Gary Gygax and Dave Arneson published the original Edition of Dungeons and Dragons in 1974. The game has undergone many expansions and revisions over the last 48 years, including five numbered editions and multiple smaller revisions and subsets.
However, Dungeons and Dragons is changing how its updates are structured. Publisher Wizards of the Coast recently announced One D&D, which it describes as “a new generation of Dungeons and Dragons.” Rather than rolling out a new Edition every several years, One D&D focuses on turning Dungeons and Dragons into a living game that can be updated and expanded without needing another complete overhaul.
Wizards of the Coast released a video announcing One D&D and explaining what it means for the legendary TTRPG. According to Wizards of the Coast, the D&D 5th Edition owes its success to designers listening to feedback from players and DMs. The result is a game that Wizards of the Coast feel is well-liked and incorporates the best aspects taken from earlier versions of the game. Rather than upending a stable system, Wizards of the Coast plans to focus on expanding and updating the existing Dungeons and Dragons rather than making any big structural changes.
Part of the One D&D initiatives include changes to the game’s Monster Manual, Player’s Guide, and Dungeon Master’s Guide. However, the focus will be on expansion and ease of use rather than changing or removing core Fifth Edition features. This includes restructuring the Dungeon Master’s Guide to make it easier for new DMs to get acquainted with the system. Players can also expect things like adding new spells, monsters, and other content. However, Wizards of the Coast says that these changes won’t significantly alter the core rules, and existing Dungeons and Dragons 5e campaigns and modules will still work with the updated books.
In addition to updating the Dungeons and Dragons ruleset, One D&D will also have various digital components. Among them is closer integration with D&D Beyond, which Wizards of the Coast acquired in April. This includes rolling out “digital-physical-bundles” that allow players and DMs to access their content anywhere they want.
The other half of One D&D’s online component is the upcoming D&D Digital. While still early in development, D&D Digital will be a 3D-rendered virtual play space based on the Unreal Engine. While not a video game, it simulates the experience of playing Dungeons and Dragons with tabletop miniatures. D&D Digital will also include a variety of tools for Dungeon Masters, including the ability to create custom campaigns, maps, and dungeons.
Finally, players can visit D&D Beyond now and download the first of several Playtest Packets. These will let players and DMs influence the future of Dungeons and Dragons by trying them out and giving feedback to designers.
One Dungeons and Dragons is in development.