When the D&D world Turns the Page
After eight years of rolling in 5e’s familiar terrain, Wizards has decided it’s time for a new chapter—but not a brand‑new edition.
Meet One D&D
Think of One D&D as the great sequel that keeps the best parts of the past while throwing away the old scripts that nobody wants to read. Chris Perkins, the mastermind behind the project, summed it up with a nod to the fans:
“We listened to you, fine‑tuned 5e, and now it’s not about changing the game. It’s about giving you more choices while staying in the same universe.”
What’s the game‑plan?
- No new edition – we’re not pretending to build a whole new rule set from scratch.
- Keep what you love: the stability and that “just‑works‑fine” feel people have fallen in love with.
- Expand the menu: new classes, careers, feats, and mechanics that let you fit your playstyle even tighter.
- More player power: tweaks to dice, character development, and storytelling that let you steer the narrative into places you didn’t know were possible.
Why It Matters
For most of us, D&D is less about rule‑books than it is about “who wins the showdown, who remembers to hit the next turn.” One D&D aims to keep that fun front and center, adding the spice we’ve all been craving. No more overhauls, just incremental ways to feel deeply invested in every roll.
So, What’s Next?
Wizards is rolling out a new set of handouts—gear, guidance, and community events. If you’ve been waiting for a chance to tweak the game while staying within the 5e framework, this is your cue to hop in.
Ready to take the long‑bow, the wizard’s hat, and your game board, and explore a D&D universe that now works even better? Grab your dice, take a breath, and let the adventure unfold.
One D&D is waiting.
Core rulebooks to be revised
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Dungeon Masters, Get Ready to Tweak Your Toolbox!
After a solid eight‑year run, the three cornerstone books you’ve been grinding for—Player’s Handbook, Dungeon Master’s Guide, and Monster Manual—are getting a much‑anticipated facelift. The fresh editions are set to drop in 2024.
Lead Designer Spotlight
Perkins, the mastermind behind the DM guide, is rolling out structural tweaks aimed at making the Dungeon Master’s Guide a little more buddy‑friendly for new DMs. Meanwhile, our resident design wizard Jeremy Crawford is set to revamp the other two tomes.
What’s the Big Deal?
- Wizards of the Coast is riding the wave of 5th Edition while giving the rules a hearty expansion.
- Don’t worry—your past adventures and supplements aren’t going hidden away. The new evolution will keep older content backward compatible.
- So, whether you’ve been rolling for a decade or just started playing, your game will remain fully playable.
In a Nutshell
Think of it as a grand update: fresh pages, no crash‑landing old quests, and a future that respects the past. Gear up, DM and player alike—you’re about to start a brand new chapter in the epic saga of D&D.
Press Briefing Update: Homebrew Rules Go Official
During a lively press briefing on Tuesday, August 16, Crawford unveiled a set of rules that many DMs have already been using in secret. Fans of the game are now in for a treat: the infamous “natural 1 is an automatic failure, natural 20 is an automatic success” rule is officially enshrined in the ruleset, not just a household‑favorite anecdote.
Why This Matters
- Natural 1 = “Glitch!” You automatically fail the check, no matter how high your bonus.
- Natural 20 = “Chef‑Level Guaranteed Success!” Your check automatically passes, regardless of modifiers.
It almost sounds too good to be true, but it’s now written on the rule‑books. New editions, after‑print releases, and digital PDFs will all include it.
Bonus: Inspiration on a 20
- When you roll a natural 20, you receive a boon of Inspiration—essentially a free reroll of a future d20.
- If you already hold an Inspiration token, you can share it with a teammate who doesn’t have one.
Imagine walking into a session with your “top‑level” 20 roll, bagging a bonus that lets you check your status mid‑game or roll 1/2 your next challenge. It’ll keep the adventure from feeling stale, and if you’re lucky, you could end up with a party of fully polished heroes.
So next time you’re rolling, keep an eye out: a lucky 20 isn’t just a great score—it’s a gateway to a free reroll, and you’re empowered to spread the good luck around.
New races
What’s Hot in the New Rulebook: Level‑Up Your Character Fun!
Meet the fresh take on D&D mechanics that turns every session into a “create‑your‑own‑adventure” sandbox. Wizards of the Coast isn’t just tweaking rules – they’re adding brand‑new options that will keep your dice rolling faster than a wizard’s spell.
