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.

 

[Tales and Chronicles]

No, the wealth of evidence post Tashas/Witchlight, is all the proof we need that its become gentle/twee/soft.

Hey, Im the first to compain about the tragedy that every artist turns every damn nature themed art piece into a fae themed piece, which inevitably comes with butterflies and rainbows! Or every new subclass art from Tashas comes with shiny beam coming out of every pore.

But in this case, its only 2 pictures, I dont think its a good sample to say it has become "gentle".

 

[Micah Sweet]

No, the wealth of evidence post Tashas/Witchlight, is all the proof we need that its become gentle/twee/soft.

This appears to be what people want. Or at least what WotC thinks people want.

 

[Scribe]

But in this case, its only 2 pictures, I dont think its a good sample to say it has become "gentle".

I mean fair enough, but near every picture so far to me has been just another nail in coffin that Tasha's was setting the tone for the games direction and this is it.

 

[Mirrorrorrim]

I guess I just don't understand how gentle it's all being made.

These pieces of art depict peaceful, diverse communities of said species because the art is in the Origins section of the book, just like the Background art depicts background locations. These depict how a scene might look if such characters were all gathered together, going about their day and business, sometimes with children, and this is great because it gives an idea of what a character's historical community might look like before the adventure starts.

It's not supposed to depict adventurous battle scenes where other species or monsters are also depicted. We'll see that kind of art in the more adventurous sections of the book.

(Edit: clarified "a character's historical community. Thanks, Micah!)

 

[GothmogIV]

Not saying that theres any?

Just saying that having 2 picture not about people figthing other stuff does not mean it becomes gentle.

I understand what you are saying. But dwarves baking cookies is a very different vibe for D&D. That's not something that would ever occur to me to have in the PHB. Or anywhere else, really. If this is the kind of thing new(-ish) players want, have at it. Harms no one. I just find it--and the orc family picnic-- to be a startlingly different take on Dungeons&Dragons. It's like...cozy.

 

[Tales and Chronicles]

I mean fair enough, but near every picture so far to me has been just another nail in coffin that Tasha's was setting the tone for the games direction and this is it.

I guess I'll focus more on the MM for art that is more to my taste. I'll leave the character art with the "hide helmet" option checked to show their awesome under-cut or dreadlocks hairs to my players, I'll have my new dragons designs for me alone !

 

[Tales and Chronicles]

I understand what you are saying. But dwarves baking cookies is a very different vibe for D&D. That's not something that would ever occur to me to have in the PHB. Or anywhere else, really. If this is the kind of thing new(-ish) players want, have at it. Harms no one. I just find it--and the orc family picnic-- to be a startlingly different take on Dungeons&Dragons. It's like...cozy.

Personnally, I dont see a picnic in this picture, I see an Orc tribe looking for a new home on the inhospitable frontier. Art being subjective and all that.

 

[Micah Sweet]

These pieces of art depict peaceful, diverse communities of said species because the art is in the Origins section of the book, just like the Background art depicts background locations. These depict how a scene might look if such characters were all gathered together, going about their day and business, sometimes with children, and this is great because it gives an idea of what a historical community might look like before the adventure starts.

It's not supposed to depict adventurous battle scenes where other species or monsters are also depicted. We'll see that kind of art in the more adventurous sections of the book.

What do you mean by a "historical community"? These sort of scenes have very little history in D&D as far as I know.

 

[Mirrorrorrim]

What do you mean by a "historical community"? These sort of scenes have very little history in D&D as far as I know.

I mean "historical" Origin-wise, in the past. Before the violent adventuring. Maybe that isn't the right word, but I hope this clarifies what I intended.

 

[Mirrorrorrim]

Personnally, I dont see a picnic in this picture, I see an Orc tribe looking for a new home on the inhospitable frontier. Art being subjective and all that.

Yeah, maybe they are just nomadic, or are on some other journey. But why not a picnic or pilgrimage or a vacation? The art depicts a community in good spirits traveling with children. I like that this orc community finds joy in the wild, and aren't in a city or house.