I'm somewhat new to D&D and bought the 2014 Players Handbook a year or two ago (and later two other books at different times) and played about two games since. I really want to start actually making this a hobby and wonder if I should cut my losses and get the 2024 Players Handbook because even though most are playing 5E 2014, how long until the transition takes hold and everyone is playing 5E 2024? Because it sounds like I should start getting used to the new rules.
Edit: took a peak at the changes and how dare they remove Half-Orc and Half-Elf.
I'm somewhat new to D&D and bought the 2014 Players Handbook a year or two ago (and later two other books at different times) and played about two games since. I really want to start actually making this a hobby and wonder if I should cut my losses and get the 2024 Players Handbook because even though most are playing 5E 2014, how long until the transition takes hold and everyone is playing 5E 2024? Because it sounds like I should start getting used to the new rules.
Edit: took a peak at the changes and how dare they remove Half-Orc and Half-Elf.
If you are planning on being a DM, I would play the 2014 for as long as there is demand for it among your group. I would also try the Basic Rules 2024, which are free to see which you like more, because as time moves along, more and more people will be moving to 2024, either out of interest or to keep up with everyone else. The current game I am in has no intention to move, but I am seeing more and more new LFP and PBP games using the 2024 rules.
I'm somewhat new to D&D and bought the 2014 Players Handbook a year or two ago (and later two other books at different times) and played about two games since. I really want to start actually making this a hobby and wonder if I should cut my losses and get the 2024 Players Handbook because even though most are playing 5E 2014, how long until the transition takes hold and everyone is playing 5E 2024? Because it sounds like I should start getting used to the new rules.
Find a game first, then get the appropriate rules. The learning curve is not that bad, you can wait to pick it up until you need it.
Agreed on finding a game first and find out what they are using before buying. You might not need the 2024 for some time depending on he group. Though I really like the spell updates the 2024 book made for healing and level scaling spells.
Also if you are looking for a physical copy at your local hobby shop (support your local game stores), GL finding one. Our local shop can't get one any more from any distributor he has contacted. Hasbro is really short supplying local shops for their direct sales.
To reply as best I can to you all without filling my comment with quotes.
@Erik_Soong @Pantagruel666 @Deyric Yes I do plan on being a DM in the future, but I want to get some games under my belt before I do and will take the advice to find some games. I will try to buy local but money is tight and I have enough on Amazon to get it, but I might hold out for a while. Kinda hope I don't regret getting that DM screen for the 2024 version.
@Sarella I figured it would be less complicated not to mix the two versions.
@stemoloneblade @luizfer69 I looked threw the 2024 Handbook in stores and a PDF online and yeah I'll spare you all the rant but I will say who ever put the 2024 Handbook together was trying WAY too hard to the point its in your face more than it needs to be. Also why is the race/species section shorter than the 2014 version and after the bulky class section? Race always goes first before class.
@Jurmondur funny you should say that because there was this time when I did one of those one night campaigns at a hoppy shop and bought the handbook prior to read and study it only to find out they pass them out at and for the event
@Erik_Soong @Pantagruel666 @Deyric Yes I do plan on being a DM in the future, but I want to get some games under my belt before I do and will take the advice to find some games. I will try to buy local but money is tight and I have enough on Amazon to get it, but I might hold out for a while. Kinda hope I don't regret getting that DM screen for the 2024 version.
Do not spend money on this hobby, especially if money is tight. As new GMs, it is extremely tempting to start spending money. Hold off on spending money for as long as you can. Make sure you are familiar with the hobby and take the time to see what products are out there and which are tailored to your needs the best. For example,, Beyond is not the only digital tool, and you may want to check out Roll20, Fantasy Grounds, and Foundry as well and see if their products and/or payment options fit your needs and finances better.
While there is a general expectation for GMs to provide all or most of the stuff that players need, you do not have to spend money to do so. Rely on your D&D community for help. In my opinion, it is best to go to your local game stores and libraries and meet people there, since if you can find a fellow GM for help, you can borrow their physical books and possibly be given access to digital tools at the same time. Online D&D communities are also helpful since it is pretty easy to give access to digital tools, but you are unlikely to be able to borrow physical books.
