Summary
Dungeons and Dragonsjust revealed tons of information about what can be found within the 384 pages of the newPlayer’s Handbook. The largest of its kind inDungeons and Dragonshistory, this new sourcebook will be available on September 17.
Right now,Dungeons and Dragonsis working on an evergreen revamp of its5th Editionsystem. While not a new edition on its own, this complete overhaul of the 10-year-old TTRPG might as well be, as it includesupdated versions of theDungeons and Dragons Player’s Handbook,Dungeon Master’s Guide, andMonster Manual.
Now,Dungeons and Dragonshas given fans a preview of all the stuff waiting for them inside the massive tome. The 12 core classes inDungeons and Dragonshave all received facelifts to refine, improve, and streamline gameplay. Each has four subclasses available, including three new options: the Path of the World Tree Barbarian, the College of Dance Bard, and the Circle of the Sea Druid. The book also includes almost 400Dungeons and Dragonsspells, including new entries like Tasha’s Bubbling Cauldron, plus a guide that helps new players get started, and a ton of gorgeous original artwork.
As far as character options are concerned, the newPlayer’s Handbookhas 16 backgrounds, each of which now includes ability score adjustments and an Origin Feat. Familiar options like Acolyte are available alongside new ones like Farmer and Wayfarer. Characters can choose from 10 species – including the Aasimar, Goliath, and Orc, now a part of thecoreDungeons and Dragonsrace options– as well as 75 feats to customize their character further.
One of the more exciting changes for martial characters comes in the form of weapon mastery. These eight traits are linked to different weapons, allowing warriors to turn the tide of a battle simply by drawing a sword or an axe. Properties like Cleave, Graze, Nick, and Vex increase a character’s chance to hit or deal damage, while Push, Sap, Slow, and Topple can control the battlefield and punish foes. Any martial character can use these weapon properties, but Fighters can unlock their potential better than any other class.
This isn’t the only revealDungeons and Dragonshas planned. On June 19, 20, and 21, fans can expect a deep dive intoD&D’s new version of the Fighter, Paladin, and Barbarian classes respectively. While it hasn’t announced any further plans yet, previews of the other nine classes, plus the other features coming in the new edition, will probably come in the following weeks.
Dungeons and Dragons
Created by Gary Gygax, Dungeons & Dragons is a tabletop game in which players craft their own worlds and band together to take on adventures through mysterious realms outlined in companion materials. One of the best role-playing games ever made, it has been adapted into a variety of video games and other media.