Why It Matters
- More choices. Think of it as a buffet for your character’s backstory.
- Community‑driven. Tinkering with the rulebook is a group effort – you’ll get to test it and shout out your feedback.
- Infinite possibilities. With extra races, fresh backgrounds, and revamped feats, every build feels fresh.
What’s Rolling (in the “Game” and literally)
Crawford spilled the beans: the new rulebook will be available for players to drop into their next campaign. The key highlights:
- New Races – Expand the roster with fresh racial flair.
- Revamped Backgrounds – Give players a fresh narrative toolbox.
- Reworked Feats – Tighten, tweak, and jazz up the go-to power‑ups.
The Tiefling Spell‑Check
Take a look at one of the star changes: Tieflings, the beloved and often misunderstood race, now have two additional origin options. That means you can tailor your devil‑ish lineage to fit any backstory, from “a rebellious feist in a cursed village” to “a city‑slicked high‑sister who’s hiding her demonic heritage.” The new options give players the agency to shape their character’s journey before the adventure even starts.
Wrap It Up
Wizards is stepping up the game, letting you craft a character that’s as unique as your own personality. With the community testing ahead of the final release, it’s a chance for players to shape the final version itself. So cheat a little, or dive deep – your D&D experience is about to get a big, colorful upgrade.
Meet the Ardling: A Starry New Race for Your Next Game
Ever felt like your characters were just a little bit ordinary? Well, Ardlings are here to shake things up!
What are Ardlings, you ask?
Think of them as the “cosmic cousins” of Tieflings, but on the opposite side of the spectrum. While Tieflings have a heritage tied to devils, demons, and all that spooky “hellish” stuff, Ardlings come straight from the high skies, a.k.a. supernal beings. Give them a shiny name, and they’re definitely not the mischief‑making, blood‑curdling type.
Unique Feature: Size Flexibility
- For the first time in D&D history, you can pick a small or medium size for Ardlings.
- Say goodbye to the “I’m at the merchant’s elbow because I’m too tiny” dilemma.
- Ready to be a towering titan or a pocket‑size protagonist? The choice is yours.
Why This Matters
With size choices, you now get to play with unique tactics. Think tiny stealth or big‑bodied intimidation. No more one‑size‑fits‑all; Ardlings let you shape your character’s presence whatever you fancy.
Final Thoughts
Ardlings add that sparkle to your campaign of star‑dust. If you’re after a race that’s as celestial as it is customizable, try setting your next character down on a celestial aisle. Your next adventure? About to get a lot more luminous.
New Backgrounds
Race is Out! Backgrounds Are In – Feats Just Got Even More Extra
Picture this: Gone are the days when your character’s racial bonuses decided how they rolled. That magic meat‑and‑potatoes vibe is being swapped for something slick and modern – your Background. Think of backgrounds as the new passport to a world of perks and personality.
The Feat Factory
Every Background now comes with its own Feat. That’s right, the same power‑up that riffs on a character’s specialty is now baked into their origin story. Suddenly, from the get-go, your character isn’t just a pretty face – they’ve practically walked off a stage, screaming “Ooo, I’m going to be awesome.”
Guarding the Realm: Alert!
Take the fresh “Guard” background, for example. By snagging it, you get the Alert feat—perfect for spotting creepies and spotting blinks before the enemy does. No more being blindsided; you’re the wily watchman who’ll always be two steps ahead.
Fun Facts About Feats
- Feats were normally special treasures that only appeared at certain levels.
- Only the Variant Human once gave you an instant feat boost straight out of the box.
- Now, every Background’s feat could mean you’re instantly more capable.
In short, the game’s getting an upgrade by swapping out race-based bonuses for background-based perks that pack a punch. And that punch? It’s the extra oomph your creative player characters now get, starting from level zero.
New Feats
New Buffs on D&D Feats—Your Team Just Got a Power Boost
Word on the street is that the Feats in the upcoming revamp are stepping up their game. Even the tiniest sneak peeks suggest a hefty makeover is on the horizon.
Guard & Alert: Initiative Swap
- Alert gets a cool tweak: during combat, you can trade your spot in the initiative order for a teammate’s. Think of it as a super‑charged “push the button for faster action” that lets allies jump ahead.
