Ok, so this happened and people are pretending it's the first time.
WotC, the people who per my decree as of August 1, 2021 are not the producers of canonical D&D anymore (see my post on that) have now decided to bring out sixth edition. Yes, it's not going to be backwards compatible. Yes it's not going to be "not a new edition". It's also definitely going to change more than any other edition change SINCE 3E. But that's only if any of the current playtest material is actually honest, which let's face it, it won't be. I'll get back to that shortly.
Don't get it twisted, WotC has a marketing strategy which is attempting to do the EXACT same thing they were trying with 4th edition. They got it from a shelf that it's been sitting on since then. 4E didn't come with an edition number on the package anywhere, it was just called "Dungeons & Dragons". Neither did 5E and neither will 6E. It will be called 6E by the fanbase, just like every edition and semi-edition since 4E has not had a "canonical" number. If you weren't paying attention 5.5 already came out with the gift-set reprints that were stealth-updated and we're currently in late-stage 5.5 as of Tasha's. Not only do Wizards not have any creative ideas, they are completely out of marketing ideas and are now recycling the 4.5 "evergreen" strategy they did nearly a decade ago.
Which brings me back to the playtest document for 6th edition. Yes fuck them it's not "One D&D". I'll never call it that, just like I didn't call 5E "D&D Next".
The current playtest document is 21 pages and only covers some character options but makes drastic changes (bearing in mind I stopped paying attention to 5E prior to Tasha's, so my memory is of a D&D that was vaguely recognizable).
Races no longer have varying ability scores. Halflings aren't weaker because they are 3-feet-tall or "half" the size of a man. Elves are no more graceful than Orcs. Also there is no longer any interbreeding of the races. They are strictly different species but not listed as such. That's right you snowflake fuckfaces, the word "races" is still in the book so far! Cower upon it's complete misuse and nonsensicality now! I know there's a sidebar where you can make a human a "half elf" by saying he is or an elf a "half elf" by saying he is but that isn't an option, it's merely reskinning. I already had that. I could make a half-elf a witch-blooded by saying he is with nearly every other edition. Telling me I can do a thing I could already do isn't adding options, in this case it's taking them away.
There is one new face in the races: Ardling, like an aasimar but with a horse head or some shit. I assume a less polar opposite of Tiefling who is still present.
Elves kinda got fucked over but that's fine they're elves they suck. There is much less variance between a wood elf. high elf, drow, and presumably when they get around to it the gray elf and keebler elf.
Halflings don't even have subraces anymore. Hah
Tieflings are reskinned elves, to the point where they should just be additional elf subraces.
Backgrounds are now both more important and unfortunately worse than they were in 5E. Essentially, a Background is now a character's race. This one has ability bonuses though. Don't worry, it's completely customizable to the point of complete boredom unless you're a twinker in which case go get a kleenex because I'm sure you just came on your keyboard.
Trilingual: All characters regardless of anything have at least 3 languages. This is the dumbest shit. This isn't even D&D anymore in any sort of recognizable fashion, and there aren't any classes present.
Feats: are back (like they went anywhere) and now they are no longer optional.
Long story short this is so bad I have no choice but to "boycott" 6th edtion. I won't buy it, whatever they decide to call it.
