Both scenarios fit having an edition with simplistic rules. 5e will likely be old school and simple and limited in terms of power levels. 6e will retain that feel but have options for higher power levels. It may also have a greater degree of sci-fi or technological offerings (think Might and Magic with it's odd futuristic elements) if society is in ruins or there is a technological boon in 2020's-2030's. People will be less interested in fantasy or want sci-fi in their fantasy so I expect there will be those elements hidden in the standard campaign for those who want them.
Drow will be in the PHB1 from the start. Human, Gnome, Halfling, Elf, Eladrin, Dark Elf, Half-Elf, Dwarf and Tiefling are likely candidates for the PHB1.
Characters will gain levels slowly, but rather gain artifacts and boons which influence how powerful they are and how powerful the enemies they face will be.
There will be no explicit roles for classes but they will have clear roles in combat anyway. Magic will return to being in levels and arcane and divine only (no-one believes in primal come 2020-30) Martial powers will still exist but you won't have levels and instead use a PowerPoint system or such.
IBTL
At a guess, 6e won't be here till the 2020's maybe 2030's if it's not digital friendly it will die, baring ecological disasters and such destroying civilisation as we know it. In that instance it will need to be portable and table friendly.
Both scenarios fit having an edition with simplistic rules. 5e will likely be old school and simple and limited in terms of power levels. 6e will retain that feel but have options for higher power levels. It may also have a greater degree of sci-fi or technological offerings (think Might and Magic with it's odd futuristic elements) if society is in ruins or there is a technological boon in 2020's-2030's. People will be less interested in fantasy or want sci-fi in their fantasy so I expect there will be those elements hidden in the standard campaign for those who want them.
Drow will be in the PHB1 from the start. Human, Gnome, Halfling, Elf, Eladrin, Dark Elf, Half-Elf, Dwarf and Tiefling are likely candidates for the PHB1.
Characters will gain levels slowly, but rather gain artifacts and boons which influence how powerful they are and how powerful the enemies they face will be.
There will be no explicit roles for classes but they will have clear roles in combat anyway. Magic will return to being in levels and arcane and divine only (no-one believes in primal come 2020-30) Martial powers will still exist but you won't have levels and instead use a PowerPoint system or such.
If it does not have an octagon and triangle grid oriented 15º CCW then I think I may have to wait for 7th.
6E is where they will finally give in and put the Anime Catgirl race into the PHB.
Wyvern
6E is where they will finally give in and put the Anime Catgirl race into the PHB.
I was going to say, by the year 2020-30 most of us will be old and the prime audience of 6e will be the children of the kids of today. By 2020-30 Videogames are likely to be a prime source of entertainment or (in the event of ecological disaster) Manga will be a prime source of entertainment, WOTC will therefore cater to those crowds and supply them with what they want - cat girls and a moe race.
Moved to an appropriate forum.
Wyvern
Wait, what? Why here? At least put it in Future releases!