D&D (2024) DMs what do you think of the new PHB?

[EzekielRaiden]

I've been playing since the 80s, and 5e is my favorite system, largely because I see it as the true successor to 2e, which is the version I learned to play with and my 2nd favorite. For me, 5e recaptured the feel of 2e while making it much easier to pick up and play. I've played far more D&D over the last 10 years than I had in the previous 25 and a lot of that is thanks to 5e not requiring system mastery to have a good time with it, which is important for most of my players who don't spend a lot of time thinking about D&D outside of the 12 hours or so a month that we play.

The '24 refresh, for me, wasn't 'neccessary' in that I could have kept playing 14 for another 3 decades, but I do appreciate WotC updating the game to make it even easier to onboard new players (I have 2 brand new players using the new PHB for their characters) and thus keep growing the hobby. I have 2 players in my group that have been with me for a decade, and we fill out the group with 2-3 other players who come in for a couple of years before dropping out to be replaced with new players.

Okay?

I'm saying WotC's bet is that the majority of players are people like you. I don't think a majority of players are, in fact, driven by the kinds of things that are driving you.

 

[OB1]

Okay?

I'm saying WotC's bet is that the majority of players are people like you. I don't think a majority of players are, in fact, driven by the kinds of things that are driving you.

I have no way of knowing what a majority of players want, but as far as WotC is concerned, from a pure business perspective, I think they are creating a game with the goal of the lifetime value of a customer outweighing the cost of acquiring them. If some players (like me) end up sticking with the system long term and bringing in a much higher lifetime value, that's fine, but if it cost them $50 to acquire and they make $75 in profit off of the player, that's a win (note that I have no idea what those real numbers are, I've put them in for illustrative purposes only).

 

[fluffybunbunkittens]

Having run playtest campaign for a year now, and recently seeing the PHB, from just the GM side of things...

Glossary is a great idea.
It's a little weird that a pile of corpses is no longer difficult terrain.
Spells were barely touched, when they're the source of a ton of the main issues (like, illusions are still unclear).

NPC stat blocks are still a cluttered mess with too much stuff you don't need. And them now automatically inflicting a condition when hitting is going to feel bad, and disproportionately screw over the martial players (what exactly do Str saves do if not resist being knocked around?) while rewarding armored casters (who can now have Shield regardless of class).

But it's better than 2014.

 

[Quickleaf]

Look as long as I can opportunity attack push a slower or paralyzed ally to get them within reach of a monster on their next turn, the 2024 game is GLOWING UP.

 

[Micah Sweet]

I went and looked at it at the local store. The organization is much better than 5e. They explain the character creation and three pillars very well. The Rules Glossary will be very handy. The graphic design and illustrations are top-notch. Overall my impression was positive.

Does it provide support for the three pillars "very well"?

 

[Charlaquin]

Does it provide support for the three pillars "very well"?

A difficult question to answer, as people have wildly different opinions about what the three pillars even are, and what support for them looks like. I would say the 2024 PHB does not seem to contain any significant changes in this matter. If you felt that pre-revision 5e supported or did not support a particular pillar, you will probably feel the same about post-revision 5e. At least from the PHB. Maybe the DMG will be a different story, but I wouldn’t count on it.

 

[Quickleaf]

Does it provide support for the three pillars "very well"?

Shush. Of course we support the exploration pillar, conveniently accessed with the Project Sigil VTT where GMs can explore all kinds of built-in and purchased add/on modules!

 

[UngainlyTitan]

Wearing my DM hat, Overall, I like it, I think that the classes raise the floor over 2014 but not the ceiling but I have not had the opportunity to see it in play yet. So, to an extent I have to reserve judgement on that.
It is cleaner and clearer to read, though I only have the D&DBeyond version not the book.
It is easier to understand, and it looks like it will be easier to refer to at the table.

 

[Micah Sweet]

A difficult question to answer, as people have wildly different opinions about what the three pillars even are, and what support for them looks like. I would say the 2024 PHB does not seem to contain any significant changes in this matter. If you felt that pre-revision 5e supported or did not support a particular pillar, you will probably feel the same about post-revision 5e. At least from the PHB. Maybe the DMG will be a different story, but I wouldn’t count on it.

My favorite thing about the design philosophy of Level Up is that it provides excellent support for all three pillars for both DMs and players. That more than anything else got me to switch.

 

[Quickleaf]

My favorite thing about the design philosophy of Level Up is that it provides excellent support for all three pillars for both DMs and players. That more than anything else got me to switch.

If I dive deep back into the 5e-o-sphere it will probably be with Level Up or Tales of the Valiant. It’s just so hard to get into that stuff when I’m already at the max complexity I want with 2014 D&D, so while I love the alternate/third party versions in principle, something turning the dial down on the complexity (while being compatible) is more my jam.

We just started playing Dolmenwood, and as much as I adore the details and the quirky feel and the old school vibes, the travel points stuff felt really…out of place. Hopefully I adapt to it, but my first reaction was a hard bounce off the implementation.