One D&D Playtest: What We Know So Far (February 2023)
The One D&D playtest currently represents one of the biggest changes to the Dungeons & Dragons rules set in decades, and involves key game designers from Wizards of the Coast and thousands of fans from around the world. But what exactly is in the playtest and how will it impact the future of the world’s greatest roleplaying game?
In this article, we break out everything we know so far.
Table of Contents
What’s in the One D&D Playtest?
What is One D&D?
One D&D is a new Dungeons & Dragons rules system currently in development and slated for release sometime in 2024, with a set of three new core rulebooks. The game will be compatible with the existing Dungeons & Dragons 5th edition and will incorporate the D&D Beyond online platform and a new virtual tabletop system that’s being developed with the Unreal video game engine.
According to Wizards of the Coast, One D&D will consist of three “core pillars”:
- D&D Rules: This will include updates and expansions to the existing 5th edition rules, covering everything from character creation, to spells, races, combat and even the structure of official DnD character sheets. While release dates for new print and digital materials are still unknown, Wizards of the Coast has said that they will be releasing new One D&D versions of the Player’s Handbook, Dungeon Master’s Guide and Monster Manual.
- D&D Beyond: First launched in 2017, D&D Beyond allows players to run virtual tabletop game sessions and access online materials. In April 2022, Wizards of the Coast purchased the platform for over $146 million dollars. Shortly after, it was announced that D&D Beyond will be a central focus for the One D&D system, although what this will look remains to seen.
- Digital D&D Play Experience: This virtual tabletop system will allows DMs and players to create interactive environments and 3D models, something that could potentially replace the need for a physical miniatures, tokens and RPG battlemats. The product is being built using the Unreal video game engine and is expected to integrate with D&D Beyond.
You can learn more about the three core pillars of in the video below and on D&D Beyond’s official One D&D page.
What is the One D&D Playtest?
The One D&D playtest is an ongoing, public-facing test of the new Dungeons & Dragons rules system. Playtest materials are released in batches online as PDFs and can be downloaded by anyone with a D&D Beyond account. Players can then review the materials and submit feedback via an online survey, which is open for a set period of time.
Notably, playtest materials have been released under the banner of Unearthed Arcana, which prior to One D&D was a part of the primary D&D website blog where new rules and ideas were released by Wizards of the Coast. It’s also worth noting that the rules featured in the playtest are “unofficial” and aren’t permitted for use in D&D Adventurers League events or D&D Beyond.
You can learn more more on the One D&D playtest FAQ page.
What’s in the One D&D Playtest So Far?
As of Decemeber 2022, Wizards of the Coast has released three batches of playtest materials:
- Character Origins: Released August 18th, 2022, it provided new character creation rules, including options for races, backgrounds and feats
- Expert Classes: Released September 29th, 2022, it provided new and revised class features, as well as updates to spells, feats, subclasses and epic boons.
- Cleric and Revised Species: Released December 1st, 2022, it features new rules for the Cleric class, a new Life Domain subclass, and revised species rules for the Ardling, Dragonborn and Goliath (notably, Wizards of the Coast later indicated that due to its poor reception, the Ardling will not continue in any future One D&D materials).
- Druid & Paladin: Released February 23rd, it features extensive rules updates for the Druid (including an updated version of wildshape and a new “Channel Nature” ability) and the Paladin.
On November 30th, the game design team revealed the results of the first batch of One D&D playtest. Additional playtests will be launched throughout 2023 and possibly even into 2024 prior to the new system’s official release.
What Are the Biggest Changes So Far?
As of February 2023, the One D&D playtest has made a number of potentially significant changes to the existing fifth edition rules (NOTE: the list below will be updated as new rules are made available).
- Critical Successes: One of the biggest changes to existing rules found in the One D&D playtest is what happens when players roll a natural 1 or a natural 20. These are now known as “critical failures” and “critical successes”, and result in a success or failure regardless of the difficulty (something which is technically an unofficial house rule for many 5e players). In the case of critical failures, these grant characters a point of inspiration. Critical hits have also changed and now only double the damage dealt by weapons and unarmed strikes. This means that spells and attacks are far less powerful than they once were.
- Races Are Now Species: While not necessarily a rules change, in the One D&D playtest the term “race” has been replaced by “species.” In addition, the game no longer has “half” species (most notably, half-orcs and half-elves). Instead, players will be able to create hybrid species such as a tiefling-orc or other combination. Species also no longer give ability score improvements (for example, in the current 5e rules, Elves’ Intelligence score automatically increases by 1), but will provide an added ability of some kind. Subraces (such as the Genasi) are now also referred to as “Lineages” and have fewer abilities.
- Spell Lists: In current D&D fifth edition rules, every class has its own spell list. And while some spells do overlap between lists, there are also a number that are specific only to certain classes. In the One D&D playtest, however, class-specific spell lists have been removed. Instead, there are now three overarching spell lists: Primal, Arcane and Divine, each of which is available to a certain class. The Ranger for example, can only use the Primal list, while the Bard can use the Arcane list. Classes are further restricted by school. For example, the Ranger can access the Primal spell list but can’t can’t cast any spells from the Evocation school.
