The New 2024 Dungeon Master’s Guide (Deep Dive)
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Originally released back in 2014, the fifth edition of the Dungeon Master’s Guide (also known as “the DMG”) was designed to provide DMs with practical tips on world building, campaign development and rules management. Yet over the past decade, the book has been heavily criticized by fans. One of the biggest complaints with the 2014 DMG is that it was difficult to find specific information and the way content was presented was a bit overwhelming to new DMs. As a result, many DnD 5e players have tended to use the 2014 DMG sparingly, if at all.
That’s about to change, however, with Wizards of the Coast launching the new 2024 Dungeon Master’s Guide, which is available now on D&D Beyond and Amazon. Designed to be more user-friendly, more intuitive and more fun, this new DMG has been billed as major refresh from past versions, offering more flexibility for both new and experienced DMs.
So is the 2024 DMG worth picking up? Below, we break out all the details. (As a brief note, we received a review courtesy of WotC, but have not received any other financial compensation).
Table of Contents
- What is the new 2024 Dungeon Master’s Guide?
- Is the new 2024 DMG still using the DnD 5e rules?
- What are the chapters in the new 2024 DMG?
- How is the 2024 DMG different from the 2014 version?
- When will the new 2024 DMG be released?
- How much in the new 2024 DMG going for?
- Is there a variant cover for the 2024 DMG?
- What other tie-in products are available?
- Is the new 2024 DMG worth picking up?
- Final thoughts and review score
What is the New 2024 Dungeon Master’s Guide?
The 2024 DMG is 384-page book designed to provide Dungeon Masters with everything needed to run a 2024 session. In addition to including streamlined rules and advice, it also includes five sample adventures and uses the world of Greyhawk as an example campaign setting. Additionally, it provides an extensive glossary and new tracking sheets to simplify game management.
While much of the material presented is a revision of content from 2014, the updated DMG also introduces a number of new mechanics, including the Bastion system, which introduces rules for players to build and manage their own headquarter, and new crafting rules that allow players to create and customize their own magic items. Neither of these rules has appeared in past Dungeon Master’s Guides.
Notably, the 2024 DMG was developed as as part of the larger One D&D playtest, which received significant amounts of player feedback. It’s also being released as part of the 50th anniversary of Dungeons & Dragons, which has been taking place over the course of 2024.
Is the 2024 DMG still using the DnD 5e rules?
Yes. The new Dungeon Master’s Guide still use the Dungeons & Dragons fifth edition rules. That being said, there are some significant changes to the 5e rules, including updates to classes, species, spells and combat, all of which are detailed in the 2024 Player’s Handbook.
In this sense, 2024 DMG remains compatible with all previously published fifth edition materials. This means you can still run materials from existing DnD 5e books, but may need to make some modifications (particularly as it pertains to species and backgrounds).
What are the chapters in the new 2024 DMG?
Below is a breakout of the chapters included in the new 2024 Dungeon Master’s Guide:
Chapter 1: The Basics: Introduces the foundational concepts of being a Dungeon Master, including session preparation, running a group, and maintaining player engagement and respect. It also includes a basic rundown of what’s needed, including dice, rules and in-game tools such as a DM screen.
Chapter 2: Running the Game: Covers the essential mechanics of gameplay such as narration, combat, exploration, social interaction, initiative tracking and managing player abilities and challenges.
Chapter 3: DM’s Toolbox: Provides an alphabetic list of resources for DMs, including the DnD alignment chart, backgrounds, environmental effects and handling unique scenarios such as chases and puzzles. This chapter essentially condenses key information that was often scattered and buried in the 2014 DMG.
Chapter 4: Creating Adventures: Offers step-by-step guidance on crafting adventures (including one shots), with advice on setting up plot hooks and conflicts, and provides sample encounters and scenarios to inspire DMs.
