D&D (2024) Forgotten Realms Player Guide

[Osgood]

I'm very impressed with the structure of the new Players Handbook (most of the rules in chapter 1, then character creation, classes, etc., and the rules glossary at the back), and I'm eager to see what the DMG looks like, particularly the lore glossary. I wonder if this design philosophy will extend to these (and future) books.

Maybe a chapter of player-facing world info, followed by the character options, spells, and a player/character-specific lore glossary with major cities, foods, holidays, gods, etc. The DM book would likely follow a structure more aligned with the DMG (not sure the exact order), but digging into the specifics of Baldur's Gate, the Dales, etc., then maybe magic items, monsters, and a DM-focused lore glossary that has info of NPCs, factions, history, etc.

 

[Hatmatter]

I'm very impressed with the structure of the new Players Handbook (most of the rules in chapter 1, then character creation, classes, etc., and the rules glossary at the back), and I'm eager to see what the DMG looks like, particularly the lore glossary. I wonder if this design philosophy will extend to these (and future) books.

Maybe a chapter of player-facing world info, followed by the character options, spells, and a player/character-specific lore glossary with major cities, foods, holidays, gods, etc. The DM book would likely follow a structure more aligned with the DMG (not sure the exact order), but digging into the specifics of Baldur's Gate, the Dales, etc., then maybe magic items, monsters, and a DM-focused lore glossary that has info of NPCs, factions, history, etc.

I agree that the structure and layout, as well as the writing, is fantastic. It is very easy to read and very clear. Excellent editing.

I hope with the Campaign Guide for the Forgotten Realms as well as for other future setting books, they will reintroduce the nice cultural touches that were removed from the PHB like the naming conventions of various races/species as well as the delightful details from Volo's Guide. (As a fan of gnomes, I love the information there).

I understand the desire to remove this kind of cultural information from species and make it specific to different worlds and the cultures of those worlds (e.g. a gnome raised by dwarves would likely be named according to dwarvish cultural conventions). That is a sound move...unless it results in such vital setting information entirely disappearing from the game.

I hope this information, with greater imaginative variety, is brought back on a world-by-world and culture-by-culture basis in the future books.

Cheers!

 

[Osgood]

I hope with the Campaign Guide for the Forgotten Realms as well as for other future setting books, they will reintroduce the nice cultural touches that were removed from the PHB like the naming conventions of various races/species as well as the delightful details from Volo's Guide. (As a fan of gnomes, I love the information there).

I completely agree! I get why they cut the cultural stuff from the PH--a drow or a halfling from the Realms couldn't be more different from their Eberron counterparts--and it makes perfect sense to reintroduce things like names, customs, and religion into the setting books.

 

[Scribe]

Yes. Under "Step 4: Choose an Alignment" in the new PHB, it states: "D&D assumes that player characters aren't of an evil alignment. Check with your DM before making an evil character."

Is that for real?

 

[pukunui]

Is that for real?

Yes

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

Is that for real?

WotC is not really leaning into "D&D can be used to play every sort of game" that some long-term players remember from the TSR days. 5E especially is for brighter and more heroic characters, and the 2024 PHB seems to be doubling down on that.

 

[Scribe]

Yes

WotC is not really leaning into "D&D can be used to play every sort of game" that some long-term players remember from the TSR days. 5E especially is for brighter and more heroic characters, and the 2024 PHB seems to be doubling down on that.

 

[Remathilis]

Is that for real?

Yeah, it's a variant of the advice that's been in the game since 2nd edition. The game has bent heroic since the late 1980s.

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

Yeah, it's a variant of the advice that's been in the game since 2nd edition. The game has bent heroic since the late 1980s.

I think it's noteworthy that we haven't seen a Book of Vile Darkness equivalent in the 5E era. I don't think "and my character is a tumor-ridden cancer mage whose best friend has sex with the undead" is really what they want their brand to be associated with nowadays.

Which, honestly, is fine. Mork Borg is way better at that sort of thing than 3E ever was. The Book of Vile Darkness is kind of cringeworthy, rather than representative of evil. (I'd argue the 2E Complete Book of Necromancers was far better in that regard, in part because it was so much more nuanced.)

 

[Scribe]

Yeah, it's a variant of the advice that's been in the game since 2nd edition. The game has bent heroic since the late 1980s.

I think it's noteworthy that we haven't seen a Book of Vile Darkness equivalent in the 5E era. I don't think "and my character is a tumor-ridden cancer mage whose best friend has sex with the undead" is really what they want their brand to be associated with nowadays.

Which, honestly, is fine. Mork Borg is way better at that sort of thing than 3E ever was. The Book of Vile Darkness is kind of cringeworthy, rather than representative of evil. (I'd argue the 2E Complete Book of Necromancers was far better in that regard, in part because it was so much more nuanced.)

How to; 0 to 200 MPH