D&D can be played for free, and its paid content can be accessed for free too. It is nice to support the writers and developers, but that is not your burden to bear if it impacts your wallet. If you really want to contribute to the hobby without committing too much, buy some drinks and snacks from your local game store. If you want to contribute to Beyond, you can try out Beyond's Master Tier subscription for free for a month to make content sharing easier, and then continue the service if you really like it (one year of service is about $50 or $60, about the MSRP of a physical D&D book). Do not succumb to the pressure to spend money, especially from yourself. There are GMs out there who are more than happy to let you mooch off of their physical books and digital tools. They already give their players free access to content, so it makes no difference to them to share it with a few more people in need.
Do not spend money on this hobby, especially if money is tight.
Well, that's a bit overstated. You should understand gaming as part of your entertainment budget, it should be competing with things like video games, movies, streaming services, etc.
Gaming is a very cheap hobby if you actually use what you purchase (easily less than $1 per entertainment hour), but a gaming book that you don't use isn't doing anything for you, and even if you would use a given book -- does it actually add enough to your game to be worth the cost? This of course varies heavily with whether time or money is a bigger constraint on your gaming.
To reply as best I can to you all without filling my comment with quotes.
@Erik_Soong @Pantagruel666 @Deyric Yes I do plan on being a DM in the future, but I want to get some games under my belt before I do and will take the advice to find some games. I will try to buy local but money is tight and I have enough on Amazon to get it, but I might hold out for a while. Kinda hope I don't regret getting that DM screen for the 2024 version.
@Sarella I figured it would be less complicated not to mix the two versions.
@stemoloneblade @luizfer69 I looked threw the 2024 Handbook in stores and a PDF online and yeah I'll spare you all the rant but I will say who ever put the 2024 Handbook together was trying WAY too hard to the point its in your face more than it needs to be. Also why is the race/species section shorter than the 2014 version and after the bulky class section? Race always goes first before class.
@Jurmondur funny you should say that because there was this time when I did one of those one night campaigns at a hoppy shop and bought the handbook prior to read and study it only to find out they pass them out at and for the event
Thank you everyone for your comments thus far.
Bottom line, unless you have a COMMITTED group to the new edition, and I mean a group you know won't disappear after 3 or 4 sessions, don't buy anything related to the new edition. If it is as popular as the marketing team makes it out to be, there will be plenty of used copies of the previous edition around, for much less money that the brand new books. But if the new edition is not as popular as the marketing team says it is, then it is a bad investment in new books. I know how the latest books are being received at my local gaming cafe. Trust me, don't spend the money.
Also why is the race/species section...after the bulky class section? Race always goes first before class.
Because it makes sense to put Class first. Whenever I'm creating a character (if it doesn't pop into my mind more or less fully formed), the first thing I consider is what the character does - IE its Class and Subclass. Once I've done that, I then consider what species complements or juxtaposes that concept (depending on what direction I want to take). In 5e, the Class and Subclass by far dominates the nature of your character, well beyond the species.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
If you're not willing or able to to discuss in good faith, then don't be surprised if I don't respond, there are better things in life for me to do than humour you. This signature is that response.
Also why is the race/species section...after the bulky class section? Race always goes first before class.
Because it makes sense to put Class first. Whenever I'm creating a character (if it doesn't pop into my mind more or less fully formed), the first thing I consider is what the character does - IE its Class and Subclass. Once I've done that, I then consider what species complements or juxtaposes that concept (depending on what direction I want to take). In 5e, the Class and Subclass by far dominates the nature of your character, well beyond the species.
I believe Jeremy Crawford even said in one of the promo videos their market research showed the majority of players choose class first followed by species and the order of the book was designed the reflect the most common order
Also why is the race/species section...after the bulky class section? Race always goes first before class.
