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

[Micah Sweet]

Not a phb but 1991 Rules Compendium.

Hard to beat that.

Agreed. I value comprehensiveness, and no PH is more comprehensive then the Rules Cyclopedia (which I assume is what you meant).

 

[Micah Sweet]

Are you advocating for a return of Gygaxian Purple Prose?

Every chance I get. It was and is a great read.

 

[Micah Sweet]

While I agree with this sentiment, there is another side to this.

Yes, the information is organized clearly. Yes, the examples are clear and concise. And yes, they changed the language in the book to read like a YA novel. The last part, the lower vocabulary and fewer use of compound and complex sentences I am not a fan of.

And for this reason only - Like many of us here, we read these books as kids or young teenagers. They helped us learn how to read and broadened our vocabulary. The new book reads like a middle school text, and for my own personal reasons, I dislike that.

Agreed. I liked having to figure out words and concepts I didn't understand. I learned something new every time I read those books. The 1e books were an intellectually enriching experience. The new stuff from WotC...isn't, whether you like the actual game or not IMO.

 

[Micah Sweet]

I’ve been hearing this consistently: the layout, organization and artwork of the book is absolutely top notch.

I on the other hand have seen decidedly mixed reactions, at least in regards to the artwork.

 

[Micah Sweet]

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.

Insulting an intellectual take on writing (or at least a higher grade level of vocabulary) isn't a better take from my point of view. Awkward and pathetic? Not exactly polite.

 

[Micah Sweet]

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.

I would think the rules themselves would be a (major) relevant factor regarding whether or not a PH can be called, "the greatest ever". Yet people keep getting hung up on the pretty wrapping paper and gift box.

 

[mamba]

I would think the rules themselves would be a (major) relevant factor regarding whether or not a PH can be called, "the greatest ever".

yes, it’s 5e with slight tweaks, if you like high magic superheroics, that is what you get more of

Yet people keep getting hung up on the pretty wrapping paper and gift box.

it’s the most noticeable change

 

[Oofta]

I would think the rules themselves would be a (major) relevant factor regarding whether or not a PH can be called, "the greatest ever". Yet people keep getting hung up on the pretty wrapping paper and gift box.

I also happen to like the rules for the most part. I was just commenting on what the OP meant by best ever

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.

 

[Weiley31]

I really like how the Subclasses pages are. There were points in the Warlock section where the format is "overflowing" into multiple pages, but going through Barbarian and seeing how this PHB was doing the subclasses pages seemed like they were really done in an elegant way.

 

[Zardnaar]

Agreed. I value comprehensiveness, and no PH is more comprehensive then the Rules Cyclopedia (which I assume is what you meant).

Just a quality product. I'll do a 50th top ten books ever type thread soonish.