Dungeons and Dragons just revealed some new information about the revamped Dungeon Master’s Guide coming out in 2024. This new version of the 5th Edition core rules will be much more user-friendly than Dungeons and Dragons’ 2014 version.
Last year, Dungeons and Dragons announced it was working on a facelift of the 5th Edition rules for its 10-year anniversary. Formally titled One D&D, this new version of the Dungeons and Dragons rulebooks will be fully compatible with old 5th Edition content.
Senior story designer Chris Perkins appeared in a short video with senior content consultant Todd Kenreck to talk about the new version of the 5th Edition Dungeon Master’s Guide coming next year. According to Perkins, the new DMG will be organized more organically and will include advice currently missing from the 2014 version. Rules and tools from books like Tasha’s Cauldron of Everything, like the guidelines for running a Session Zero, will be added in the new book, complete with tons of amazing new art.
Perkins gave a rough layout of the chapters that will be found in the book:
- Chapter 1 will cover the basics, like dice rolls and terminology.
- Chapter 2 covers common things that will happen during play.
- Chapter 3 is the compendium of rules, listed in alphabetical order.
- Chapter 4 gives tips on building an adventure.
- Chapter 5 guides players in developing a campaign.
- Chapter 6 details the cosmology of 5th Edition.
- Chapter 7 is all about magic items, both old and new.
- Chapter 8 is a surprise Dungeons and Dragons will talk about later.
- The Appendix will have maps, lore terminology, and rules glossaries.
The goal of this new DMG is to unbury disorganized rules for things like firearms and environments while keeping it backwards compatible with its predecessor. This will help clarify things for veteran Dungeon Masters while ensuring new ones will have a memorable first experience with the system. The 2024 Dungeon Master’s Guide will also include a poster map–though Perkins said the subject of the map was a secret.
Perkins briefly spoke about the new Monster Manual that would accompany the Dungeon Master’s Guide. The updated version of the Monster Manual is being reorganized as well and will include new monster stat blocks following the trend set in Monsters of the Multiverse to make more engaging, dynamic, and challenging encounters. With possibly the largest-ever Monster Manual and a new Player’s Handbook joining the Dungeon Master’s Guide, players will soon have the perfect chance to dive into Dungeons and Dragons.
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