Dungeons & Dragons Releases Updated Free Rules Based on 2024 ruleset

The new Free Rules for Dungeons & Dragons are now available to read on D&D Beyond. As part of today's early access launch for the new 2024 Player's Handbook, Wizards of the Coast also released the new set of Free Rules for D&D on D&D Beyond, which are intended as a compliment to the 2014 Basic Rules release. The Free Rules currently contains class rules for four classes (Cleric, Fighter, Rogue, Wizard), each with one subclass, along with a handful of species (Dwarf, Elf, Halfling, and Human), and four backgrounds (Acolyte, Criminal, Sage, and Soldier). Also included are 12 feats, 48 creature statblocks (mostly related to wild shape or familiar forms), and 320 spells.

Wizards of the Coast noted that these new Basic Rules are not the new SRD 5.2 and they will be updated with additional rules material (such as the remaining classes) once the full 2024 Player's Handbook is released later this month. The SRD 5.2 will be released once all three core rulebooks are released in 2025.

On September 17th, the Free Rules for Dungeons & Dragons will also be released on other partner VTTs in addition to D&D Beyond.

 

[Retreater]

So what, it still only applies to one attack.

Can be a big deal. Especially when your monster has one big attack. With bounded accuracy and attack bonuses basically stuck, that's a -5. Pretty much an auto fail - when I can barely hit PCs as is, and the damage is already so low that the monsters are barely challenging at all.

Getting advantage on attacks is also not a very big deal, it's helpful but nothing game breaking like you are suggesting.

How about halving the enemy's movement when they stand? +5 to hit for every party member for every attack?

No designer with the slightest concern over game balance would've dreamed of these powers.

 

[Zaukrie]

Can be a big deal. Especially when your monster has one big attack. With bounded accuracy and attack bonuses basically stuck, that's a -5. Pretty much an auto fail - when I can barely hit PCs as is, and the damage is already so low that the monsters are barely challenging at all.


How about halving the enemy's movement when they stand? +5 to hit for every party member for every attack?

No designer with the slightest concern over game balance would've dreamed of these powers.

Hyperbole much? We're going to disagree on this for sure.

 

[dave2008]

Does it have Witchbolt?

the full free 2024 PHB rules are not our until 9/17 (it will be updated when the DMG and MM are out too) and I haven't looked at the preview.

 

[dave2008]

Can be a big deal. Especially when your monster has one big attack. With bounded accuracy and attack bonuses basically stuck, that's a -5. Pretty much an auto fail - when I can barely hit PCs as is, and the damage is already so low that the monsters are barely challenging at all.


How about halving the enemy's movement when they stand? +5 to hit for every party member for every attack?

No designer with the slightest concern over game balance would've dreamed of these powers.

Dude, you can't run 5e well with the 2014 version, why are you worrying about the 2024 version? We have been using these rules since they were in the playtest months ago and it hasn't been an issue for us. Relax, I mean you are not even playing this game (or at least you don't want to)!

If anything, weapon masteries have been less impactful than I would have hoped and we have 3 fighters in our group!

 

[Retreater]

Dude, you can't run 5e well with the 2014 version, why are you worrying about the 2024 version?

Point taken.
Was just kinda hoping, you know, that 2024 would work better.
It's possible that the monsters will be balanced differently to make them more of a challenge. I can check back in 2025.

 

[dave2008]

Point taken.
Was just kinda hoping, you know, that 2024 would work better.
It's possible that the monsters will be balanced differently to make them more of a challenge. I can check back in 2025.

IDK, weapon masteries worked fine with 2014 monsters for us. But every group is different.

 

[Micah Sweet]

the full free 2024 PHB rules are not our until 9/17 (it will be updated when the DMG and MM are out too) and I haven't looked at the preview.

I thought the basic rules might have it.

 

[Nikosandros]

I thought the basic rules might have it.

Witchbolt is not currently part of the basic rules. I don't know if it will be added on the 17th.

 

[Chaltab]

the only time I've had serious trouble balancing in 5e was when The guy playing an A5E Berserker dropped out and I forgot to balance the encounter against a sudden loss of almost 45% of part DPR... They still won even then.

It's definitely a YMMV thing

 

[Charlaquin]

Attacks of opportunity when the creature stands.

This isn’t a thing. Never has been in 5e.