Summary
Dungeons & Dragonsfeatures plenty of clearly-defined rules, but in a system so vast and multi-faceted, there are always some elements that are harder to decipher. In the decade since the release of the 2014Player’s Handbook, the community has managed to come to consensus on a lot of rules that left some wiggle room, but that doesn’t close off all avenues for conflict.Every game table is probably familiar with situations where players end up in a debate over how a spell or ability can be used, slowing down the course of gameplay and often leaving someone dissatisfied.
The new 2024Player’s Handbookwill probably ignite some fresh debates of its own accord, but it also makes the effort to clear up some text that previously lacked clarity. It’s intended to bemore friendly to new players than everbefore, and that definitely feels true in some basic regards. Not everyone will be happy to have every debate settled, however, and one in particular might relieve plenty of DMs while disappointing players who like to get creative.
D&D: I Wish I Could Show You My Favorite Thing About The 2024 Player’s Handbook
There’s a lot of exciting stuff to talk about in the new Player’s Handbook, but sometimes showing is better than telling, and I wish I had that power.
Grease Is Nonflammable In The 2024 Player’s Handbook
The Line Has Finally Been Drawn
Greaseis arguably one of the most entertaining level one spells inDnD, allowing casters to coat an area with a slick surface that can make creatures lose their balance and fall prone. Previously allocated to Wizards and Artificers, the 2024Player’s Handbookgives the Conjuration spell to Wizards and Sorcerers. It also makes one important clarification –greaseis officially nonflammable, meaning it can’t be used to quickly set areas on fireand deal extra damage to enemies that have been knocked prone.
Every D&D Ranger Spell That No Longer Requires Concentration In The 2024 Player’s Handbook
A lot of Ranger spells still require Concentration in D&D’s 2024 Player’s Handbook., but a few have received tweaks that make them easier to use.
This isn’t an entirely new concept, as lead designer Jeremy Crawford confirmed in the past thatgreasewas never intended to be flammable. Without any specifics provided in the 2014Player’s Handbook, however, lightinggreaseon fire has proven to be a tempting tactic for countless parties. A DM who likes the concept could still very well ignore the ruling and let a party have some extra fun withgrease, but DMs who want to hold the line on its intended use now have ironclad ammunition to do so.
Jeremy Crawford’s official ruling on the subject ofgreaseflammability can be found in a post on his officialTwitteraccount.
D&D & Baldur’s Gate 3 Made Different Grease Choices
Spell Interactions Can Be A Lot Of Fun
What makes the clarification especially interesting is thatBaldur’s Gate 3went in the opposite direction in 2023. As an official adaptation of fifth editionDnD,Baldur’s Gate 3implements a lot of rules verbatimwhile making a number of tweaksto better suit the video game form. Thegreasespell is one element that receives a different ruling, andBaldur’s Gate 3makes it easy to lightgreaseon fire with any relevant source of flame.
D&D’s 2024 Player’s Handbook Was Influenced By Things The Team Didn’t Like In Baldur’s Gate 3
Baldur’s Gate 3 is a shining example of just how fun Dungeons & Dragons can be, but its weaknesses are what’s inspiring new Player’s Handbook changes.
Although that particular decision matches a commonDnDhouse rule, it’s less an interpretation of tabletop play and more an evolution of the larger approach togame design employed byBaldur’s Gate 3developer Larian Studios. Larian’s precedingDivinity: Original Singames emphasized physics systems and reactive elements, a torch thatBaldur’s Gate 3carries. Inventive methods of battlefield control help make its combat consistently interesting, and accidentally starting a firestorm is sure to happen at least once in any campaign.
Some other funBaldur’s Gate 3techniques to try out are electrifying water and freezing liquid surfaces.
More spell interactions inDnDwould definitely make a lot of players happy, but it could also complicate the ease of learning and balance of the system. Whether the 2014 or 2024Player’s Handbookis being used, the rule of cool still applies, soDMs are never prohibited from rewarding a party’s creativity. Even when ignoring complex interactions and chemical combinations, setting up arenas with interesting environmental possibilities is an easy lesson to take fromBaldur’s Gate 3that can still provide options for parties to set things ablaze.
When it comes togrease, however, the rules as written are clear.Greaseis nonflammable, and for the first time in the history of fifth editionDungeons & Dragons, it’s possible to simply toss the book at anyone who dissents.
Source:Jeremy Crawford/Twitter
Dungeons and Dragons
Dungeons and Dragons is a popular tabletop game originally invented in 1974 by Ernest Gary Gygax and David Arneson. The fantasy role-playing game brings together players for a campaign with various components, including abilities, races, character classes, monsters, and treasures. The game has drastically expanded since the ’70s, with numerous updated box sets and expansions.
