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.

 

[Reef]

To each their own, obviously. But I’m not sure what you were expecting from a game marketed for ages 12+. And since there was notable examples of peaceful scenes from the earliest editions posted here, I really don’t see how it has changed dramatically.

Anyway, I hope you find a game with the grittier feel you are looking for.

 

[Micah Sweet]

Fake outrage for the clicks.

Trust me. My complaints have nothing to do with the clicks.

 

[Micah Sweet]

That's kind of where I stand. There's a time and place for sexy, perhaps even in RPGs. That place is not "chainmail bikinis".

For example, this is the picture used to illustrate the Dragonmark Heir prestige class from the 3.5 Eberron book:
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I have no problem with something like this. The lady in question is clearly dressed for a social occasion, not for going into a dungeon, and she has chosen clothing that emphasises her Mark of Storm (and, well, other assets). It'd be nice if you had equal opportunity pretty folks, but in isolation it's fine. Now, if the art had shown the same lady, in the same clothing, but getting ready to fight a bunch of Darguun mercenaries somewhere out in the wilds? Yeah, then there'd be an issue.

I find this to be more obnoxious:
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I mean, this lady is clearly dressed for war. She's wearing bulky armor on her arms and legs, and wields a HUGE sword (because she's a giant totem barbarian), and yet she leaves her stomach unarmored. You know, the place where she keeps her vital organs.

How likely do you think a piece like the one you liked above is to make it into the current books?

 

[Micah Sweet]

I’m sorry, but “where is all the blood and female cheesecake, and omg people might be offended!” sounds awfully similar to people arguing against ‘worrying woke trends’.

You're welcome to equate the two, but it seems like an intentional desire to be reductive to me.

 

[Remathilis]

Trust me. My complaints have nothing to do with the clicks.

Are you also offended that they dare show artwork of dwarves and orcs doing anything other than fighting?

 

[Scribe]

Are you also offended that they dare show artwork of dwarves and orcs doing anything other than fighting?

I think I've seen one person who I would call 'offended' by those pictures, at least in this thread.

 

[Micah Sweet]

Are you also offended that they dare show artwork of dwarves and orcs doing anything other than fighting?

Not particularly, but I would like to see more of the style @Scribe prefers (t&a or otherwise), and I don't. Too many soft colors and fuzzy lines for my tastes, and the cuteness and perhaps silliness levels have gone up over time. Since I don't see art as much of a selling point anyway, art I don't like is a straight negative to me.

 

[Remathilis]

Not particularly, but I would like to see more of the style @Scribe prefers (t&a or otherwise), and I don't. Too many soft colors and fuzzy lines for my tastes, and the cuteness and perhaps silliness levels have gone up over time. Since I don't see art as much of a selling point anyway, art I don't like is a straight negative to me.

Not every picture needs to be Grimdark. I've spent enough time in grim and gritty fantasy to last a lifetime. I actually like the idea of showing beauty and domestic life in the art too. A reminder why people go out and risk life and limb battling evil. I've had enough Game of Thrones inspired nihilism, give me the soft and cheerfulness of the Hobbit.

 

[TwoSix]

Not every picture needs to be Grimdark. I've spent enough time in grim and gritty fantasy to last a lifetime. I actually like the idea of showing beauty and domestic life in the art too. A reminder why people go out and risk life and limb battling evil. I've had enough Game of Thrones inspired nihilism, give me the soft and cheerfulness of the Hobbit.

But I think the complaint from the other side is whether or not the new books have any Grimdark?

 

[Reef]

But I think the complaint from the other side is whether or not the new books have any Grimdark?

Has D&D ever had grimdark art? Outside of maybe Darksun, which was intentionally more so than baseline?

Even the art in Ravenloft back in the day was more gothic fairytale than grimdark.