Basic D&D Fifth Edition will be Free to Play

arontimes

https://www.wizards.com/dnd/Article.aspx?x=dnd/4ll/20140527

Apparently, WotC has learned from their mismanagement of the otherwise awesome Fourth Edition and has decided to release the core rules for Fifth Edition in PDF form when the game launches later this summer. The Basic D&D 5e PDF will have the fighter, cleric, rogue, and wizard classes from level 1 to 20, as well as the human, elf, dwarf, and hobb-, er... halfling races. It also has a small sample of content from the Dungeon Master's Guide, the Monster Manual, and published adventures.

And get this, as more material is released, the basic PDF will be updated with more free content. This means that there is no barrier to entry for 5e.

Discuss.

angrysprite

Do you believe the micro-payment aspect of the free-to-play business model of MMO's are for MMO's only?

I know a lot about what's up with WotC (I get a few sneak-peeks every now and then) - the "basic" manual will be released relatively early as a news-generator - it's really just a teaser, but might be enough to get people to at least take a look at it. The first official full-book will be released about two weeks after that. The free book is intended to also help build player-base and entice more people back into the fold as we old "1e" players are more or less rolling our eyes at all this stuff.

Nothing much to discuss at this point. 5e is coming and it's been coming for a while now. You should have seen the character and class concept do-overs by now - the shrill cries of "what have you done!?!" will be forthcoming very soon.

azlanfox

Having done some early testing with the characters, rule snipets, and sample adventures they released, I will say that it is more in line with what D&D is expected to be like then what 4th Edition is. There is little point to much discussion at this point. I'll be happy to participate in all the anticipated discourse when the ruleset is live.