In his weekly Legends & Lore column, D&D lead designer Mike Mearls revealed not only that a new edition is in the works, but also that we'll all get a chance to help shape the future of our favorite hobby.

Mearls said:

"[...] Starting in Spring 2012, we will be taking this process one step further and conducting ongoing open playtests with the gaming community to gather feedback on the new iteration of the game as we develop it. With your feedback and involvement, we can make D&D better than ever. We seek to build a foundation for the long-term health and growth of D&D, one rooted in the vital traits that make D&D unique and special.

"We want a game that rises above differences of play styles, campaign settings, and editions, one that takes the fundamental essence of D&D and brings it to the forefront of the game. In short, we want a game that is as simple or complex as you please, its action focused on combat, intrigue, and exploration as you desire. We want a game that is unmistakably D&D, but one that can easily become your D&D, the game that you want to run and play."

Mearls went on to say that internal Friends & Family playtesting has already begun and that we can expect open playtesting to start in spring.

Detractors of 4th edition must be elated by this news, but as someone who has been enjoying 4e, I feel that, after only four years, I'm not ready to move on. 5th Edition -- or whatever it ends up being called -- will have to fight an uphill battle to impress me, and that's why I will be participating in the beta and contribute however I can. 5e is a reality; I may as well help ensure it is the D&D game that we all want to play.

Are you looking forward to 5e?