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.

 

[Micah Sweet]

Yea, definitely no surprise here. My position hasn't changed in the past year; there isn't enough innovation here to be worth the purchase for me. (Three new subclasses? Three!) If some of my players at my 5e tables want to use characters using some 2024 material, that's fine by me. It doesn't appear that any rules are actually changing besides some character creation options, so it can all just go in the option pile along with my large collection of 3pp.

If you're heavily invested in the official/D&D Beyond ecosystem this is probably a noticeable change, but I have to say it's nice to be finally be out of the "upgrade" loop.

Yup. First time I haven't bought a new PHB in 35 years (2e was my first new core book). I think I'm excited about it.

 

[Micah Sweet]

I suppose a better example would using AD&D Magic Spells.

Me: "I cast Moldvay's Basic edition Sleep."
DM: "Okay what's the save?"
Me: "No save, they are just asleep. I proceed to instantly slay them via Moldvay Basic rules, no need for any rolls."

Sleep should never have stopped working like that.

 

[UngeheuerLich]

How is that even remotely more significant than races no longer giving stats and backgrounds now giving stats and feats?

How was your post I answered to?

 

[Micah Sweet]

My point was that warlocks are all about conditions and consequences. You've never made a deal with a devil, fey or great old one have you?

Except in the rules, where there are no consequences.

 

[Eyes of Nine]

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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2024 Digital & Physical Core Rulebook Bundle - Marketplace - D&D Beyond

<p>Purchase today for a special 50th Anniversary edition featuring a gold foil logo treatment. This Gold Foil edition is limited stock and will not be reprinted, so act fast!</p> <br/> <p>Save $60 with the Digital & Physical Core Rulebook Bundle, valued at $240. Each physical book will be...

marketplace.dndbeyond.com

@Morrus

Uhhhh, both the digital AND PHYSICAL books? Is it me, or is this new? Not sure if @FitzTheRuke has said anything yet in this thread, but that seems like a not-good-thing for brick and mortar stores who sell D&D

 

[Scribe]

Except in the rules, where there are no consequences.

Of my multiple issues with Warlock, this is a huge one.

 

[Echohawk]

Uhhhh, both the digital AND PHYSICAL books? Is it me, or is this new? Not sure if @FitzTheRuke has said anything yet in this thread, but that seems like a not-good-thing for brick and mortar stores who sell D&D

Are you asking if it is new for Beyond to sell printed version of the book? If so, no, they've been doing so since December 2022. I seem to recall that the Dragonlance release was the first with a print bundle option.

I stand to be corrected but I think the current arrangement is:

• FLGS can release the print version two weeks before the official release date. The alternative covers are also exclusively available at your FLGS.
• Buying the bundle of digital and physical on DDB is (probably) cheaper than buying digital on DDB and physical from your FLGS. The bundle also gets you access to the digital version two weeks earlier.

If that's not a correct summary of the current situation, someone please say so!

 

[MerricB]

• Buying the bundle of digital and physical on DDB is (probably) cheaper than buying digital on DDB and physical from your FLGS. The bundle also gets you access to the digital version two weeks earlier.

If that's not a correct summary of the current situation, someone please say so!

Not quite.

It looks like the digital+physical bundle no longer gives early access.

Instead, if you have the Hero subscription tier (and do either digital OR digital+physical) preorder, you get access 1 week early.

If you have the Master tier, you get access 2 weeks early.

Preordering any of the bundles DOES give you access to these preorder bonuses:

• Dragons of D&D digital art book
• D&D BEYOND Gold Digital Dice set, and
• a 50th anniversary digital Gold Dragon mini releasing with the closed beta of the upcoming 3D virtual tabletop.

Cheers!

 

[coyote6]

Oh nooooo...looks at wallet.

I'm going to wait on the Foundry purchase. It is my sole VTT at the moment, but I'm going to wait and see how Fantasy Grounds, Roll20, and the potential new WotC VTT support 5e. And I may decide to make do with just DDB with its Maps feature.

FWIW, SmiteWorks has the new books up for preorder for Fantasy Grounds, individually or as a bundle: Dungeons & Dragons 2024 Core Rulebook Pre-Order Bundle for Fantasy Grounds

 

[EzekielRaiden]

How was your post I answered to?

You said there was a fundamental disconnect in mechanics.

Races working by a completely different means, and backgrounds adding feats, is a fundamental disconnect in mechanics. It requires adaptation to use 2014 races or backgrounds in 5.5e. Exactly as changes to the skill list required adaptation from 3e to 3.5e...