Inspiration Gets Loose‑Lipped
Remember Inspiration? Until now, only Game Masters could dole out those precious d20 rerolls. The new “Musician” Feat changes that—after a short or a long rest, a character can hand out Inspiration to the rest of the party. This turns the once DM‑only privilege into a shared party perk.
Why Inspiration Was a Sudden Favorite
When AsiaOne asked why people never seemed to use Inspiration, the team’s lead, Crawford, explained:
“We looked at the game over the last decade and saw that a lot of groups either ignore or shelve Inspiration as a silly homebrew rule. But it’s a powerful tool. We’re redesigning how you naturally earn it by making rolling a 20 a guaranteed hit, and opening up ways to casually hand it out to allies.”
Extra Bonus: Human Racial Trait
And here’s a little Easter egg: Humans now gain Inspiration automatically whenever they finish a long rest. Not too shabby for the species that loves to roll the dice.
Bottom line? With these buffs, it’s no surprise everyone will be scrambling to pick the newest Feats in their next campaign.
Going phygital
Wizards Unleashes a Phygital Power‑Up for D&D Fans
Picture this: you’re in your living room, dice clashing against the couch cushion, your friends yelling around a homemade one‑sheet, when suddenly a glowing character sheet appears on your tablet, auto‑updating as you level up. That’s the magic Wizards is now offering, thanks to the DnD Beyond platform they just bought.
Why This Matters to Every Dungeon Master
Even if you’ve only dabbed in D&D once or twice, chances are you’ve already
dabbled in some digital tool – maybe a spreadsheet, a bit of Roll20 magic, or
a PDF of the Player’s Handbook. DnD Beyond made character creation so painless
that it became a staple in almost every house.
The pandemic hit, and the world leaned on virtual tools. Roll20’s user base
doubled to 10 million+ during that shift. That influx taught us one thing: a
good digital platform is a good game. Now Wizards wants to bring that
seamless, online experience straight into the hands of every d20‑playing
adventurer.
What’s on the Horizon?
- One Roof, One Experience: Bring together character sheets, dice rolls, and battle grids in a unified space.
- Phygital Bundles: The first of its kind for Dragonlance, combining a tangible product pack (like themed dice, maps, and books) with the digital booklet that updates in real time.
- DM Toolkit: Comprehensive tools for dungeon masters—chat, timers, automatic initiative tracking—all within the same platform.
- Community Hooks: Easy ways to share campaigns, recruit players, and collaborate on worldbuilding.
Feel the Digital Wave
With Wizards at the helm, the next generation of tabletop gaming will be both virtual and tactile. Whether you’re hitting the pub for a smoky night of role‑play or setting up a remote campaign, the DnD Beyond ecosystem is gearing up to keep your dice rolling and your characters evolving, all while your friends feel the excitement as if they were right next to you.
So buckle up, dice lovers—Wizards is about to make your adventure phygital in the best possible way!
Step Onto the Next‑Gen Dungeon
Picture this: a mini‑world that lives in the cloud, built with the powerhouse Unreal Engine and ready for a wild ride. Instead of hauling around foam tiles, you get to drag your own tiny armies through a fully 3D playground—just like the old‑school board game, but way cooler.
What’s the Big Deal?
- Fully Customisable: Build a virtual mini that fits your style, then move it around like it’s a real piece of furniture. No more scooping out mini‑figs in cramped boxes.
- Neural‑Powered Control: Every command feels instant, thanks to the real‑time physics of Unreal. It’s like having a miniature tornado you control with a phone.
- Pre‑Alpha Freedom: Though still polishing the rug, early adopters can dive in and experiment.
Playtime In the Digital Realm
While the digital playspace is still a pre‑alpha masterpiece, diehard gamers can hop over to DnD Beyond and start testing some of the earliest play‑test goodies. It’s a sneak peek into a future where your tabletop stays forever in your head.
All That’s Happening
Wizards Presents has dropped a laundry list of updates, and it’s all right there for you to digest. If you’re craving the full scoop, we’ve whipped up a nutshell‑brief that covers every announcement coming from the epicenter of Dungeons & Dragons.
Got questions? Drop a line at [email protected]—we love the thrill of the game as much as you do!
