The 2024 reform of Dungeons and Dragons is now almost complete thanks to the launch of the new Dungeon Master’s Guide. This 2024 version comes with many updates and new features that make it a worthwhile purchase, but some of the content seems cooler in theory than in practice. Still, it’s a great feature for DMs that should please anyone interested in trying to run a campaign or session – and it’s a nice upgrade over 2014. DM Guide.
Released everywhere November 12, 2024 DM Guide It’s in early access now D&D beyond. During that time, I used the 2024 rules with two different D&D groups, each with different play styles and undertaking different adventures. For reference, one of the groups uses only the new 2024 rules of the Player Handbookwhile the other plays with a mix of 2014 and 2024 rules.
D&D’s 2024 DM Guide is full of improvements
Easy organization that makes DMing simpler than ever
The new structure of 2024 DM Guide makes it easier than ever to use. There is a flow to each of the chapters and an organizational method that makes sense and is easy to digest. Even as someone who has DMed many games in the past, I found that 2024 Dungeon Master’s Guide be refreshingly simple in your approach. This isn’t like a campaign book, so it’s doubtful anyone will read it cover to cover, so the way it’s divided is important. There’s also a helpful table of contents at the end that I love.
While the previous chapters focus more on introducing new DMs into your processes, “Chapter 4: Creating Adventures” and “Chapter 5: Creating Campaigns” will likely be where most people will spend their time. The step-by-step campaign structure will definitely be useful for beginnersbut it’s also divided in a way that should benefit even long-time DMs. The chapter on Cosmology is interesting for the world-building tradition and the final two chapters deal with treasures and bastions, respectively.
The Magic Items subsection in DM Guide it’s a highlight and the place I returned to most often. Magic items are divided by category and rarity, and there are sections on how to craft them and sentient items. It seems like there are more magical items than ever before, even at lower levels, which will no doubt make adventures even more interesting as they are awarded to players.
The flip side of this is that maybe it’s too much of a good thing, but the groups I played with were excited about some of the new magic items (especially the Summoning Cube). Updates to other magical items – like strengthening the Bag of Holding – are very welcome and feel like the quality of life updates you’d expect from a book like this. For the most part, the balance changes here make sense and it seems quite fair.
What’s new in the 2024 Dungeon Master’s Guide?
DM Guides’ New Features Could Be Some of the Worst
Not everything in DM Guide It’s perfect, though. Some of the new content in this 2024 edition sounds more fun in theory than in practice. Bastions are the best example of this. I was excited to try them, as were the people in my groups, but Bastions have basically turned into hard work. I’d compare this to journaling in a life simulator: there’s a lot to do and check regularly (like defenses), but the reward might not be worth it.
Bastions has improved since its debut in Unearthed Arcanabut the problem is that they slow down the momentum of the campaign so much that it feels more like a really deep distraction rather than something that drives the adventure forward. During my time with Bastions, I’m not really convinced that it works as well as it should. As with anything in D&Dhowever, groups will have varying results.
Then there’s the Greyhawk content that’s included at the end of Chapter 5. I was thrilled that Greyhawk was back, but a full campaign or sourcebook would have been better. Greyhawk’s content isn’t bad, but it’s like a lot of what’s new in 2024 DM Guide – I’m glad it’s there for anyone who wants it, but I doubt I’ll ever use it. This also applies to the multiverse sections and the map templates appendix.
Is the DM 2024 Guide worth it?
An accessible book that should appeal to old and new masters alike
As the name suggests, o 2024 Dungeon Master’s Guide It’s absolutely for anyone who wants to DM. Not necessary to enjoy D&D if you’re just playing a character. People who are new to DMing will find the 2024 edition extremely usefuland it’s certainly more affordable and accessible than the 2014 version. For newcomers, the 2024 Dungeon Master’s Guide is definitely the way to go.
Even for those who have already mastered it, this 2024 edition is a beautiful update that I fully believe is worth purchasing. Whether or not you buy the book will largely depend on how much you already like the 2014 5e rules. Of course, it will also depend on how much you like the new 2024 rules and whether you already use them.
The new features here are interesting, and while they don’t all fit perfectly with the groups I played with, it will be interesting to see what happens in the future. D&D books do to change, improve and add the newest DM Guide. Overall, I prefer the 2024 rules for Dungeons and Dragonsand 2024 Dungeon Master’s Guide may be the easiest to use and best DM Guide the date.
Source: D&D Beyond/YouTube