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Antonio G. Di Benedetto
Don’t call it “6th edition” (though we’ll all probably do that).

After 10 years of fifth edition Dungeons & Dragons, Wizards of the Coast is revamping the popular tabletop RPG with three new core rulebooks. The 2024 Player’s Handbook, Dungeon Master’s Guide, and Monster Manual kick off a new, non-numbered generation of the game when they launch September 17th, November 11th, and February 18th, respectively — with preorders available now.

Check out these snippets of art and pages from the upcoming books.


<em>Some of the new art in the upcoming books shows the crossover of our real world with in-game fantasy settings and counterparts. (View in full resolution </em><a href=https://www.theverge.com/2024/6/18/24180843/here)." src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7" decoding="async" data-nimg="fill" class="relative top-1/2 mx-auto max-h-full max-w-full visible" style="position:absolute;top:0;left:0;bottom:0;right:0;box-sizing:border-box;padding:0;border:none;margin:auto;display:block;width:0;height:0;min-width:100%;max-width:100%;min-height:100%;max-height:100%;object-fit:contain"/><em>Chapter one of the Player’s Handbook aims to teach people how to play </em>D&amp;D<em> with simplified instructions. There’s a new Rules Glossary further in the book for the nitty-gritty stuff. (View in full resolution </em><a href=https://www.theverge.com/2024/6/18/24180843/here)." src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7" decoding="async" data-nimg="fill" class="relative top-1/2 mx-auto max-h-full max-w-full invisible" style="position:absolute;top:0;left:0;bottom:0;right:0;box-sizing:border-box;padding:0;border:none;margin:auto;display:block;width:0;height:0;min-width:100%;max-width:100%;min-height:100%;max-height:100%;object-fit:contain"/>D&amp;D <em>fifth edition blew up in popularity thanks to actual play livestreams that emphasized social interactions, so it’s no surprise this component is now much more centered in the first chapter. (View in full resolution </em><a href=https://www.theverge.com/2024/6/18/24180843/here)." src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7" decoding="async" data-nimg="fill" class="relative top-1/2 mx-auto max-h-full max-w-full invisible" style="position:absolute;top:0;left:0;bottom:0;right:0;box-sizing:border-box;padding:0;border:none;margin:auto;display:block;width:0;height:0;min-width:100%;max-width:100%;min-height:100%;max-height:100%;object-fit:contain"/><em>The new core books have bits of scripts to show examples of play, guiding readers on how the game unfolds at the table. (View in full resolution </em><a href=https://www.theverge.com/2024/6/18/24180843/here)." src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7" decoding="async" data-nimg="fill" class="relative top-1/2 mx-auto max-h-full max-w-full invisible" style="position:absolute;top:0;left:0;bottom:0;right:0;box-sizing:border-box;padding:0;border:none;margin:auto;display:block;width:0;height:0;min-width:100%;max-width:100%;min-height:100%;max-height:100%;object-fit:contain"/><em>Classes take center stage for character creation, with a little less emphasis on races, which, in a welcome change, are now called species. (View in full resolution </em><a href=https://www.theverge.com/2024/6/18/24180843/here)." src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7" decoding="async" data-nimg="fill" class="relative top-1/2 mx-auto max-h-full max-w-full invisible" style="position:absolute;top:0;left:0;bottom:0;right:0;box-sizing:border-box;padding:0;border:none;margin:auto;display:block;width:0;height:0;min-width:100%;max-width:100%;min-height:100%;max-height:100%;object-fit:contain"/><em>While the new rulebooks have a staggered release, players should have most of what they need with the Player’s Handbook alone. (View in full resolution </em><a href=https://www.theverge.com/2024/6/18/24180843/here)." src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7" decoding="async" data-nimg="fill" class="relative top-1/2 mx-auto max-h-full max-w-full invisible" style="position:absolute;top:0;left:0;bottom:0;right:0;box-sizing:border-box;padding:0;border:none;margin:auto;display:block;width:0;height:0;min-width:100%;max-width:100%;min-height:100%;max-height:100%;object-fit:contain"/><em>The new Dungeon Master’s Guide is designed as a DM’s companion, and will have tips on how to organize the adventure you create. (View in full resolution </em><a href=https://www.theverge.com/2024/6/18/24180843/here)." src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7" decoding="async" data-nimg="fill" class="relative top-1/2 mx-auto max-h-full max-w-full invisible" style="position:absolute;top:0;left:0;bottom:0;right:0;box-sizing:border-box;padding:0;border:none;margin:auto;display:block;width:0;height:0;min-width:100%;max-width:100%;min-height:100%;max-height:100%;object-fit:contain"/><em>Look at all that lovely gear, complete with easy-to-read prices like you’re at the shop. (View in full resolution </em><a href=https://www.theverge.com/2024/6/18/24180843/here)." src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7" decoding="async" data-nimg="fill" class="relative top-1/2 mx-auto max-h-full max-w-full invisible" style="position:absolute;top:0;left:0;bottom:0;right:0;box-sizing:border-box;padding:0;border:none;margin:auto;display:block;width:0;height:0;min-width:100%;max-width:100%;min-height:100%;max-height:100%;object-fit:contain"/><em>Scattered throughout the Dungeon Master’s Guide will be tracking sheets to help DMs organize their own campaign journals. (View in full resolution </em><a href=https://www.theverge.com/2024/6/18/24180843/here)." src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7" decoding="async" data-nimg="fill" class="relative top-1/2 mx-auto max-h-full max-w-full invisible" style="position:absolute;top:0;left:0;bottom:0;right:0;box-sizing:border-box;padding:0;border:none;margin:auto;display:block;width:0;height:0;min-width:100%;max-width:100%;min-height:100%;max-height:100%;object-fit:contain"/><em>The new DMG will have an example campaign setting based on Greyhawk, originally designed by </em>D&amp;D<em> creator Gary Gygax. (View in full resolution </em><a href=https://www.theverge.com/2024/6/18/24180843/here)." src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7" decoding="async" data-nimg="fill" class="relative top-1/2 mx-auto max-h-full max-w-full invisible" style="position:absolute;top:0;left:0;bottom:0;right:0;box-sizing:border-box;padding:0;border:none;margin:auto;display:block;width:0;height:0;min-width:100%;max-width:100%;min-height:100%;max-height:100%;object-fit:contain"/><em>Look, fantasy art still rips. (View in full resolution </em><a href=https://www.theverge.com/2024/6/18/24180843/here)." src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7" decoding="async" data-nimg="fill" class="relative top-1/2 mx-auto max-h-full max-w-full invisible" style="position:absolute;top:0;left:0;bottom:0;right:0;box-sizing:border-box;padding:0;border:none;margin:auto;display:block;width:0;height:0;min-width:100%;max-width:100%;min-height:100%;max-height:100%;object-fit:contain"/>

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Some of the new art in the upcoming books shows the crossover of our real world with in-game fantasy settings and counterparts. (View in full resolution here).
Image: Wizards of the Coast
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