Published on July 27, 2026
Written by Bardic Quest
Two years since the D&D 2024 rulebooks landed, and this episode asks whether the new edition actually delivers. Wayne, Annina and Callum compare 5.5’s release schedule against original 5th Edition’s, dig into what’s missing mechanically (downtime, encumbrance, real subsystems), and get into the OGL fallout, the D&D movie’s box office, and a rumour about Joe Manganiello’s next D&D project.
Recorded ahead of Gen Con, this is the wishlist episode: what they want announced, what Ravenloft: Horrors Within got wrong, and why third-party creators are starting to do WotC’s job for them.
Our Links
Patreon: https://patreon.com/bardicquest
YouTube Membership: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCj6l7zTjUAl6U_n2xEaT-dg/join
Website: https://bardicquest.com
X/Twitter: https://x.com/BardicQuest
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bardicquest/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@bardicquest
Chapters
0:00 Introduction & the plan change
1:00 D&D 2024 turns two: is it really that old?
11:00 Two years of releases, side by side
19:00 WotC’s management shake-up and Critical Role
23:00 The OGL fallout and the D&D movie
29:00 What’s missing from 5.5’s core rules
39:00 Oversimplification and “diegetic rip cords”
53:00 The verdict: is 5.5 actually better?
59:00 What 5.5 needs next: Xanathar’s, Tasha’s, and the Ravenloft problem
1:11:00 Gen Con wishlist and the Manganiello rumour
1:29:00 Wrap-up
Play D&D with us
Merch