- Cleric Subclasses: Subclasses are variations of the traditional D&D classes (i.e. Rogue, Fighter, Wizard, Cleric etc.) that allow players to further develop their character’s background and abilities. For example the Arcane Trickster is a subclass of the Rogue class. In One D&D, the cleric is now able to choose a subclass at third level. It remains to be seen if this will also be the case for other classes.
- Clerics Get a Holy Order: At second level (and again at ninth), clerics are now able to choose a “Holy Order”, which offers additional abilities. There are three orders so far in the playtest: The Protector (which grants proficiency in heavy armor and martial weapons), the Scholar (which improves knowledge skills like Arcana and Religion) and the Thaumaturge (which has improved spellcasting abilities).
- Bard & Ranger Are Now Prepared Spellcasters: In the current D&D 5e rules, spells are either learned (a character always knows the spell) or prepared (a character must study the spell to use it and then relearn it again later). In the One D&D playtest, both the Bard and Ranger no longer have the ability to learn spells, and must prepare them instead. It remains to be seen if this will also be the case for other classes.
- Updates to Feats: Feats (which are optional in the current D&D 5e rules) are added skills which players can access as they advance levels instead of taking an ability score increase. In the One D&D playtest, feats are no longer optional. Instead, each player starts out with at least one feat and certain species (such as humans) also get a bonus feat. Characters can also unlock additional bonus feats at fourth level.
- Changes to Spells: In the One D&D playtest, there have been a number of changes to spells (for example, the Guidance spell can now be cast as a reaction, while the Barkskin spell now provides only temporary hit points). One of the biggest changes, however, is to cantrips. In the new rules, cantrips are now prepared spells. This means players have a set number of learned cantrips which they cannot swap out. Wizards of the Coast has also indicated that many existing 5e spells will be changed or even potentially removed entirely.
- Player Backgrounds: In current 5e rules, backgrounds (which are completely optional) help to flesh out a character’s history and personality, in addition to offering a variety of skills and benefits. This won’t be the case in One D&D, however, with backgrounds being a key part of the rules. What’s more, One D&D will encourage players to create their own backgrounds rather than choosing from pre-made options.
- Changes to Species: So far, the One D&D playtest has made a number of changes to several species. To begin with they they introduced the Ardling, animal-headed creatures from the Upper planes of existence. They’ve also made tweaks to the Goliath species, Dragonborn and half-orcs, providing additional rules, abilities and features. It’s likely more species will be further tweaked as the playtest progresses.
- Epic Boons at Level 20: In the current D& 5e rules, when characters reach Level 20 they receive certain abilities designed to cement their place as near-mythic figures (although notably, fans have complained about how unbalanced some of these abilities are for certain classes). The One D&D playtest does away with this rule. Instead, at 20th level a character receives a feat known as an “Epic Boon“. The playtest has 16 of these boons listed so far, offering everthing from proficiency in every skill, to resistance to specific damage types and extra combat damage.
- Ability Score Improvements: Since the very 1st edition of D&D, a character’s race has provided an ability score increase (for example, the half-orc gets to increase their Strength score by 2). In the One D&D playtest, however, this is no longer the case. Instead, a character’s background will provide increases to ability scores.
- Classes Are Grouped as “Roles”: In the playtest, all DnD 5e classes are now grouped together based on share rules and their roles in the party. For example, Barbarians, Fighters and Monks now fall under the role of “Warriors.” Similarly, Bards, Rangers are Rogues are classifies a “Experts,” Sorcerers, Warlocks and Wizards fall under the “Mage” role and Clerics, Druids and Paladins are now “Priests.” Each role will offer characters unique abilities and features. So far only the Experts role has been revealed.
- New Druid Wildshape: The Druid ability to transform into an animal is now available at 1st level. What’s more, instead of players having to choose a specific animal from the Monster’s Manual, they now have three set options with accompanying set stat blocks: the Animal of the Land, the Animal of the Sky and the Animal of the Sea.
- Druid’s now access Channel Nature: This new ability is the Druid version of the Cleric/Paladin’s Channel Divinity, which offers a variety of new spell and ability options.
Is One D&D a Sixth Edition?
According to Wizards of the Coast, One D&D will not be a new additon, and they have stated that they have no plans for a D&D 6e. This has lead some players to speculate that One D&D will be more of a “5.5” edition, than a true overhaul.
That being said, the One D&D playtest team has indicated that the rules are designed to evolve over time, so it is possible that we may see One D&D eventually transition into an official sixth edition.
What comes next?
More one D&D playtests are expected to be released via Unearthed Arcana in the coming days, with more player feedback results released by Wizards of the Coast. Stay posted to Dungeons & Dragons Fanatics as we’ll keep a close eye on these updates in the days ahead.
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Cameron Nichols is a Senior Editor who lives in Boston, Massechustes, and has been playing D&D since the early 90s, when he was introduced by his older brother and cut his teeth on AD&D 2nd Edition. Since then he’s played virtually every RPG he could get his nerdy little mitts on (including a weird Goth phase in the early 2000s when he rocked Vampire: The Masquerade pretty hard). His favorite D&D campaign setting is the Forgotten Realms and his favorite character to play was a Half-Orc Barbarian named Grug (who was unfortunately devoured by a gelatinous cube).