Because it makes sense to put Class first. Whenever I'm creating a character (if it doesn't pop into my mind more or less fully formed), the first thing I consider is what the character does - IE its Class and Subclass. Once I've done that, I then consider what species complements or juxtaposes that concept (depending on what direction I want to take). In 5e, the Class and Subclass by far dominates the nature of your character, well beyond the species.
I believe Jeremy Crawford even said in one of the promo videos their market research showed the majority of players choose class first followed by species and the order of the book was designed the reflect the most common order
Especially with the 2014 rules that had the ASI tied to species.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
If you are being disingenuous and rude, consider this your only response.
Also why is the race/species section...after the bulky class section? Race always goes first before class.
Because it makes sense to put Class first. Whenever I'm creating a character (if it doesn't pop into my mind more or less fully formed), the first thing I consider is what the character does - IE its Class and Subclass. Once I've done that, I then consider what species complements or juxtaposes that concept (depending on what direction I want to take). In 5e, the Class and Subclass by far dominates the nature of your character, well beyond the species.
I believe Jeremy Crawford even said in one of the promo videos their market research showed the majority of players choose class first followed by species and the order of the book was designed the reflect the most common order
Alright then I won't argue against statistics. I guess personally it just felt a little jarring compared to 2014.
To reply as best I can to you all without filling my comment with quotes.
@Erik_Soong Yes I do plan on being a DM in the future, but I want to get some games under my belt before I do and will take the advice to find some games. I will try to buy local but money is tight and I have enough on Amazon to get it, but I might hold out for a while. Kinda hope I don't regret getting that DM screen for the 2024 version.
The game can be fun with some of the paid content but I will restate my original recommendation to play with the free rules first. It has everything you need to run the game with no risk to you at all. As Farmer said - and note that I almost never agree with this user - it is better to wait until you have a committed group before dropping money on the hobby. If you get players who like playing the 2024 rules and want to see the other character options, then drop some cash. I overall like the 2024 rules more, but you can try them before you buy them and having players is more important than getting the books.
Do not spend money on this hobby, especially if money is tight.
Well, that's a bit overstated. You should understand gaming as part of your entertainment budget, it should be competing with things like video games, movies, streaming services, etc.
Gaming is a very cheap hobby if you actually use what you purchase (easily less than $1 per entertainment hour), but a gaming book that you don't use isn't doing anything for you, and even if you would use a given book -- does it actually add enough to your game to be worth the cost? This of course varies heavily with whether time or money is a bigger constraint on your gaming.
Given that we have the option to enjoy D&D for free, I think people should take full advantage of that more, especially when there are people who are more than happy to share. If a person has the time to play D&D, they definitely have the time to go to their local game store, library, or online and ask for help. Costs almost literally nothing besides time and maybe transportation expenses. And when it is time for OP to be a GM, if they have that community support already established, it will be so much easier to provide the materials their players need. Besides, Beyond even removed à la carte purchases and does not want our chump change.
OP is just a player right now and they already got their own books. Hell, they are not even a GM yet and they are already thinking of spending even more money. That is stereotypical GM behavior right there. It is good that they want to support the hobby's industry, but if finances are an issue, let the GM handle the logistics and figure it out.
I am also sick and tired of people complaining and whining about D&D being expensive or do not want to pay for content twice, and I want to nip those stupid misconceptions in the bud. If a person cannot or do not want to pay for something, then do not pay for it, it is literally not their responsibility nor obligation to feed Wizards; somebody else has already paid for it and they are more than willing to share. A person has to be especially obnoxious and off putting if even the D&D community is refusing to share resources with them.
I'm somewhat new to D&D and bought the 2014 Players Handbook a year or two ago (and later two other books at different times) and played about two games since. I really want to start actually making this a hobby and wonder if I should cut my losses and get the 2024 Players Handbook because even though most are playing 5E 2014, how long until the transition takes hold and everyone is playing 5E 2024? Because it sounds like I should start getting used to the new rules.
