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The 2024 Player’s Handbook forDungeons & Dragonsbrings some exciting changes and updates to the game’s core mechanics, making it a must-have for both new and veteran players. With revisions to classes, spells, and character creation, this new edition aims to streamline gameplay while offering more customization options.
Whether you’re curious about changes to your favorite class, new features for spellcasters, or updates to core rules, this article will answer the most common questions. Dive in to explore what’s new and how it will affect your adventures in the world’s greatest role-playing game.
Is The 2024 Player’s Handbook A New Edition, Or Still Part Of Fifth Edition?
The 2024 Player’s Handbookisn’t a completely new edition of Dungeons & Dragons, but rather an evolution of the current rules, soyou can think about it as D&D 5.5. It builds upon the rules established in fifth edition whileintroducing refinements to gameplay, character creation, and class mechanics.
Think of it as an update thatimproves balance, streamlines certain features, and offers more customization options.The core essence of the game remains intact, so players familiar with the current rules will find the 2024 changeseasy to adapt to, while enjoying the new content and improvements.
Are The 2014 5th Edition Rules Compatible With The 2024 Ones?
Yes and no.Basically,if there is something differentin the 2024 Player’s Handbook from how it worked in 2014, thenthe 2024 rules override the 2014 ones.
If, instead,there is something missingfrom the 2024 rules that the 2014 ones cover, thenyou’d use the 2014 ones.
For example,the 2024 Player’s Handbook doesn’t include the Artificer class, so you’d need to get it from somewhere else, likethe Wayfinder’s Guide to Eberron.All other rules to play the game, however,will still apply from the 2024 book, even if you play a class outside of it.
How Has Character Creation Changed In The 2024 Player’s Handbook?
The process of creating a characterremains largely the same, although the way the information is delivered has beensimplified and streamlined.This is a book meant for newcomers to use with ease, so making a new character from scratch is faster than ever.
The most significant change to character creation has to do withspecies and backgrounds. Species still give traits, size and speed, among other things, butthey no longer give bonuses to Ability Scores; these are nowgiven by the different backgrounds, which also include a special feat each.
Which Classes Are Included In The 2024 Player’s Handbook?
The original 12 classes are all backin the 2024 Player’s Handbook, each with their own changes to their flavor and balance. Nowall classes gain their subclass at level three, and the book includesfour subclasses for each class, focusing on equality when it comes to build diversity.
Which Species Are Included In The 2024 Player’s Handbook?
There are ten speciesincluded in the 2024 Player’s Handbook, including all the old favorites,like elves, dwarves and humans.Some more recent but no less popular options are also included,like the dragonborn and aasimar species.
The most notable ones missing from older editions arehalf-elves and half-orcs.The book has done away with the idea of double heritages, butyou can still use them as their old incarnations, as long as youignore their Ability Score improvements.
Remember that, due to the changes to species,Ability Scores are now given by your background.So, if you’re looking for the most optimal choice for your build,you should start there, then choose the species with the traits most suited to your play style.
You can now swap yourCelestial Revelationwhen you long rest.
Dragonborn
You can now replace one of your attacks to use yourBreath Weaponinstead of using your entire action.
Stonecunningnow gives youTremorsense.
Elf
You now choose theAbility Scorewith which you cast yourElven Lineagespells, choosing between Intelligence, Wisdom or Charisma.
Gnome
You now choose theAbility Scorewith which you cast yourGnomish Lineagespells, choosing between Intelligence, Wisdom or Charisma.
Entirely new traits that revolve around theirGiant Ancestry.
Halfling
Only one variant of the species is present, although theNaturally Stealthytrait from theLightfootvariant is now a core trait.
You gainHeroic Inspirationwhen you take a long rest.
Orc
You can dash as a bonus action, gaining temporary hit points and recharging its uses when you rest.
Tiefling
You now choose theAbility Scorewith which you cast yourFiendish Legacyspells, choosing between Intelligence, Wisdom or Charisma.
When noting the changes to orcs, we are comparing them to half-orcs, since they share several traits and are treated as a similar if not the same species.
What Is New In The 2024 Player’s Handbook?
The 2024 rules don’t just modify existing things from 2014, they alsoadd several new ones.Popular spellslike Counterspell and Wishhave been slightly tweaked, whilenew ones like Shining Smite and Sorcerous Burstwill open up new build options for players.
Feats are now divided into several categories, with the most common being the general ones, andall of them give an Ability Score increaseof some kind. All thefighting styles are now featsas well, streamlining the character creation process further and avoiding the need to repeat information in several classes.
Several creature stat blocks have been changed as well, particularly common animals and familiars. Warlocks now have way more options other than imps, quasits and pseudodragons, while those three have been buffed to match the power of the new options.
Crafting is now heavily expanded, letting players make their own weapons and armor as long as they can find the raw materials, butthere is no ruling for making magical items; that is reserved for the Dungeon Master’s Guide. There are, however, details for how to makeyour own spell scrolls and basic health potions.
Finally,all weapons now have a mastery property, something that several martial classes like fighters and rangers have access to. With them, choosing a weapon is a more involved step, with some weapons giving you advantage on your next attack while others deal damage even when they miss.
Have Any Main Rules Changed In The 2024 Player’s Handbook?
Among all the changes the 2024 book brings, the main ones to keep in mind as general rules are the rules forsurprise, exhaustion and inspiration.These all still do what they are supposed to, although in very different ways, keeping the flavor but not the exact mechanic.
Heroic Inspiration
Inspiration is now called heroic inspiration, and instead of giving you advantage in an attack or ability check, it just lets youreroll any D20 test.Not only that, but there are a few ways togain this new inspiration without the Dungeon Master’s input, like being a human or having the musician feat.
Surprise
The surprise round is no longer a thing: now, when a creature is surprised, it simplyhas disadvantage on its initiative roll, meaning that it can still potentially act before its attackers. With such a difference, elements of the game likethe alert feat no longer give you immunity to being surprised, and instead just rely on advantage to initiative to mitigate the effect.
Exhaustion
Exhaustion was always meant to be punishing, but the effects were always a bit of a chore to calculate.You still die if your exhaustion level is 6, but at all other levels, you simplyhave your speed reduced and your D20 rolls affected.
You just have tomultiply your exhaustion level with the negative effect.The D20 tests are reduced bytwo times your exhaustion level, while your speed is reduced byfive times your exhaustion level(since all species now have a speed of 30 ft, you always have some speed left).
