D&D (2024) 2024 Player's Handbook Reveal #1: "Everything You Need To Know!"

Each day this week, Wizards of the Coast will be releasing a new live-streamed preview video based on the upcoming Player's Handbook. The first is entitled Everything You Need To Know and you can watch it live below (or, if you missed it, you should be able to watch it from the start afterwards). The video focuses on weapon mastery and character origins.

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There will be new videos on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday this week, focusing on the Fighter, the Paladin, and the Barbarian, with (presumably) more in the coming weeks.

 

[Weiley31]

Shield Guardian actually.

Eh, you could jack the Shield Guardian look for a Warforged PC anyway when describing one.

 

[Remathilis]

And now the video's out: Nothing on the half-elf/orc at all, or mixed-ancestry characters in general.

Yeah, between the fact there are no "half-" races in the PHB and the fact Backgrounds are far more fixed, I don't see any distinct mechanical expression for half-elf/orc anymore.

With half-orc, that's not a big deal; the orc stats should be more than sufficient to do everything the old half-orc did. Depending on how elf linages work, that will be the bigger question on if the old half-elf can be created with the elf stats (I'm leaning towards yes).

And No; I don't want to debate distinct mechanics regarding half-species.

 

[Vaalingrade]

design can be fantasy one, but dimensions should be fixed in reality.

warhammer looks like 30+ Kg lump of useless iron.

No one under 30 STR can fight with that.

Dimensions are part of the design and the point of design is to look cool and make people want to play; not to be boringly realistic so you wonder why you're bothering playing a supposed fantasy game.

 

[UngeheuerLich]

design can be fantasy one, but dimensions should be fixed in reality.

warhammer looks like 30+ Kg lump of useless iron.

No one under 30 STR can fight with that.

Of course... That is exactly what I mean. Have you seen the real ones? They were tiny... a really hard sell for a fantasy character.

 

[Veltharis ap Rylix]

Yeah, between the fact there are no "half-" races in the PHB and the fact Backgrounds are far more fixed, I don't see any distinct mechanical expression for half-elf/orc anymore.

For what it's worth, they said the DMG will have guidelines for creating custom backgrounds.

Since the '14 DMG also had a section for building custom races/subraces, if any more complex mixed-ancestry system is going to exist, it would likely be there.

 

[UngeheuerLich]

The thing I learned most is that the first syllable in aasimar is "ah". (I assume this means I don't watch enough videos).

What did you think?

 

[Argyle King]

This is one of the things I'm completely on board with. No more arguing over peasant mind control or worrying about one background obviating wilderness exploration.

Fair enough.

For me (and I've said this elsewhere,) I believe the idea could have been expanded and fleshed out better rather than being completely scrapped.

I can see how it may have been abused by D&D players though. Similarly, in theory, a warlock's patron has conditions attached to their powers, but most conversations I see about it seem to chafe at that.

So, while I believe that background benefits could be lost due to actions taken by the player, I seem to be in the minority.

 

[R_J_K75]

The books are up for pre-order on Beyond, with more are and information. Interesting to note, the DMG has 15 Adventure maps that are usable on Beyond:

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@Morrus

I'm still on the fence whether Im going to buy these but $179 for the physical copies and free shipping plus digital access on DDB isnt a bad deal at all. Do you know when then charge your credit card, at the time of order or when the items ships?

 

[Nightfly]

Rogue is low complexity? Anyone else think that's crazy? I actually find the 5e rogue rather fiddly. It took me a while to get a handle on it. Whereas ranger, listed at average complexity, I find dead simple.

 

[Horwath]

Of course... That is exactly what I mean. Have you seen the real ones? They were tiny... a really hard sell for a fantasy character.

they can still be stylized

this is a good example:

it's still fantasy, but more believable,

unlike this:

which is just a boring huge lump of iron