundation is solid and that what we’re building is structurally sound and will be aesthetically pleasing to those who exist and play within the game. So, in early conversations with Larian, they’re talking about the things that they want to do and the things that they have to do. The thing we just kept telling them is, you have to do what’s right for your audience, and then you have to do what’s right for your platform. As long as your game has owlbears and displacer beasts, and there is this feeling of different roles in the party and all the hallmarks of D&D, you’ll be fine.”

Still, Baldur’s Gate 3 proves that tweakscanbe made for D&D 5e and still retain its core feel – something we’re staring down the barrel of with the revised core rulebooks.

Vecna will see the current rulebooks out with his new adventure(Image credit: Wizards of the Coast)

Vecna surrounded by cultists

“One of the delightful features of D&D that I don’t think gets enough press is that it’s eminently flexible, and we don’t expect people to play it the same way,” Perkins tells us as we round up our chat. “And that means we can jump from Baldur’s Gate 3 to a tabletop game to some other expression of D&D and very few people blink an eye. We [just] provide tools and inspiration.”

If Perkins and the team have their way, they’ll continue providing those tools and inspiration for a long while yet.

For some ideas on what to run ahead of the new rulebooks, check out what we think are the bestD&D booksso far. As for something totally different, drop in on our guide to thebest board games.

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GAME REVIEWSMOVIE REVIEWSTV REVIEWS1Nemesis review: “A magical sense of tension"2Arcs review: “A whole lot of game in a small package"3Path of Exile 2 review: “A stellar start to a thrilling and brutal dark adventure"4Indiana Jones and the Great Circle review: “The best adventure Indy has embarked on in over 30 years"5Marvel Rivals review: “So preoccupied with trying to be like Overwatch that it forgets to play to its own strengths"1Sonic the Hedgehog 3 review: “Keanu Reeves as Shadow is wasted whilst Jim Carrey steals the show"2Mufasa: The Lion King review – “It’s no Hakuna Matata but this Disney origin story is a class above the 2019 movie"3Kraven the Hunter review: “The insistence on an R-rating helps save this, with a decent helping of bloodthirsty action"4The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim review – “An uninspired expansion of the most iconic screen take on Tolkien"5Nightbitch review: “Amy Adams' disappointing dark comedy is all bark and no bite"1Doctor Who 2024 Christmas special review: “Ncuti Gatwa is as magnetic as ever in this delightful festive treat"2Secret Level review: “An uneven experience with serious highlights that ultimately make up for the misses"3Skeleton Crew review: “Perfectly captures the vibes of classic Star Wars with a swashbuckling twist"4Creature Commandos review: “James Gunn’s heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that the DCU is in good hands"5Cobra Kai season 6, part 2 review: “Returns to the sort of hard-hitting form that made it such a fan favorite in the first place”

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1Nemesis review: “A magical sense of tension”

Nemesis board game models and tokens laid out on a board

1Nemesis review: “A magical sense of tension”

1

Nemesis review: “A magical sense of tension”

2Arcs review: “A whole lot of game in a small package”

2Arcs review: “A whole lot of game in a small package”

2

Arcs review: “A whole lot of game in a small package”

3Path of Exile 2 review: “A stellar start to a thrilling and brutal dark adventure”

3Path of Exile 2 review: “A stellar start to a thrilling and brutal dark adventure”

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Path of Exile 2 review: “A stellar start to a thrilling and brutal dark adventure”

4Indiana Jones and the Great Circle review: “The best adventure Indy has embarked on in over 30 years”

4Indiana Jones and the Great Circle review: “The best adventure Indy has embarked on in over 30 years”

4

Indiana Jones and the Great Circle review: “The best adventure Indy has embarked on in over 30 years”

5Marvel Rivals review: “So preoccupied with trying to be like Overwatch that it forgets to play to its own strengths”

5Marvel Rivals review: “So preoccupied with trying to be like Overwatch that it forgets to play to its own strengths”

5

Marvel Rivals review: “So preoccupied with trying to be like Overwatch that it forgets to play to its own strengths”

1Sonic the Hedgehog 3 review: “Keanu Reeves as Shadow is wasted whilst Jim Carrey steals the show”

Shadow brandishes a gun in Sonic The Hedgehog 3

1Sonic the Hedgehog 3 review: “Keanu Reeves as Shadow is wasted whilst Jim Carrey steals the show”

1

Sonic the Hedgehog 3 review: “Keanu Reeves as Shadow is wasted whilst Jim Carrey steals the show”

2Mufasa: The Lion King review – “It’s no Hakuna Matata but this Disney origin story is a class above the 2019 movie”

2Mufasa: The Lion King review – “It’s no Hakuna Matata but this Disney origin story is a class above the 2019 movie”

2

Mufasa: The Lion King review – “It’s no Hakuna Matata but this Disney origin story is a class above the 2019 movie”

3Kraven the Hunter review: “The insistence on an R-rating helps save this, with a decent helping of bloodthirsty action”

3Kraven the Hunter review: “The insistence on an R-rating helps save this, with a decent helping of bloodthirsty action”

3

Kraven the Hunter review: “The insistence on an R-rating helps save this, with a decent helping of bloodthirsty action”

4The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim review – “An uninspired expansion of the most iconic screen take on Tolkien”

4The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim review – “An uninspired expansion of the most iconic screen take on Tolkien”

4

The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim review – “An uninspired expansion of the most iconic screen take on Tolkien”

5Nightbitch review: “Amy Adams' disappointing dark comedy is all bark and no bite”

5Nightbitch review: “Amy Adams' disappointing dark comedy is all bark and no bite”

5

Nightbitch review: “Amy Adams' disappointing dark comedy is all bark and no bite”

1Doctor Who 2024 Christmas special review: “Ncuti Gatwa is as magnetic as ever in this delightful festive treat”

Ncuti Gatwa as the Doctor and Nicola Coughlan as Joy in Doctor Who Christmas special Joy to the World

1Doctor Who 2024 Christmas special review: “Ncuti Gatwa is as magnetic as ever in this delightful festive treat”

1

Doctor Who 2024 Christmas special review: “Ncuti Gatwa is as magnetic as ever in this delightful festive treat”

2Secret Level review: “An uneven experience with serious highlights that ultimately make up for the misses”

2Secret Level review: “An uneven experience with serious highlights that ultimately make up for the misses”

2

Secret Level review: “An uneven experience with serious highlights that ultimately make up for the misses”

3Skeleton Crew review: “Perfectly captures the vibes of classic Star Wars with a swashbuckling twist”

3Skeleton Crew review: “Perfectly captures the vibes of classic Star Wars with a swashbuckling twist”

3

Skeleton Crew review: “Perfectly captures the vibes of classic Star Wars with a swashbuckling twist”

4Creature Commandos review: “James Gunn’s heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that the DCU is in good hands”

4Creature Commandos review: “James Gunn’s heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that the DCU is in good hands”

4

Creature Commandos review: “James Gunn’s heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that the DCU is in good hands”

5Cobra Kai season 6, part 2 review: “Returns to the sort of hard-hitting form that made it such a fan favorite in the first place”

5Cobra Kai season 6, part 2 review: “Returns to the sort of hard-hitting form that made it such a fan favorite in the first place”

5

Cobra Kai season 6, part 2 review: “Returns to the sort of hard-hitting form that made it such a fan favorite in the first place”

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