The 2024 Player’s Handbook is set to be released on September 17, but early copies will be available at Gen Con in August, so players can expect the new rules to be circulating soon. Wizards of the Coast has been revealing details about the book, including the 10 playable species it will feature, as well as the new backgrounds and origin feats.
In the upcoming handbook, the order in which players create their characters has changed. Players will now start with their class, then explore the background that led their character to that point, and finally, determine how their species influenced their upbringing. Backgrounds will now have a more significant impact on characters, providing not only proficiencies and starting equipment but also bonuses to ability scores. Each background offers a choice of three characteristics to improve, allowing players to boost one by two points and another by one.
Additionally, backgrounds will determine the origin feat for each character, which is a free, basic version of feats typically obtained at level four. This change adds more depth and customization to characters right from the start of the game. Some examples of origin feats include Lucky, which grants luck points for advantage, and Magic Initiate, which provides basic spells.
Regular feats are still part of the game, and two other beneficial abilities, Fighting Styles and Epic Boons, have been categorized as feats as well. These changes have been refined from playtests, with the Origin Feats being well-received in previous campaigns.
While some players may scrutinize the finer points of the rules, the addition of these new features is sure to enhance gameplay and character development. The revised ranger class has already sparked discussion among players.
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