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.

 

[Charlaquin]

weapons designs are again terrible,

could they get like one person that had more than 27 seconds of HEMA training to tell them that swords, axes and hammers do not look like that. Or a professor of medieval history?

I’m sure they could, but I think most people playing D&D get more excited by exaggerated, fantastical weapon designs than realistic ones.

 

[Charlaquin]

The first video was a good hype promo, but I want to see more of a delve in how they "glowed up" the game.
I suppose I could wait for the new SRD.

Or read the UAs. They won’t tell you everything that’s changed, but they’ll get you close enough to tell if the changes are up your alley.

 

[Charlaquin]

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

They figured “awesome-are” sounded better than “ass-um-are”

 

[Shardstone]

I'm just so glad that D&D is getting the M:TG art treatment. I was so tired of 5E's art direction for most of its life span. This is so much better, the art is so much higher quality, so much more interesting, so many new ideas in it. I never thought I'd see the day tbh. I'm just so happy that the art is good. If you liked it before, good for you.

 

[Charlaquin]

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.

Again, I think they’re going by complexity of build, not complexity of play. Rogues really make very few build choices, whereas rangers spellcasting, which makes for additional build choices at every level.

 

[Charlaquin]

they can still be stylized

this is a good example:
View attachment 367826

it's still fantasy, but more believable,

unlike this:

View attachment 367827

which is just a boring huge lump of iron

Those look equally unrealistic to me, and similar weight. The top one just has a spike in one end instead of being blunt on both sides, which could clash with it only dealing bludgeoning damage instead of a choice of bludgeoning or piercing.

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

Well, the Swashbuckler still exists as an option from previous sources. And some people will choose to implement the UA version (on paper character sheets, anyway).

I am sad face that swashbuckler isn't in the PHB -- sorry, psionics fans, but "swashbuckler" is a vastly more popular archetype than D&D-style psychic powers -- but I expect an Everything style book by Q2 2026 at latest which will include all the remaining good stuff from Xanathar's/Tasha's anyway.

 

[Nikosandros]

I am sad face that swashbuckler isn't in the PHB -- sorry, psionics fans, but "swashbuckler" is a vastly more popular archetype than D&D-style psychic powers -- but I expect an Everything style book by Q2 2026 at latest which will include all the remaining good stuff from Xanathar's/Tasha's anyway.

Yes, I'm also sad for the swashbuckler and while I haven't tested the brawler in UA, I liked the idea. I would have preferred the psionic sub-classes to go in some additional manual.

 

[Yaarel]

In order for D&D to handle the swashbuckling genre, it needs to streamline Athletics and Agility into a single comprehensive ability.

Currently, the problem with all swashbuckling is the disruptive MADness requiring both Strength and Dexterity. This MADness is insane, when mechanics forces melee combatants to dump either Strength or Dexterity.

Separating jumping from falling is insane. Separating balancing from climbing is insane.

Swashbuckling will always be lame in D&D until the design fixes this deep mechanical problem relating to the abilities themselves.

 

[Charlaquin]

Yeah, so, has anybody actually written down that list of subclasses anywhere that it can be read?

Barbarian: Berserker, Wild Heart (formerly called Totem Warrior) World Tree (new), Zealot
Bard: Dance (new), Glamor, Lore, Valor
Cleric: Life, Light, Trickery, War
Druid: Land, Moon, Sea (new), Stars
Fighter: Battle Master, Champion, Eldritch Knight, Psi Warrior
Monk: Elements, Hand, Mercy, Shadow
Paladin: Ancients, Devotion, Glory, Vengeance
Ranger: Beast Master, Gloomstalker, Fey Wanderer, Hunter
Rogue: Arcane Trickster, Assassin, Thief, Soulknife
Sorcerer: Aberrant, Clockwork, Draconic, Wild
Warlock: Archfey, Celestial, Feind, Great Old One
Wizard: Abjurer, Diviner, Evoker, Illusionist