Wizards of the Coast. (384p) ISBN: 9780786969517. Role Playing Game, read 11/01/26, Hardback ★★★★☆

Dungeons & Dragons: Player’s Handbook 2024

Yes, I’ve just read this cover to cover…

Mainly because I wanted to see how much difference there is between this and the 2014 edition, and as many people say there isn’t much really, and quite a few of the changes are names mainly, but also because I’m joining my first D&D game since lockdown and want to make a character.

I really like the way this edition is set out though, much easier to read, less wordy, rules are much clearer, and the box outs and extras don’t get in the way.

As always with Wizards of the Coast though the index could have been a bit more thorough.

Classes seem more straightforward, but finding the changes to getting subclass at level three weird, workable but weird, especially for Warlocks…

Also liking the ideas of species though I do miss my Half Elf, taking what singled them out and adding that to feats , classes, and origins works for me as well.

I do feel though that the other bit this edition is lacking is a bit of flavour, it seems really rules dense without many gaming examples, there were a few at the start, and this seems to detract a bit from the readability.

The artwork is stunning though, especially the little character portraits for the various subclasses, Path of the Berserker art makes me want to play a Barbarian which I’ve never done before!

Overall an improvement on the 2014 edition but still with some tweaks needed that would make it even better.