What to Expect From Dungeon and Dragons’ 2024 Dungeon Master’s Guide

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What to Expect From Dungeon and Dragons' 2024 Dungeon Master's Guide

Key Takeaways

  • Dungeon and Dragons‘ sourcebook update will prioritize campaign building advice, offer sample adventures, and improve organization.
  • D&D 2024 DMG features Greyhawk setting, lore glossary, and bastion rules for stronghold building.
  • Tracking sheets and a lore glossary will be included, encouraging DMs to create bespoke worlds and adventures.

As a seasoned Dungeons and Dragons player with over two decades under my belt, I can’t help but feel a surge of excitement upon hearing about the upcoming revised version of the 5e Dungeon Master’s Guide. The 2014 edition left many of us high and dry, struggling to find the essential advice we needed to create compelling campaigns and adventures.

In 2024, Wizards of the Coast faces significant challenges in delivering a well-received update to their Dungeons & Dragons sourcebook: the revised edition of the Dungeon Master’s Guide for the 5th Edition. Given the extensive criticism leveled against the 2014 Dungeon Master’s Guide, designers have pledged that the upcoming revision will provide Dungeon Masters with the recognition and resources they deserve.

Critics often find the organization of the Dungeon Master’s Guide for D&D 5e to be less than ideal. While it contains a wealth of valuable rules and tips, these are often tucked away towards the back of the book. On the other hand, the beginning sections focus more on explaining variant rules for multiple worlds rather than providing assistance for planning a one-shot or starting a campaign. Additionally, a significant portion of the book is dedicated to magic items, making it feel more like a comprehensive catalog of treasures than a practical guide. As a result, new Dungeon Masters often turn to online resources such as Matthew Colville’s “Running the Game” or third-party D&D works like Mike Shea’s “Return of the Lazy Dungeon Master.”

D&D 2024’s Dungeon Master’s Guide Promises To Right 2014’s Wrongs

Campaign Building Advice And Sample Adventures

Instead of focusing on variant rules and magic items, many new Dungeon Masters prefer guidance on creating and managing adventures. The 2024 edition of the Dungeon Master’s Guide aims to equip DMs with a basic campaign structure, along with a collection of sample adventures. This foundation will serve as a rich source of inspiration when designing Dungeons & Dragons adventures. Most of this essential information can be found in the first three chapters, which delve into the fundamentals of Dungeon Mastering, game management, and assorted topics such as traps and poisons.

The book will provide tracking sheets that DMs can use to record different types of information, including settlement details, distributed magic items, session plans, and more. Additionally, these sheets can be printed out for personal use. For those using the 2024 edition of the “Dungeon Master’s Guide,” there will also be a sheet for players to keep track of their bastions, following the rules provided in the guide.

Greyhawk Setting And Lore Glossary

In contrast to the Forgotten Realms being a common backdrop for fifth edition games, the upcoming D&D 2024 is expected to lean heavily on the Greyhawk universe. This universe, originally conceived by Gary Gygax, will be the primary focus of the new Dungeon Master’s Guide (DMG), serving as the default setting. The book will offer a map of Greyhawk’s wilderness and the city of Greyhawk, along with some details about the world of Oerth. However, it will also leave certain areas intentionally blank, inviting the Dungeon Master to add their own dungeons, settlements, and other elements, thereby sparking creativity among new dungeon masters and helping them develop their own unique worlds.

The fresh edition of the “Dungeon Master’s Guide” will additionally feature a lore dictionary, an extensive resource for understanding the various terms and concepts that are frequently used by experienced players in the context of D&D. This dictionary covers topics such as demon princes and magical materials, providing new players with a clearer grasp of the common elements found in the game.

Bastion Rules

2014’s edition of the Dungeon Master’s Guide features weaker stronghold rules compared to previous editions, providing fewer options. A significant flaw lies in the lack of guidelines for crafting engaging home bases. However, the upcoming D&D 2024 is expected to address this issue with new bastion rules. During the development phase of D&D 2024, known as One D&D, a playtest version of these bastion rules was released. These rules show promise, offering an interesting blend of spell-like abilities and a unique bastion turn mechanic that not only serves as a gold sink but also allows for a great deal of personalization when it comes to base construction. Despite the fact that bastions are now directly tied to player level, this may prove to be an intriguing aspect rather than a drawback.

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2024-09-01 15:34