Dungeons & Dragons is set to have a big year in 2024, and these are the things we want to see happen over the coming year as we get closer to the launch of the new core rulebooks.
2023 was a big year for D&D 5E, but mostly due to its adaptations. The D&D movie underwhelmed at the box office despite its positive critical reception, but it won the crowd back on streaming platforms, sparking hopes for a sequel.
However, the real D&D success story of 2023 was Baldur’s Gate 3, as it was a critical and commercial darling that swept award shows worldwide. The adventures of Tav trying to get a worm out of their head won over fans and introduced millions of people to the Forgotten Realms and D&D 5E as a whole.
2024 will be about the new books, as D&D 5E is receiving three updated core rulebooks, with the Player’s Handbook set to launch this year. But what about the rest of D&D’s 2024? We still don’t know much about the 50th-anniversary celebrations or what else is coming throughout the year.
Contents
- More player-focused content with stuff they can use: subclasses, spells, feats, races, etc
- Bringing Baldur’s Gate 3 content into D&D 5E
- Do more with existing classic D&D settings
- Keeping AI nonsense as far away from the new D&D books as possible
- The Virtual Tabletop to launch alongside the new rulebooks (in a working state)
More player-focused content with stuff they can use: subclasses, spells, Feats, races, etc
A common issue fans had with the new D&D 5E releases in 2023 was the lack of player-facing content. Books like Bigby Presents: Glory of the Giants and the Planescape boxset were notably light on things like subclasses and spells, especially compared to older books, with more of a focus on lore.
This lack of player content is understandable, considering how Wizards of the Coast were already gearing up for the new core rulebooks that are coming out in 2024. Significant changes are coming to the base classes, so old subclasses have the risk of becoming redundant.
Now that the new Player’s Handbook is set to launch, we want to see more player content to go along with it. Not only updates for existing subclasses that have been released over the years but new things as well. The next Player’s Handbook will play a big part in this, but we want more updates for the existing 5E content.
Bringing Baldur’s Gate 3 content into D&D 5E
The popularity of Baldur’s Gate 3 in 2023 cannot be understated. This was a genre-defining game that other RPGs will be compared to for years to come. Not only that, but it introduced a lot of people to the D&D 5E ruleset.
The new Player’s Handbook still lacks a release date, suggesting a Summer 2024 launch at an absolute minimum. This is the perfect opportunity to tweak the D&D 5E rules to better reflect the changes made in Baldur’s Gate 3, which D&D players are already experiencing in their groups.
Not only should D&D 5E’s new rulebooks incorporate gameplay changes, but it should also add bits of the lore, canonizing its characters, and possibly even events, such as the events in Baldur’s Gate 3, as well as the possible endings, like Karlach’s activities in Avernus or Gale’s potential ascension to the pantheon.
Do more with existing classic D&D settings
D&D 5E has brought back several classic settings that had been abandoned for decades. These include Spelljammer, Dragonlance, Planescape, Eberron, and Ravenloft.
It’s commendable that these classic settings have returned, but it feels like so much more can be done with them, as most new products default to the Forgotten Realms whenever settings are discussed.
There is much scope for adding new content to these classic settings to fill in the gaps left by their existing products. Dragonlance, for example, only had a brief gazetteer in its book, with most of the content focusing on a specific part of the world where the campaign was set.
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Spelljammer, in particular, is ripe for new content. The current ship rules are extremely bare and could use a more advanced set for players who want Spelljammer vessel battles that they can act out. There’s also an entire universe full of adventure that can be used for campaigns, especially exploration-based ones.
Similarly, Planescape has a ton of scope for multiverse adventures. The box set did come with one adventure, but there’s potential for a massive, D&D universe-spanning campaign that could be realized.
The only major classic settings that have yet to return are Greyhawk and Dark Sun, and the latter is unlikely to return due to its subject matter. While a return to Greyhawk would be fun (especially with a promised Vecna book on the horizon), the other classic settings need attention now.
Keeping AI nonsense as far away from the new D&D books as possible
Wizards of the Coast has come under fire for using AI content in D&D and Magic: The Gathering, albeit indirectly. AI-enhanced art appeared in Bigby Presents: Glory of the Giants, while recent Magic: The Gathering marketing material featured AI-created imagery.
In these instances, outside influences introduced AI into those products. Wizards of the Coast has maintained a staunch stance against AI use in its books and games, but fans are wary, considering its gradual appearance in other forms of media.
Artwork is a huge part of the reason why people love D&D and Magic: The Gathering. Wizards of the Coast and Hasbro risk poisoning the well by introducing AI artwork and facing issues with ongoing lawsuits involving AI art platforms.
As we said, Wizards of the Coast has maintained a stance against AI content, which we want to see maintained in 2024. If the new core rulebooks or other D&D 5E content feature AI junk and put artists out of business, it might be time to switch to a new tabletop RPG.
The Virtual Tabletop to launch alongside the new rulebooks (in a working state)
Wizards of the Coast announced the D&D Virtual Tabletop in 2022, which is a digital platform with fancy visuals that mimic the feeling of playing in a room with friends while moving minis across a fancy diorama.
Many people play tabletop RPGs online with their friends, as it’s the only way they can do so, due to distance or scheduling preventing them from meeting up. This method took off during lockdown and is many people’s preferred way of playing.
D&D Virtual Tabletop feels like the next evolution of the online role-playing concept. The only problem is that the early previews released in 2023 suggest it’s far from finished and is still in an early alpha state.
It’s possible that the D&D Virtual Tabletop is being saved for the new version of the D&D 5E, with content gradually added as the new core rulebooks are released. It would make sense to release this new platform alongside the fresh edition, giving players a chance to try it out with their friends around the world.
That being said, we also hope it isn’t rushed out to meet the release of the new edition. There are already apps and programs that can be used to play RPGs with other people worldwide, and a botched launch for D&D Virtual Tabletop is a great way to chase people to them.
