D&D 5E has been around for a long time now. When it comes to tabletop gaming, D&D 5E is the traditional choice among thousands of players worldwide. However, times are changing really fast and players and DMs crave for something new.
The new solution of WOTC (Wizards of the Coast) is the upcoming release of One D&D. This system intends to unite all 5E players and DMs worldwide under a highly modular and flexible set of rules.
One D&D Overview
Basically, One D&D is a new comprehensive direction that intends to turn D&D into a highly organized and adaptive system. One D&D is not D&D 5.5 or D&D 6E but rather a massive overhaul that will incorporate the ideas and whims of many players worldwide. Somehow, you can consider One D&D as a rather new way of playing Dungeons and Dragons.
Take a look at the official roadmap of One D&D:
- Revised versions of every class from the Player’s Handbook
- 48 subclasses to be tested
- New and revised spells
- New and revised feats
- New weapon options for classes
- A homebase-creation system for characters
- Revised encounter-building rules
- New and revised monsters
What should you expect from One D&D? Well, continue reading the article to find out!
More Crucial and Impactful Playtesting
D&D 5E steamrolled other tabletop RPGs when it comes to popularity and ease-of-access. The old days of crunchy mathematical computations are gone, allowing new D&D players to be part of the game in 30 minutes or less. Well, there’s still Math involved but it is more bearable now.
During the early days of 5E, playtesting was mostly limited to isolated forum sections, web channels, and exclusive social groups. It’s true that anyone can playtest and record their findings, leading to greater flexibility for DMs and players. However, the big decision-makers from WOTC have full control regarding the direction of the game.
Over the years, many official books were released along with some interesting supplementary materials. These books reigned supreme in the hobby, overshadowing some potential third-party masterpieces. In a way, the books created a bottleneck of content which left many players confused.
One D&D attempts to solve this problem with impactful playtesting. Now, the creators of the system are really careful on gathering the pulse of the people, making an active global playtesting scene with complete documented materials.
If you’re a new D&D player or DM, you will truly benefit from the impactful playtest approach of One D&D. WOTC is transparent regarding the active changes within the game, and the company is also listening to the voice of the community.
A Better Approach to Character Creation
One of the most notable changes in One D&D is character creation. Back then, your character options are directly linked to races, classes, and backgrounds. You can then spice up the character by adding a backstory and some narrative snippets here and there.
In One D&D, you can use a creation aspect known as Origins. A character’s Origin is a modified, in-depth template that combines racial information, background, and languages. It is a seamless way to organize information, therefore reducing the hassles of creating a new character.
Characters also start with three languages now. For some players, this can barely touch the icing of the game. For others, however, the trilingual system is a welcome change. With three languages, characters can ace social encounters and lead to better development. DMs may or may not have a hard time with this change, depending on the types of campaign that they’re running.
Classes Are More Significant
In the world of tabletop games, classes are so prevalent that they almost became the norm. Without classes, there are almost little distinctions among playstyles, strategies, and character uniqueness. The question ‘what is your class’ is totally common in D&D 5E circles today.
One D&D’s approach to character classes is strange yet intuitive. The new system emphasized the importance of being part of an adventuring class. With such an emphasis on adventuring class, PCs (player characters) will really be treated as potential heroes of the realm and daring adventurers.
During character creation, players are now encouraged to pick their Primary Ability. Now, this isn’t new at all. As a player, you will always have a priority Ability Score and a dump stat – whether you deny it or not. It’s just how the Math of D&D works. With the Primary Ability emphasized in One D&D, new players will have an easier time making their characters.
Classes are also presented in an organized manner now through Class Groups. While the Class Groups classification doesn’t have inherent mechanical functions, they are still essential for character creation. At the very least, newbies can now understand the general capabilities of every class.
Right now, only the first Class Group, Expert Classes, is being playtested. Basically, the Expert Classes were slightly overhauled, and they gain useful benefits from the Expertise feature.
Possible Simplifications
Many players believe that certain aspects of D&D 5E will be simplified in One D&D. It’s very likely that casters and half-casters might even be revised for the sake of balance. Magic items, progression, and adventuring rules are also some aspects that might undergo simplification.
One noticeable change is the adjustment to Spellcasting. Some spellcasting classes can now cast spells at Level 1. Depending on the type of campaign, such an adjustment is marginal or significant. However, the adjustment won’t break any campaign because the DM still has the final say on everything.
Most of the possible simplifications will be related to the PHB (Player’s Handbook) and DMG (Dungeon Master’s Guide). However, it’s still possible that other materials will have some prominent changes under One D&D.