Chapter 5: Creating Campaigns: Focuses on developing DnD 5e campaigns, from creating characters and building worlds to maintaining memorable continuity and resolving conflicts within a long-term storyline. Under this chapter is an 18-page section that showcases the world of Greyhawk as an example setting, listing the names of prominent locations/NPCs, a description of the Free City of Greyhawk and a short Greyhawk Gazetteer.
Chapter 6: Cosmology: Details the various planes of existence, planar travel and the multiverse, providing lore and rules for interdimensional exploration and interactions with powerful otherworldly entities.
Chapter 7: Treasure: Describes the various types of treasure a DM might award, including unique treasure “themes” (a concept new to the 2024 DMG). It also includes a detailed section on magic items, including a handful of new items, new crafting rules, and advice on rewarding both uncommon magic items and more powerful legendary artifacts.
Chapter 8: Bastions: Provides details on the new Bastion mechanic, which allows players to build and manage their own bases or headquarters. This includes a breakdown of how to build a Bastion and how Bastion Turns work.
Appendix A: Lore Glossary: Contains definitions and lore for DnD terms, helping both new and experienced DMs understand some of the most important locations and NPCs. The book, for example, includes a description of villains like the arch-lich Vecna as well as descriptions of iconic locations such as the Temple of Elemental Evil.
Appendix B: Maps: Provides a collection of maps for use in campaigns, including notable locations like the city of Greyhawk, as well as other generic and specific locations for use in DnD adventures.
Tracking Sheets: Offers printable resources for tracking game details, including NPCs, campaign goals, initiative order, and magic items, helping DMs stay organized during gameplay. This is something that seems incredibly useful and isn’t something that’s been included in other past DMGs.
How is the 2024 DMG different from the previous version?
The biggest complaint with the 2014 DMG is that it isn’t exactly user friendly, especially for new DMs. It’s also often accused of being difficult to find specific rules and sections. The 2024 DMG is really designed to address these concerns and really distinguishes itself in the following ways.
- Reorganized Structure for Accessibility: The 2024 DMG has a more intuitive organization. It includes an alphabetical rules compendium and indexed sections, making it easier to quickly find specific rules and references.
- Expanded Content and New Mechanics: The 2024 DMG significantly expands its content, growing from 320 to 384 pages. Notable additions include the new Bastion system and new crafting rules for magic items, adding layers of player customization and agency that weren’t really present in the 2014 DMG.
- Inclusion of Pre-Written Adventures: Unlike the 2014 edition, the 2024 DMG includes five sample adventures designed to guide new DMs through adventure creation. These examples provide templates and ideas for structuring adventures across different levels, making the DMG more practical for quick gameplay setup.
- Setting and Lore Integration: The new edition features the Greyhawk setting, with dedicated lore sections and maps. It also includes a detailed glossary, helping both new and experienced DMs to become familiar with the multiverse and its iconic characters, planes, and history.
When will the new 2024 DMG be released?
The new Dungeon Master’s Guide will be released on November 12th, 2024. As with other current DnD 5e books, users were also able to pre-order the digital and physical bundle on D&D Beyond, which means they were able to access the digital version on October 29th, 2024. This is also the case with users who pre-ordered a physical copy from local game stores who had opted into Wizard of the Coast’s early access program.
One thing worth noting is that users who have purchased digital versions of the existing DMG on D&D Beyond will not automatically receive an updated version of the new DMG. Instead they will be required to purchase it separately.
How much in the new 2024 DMG going for?
The new 2024 Dungeon Master’s Guide will retail for $49.99 USD for the physical print version and $29.99 USD for the digital version on D&D Beyond.
As with other DnD 5e books, there is also a physical-digital bundle, which in this case is all three Core Rulebooks, which retails for $179.97 if you purchase it on D&D Beyond. This represents a savings of $60 (given that all three books would otherwise retail for $240 USD). Notably, the new Monster Manual will not be released until February 2025.
Is there a variant cover for the new Dungeon Master’s Guide?
Yes, as with the 2024 Player’s Handbook, there is an alternate cover that’s also available for purchase. This version features original artwork from longtime Wizards of the Coast illustrator Lena Richards. Like the primary DMG cover (which features the villains Skylla, Warduke and Venger) the alternate cover also features a villain: in this case the evil spider goddess Lolth.
