D&D’s revised ruleset—beforehand OneD&D, or 5.5—is troublesome sufficient to clarify that I am going to want a few sentences to get via it. It is not a brand new version as per its creator’s insistence, nonetheless, it is a rehash of the present, soon-to-be decade-old fifth version ruleset that is additionally principally backwards-compatible with present fifth ed content material.
Regardless of my misgivings on methods to clarify the dang factor to the uninitiated (in addition to its flashy digital tabletop), nonetheless, I am cautiously optimistic for it, particularly having seen its new cowl by advantage of GameInformer’s deep-dive into the artwork of the upcoming revised Participant’s Handbook.
The quilt artwork includes a occasion of heroes going through off towards a horde of kobolds, backed by a big and regal gold dragon. It is a enjoyable counterpoint to the trio of core rulebooks from 5e’s preliminary launch, which confirmed adventurers combating a beholder, a lich, and a large—a reminder that all the large beasties in D&D aren’t all the time out to harm you.
In case you are questioning why a dragon’s getting all lovey-dovey—good-aligned dragons have been a factor in D&D lore perpetually, particularly those of the metallic selection. The selection of a gold dragon right here is very cute, since D&D is having its fiftieth anniversary this 12 months. In different phrases, its golden anniversary.
The occasion itself is filled with callbacks, too, as GameInformer reveals. Strongheart the “Good Paladin”, Elkhorn the “Good Dwarf Fighter”, Mercion the “Good Cleric Feminine”—it was, uh, a special time—and Molliver the “Lawful Thief” all make an look right here. They’re characters from the AD&D days, based mostly on a set of toy collectible figurines. Yolande the Elven queen from the Greyhawk setting can be right here to blast some fools.
A cute element highlighted by GameInformer is “a separate piece of artwork on the reverse facet of the Participant’s Handbook”, which options an unnamed second occasion of heroes driving on the gold dragon’s again. Form of a coy passing of the torch.
The revised Participant’s Handbook can be accessible for pre-orders alongside the brand new Monster Handbook and Dungeon Grasp’s information June 18, although the Participant’s Handbook would be the first to truly launch September 17, adopted by the Dungeon Grasp’s Information November 12.
The Monster Handbook will path in early 2025, February 18, although as beforehand talked about all of these items ought to nonetheless be backwards-compatible in the interim—so your group will not be wanting monsters to brawl whereas they get used to the remixed ruleset.
I have been a little bit of a curmudgeon about this upcoming not-exactly-a-new-edition, however this cowl objectively slaps, and it has me excited to see what else Wizards of the Coast has cooked for its different three books. I can solely hope the rash of Hasbro’s layoffs late final 12 months do not unduly affect its total high quality.
