D&D (2024) 2024 PHB - A much too early review

[FrogReaver]

I'm not buying the new edition, but it's painful because I love the alternate cover and the art. I want to want it, but the changes pushed the game over the line.

I get that because I was more opposed than for it before I bought the book (which I did just to be able to do analysis on the new options). There’s parts to not like as much, I agree, but flipping through most of the book I think the good outweighs the bad. Some of the bad even seems to get compensated for in other ways, IMO. I think there’s a chance you might find it’s not actually over your line when it’s considered holistically. Or maybe you still would. That’s okay too. It’s just having the product in hand gives a different perspective than piecemeal info about it online.

 

[FrogReaver]

Question for everyone who is upset about the lack of a custom background option in the PHB:

How many PCs are you (and/or your players) going to make and play between now and the end of October?

Make? Probably 30. Play? 1 or 2.

I feel strongly that this is a molehill being mistaken for a mountain. In a years’ time, this will all be forgotten.

Its one of the most annoying things about the new books and comes up anytime I make a character.

It only looks like a problem right now because we don’t have the full rule set.

No. It’s also a problem that it wasn’t in the PHB. A huge problem? I dunno. But an annoying one.

Remember that Jeremy said he approached the core books this time as if they were three volumes of one book instead of three different books.

He can. I don’t.

As annoying as it is that they couldn’t print all three books at once, I really think we all ought to reserve our judgment till we have the full set.

I don’t. I’m judging the PHB.

 

[Gradine]

I also think that the lack of custom backgrounds makes the Human's free second origin feat that much more impactful, and thus makes Human more appealing. Your origin feat matches your background, period. Want to pick your origin feat, play a Human.

 

[pukunui]

Its one of the most annoying things about the new books and comes up anytime I make a character.

No. It’s also a problem that it wasn’t in the PHB. A huge problem? I dunno. But an annoying one.

It’s a huge annoying problem for you right now, but will it still be a huge annoying problem for you in November? Will it still be a huge annoying problem in February when the MM releases? Will it still be a huge annoying problem a year from now?

So you have to play one or two characters with a restrictive background. Cry me a river!

 

[FrogReaver]

I also think that the lack of custom backgrounds makes the Human's free second origin feat that much more impactful, and thus makes Human more appealing. Your origin feat matches your background, period. Want to pick your origin feat, play a Human.

Yea. Humans, gnomes, golaiths and orcs all landed in really good places.

Halflings and dwarves are a bit underwhelming.

aasimar, Dragonborn, tieflings and elves are all somewhere in between.

 

[FrogReaver]

It’s a huge annoying problem for you right now, but will it still be a huge annoying problem for you in November?

Probably, yes.

Will it still be a huge annoying problem in February when the MM releases? Will it still be a huge annoying problem a year from now?

Probably yes.

***note I never said it was ‘huge’. That’s all your hyperbole

So you have to play one or two characters with a restrictive background. Cry me a river!

I don’t think you are understanding where the problem lies. We already have a workaround. Just use a 2014 custom background. But it’s something I shouldn’t have to think about or jump through hoops over. Thus annoying.

 

[pukunui]

So you’ll still find it annoying come November when you do have the rules for customising 2024 backgrounds?

(Something you can already figure out how to do if you are not using DDB, I should add.)

You’ll still find it annoying in a year when you’ve been playing with the full rules (including custom backgrounds as per the DMG) for months?

 

[SteveC]

It’s a huge annoying problem for you right now, but will it still be a huge annoying problem for you in November? Will it still be a huge annoying problem in February when the MM releases? Will it still be a huge annoying problem a year from now?

The thing I'd say about that is, what about a player who is just working from the PHB? That's the only issue. I usually work with new players in person to go over questions, but that's not the norm. Players get a PHB and go to town from there. They aren't thinking beyond what they have right in front of them.

Do I think it's a big deal? No, but it's kind of a silly problem for such a small thing.

 

[pukunui]

The thing I'd say about that is, what about a player who is just working from the PHB? That's the only issue. I usually work with new players in person to go over questions, but that's not the norm. Players get a PHB and go to town from there. They aren't thinking beyond what they have right in front of them.

Do I think it's a big deal? No, but it's kind of a silly problem for such a small thing.

So they make their first PC with a restricted background. No big deal!

Or they say to their DM, “None of these backgrounds really fit what I had in mind. Is there any way to customize them?”

And the DM says, “Sure! Here’s how!”

Yes, I will grant that it would have been courteous of them to include a line or two to the effect that a DM might allow custom backgrounds. There are other such notes throughout the PHB.

 

[Arilyn]

I get that because I was more opposed than for it before I bought the book (which I did just to be able to do analysis on the new options). There’s parts to not like as much, I agree, but flipping through most of the book I think the good outweighs the bad. Some of the bad even seems to get compensated for in other ways, IMO. I think there’s a chance you might find it’s not actually over your line when it’s considered holistically. Or maybe you still would. That’s okay too. It’s just having the product in hand gives a different perspective than piecemeal info about it online.

The bits I have seen bother me too much. I really don't like the change in tone. There's less flavour, I have Level Up if I'm in the mood for D&D. I have a selection of OSR (OSE, Shadowdark, Black Sword Hack and Mausritter) when I'm in the mood for that style.

2024 is focussing even more on spells. I don't like the bonus actions for potions, the new surprise rules, and the default lack of background customization. I don't like the shift to more rulesy language with actions and conditions. And I really dislike the ranger being even more magicky.

2024 is not a huge change. I get that but it's enough to turn me off, especially since there are so many 5e variations out there that I prefer. Ghostfire is updating Grimhollow to the new 2024 ruleset but there is going to be huge customization and flavour with their background system. They also have a cool variety of species. I'm going to back that version of 2024 D&D.