How to Prepare For A One D&D Campaign?
Even though One D&D’s official launch is still far away, it doesn’t hurt to make some preparations. Whether you’re a DM or a player, preparing ahead will help you enjoy the game more.
Here are some ways on how you can prepare for One D&D:
Follow the Playtest Updates
The official One D&D playtest is your official source of game updates. By following these updates, you’ll know which rules were modified or newly implemented. The playtest updates will also give you some ideas about potential character builds.
If you’re a DM, you should read One D&D playtest updates to gain insights on how to improve your upcoming campaigns. Plus, you can utilize One D&D rules easily if you understand them ahead of time.
You can find One D&D playtest updates on D&D Beyond. Deeper discussions are also available in famous communities like One D&D and Unearthed Arcana subreddits.
Brainstorm with Other One D&D Enthusiasts
Brainstorming is a great way to expand your knowledge and mastery of a tabletop game like D&D 5E. Additionally, brainstorming will also help you understand One D&D better. But first, you need to find an interesting group to brainstorm with.
It’s important to have an open-minded group when it comes to One D&D brainstorming. If your chosen group is not flexible with modern changes, you will have a hard time gathering insights accordingly.
There are numerous topics that can be brainstormed under One D&D. Some of these topics are new character builds, speculations about rules, and combat-specific discussions. You can even make suggestions and discuss them with other players or DMs.
It’s also undeniable that your brainstorming group can be a great source of new players or open-game invitations!
Run Some Simulations
Simulations aren’t necessary for your One D&D exploration, but they can help you anticipate the big changes coming with the system. You don’t need to run complicated simulations that will take hours to finish. At best, you have a choice to run plain combat encounters or skill checks.
One quick way to run an efficient simulation is to make a Discord server. Make a few channels and ensure that you have a dicebot (i.e. Avrae) for automatic rolls. Afterwards, you can now make a character or use a pre-generated character that can be downloaded online. Monster stat blocks are not a problem since they can be downloaded online as well.
Your simulation can be divided into roleplay, combat, or character creation. Roleplay and character creation are easier things to accomplish while combat will definitely take time.
Don’t forget to document your findings and share them to your brainstorming group!
Procure Third-Party D&D Materials
Using third-party D&D materials is fun. Not only will you gain new and wonderful options for gaming, but you can also test One D&D rules in a rather interesting way. There are also tons of third-party materials to choose from.
Just remember that you don’t need to get the most expensive third-party D&D sourcebooks. You only need basic race and class options unless you’re a DM who wants to build a whole multi-layered campaign around the rules of One D&D.
Check Your Favorite VTT’s Updates
If you have a favorite virtual tabletop (VTT) program, you must be aware of some updates. Usually, VTTs have some exciting deals related to official 5E published materials or even third-party sourcebooks. You might even find some exciting discounted product bundles.
Another reason why you should check out VTT updates is compatibility and additional features. Some VTTs might have full compatibility support for One D&D while others do not. Keep your options open, and you might be able to snag a great deal.
FAQ About One D&D
1. Will One D&D change all of the rules of D&D 5E?
Answer: One D&D will aim to change some rules of D&D 5E but not all. Perhaps the most important rules (i.e. combat-related) will only have minor changes and adventuring rules will have a grand overhaul. It all depends on the direction of the playtest.
2. Will classes become overpowered in One D&D?
Answer: While it’s still early to tell if classes will become overpowered in One D&D, the playtest materials leave out some hints focused on balance, improved gameplay experience, and scaling adjustments. There’s a chance that some classes might become stronger than before, and some classes might actually end up weaker.
3. Is One D&D friendly to newbies?
Answer: Based on the recently published playtest materials, One D&D has a user-friendly and more inclusive approach. Newbies will have an easier time building their characters, and their playthroughs will also become more manageable. DMs might also gain noticeable benefits, but these factors still have to be seen in the upcoming playtest materials.
4. Can I use One D&D playtest materials anytime?
Answer: Yes, you can check out the playtest materials here. You’re free to use the new changes in your campaign or adventure sessions.
5. What published books are likely to be modified in One D&D?
Answer: One D&D will modify some parts and rulings of the Player’s Handbook and the Dungeon Master’s Guide. Over time, WOTC might add more books to the selection.
Conclusion
One D&D can redefine Dungeons and Dragons and take it to a new, innovative level. Perhaps the new system will bring in more players to the hobby, and it can also give new opportunities for D&D content creators.
Are you excited for the arrival of One D&D? Tell us about your speculations and character ideas in the comment section below!
