A decade after Dungeons and Dragons‘ 5th edition first hit shelves, Wizards of the Coast is releasing a revamped ruleset for the popular tabletop roleplaying game. This new ruleset — currently referred to as Dungeons and Dragons 2024 — technically isn’t a new edition of the game. The base mechanics still function the same, and any past adventure modules will be compatible with the updated rules. That said, D&D 2024’s changes and additions will be palpable for anyone who has played 5th edition.
D&D 2024 completely overhauls 5th edition’s race system, re-balances every class, swaps background features for feats, and much more. Wizards of the Coast has already put out a new Player’s Handbook and Dungeon Master’s Guide as part of its 2024 initiative. A new Monster Manual will be released on February 18, 2025. These core rulebooks will give players and DMs everything they need to play D&D 2024, but Wizards of the Coast’s failure to prioritize one obvious product at launch will disappoint many fans.
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The Importance of D&D Starter Sets
For a game with as many rules and mechanics as Dungeons and Dragons has, a starter set can be an invaluable tool. D&D starter sets in the past have provided players with everything they needed to play: an adventure for level 1 characters, multiple pre-made character sheets, dice, and a manual that covered the basics of gameplay. A one-stop shop like this is incredibly appealing to anyone interested in the game, and it is a much more accessible starting point than the core rulebooks — each of which costs roughly $60 nowadays.
5th Edition’s First Starter Set
D&D‘s 5th edition was by far the game’s most popular. While part of this can be attributed to actual play series like Critical Role, The Adventure Zone, and Dimension 20, another reason for 5th edition’s success was its starter set. The Dungeons and Dragons Starter Set came out months before any of 5th edition’s rulebooks did. This meant that players had an approachable and affordable way to start adventuring as soon as 5th edition was available.
The Downsides of D&D 2024’s Delayed Starter Set
Unfortunately, Dungeons and Dragons 2024 will not be following in 5th edition’s footsteps. While Wizards of the Coast has confirmed that a starter set containing the new rules is on its way, the set won’t be released until fall of 2025 — over a year after D&D 2024 kicked off. By withholding this starter set, Wizards of the Coast is not only shooting itself in the foot but isolating would-be players.
Though Dungeons and Dragons continues to be a popular property, now is not the easiest time to get into the game. For anyone inexperienced with tabletop RPGs, D&D is already a fairly complicated game to start playing. Sifting through the rules and trying to figure out how to make a character, how to roleplay, and how combat works can be a daunting task. On top of that, aspiring players now have to figure out the distinction between 5th edition and D&D 2024 while also having to contend with brand-new rulebooks — each of which are noticeably longer than their 2014 counterparts.
Players need an anchor point during this tumultuous time for D&D, and if Wizards of the Coast’s solution is for them to go spend $180 and figure out how to play on their own, then many of those players just won’t engage with the 2024 ruleset. For people who have no connection to D&D, there are plenty of other tabletop RPGs out in the world — many of which are cheaper and easier to understand. For experienced D&D players, D&D 2024’s lack of an entry point only encourages them to stick with the 5th edition resources they already have access to. Wizards of the Coast’s planned rollout of products is not only denying hobbyists an incredibly helpful resource, but it is actively limiting the number of players that engage with D&D‘s new content going forward.
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.
- Franchise
- Dungeons & Dragons
- Original Release Date
- 1974-00-00
- Designer
- E. Gary Gygax , Dave Arneson