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New Edition Of Dungeons & Dragons Available Free Of Charge
Few games have been as influential to the wider world of both video games and tabletop games as Dungeons & Dragons. The original 1974 release heralded a new era of gaming that included personified characters, leveling and upgrades, and story-driven game progression. 40 years later, the team at Wizards of the Coast has opted for an intriguing approach to getting both experienced players and new beginners into the latest edition – they’re giving the basic rules for the new edition away for free at the game’s official website.
The public release of the free basic rules late last week comes just a few days before the starter set releases to retail outlets, and a little over a month before the new Player’s Handbook hits retail. Both of those products, as well as later core rulebooks like the Dungeon Master’s Guide and Monster Manual, will all provide important additions to help flesh out your own home game, but the PDF available through Wizards of the Coast’s website offers a wealth of info to get started on.
Our Take
This decision by Wizards of the Coast is really clever. The D&D fanbase is splintered between numerous editions as well as other RPGs, so it’s a great idea to get the fundamentals of the new edition of the game out there for everyone to read and digest. Afterwards, players who are really excited will undoubtedly make the additional purchases to get all the expanded rules, additional classes and races, and other options.
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