D&D 5E: Online Resources and More on What’s in the Game!

At a retailer conference earlier today, Wizards announced that about 15% of the Player’s Handbook would be available for free online. This portion of the rules will contain the character creation system that will allow basic characters to be created.

This is, of course, all sorts of awesome.

And, from everything I’m hearing, it isn’t all they’ll be releasing. After all, Mike Mearls did say we’d be able to run a full campaign with the release of the PH. Given a full campaign rather needs magic items (in the DMG) and monsters (in the MM), there will have to be some way of getting that information. What we don’t know is how we’ll get that yet. And Wizards are, as of yet, still playing their cards somewhat close to their chest. That isn’t to say we occasionally don’t learn stuff! The following tweets are by Mike Mearls (questioners identified):

Intensewiz: When will hear about this thing that becomes between the Starter Set and the Player’s Handbook?

We just announced at the ACD distributor conference that about 15% of the Player’s Handbook will be available for free as a PDF

Intensewiz: Is that what you were talking about? Also I was told there would be some type of alternate tactical combat system is that true

It’s part of it, and the key part for the starter set. More in-depth combat will be in the DMG.

Intensewiz: Sorry to annoy you, last question (I promise!) Are there going to be multiple magic systems?

Yes, traditional D&D in PH, optional point-based system in DMG.

D&D has tried a lot of different things over the years. I’m quite surprised by the point-based magic system, but yes, it’s something that has been tried, and Wizards have (according to what they’ve said) tried to accommodate a lot of different playing styles.

I run a traditional AD&D campaign on Saturday evenings, so I was quite interested by this post:

GX_Sigma:
We didn’t see summoning spells or hirelings/henchmen in the playtest. Will they be in the DMG?

Henchmen will be there, summoning spells in PH

Henchmen can be, of course, a big part of AD&D play, especially for filling out smaller groups.

And what of Hoard of the Dragon Queen?

We’ll be rolling out previews of the adventure next month. It is FR, but easy to adapt.

I would also be remiss if I didn’t mention the interview that Morrus did with the authors, along with the other interview with Kobold Press in The Escapist.

And
Organised Play?

If you start with Encounters, you can keep leveling your character in the published adventure or in Expedtions, our con and store adventures

Mystical Seeker: Will online play (i.e. via http://Roll20.net ) be supported for organized play?

I believe we’re treating it as home play to start, but we also know that for some folks online play is their best option

Chris Tulach, who handles a lot of the organised play, clarified a bit more on home play:

For those asking about home play and the #dnd Adventurers League – we’ll have more information on that soon.

Alphastream also weighed in:

Safe to say that Gen Con has new Tyranny of Dragons content.

One of the interesting things about how Wizards handle D&D releases is that stores that run their events can occasionally get D&D stuff early. Here’s Greg Bilsland:

WPN stores typically get product two weeks before the release date.

Will this apply to the core books of D&D 5E? We don’t actually know. We just hope so. (And, being in Australia, I’m not sure if it applies here anyway).

RPG Pundit has posted again on how he can’t actually tell us what is coming, but has hinted that it’s more than we know.

Anyways, there’s one other piece of news that some people might have missed. Something more important than it looks:

“@thalmin mentioned the rules will be for BASIC characters (emphasis from the WotC rep)”

A lot of this new first broke through the BoardGameGeek twitter account. Here’s what they said:

Attending a seminar w/ WotC showing off the new D&D volumes; new $20 starter set on July 19, 2014.

New emphasis on villainous organizations in the 2014 D&D Monster Manual to match the number of monsters in it.

Sidebars in the new DMG help DMs to customize the game to match past editions of D&D.

WotC rep: We’re focused on D&D right now, but another expansion for Lords of Waterdeep will come at some point.

WotC rep: D&D staggered release dates for books is a result of editing; focus on one book at a time. (Says I, ?)

WotC rep on what it has that Paizo/Pathfinder doesn’t: We can build on the D&D brand through multiple channels to get players to your store.

Then the WotC rep hinted at a D&D movie being in the works. Again?

Approx 15% of the D&D Player’s Handbook will be free on WotC site to cover the basics of building characters for those getting Starter Sets.

D&D Starter Set has 5 pregenerated characters & 64-page adventure that’s “the best intro adventure ever”. But of course he’d said that…

WotC rep: WizKids miniatures to accompany the D&D Starter Set will not be an Alliance exclusive.