Dungeons & Dragons made 2024 rules revisions to its Fifth Edition (5E) that introduce major changes to the character creation process.
For a few years now, fans of the tabletop RPG have known that it was moving away from the problematic term "race." It has instead chosen to embrace a more neutral "species" for the diverse fantastical creatures that exist, such as elves, dwarves, and tieflings.
Dungeons & Dragons' Character Creation
(Photo : Wizards of the Coast / Screenshot taken from official website)
Since 2020's amazing supplement, Tasha's Cauldron of Everything, Dungeons & Dragons players have been able to choose which ability scores get a boost from their choice of creature. This means that orcs will not be stuck in stereotypes of big, bulking brutes and gnomes can also become physically powerful.
However, the new Player's Handbook, which had previously gotten its own series of deep-dive video reveals on the official YouTube channel, goes a step further. This is by flipping character creation on its head.
At the core of this is the Character Origin, which is something casual players might refer to as backstory. Character backgrounds in the 2014 Player's Handbook were something of an afterthought, according to GamesRadar.
They were listed on page 127, which is when you were most likely finished with going through a choice of races and classes. It consists of a small set of additional skills and proficiencies and other minor features.
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These include connections to nobility, an affinity with pirates, or an epiphany only you have received and no one else. This is something that, in many games, would probably not come up at all and depends on the setting and characters that you encounter.
But in the new Player's Handbook, you will actually have to choose your class first and then choose a character background. The change also places a larger emphasis on what pliers can actually impact on their characters' backgrounds, such as previous profession, location, and community.
Major Changes in Playing the Game
Wizards of the Coast redesigned the Player's Handbook to guide players in creating their characters and learning the game's rules. It includes a two-column example layout that has the in-game chatter on one side and table talk on the other, said Forbes.
The book will then end with a massive rules glossary that has clear explanations of every mechanical term that players can encounter. It also boasts 48 subclasses, four each for the 12 base classes found within.
These classes are a combination of classic options, popular choices from books, and a few new selections. Additionally, each of the returning classes has been tightened up to stay on pace with the newer choices that players gain access to.
Some of the most interesting new rules are those that target classes focusing on combat and fighting in general. These will gain access to weapon mastery that lets them control the battlefield depending on what type of weapons they have equipped.
There were also some changes made in the new Dungeon Master's Guide (2024) that start by teaching players how to DM. It also features a lore glossary for people who want quick summaries of things that are referenced or encountered throughout the Dungeons & Dragons multiverse, according to Polygon.
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