Edit: took a peak at the changes and how dare they remove Half-Orc and Half-Elf.
If you are planning on being a DM, I would play the 2014 for as long as there is demand for it among your group. I would also try the Basic Rules 2024, which are free to see which you like more, because as time moves along, more and more people will be moving to 2024, either out of interest or to keep up with everyone else. The current game I am in has no intention to move, but I am seeing more and more new LFP and PBP games using the 2024 rules.
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Find a game first, then get the appropriate rules. The learning curve is not that bad, you can wait to pick it up until you need it.
Agreed on finding a game first and find out what they are using before buying. You might not need the 2024 for some time depending on he group. Though I really like the spell updates the 2024 book made for healing and level scaling spells.
Also if you are looking for a physical copy at your local hobby shop (support your local game stores), GL finding one. Our local shop can't get one any more from any distributor he has contacted. Hasbro is really short supplying local shops for their direct sales.
2024 and 2014 are just different versions (they can mix, but you're best not to as it's just power creep).
I am playing 1 2014 and 2 2024 campaigns atm, all are fun.
WHAT? They haven't removed races!
They have simply corrected the name. Now the word is "species" (more biologically accurate) but the races are stille there.
Example:
- Species: Dragonborn
- Races: Green, Red, Blue, etc.
It's nice to have your own player's handbook, but most of the time your DM will have it anyways.
If you are being disingenuous and rude, consider this your only response.
Homebrew: dominance, The Necrotic
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To reply as best I can to you all without filling my comment with quotes.
@Erik_Soong @Pantagruel666 @Deyric Yes I do plan on being a DM in the future, but I want to get some games under my belt before I do and will take the advice to find some games. I will try to buy local but money is tight and I have enough on Amazon to get it, but I might hold out for a while. Kinda hope I don't regret getting that DM screen for the 2024 version.
@Sarella I figured it would be less complicated not to mix the two versions.
@stemoloneblade @luizfer69 I looked threw the 2024 Handbook in stores and a PDF online and yeah I'll spare you all the rant but I will say who ever put the 2024 Handbook together was trying WAY too hard to the point its in your face more than it needs to be. Also why is the race/species section shorter than the 2014 version and after the bulky class section? Race always goes first before class.
@Jurmondur funny you should say that because there was this time when I did one of those one night campaigns at a hoppy shop and bought the handbook prior to read and study it only to find out they pass them out at and for the event
Thank you everyone for your comments thus far.
Do not spend money on this hobby, especially if money is tight. As new GMs, it is extremely tempting to start spending money. Hold off on spending money for as long as you can. Make sure you are familiar with the hobby and take the time to see what products are out there and which are tailored to your needs the best. For example,, Beyond is not the only digital tool, and you may want to check out Roll20, Fantasy Grounds, and Foundry as well and see if their products and/or payment options fit your needs and finances better.
While there is a general expectation for GMs to provide all or most of the stuff that players need, you do not have to spend money to do so. Rely on your D&D community for help. In my opinion, it is best to go to your local game stores and libraries and meet people there, since if you can find a fellow GM for help, you can borrow their physical books and possibly be given access to digital tools at the same time. Online D&D communities are also helpful since it is pretty easy to give access to digital tools, but you are unlikely to be able to borrow physical books.
D&D can be played for free, and its paid content can be accessed for free too. It is nice to support the writers and developers, but that is not your burden to bear if it impacts your wallet. If you really want to contribute to the hobby without committing too much, buy some drinks and snacks from your local game store. If you want to contribute to Beyond, you can try out Beyond's Master Tier subscription for free for a month to make content sharing easier, and then continue the service if you really like it (one year of service is about $50 or $60, about the MSRP of a physical D&D book). Do not succumb to the pressure to spend money, especially from yourself. There are GMs out there who are more than happy to let you mooch off of their physical books and digital tools. They already give their players free access to content, so it makes no difference to them to share it with a few more people in need.
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Well, that's a bit overstated. You should understand gaming as part of your entertainment budget, it should be competing with things like video games, movies, streaming services, etc.
