The DnD Fest Will Use the 2024 D&D Rules
After a lot of thought and careful review of the feedback from this year’s surveys, we’ve decided that The DnD Fest will adopt the new 2024 Dungeons & Dragons rules for our next campaign. We know there are strong opinions about this decision, and we recognize that some of our patrons would prefer to stick with the previous edition. That said, the course has been set by Hasbro, and we believe it’s best to move forward with the new rules at this time, especially since we’re starting a new campaign. If we were in the middle of a campaign, we would continue with the old edition until its conclusion.
Based on the survey responses (with about 70% of attendees participating), the opinions were fairly divided. Around a third strongly supported the change, and about a third were strongly against it. What swayed our decision was the middle third—those who felt neutral or flexible on the matter. Their feedback made it clear that this is a good opportunity to simplify and move forward.
We’d also like to address the feedback about book expansion. Nearly two-thirds of respondents expressed interest in expanding beyond the Player’s Handbook and Xanathar’s Guide. We recognize the desire for more options, and transitioning to the 2024 rules will allow for greater flexibility with character classes while still keeping things streamlined. The new rules open up more possibilities without the disruption caused by adding multiple sourcebooks.
Now, let’s address the two main concerns of those who opposed the move:
1. Not enough time to learn the new rules.
The 2024 Player’s Handbook has been available for a month, and the Dungeon Master’s Guide will be out early next month, giving us over 10 months before The DnD Fest. The 2024 rules are designed to simplify and consolidate much of the content from 5th Edition, meaning we won’t have to juggle material from Xanathar’s, Tasha’s, Eberron, and others. While those books were fun, they added layers of complexity and nuances that often slowed things down. The new rules baseline everything, giving us a clear, consistent foundation. The DnD Fest itself will serve as a learning experience, where players and DMs can coach each other on any adjustments to the new rules.
2. Cost of the new materials.
To help with this, each team of DMs will have a Master Tier account on DnD Beyond, providing access to the Player’s Handbook, Dungeon Master’s Guide, and Monster Manual (when released). Players in the campaign will also have access to these books through the platform, so there’s no need for individual purchases unless you want to buy your own copies. All players and DMs will use DnD Beyond through this Master Tier account to manage character sheets, collaboration, and overall campaign management. This system will also let you collaborate with your team in real time, making character creation and development easier for everyone.
Looking Ahead
We encourage everyone to take advantage of the resources we’ll be offering, but please bear with us as we get everything set up. We’re working hard to organize the DM teams, set up the accounts, and ensure everything is in place to make this transition smooth for all of you. Additionally, we’re still working on organizing ticket holders with their assigned DM teams, so there’s plenty happening behind the scenes to make sure the event runs as smoothly as ever.
In the end, this move is about simplification and standardization. We believe it will create a more streamlined experience that benefits everyone. While transitions aren’t always easy, this one will help us maintain the high standards we’ve set for The DnD Fest, and we’re excited to take this next step together!