D&D General The 2024 PHB is the best Player's Handbook ever

[Ulorian - Agent of Chaos]

The milieu doesn't support it.

A sane mind doesn't support it! It did have its charms though. As goofy (and a little bit awkward and pathetic... in that 'I hear using big words makes me sound smart' kind of way) as it was, that writing style did pull you in to the magical world that was being laid before you.

 

[DarkCrisis]

Not a phb but 1991 Rules Compendium.

Hard to beat that.

Pretty much the best one and done official D&D rule book you can buy. Just fantastic.

 

[Tales and Chronicles]

I don't care much for the new power level and complexity of the new book, and the art don't represent my kind of fantasy, but I'll be the first to say it is indeed the best PHB we've had so far.

To be frank, I knew the revision would not be to my taste (as a wanted grittier, less fantastic adventuring), but I still disappointed in me to be unable to overcome my mental block over minor things. I would like to embrace that new awesome PHB in its whole!

 

[Scott Christian]

The milieu doesn't support it.

No. But there is no doubt that the vocabulary and phrasing of sentences can have just as great an impact on the emotional feel of a book (even a rulebook) than pictures. And, in that sense, I think 2e, 3e, and even the 2014 5th edition did a better job. It's not a large critique, but for me, it is one I'd like to see addressed in future books.

 

[Oofta]

I don't care much for the new power level and complexity of the new book, and the art don't represent my kind of fantasy, but I'll be the first to say it is indeed the best PHB we've had so far.

To be frank, I knew the revision would not be to my taste (as a wanted grittier, less fantastic adventuring), but I still disappointed in me to be unable to overcome my mental block over minor things. I would like to embrace that new awesome PHB in its whole!

You can't please everyone of course, but I'm still using the gritty rest rules from the 2014 DMG. We'll see if we get any better option in November, one can always hope.

But yeah, there seems to be a preponderance of spellcasters nowadays. I'm okay with it I guess but if you want old school gritty less fantastic adventuring, there are better options out there.

But ... as the OP stated, they were talking about layout and presentation more than the actual game itself.

 

[Clint_L]

I have my criticisms [cough druids cough] but overall it is by far the best PHB in terms of layout and design. As in, a new player can generally read it on their own and figure out how to play the game. Which is a low bar, but one that previous PHBs have often failed to meet. It also looks gorgeous.

 

[Hatmatter]

I'm not claiming the 2024 rules are the best version of Dungeon & Dragons ever. Although I believe they probably are, it's a matter of personal taste. Reasonable people can disagree.

But there is no doubt the 2024 PHB is the best Player's Handbook ever published.

I agree, THEMNGMNT.

For the reasons that you articulated.

Given that the Player's Handbook is one third of the core rulebooks and also will be followed by campaign setting books in 2025 and beyond, I would merely add that I hope the (minimal) attention to role-playing that character's bonds, traits, flaws, and personality previously provided will be addressed in some way. For what it is worth, I am grateful that alignment was not only retained, but even more leaned into (than in 2014) as a means of role-playing and facilitating a chracter's personality and traits.

Also, I hope that the great species information from Modenkainen's Tome of Foes appears in setting specific books starting with the Forgotten Realms campaign books in 2025. If the loss of that information means that it appears with greater diversity on a campaign-by-campaign basis than I am totally for it.

Also, I hope that the awesome Sidekick rules (which essentially create a sort of Basic D&D using 5th edition rules that can be used to help beginners, especially young ones, learn to play) are re-incorporated into the 2024 revision.

But, with those caveats aside (and really, this is merely pining for the reproduction of game elements already present within 5th edition, so even if they are not re-presented, they exist and are useable), I agree...the new Player's Handbook is fantastic.

And not only in the obvious improvements of presentation and organization that you identify.

There are so many (clever) under-the-hood improvements. Some are subtle enough that many players may have not realized them yet. For example, I think the Ranger and Paladin have been very much improved from the 2014 versions. Chris at Treantmonk's Temple (here) has been an even-headed and even-handed evaluator of the new book. He showed me how the revised Ranger in conjunction with weapon mastery, subtle spell revisions, and the concentration rules have resulted in a Ranger that effectively captures Ranger archetypes from fiction.

This book is masterful and, I think, a delightful monument to the 50th anniversary of our shared artform.

 

[Hatmatter]

Speaking as someone who has just recently come back to TTRPGs as a kind of 50-something mid-life crisis after 30 years away from it,

Welcome back!

 

[Nobleshield]

I never played 5e, but the art in 2024 I think is horrific in 90% of cases. it looks too bright, too happy, almost AI generated. Plus it seems like they contracted out to any random artist on social media/DeviantArt rather than have specific artists to keep a consistent visual style; it's all over the place (not even getting to ridiculous stuff like the Heroe's Feast with tacos, sushi, spaghetti, and hamburgers).

The rules themselves seem fairly solid (again, didn't play 5e so idk what's different) and perfectly acceptable if you want to run that sort of high power game D&D has been for the last decade or more. But the art? Yikes. I've seen indy books with better presentation that have art that looks like the same artist(s) drew it. Almost every piece in 2024 looks like it was done by someone different.

 

[mamba]

I've seen indy books with better presentation that have art that looks like the same artist(s) drew it. Almost every piece in 2024 looks like it was done by someone different.

that is because there were a lot of different artist involved… the ‘problem’ with one artist / consistent art it that if you do not like it, you like none of it, with different artists and styles it is more a mix of hit and miss. This way you capture a wider range, and that is very much intentional.
Also, if you need a lot of art, a single artist might not work from a timeline perspective.

Personally I prefer a homogeneous style too, but that is hit or miss

While it is more bright and cheery than I prefer, I have no issue with it. The art is of good enough quality that I tend to overlook that, I find amateurish art more grating than cheery art