D&D (2024) The 2024 Core D&D Rulebooks Are Coming In May

21st May 2024 is the official release date!

Update--WotC has taken down the promo image and replaced it with one without a release date. See more here.

 

[FitzTheRuke]

I will probably get a lot of flak for this idea, but,

Not sure why you'd get flak, but this being the internet, I cans see why you'd be wary...

would it maybe be better that PHB be printed as two separate books, shipped in bundle?

Wouldn't even need to be shipped in a bundle, I think.

PHB and PHB: Spell compendium, which only has spellcasting and spell description. Maybe with magic items in there also?

I mean, they could split it up that way. There's no reason (other than "tradition) to go with the same core three. You could do it several ways:

1) DMG, MM, PHB Class Compendium & PHB Magic Compendium (like you suggest)
2) Rules; Options; Threats; Challenges; Gear.
3+) Etc. (I was going to do more, but I think there's not much point, you get the idea).

Tradition will out here, though.

2014 PHB comes with 322 pages, of which 90 is for spellcasting.
And they promised more art, more features, more everything.
That will cause a page bloat.

It's absolutely WILL. They were bragging at PAX that it's the "biggest PHB in the history of the game (by page count). Is that a good thing? We'll have to see.

I love my PF1 core book, but that 580 page book is huge and I would be happier if it were a 300-300 split, or something similar. And in general, books with less pages are more durable.

You have a point.

I know that everyone wants a 600 page 2024 PHB, but it's a little bit impractical.

I don't know about "everyone". The general idea is "bigger is better" but it doesn't always work out that way. IMO, they're going to have to justify the $80 Canadian that I expect to have to charge for them, though!

 

[Azzy]

So, we're looking at sizable additions to each of the core books. So, how big are these books going to be? And what is the MSRP going to be?

 

[Azzy]

ffggggg

 

[Parmandur]

So, we're looking at sizable additions to each of the core books. So, how big are these books going to be? And what is the MSRP going to be?

$60 each, and hard to say, counterrespectively

Crawford said that combined they will be "nearly a thousand pages," but the 2014 books are already 988 pages combined, sooooo...

Based on the pages they showed, the newer layout might actually ne more efficient overall, and the PHB had some dross (like pages of pantheons) that I doubt will ne reprated. The DMG sounds like a complete rethink, it seems that whole sections of the 2014 that weren't widely.used.may just be cut entirely.

 

[Reynard]

I will probably get a lot of flak for this idea, but,

would it maybe be better that PHB be printed as two separate books, shipped in bundle?

PHB and PHB: Spell compendium, which only has spellcasting and spell description. Maybe with magic items in there also?

2014 PHB comes with 322 pages, of which 90 is for spellcasting.
And they promised more art, more features, more everything.

That will cause a page bloat.
I love my PF1 core book, but that 580 page book is huge and I would be happier if it were a 300-300 split, or something similar.
And in general, books with less pages are more durable.

I know that everyone wants a 600 page 2024 PHB, but it's a little bit impractical.

Alternatively: dramatically change the paradigm for the way ruled are written, especially spells, and decrease your rulebook length to a reasonably manageable page count.

 

[Yaarel]

Alternatively: dramatically change the paradigm for the way ruled are written, especially spells, and decrease your rulebook length to a reasonably manageable page count.

Deleting the spell components line from the spell descriptions might free up a page or two.

 

[mamba]

Deleting the spell components line from the spell descriptions might free up a page or two.

writing more concise and clear descriptions might save a lot more than that

 

[Yaarel]

writing more concise and clear descriptions might save a lot more than that

Some spell descriptions are sprawling, especially the complex ones with many moving parts and options from a list. These spells deserve a rethink.


For every spell, I feel it is important for the first sentence to describe the flavor and intent of the spell without any reference to mechanics or numbers. After this, the mechanics can be clean and precise.

 

[Maxperson]

1) DMG, MM, PHB Class Compendium & PHB Magic Compendium (like you suggest)
2) Rules; Options; Threats; Challenges; Gear.
3+) Etc. (I was going to do more, but I think there's not much point, you get the idea).

Tradition will out here, though.

Yep. Not just tradition, though. If they tried to make 4 core 2024 books rather than 3, the number of people who would rush to the internet to scream money grab would skyrocket. The pushback would be intense.

 

[mamba]

Yep. Not just tradition, though. If they tried to make 4 core 2024 books rather than 3, the number of people who would rush to the internet to scream money grab would skyrocket. The pushback would be intense.

see PF2