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.

 

[Sir Brennen]

I am pretty sure there will be substitutions for backgrounds.

I assume, the default is for a player to create ones own background. The official backgrounds are premades to pick for convenience and to provide a sense of what backgrounds can entail.

The video on Species, Backgrounds and Feats confirms that the rules for creating custom backgrounds are in the DMG, not the PHB, and a new one can be made "with DM supervision." The premades are the defaults, of which there are 16.

 

[Parmandur]

The whole "world" of Greyhawk? More than the continent of Flannaess?

They probsvly just mean the Flannaess.

 

[EzekielRaiden]

That is my objection with "inspiration" − it punishes players who prefer casters.

I wish 5e went with 4e rules where the "attacker always rolls" whether sword attack or spell attack.

Otherwise it is unfair for caster players.

Oh no. A mechanic that doesn't favor casters for once. This is such a tragedy.

 

[overgeeked]

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.

In my experience, player culture in 5E is such that there are only benefits, never consequences or penalties. Once something is gained, it can never be lost or taken away. If it's a negative that's not in the book or on the sheet or in the PC's background, it doesn't exist. If it's a positive, regardless of whether it's written down anywhere, it should be assumed to exist.

So unless the player writes conditions into their patron pact, there are none. If the referee imposes any, they are breaking the social contract. If the referee tries to impose conditions up front, say in session 0, the referee is trying to home brew the game and the vast majority of players will either opt out of the home-brew warlock or simply not play rather than have any kind of restrictions place on their play.

I believe the common phrase is tyranny of fun. In short: anything that's not fun should be removed. Not sure what's left would be fun though.

 

[R_J_K75]

It is a great deal, imo.....but for some reason I've decided to pay the local gaming store full price. no idea why......

I just honestly don't know if I'll play it if I buy it. I don't have a FLGS anymore. The closest one to me weren't very customer friendly to me the few times I stopped in, so I won't patronize them. All the other ones are a good half hour away, so I don't get out that way much. That said, if I did have a FLGS I frequented and gamed at I may be inclined to purchase from them too.

 

[Horwath]

I'm afraid I'm with UngeheuerLich here. It might be unrealistic, but I'm not really interested in this kind of realism. Real world weapons are often pretty boring, especially ones that are "sharp lump of metal on a long stick." Your "better" is my "barely tolerable."

and PHB 2024 weapon designs are not boring?

they are basic of the basic in art flavor on top of not being in proportion of what a weapon should look.

Weapons can stretch reality a little and still be cool designed.

 

[Yaarel]

Oh no. A mechanic that doesn't favor casters for once. This is such a tragedy.

Fighter players are welcome to give up all the damage they do, in exchange for effects instead.

 

[Horwath]

According to the video I've just summarized here, that is not the case.

Unlike 2014, custom backgrounds, designed with the DM are in the DMG.

Custom design should be the default and these 16 just an example on how to make it.

if they just kept it simple background could have been half a page.

1. Increase one ability by 2 and one ability by 1 or increase three abilities by 1

2. Pick 2 skill proficiencies

3. Pick a feat.

 

[R_J_K75]

I don't use Beyond or buy direct, so I cannot speak to that.

It is a fair deal.

I'm just going to wait a bit and decide if I even want to buy them. Pretty much hinges on whether our group is even still playing come September and if they are even interested in the idea of going back to 5E. I'll keep my eye on these boards for updates as they come and go from there.

 

[jayoungr]

Backwards compatibility:

• "this book does replace the 2014 Player's Handbook" (no mix-and-matching, but characters built with old book can play alongside characters here. for combat "2024 rules are what should be used" (2014 rules "will grind") if 2024 character played with 2014 rules.

This doesn't really sound backwards compatible to me. It seems like they're trying to have it both ways.