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.

 

[Chaosmancer]

Yeah I pretty much despise all of this art, the style of it, the "feel", all of it is just so lame to me, it's just awful, but hey that's me. I imagine in turn the "game" it has become is not for me at all either any more. There is absolutely nothing about this art that makes me go, "That looks awesome, can't wait to play some D&D!" It has the opposite effect, it is literally repulsive, I'd rather run some errands, or do some laundry, or take out the garbage. Thank goodness there is plenty of other art and d&d games to have fun with. Maybe everyone loves this neo-d&d style, but it just doesn't connect with me at all.

IF there is nothing worth protecting in the world, why bother risking life and limb? I cannot understand the mindset of being repulsed by the image of a group of people, happy, enjoying life, and at peace.

 

[AstroCat]

IF there is nothing worth protecting in the world, why bother risking life and limb? I cannot understand the mindset of being repulsed by the image of a group of people, happy, enjoying life, and at peace.

I'm not repulsed by a group of people, happy, enjoying life, and at peace. I have lot's of family photos just like this I love. Not connected to my disdain of this art for "d&d". I don't like the art in any way, the style, the characters, the actions... nothing about it gets me stoked to play d&d at all. For same reason I don't think bad ass sword and sorcery adventures when I see a Clifford the Big Red Dog book.

 

[MNblockhead]

So... how is this different than using the DnD piety rules that already exist?

Relies less on DM fiat, which is a feature or a bug, depending upon your desired play style.

...and...I just did I DnD Beyond search. I wasn't aware (or forgot about) the piety rules in the Mythic Odysseys of Theros.

Yeah, not much different. Now that I'm aware/reminded of the MOoT rules, I'll consider using them, adapted to campaigns outside of that setting. It would be nice if the DMG has a setting-agnostic version of these rules as optional rules for clerics and paladins.

 

[Warpiglet-7]

Haha, even my 10 year old son will think this all lame as could be. He'll probably wonder if this is even d&d or come other game for for his younger cousins or something.

I get that. But…

The dmg does have a cambion raising undead…

Focus on that kind of badassery and this is the calm before the storm. Or something.

I think they are maybe wise. They hooked me with the classic adventure stuff and they get some folks (not me!) with the twee stuff.

the domestic scenes are not my issue per se…I just think of halls of stone with less cozy spaces for dwarf work.

As to orcs? I usually imagine more warlike conquerors. The orc kids underfoot while grandpa spots a new homestead is not what I imagine. It’s a different vibe with different implications for sure.

Again, maybe it’s the shotgun approach and maybe something for everyone?

 

[MNblockhead]

It feels like there's DMs out there who are hungry to run a "PC gets stripped of their powers" story, and will find an excuse even if that's not the intention of the rules. Remember in the 3e days when it was Paladins being forced into no-win situations and stripped of their powers? Now it's Warlock Patrons making unreasonable demands and revoking the class abilities when they aren't met. If not that, it'd probably be Cleric's deities being micromanaging jerkfaces.

I'm sure such DMs exist, but it is a bit uncharitable to those of us who want to add more mechanical depth to characters' relationships with powerful, supernatural entities. As others have pointed out, D&D does have these rules in the Mystic Odyssey of Theros, which I wan't aware of/forgot about. I don't think that those of us who want to use these rules or some similar homebrewed/third party rules are power-hungry DMs looking to keep our players under our thumbs (not your words, but this language was used in another post) and stip them of their powers. I find that many players enjoy this added bit of crunch to more fully distinguish the flavor and play of characters who derive their power from divine sources versus wizards.

I'm also fine with running campaigns using the RAW PHB rules. It is not a binary thing. It can change from campaign to campaign and helps keep the game interesting and fresh for me and many players.

 

[MNblockhead]

While you're at it, make sure druids and rangers appease the gods and spirits of nature, monks uphold their discipline and barbarians hold the fury always in their hearts or else they lose their abilities or no longer can advance in that class.

If done right, could be fun. But, yeah, the extra subsystems could easily start to feel like extra book-keeping and a distraction from the adventure at hand.

 

[MNblockhead]

and fighters must do 1000 pushups daily and punch party members that do not meet the target number also.

 

[mamba]

IF there is nothing worth protecting in the world, why bother risking life and limb?

revenge… not saying it is the only reason there should be, but since you asked

 

[Remathilis]

If done right, could be fun. But, yeah, the extra subsystems could easily start to feel like extra book-keeping and a distraction from the adventure at hand.

Meh. Keeping your class abilities from session to session could be the main adventure. It's like a mechanical bull ride, hold on to your abilities for as long as you can!

 

[Azzy]

Baking makes a lot of sense for dwarves.

Yeah, I might have to roll with that in my setting (if I can remember, ha!).