Let’s get this out of the way now; I LOVE this system! I really, truly do. It’s easy and yet comprehensive character building mechanics provide a true understanding of characters beyond the standard race, class and alignment. Combat is streamlined and rapid paced. Leveling up is simple and intuitive. Inspiration! Honestly, I haven’t had this much fun in fantasy roleplaying in a long time. It just feels…right. Everything makes sense and no one is overpowered. Even magic-users are effective at early levels, but do not feel too powerful at later levels. The balance is ever present throughout the system so that all players feel valued and important. All-in-all, I’m a fan.
For most of us D&D is how we started in role playing games. An older brother or fellow scout taught you the ways and you’ve been hooked ever since. D&D has had many incarnations over the years, but this one feels like it’s based on the solid touchstones of balance and fun.
Being a fan does not mean I just blindly buy everything, and that’s mostly because we have a family budget and as much as I want those tokens, I just don’t see me using them. But we wants it, Precious…
Therefore, let’s take a step back and look back a year of D&D 5e releases talk about the products and, if you’re interested in the system, what you should purchase, what you might want to purchase, and what you can wait for.
The Basic Rules
It’s true, if you want to play D&D 5E you can, for FREE! The rules for running the system and character creation are on WotC’s webpage for any and all to download and use for no charge. This is wonderful for people who are not sure they will enjoy D&D or RPGs in general, or for the doubters who don’t want to throw down $50 for the Player’s Handbook, but want to see if the the system is “any good.”
Again, it’s FREE. Unless you hate WotC or D&D for some reason, then there is no valid reason to not have this product. Download it. Read it. Absorb it. Love it. And…it’s FREE!!!!
Recommended for all Players and DMs.
The Starter Set
For a mere $20 (could be cheaper on Amazon) you get a printed copy of the Basic Rules, a complete module designed to teach both Players and DMs how to play D&D, 5 pre-generated Player Characters, and dice. Yay! More dice! But seriously, for $20 this is a good deal which helps potential players with what D&D is and how to play it.
If you are new to D&D and/or RPGs, then this is a MUST BUY. It’s hard to get more for less.
If you are familiar with D&D and/or RPGs and feel comfortable outside of “Beginner” style games, then you could skip this product.
Recommended for all DMs.
Player’s Handbook
I don’t remember a D&D Player’s Handbook (“PHB”) looking this good before. It’s stunning. The layout is incredible; crisp and concise, but with enough gorgeous art you could get lost for hours just imagining the stories these images convey.
But as for the content of the rules themselves? It contains all of the core races and classes a player would expect and even has some “Quick Build” guides for each class that offers suggestions to players on how what a good starting build for this character class would be. Although some classes get more page space than others, each feels fully fleshed out and ready to be played with enough ambiguity that a player can venture forth and create their own version of the archetype.
After races and classes have been decided, players embark on one of my favorite key components to this system: Backgrounds. This is incredible. Gone are the days of “My PC is a loner with no family who fights for his own brand of justice,” and this writer is okay with that. Sure, Wolverine, Mad Max, Drizzt, and Batman are cool, but there are other options for players to create, and as a DM I welcome it. Players choose a Background type (e.g., Acolyte, Outlander, Sailor, etc.) and roll for a “Personality Trait,” an “Idea,l” a “Bond,” and a “Flaw.” While this section is not mandatory it helps newer players figure out who their characters are and provides us seasoned grognards wonderful and unexpected inspiration for our new PCs.
For example, when you create a High Elf Monk with a Criminal Background and Personality Trait of “The best way to get me to do something is to tell me I can’t do it” whose Ideals are “I don’t steal from others in the trade” with the Bonds of “Someone I loved died because of a mistake I made. That will never happen again” and their flaw is “If there’s a plan, I’ll forget it. If I don’t forget it, I’ll ignore it” then you have PC gold for the player and the DM.
After that there’s the standard sections regarding Equipment, How to Play the Game, Spellcasting, and chapters about the various Planes of Existence in D&D.
Overall, this is a must buy for anyone interested in playing the system. If you enjoyed what the Free Basic Rules presented, but you want more, this is the purchase to make next.
Mandatory purchase for all players and DMs.
Monster Manual
Ending at roughly 350 pages this monstrous tome is something to behold(er)! (See those puns there? Oh yeah!) This is the guide for any aspiring DM looking to incorporate some of D&D’s more interesting villains and creatures into their sessions and campaigns. Not only does the manual contain hundreds of beautifully rendered artworks and easily consumed stats blocks, it also provides nice overviews for each monster and helpful hints on how to use them.
Based on all of the free material on WotC’s website, a DM could get by without this purchase, but this writer couldn’t imagine not having it at his fingertips. Any time a DM needs inspiration of their own for their encounters, just flip a few pages through this tome and they are bound to find something new and exciting.
Recommended, but not mandatory.
Dungeon Master’s Guide
How many of these guides have been published over the years? How many aspiring and seasoned Dungeon Masters have pored over the pages like these in search of wisdom passed down through the ages. Now, imagine 40 years of knowledge, refined and laid out in expert fashion, presented in consumable sections that provide content focus, but breathe new life into old themes. You don’t have to imagine it, it exists. It is this exquisite volume of best practices and tried and true session design called the “Dungeon Master’s Guide.”
The pages ooze with world building assistance, adventure design, various environments, and, of course, enough treasure to make Bilbo Baggins a happy burglar. Each section in the book reads easily and provides valuable assistance to those who might need it, while reminding some of how the great ones do it. You can practically hear Mr. Gygax himself speaking over your shoulder at the words of wisdom you’re reading.
Whether you’re an “old hand” or a new n00b DM, there is something in here for you.
Recommended for DMs only.
Modules
Thus far, there have been three official modules created for D&D 5E; two that are part of an overall campaign and the last a single adventure. They all take place along The Sword Coast in the Forgotten Realms. Each of these can be play as standalone modules, but are not necessary to complete the D&D experience. If your group prefers homebrew sessions and campaigns, then these are not necessary. However, if you are new to D&D and need examples of how to run a campaign, it’s hard to go wrong with these. Each of these are solid modules, but if your group is interested in them, only the DM need purchase. After all, as a player you don’t want to spoil the fun, right?
For Player Characters level 1-7.
Heroes journey through The Sword Coast in an effort to uncover the motivations behind the Cult of the Dragon’s recent actions. Through green fields, dark caves, over water, through infested marshlands, and to the highest mountain peaks danger lurks behind every turn.
For Player Characters level 8-15
The world’s greatest evil is about to be unleashed upon the world and it’s up to the Player Characters and their NPC allies to stop it all costs. It is a race against time for the soul of The Sword Coast. The heroes have to either Rise Up or Bow Down.
For Player Characters level 1-15
Terrorist attacks shake the foundations of The Forgotten Realms and the heroes are summoned to investigate and stop whoever is behind these nefarious attacks. But elemental forces are not easily swayed and it will take not only might, but brains and cunning to survive this story.
Recommended for DMs only.
Other Products
Below are products that can assist in the fun of D&D 5E, but are in no way mandatory to play the game.
- Dungeon Master’s Screen
- Miniatures
- Spell Cards
- Character Tokens
Overall, I’m extremely pleased with this system as have been my players and numerous people all over the world. It feels like D&D with some new rules to assist in fleshing out the characters involved.
My players and I really enjoy diving into fantasy realms unlike any ever before. 5e has renewed my faith in WotC and their flagship RPG line. It’s fun and fantastical with balanced rules and classes that players will enjoy and the DM can run effectively.
Well done, Wizards of the Coast. Bravo.
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