The back of the alternate cover also features the 50th anniversary logo in a stylized format. Notably, the alternate cover is the same price as the primary cover version.
What other tie-in products are available?
There are a number of products that will tie-in to the 2024 Dungeon Master’s Guide. This includes:
- Beadle & Grimm’s DMG Premium Map Pack: This limited edition, high-end collector’s box set contains 30 battle maps based on the maps presented in the 2024 DMG. It also includes two canvas area maps for Greyhawk and a new DM screen, which uses a similar interion panel design as the new 2024 DM screen (which has been overhauled with new tables and a new layout).
- Roll20 DMG: As the largest VTT in the market, Roll20 has also produced a version of the 2024 DMG that includes the complete digital rulebook, character sheet and builder support, digital play aids and a token pack.
- Foundry DMG: The new Dungeon Master’s Guide will also be available for Foundry users, with all of the content ported over to the VTT.
Is the new 2024 DMG worth picking up?
If you’re thinking of making the leap from DnD 2014 to DnD 2024, there are a few things to bear in mind with the new DMG.
Pros
- Improved Organization and Accessibility: The 2024 DMG has been streamlined reorganized and is much easier to use than the 2014 version. It’s something that DMs will likely turn to on a regular basis, rather than being a paperweight for your battlemaps.
- New Mechanics: The addition of the Bastion system and new magic item crafting rules are both great to see, and really add a level of player customization to the table. Here’s hoping Wizards of the Coast pushes more ideas like this forward.
- Practical Examples: For the first time, a DMG includes both written adventures and a sample campaign setting with the world of Greyhawk. Both are fantastic for first-time players to really wrap their heads around what’s needed to build memorable sessions.
Cons
- Limited New Rules: While Bastions and crafting are great, WotC could have pushed the envelope a little more and introduced a few additional new rules. It would have been great to see advice on creating new species. Also notably absent is any meaningful discussion on downtime.
- No New Magic Items: While there are 400 magic items in the 2024 DMG, most of them have been taken from the 2014 guide. Also missing is a more detailed breakout of prices for specific magic items (something fans have long been asking for).
- Encounter building: While Wizards of the Coast claims that they’ve “fixed” some of the biggest issues related to Challenge Rating, it still feels like something is missing here. In fact, DnD 2024 has seen the introduction of power creep and new rules like Weapon Mastery that are likely going to make encounter building even more difficult.
Final Thoughts & Review Score
The 2014 Dungeon Master’s Guide has long been regarded as something of a mediocre supplement for DnD 5e. Poorly organized and difficult to use, it was also incredibly overwhelming for new players (the first chapter is literally advice on how to build your own pantheon and economy).
That’s something that has been fully addressed in the 2024 Dungeon Master’s Guide. In fact, it’s quite possibly the most user-friendly DMG ever created, both for new and experienced DMs. Information is presented in a thoughtful, well organized and streamlined approach. The DMs Toolkit chapter in particular, is probably the single most useful piece of content when it comes to actually running a game of DnD 5e. That alone is worth the price, but throw in the inclusion of sample adventures, new rules for Bastions and crafting, and the triumphant return of Greyhawk, and the end result is a Dungeon Master’s Guide that is, simply put… masterful.
Final Review Score: 19 out of 20
The new 2024 Dungeon Master’s Guide is available now on D&D Beyond and Amazon.
Below is a video from Wizards of the Coast with Chris Perkins offering more details on the updated DMG.
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Ollie Delano is a Staff Writer who lives in Chicago, Illinois where he majored in Journalism at Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism. He’s been playing Dungeons & Dragons for over 10 years and currently plays in a weekly game group where he rolls way too many natural 1s and chugs way too much Mountain Dew. His favorite D&D campaign setting is Eberron and his favorite character to play was a Tiefling rogue named Draxiss who enjoys both literal and figurative backstabbing.
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