Gaming is a very cheap hobby if you actually use what you purchase (easily less than $1 per entertainment hour), but a gaming book that you don't use isn't doing anything for you, and even if you would use a given book -- does it actually add enough to your game to be worth the cost? This of course varies heavily with whether time or money is a bigger constraint on your gaming.
Bottom line, unless you have a COMMITTED group to the new edition, and I mean a group you know won't disappear after 3 or 4 sessions, don't buy anything related to the new edition. If it is as popular as the marketing team makes it out to be, there will be plenty of used copies of the previous edition around, for much less money that the brand new books. But if the new edition is not as popular as the marketing team says it is, then it is a bad investment in new books. I know how the latest books are being received at my local gaming cafe. Trust me, don't spend the money.
Because it makes sense to put Class first. Whenever I'm creating a character (if it doesn't pop into my mind more or less fully formed), the first thing I consider is what the character does - IE its Class and Subclass. Once I've done that, I then consider what species complements or juxtaposes that concept (depending on what direction I want to take). In 5e, the Class and Subclass by far dominates the nature of your character, well beyond the species.
If you're not willing or able to to discuss in good faith, then don't be surprised if I don't respond, there are better things in life for me to do than humour you. This signature is that response.
I believe Jeremy Crawford even said in one of the promo videos their market research showed the majority of players choose class first followed by species and the order of the book was designed the reflect the most common order
Especially with the 2014 rules that had the ASI tied to species.
If you are being disingenuous and rude, consider this your only response.
Homebrew: dominance, The Necrotic
Extended signature
Alright then I won't argue against statistics. I guess personally it just felt a little jarring compared to 2014.
They didn't remove them...they just haven't updated them yet. Remember, 2024 is compatible with 2014...you can still play them.
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The game can be fun with some of the paid content but I will restate my original recommendation to play with the free rules first. It has everything you need to run the game with no risk to you at all. As Farmer said - and note that I almost never agree with this user - it is better to wait until you have a committed group before dropping money on the hobby. If you get players who like playing the 2024 rules and want to see the other character options, then drop some cash. I overall like the 2024 rules more, but you can try them before you buy them and having players is more important than getting the books.
DM mostly, Player occasionally | Session 0 form | He/Him/They/Them
EXTENDED SIGNATURE!
Doctor/Published Scholar/Science and Healthcare Advocate/Critter/Trekkie/Gandalf with a Glock
Try DDB free: Free Rules (2024), premade PCs, adventures, one shots, encounters, SC, homebrew, more
Answers: physical books, purchases, and subbing.
Check out my life-changing
Given that we have the option to enjoy D&D for free, I think people should take full advantage of that more, especially when there are people who are more than happy to share. If a person has the time to play D&D, they definitely have the time to go to their local game store, library, or online and ask for help. Costs almost literally nothing besides time and maybe transportation expenses. And when it is time for OP to be a GM, if they have that community support already established, it will be so much easier to provide the materials their players need. Besides, Beyond even removed à la carte purchases and does not want our chump change.
OP is just a player right now and they already got their own books. Hell, they are not even a GM yet and they are already thinking of spending even more money. That is stereotypical GM behavior right there. It is good that they want to support the hobby's industry, but if finances are an issue, let the GM handle the logistics and figure it out.
I am also sick and tired of people complaining and whining about D&D being expensive or do not want to pay for content twice, and I want to nip those stupid misconceptions in the bud. If a person cannot or do not want to pay for something, then do not pay for it, it is literally not their responsibility nor obligation to feed Wizards; somebody else has already paid for it and they are more than willing to share. A person has to be especially obnoxious and off putting if even the D&D community is refusing to share resources with them.
Check Licenses and Resync Entitlements: < https://www.dndbeyond.com/account/licenses >
Running the Game by Matt Colville; Introduction: < https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e-YZvLUXcR8 >
D&D with High School Students by Bill Allen; Season 1 Episode 1: < https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=52NJTUDokyk&t >