[5E] Anyone reformat the Basic rules?

[Finarvyn]

What would be interesting is to take the Basic 5E rules set and reformat them into something which could be pamphlet-sized like the OD&D LBB. I have this sense that I may have seen a thread on something like this before (not sure if here or elsewhere) but my Google-fu isn't coming up with anything.

I'm thinking that the basics of character generation could be a booklet. Perhaps spells could be its own booklet. If one takes the GM packet I would think there would be enough content for a monsters booklet and a GM booklet.

I'm thinking of the free Basic download from the WotC website, but if someone has done this for the PH that would be fine as well.

[robertsconley]

I focused on character creation using the 5e SRD but I have this for download

www.batintheattic.com/downloads/D&D%205e%20Convention%20Classes%20Rev%202.pdf

[Finarvyn]

Thanks! I'll give it a look-over.

[Falconer]

Condensed Player Booklet by Konstantin M

He also has spell cards there, but you might prefer:

5e Player Spellbooks by Jeff R

There’s also:

Stan’s 5e Rules Summary

[hamurai]

If you want a professional print version, check out Dungeonesque White Box:

[Finarvyn]

Jul 19, 2018 22:19:59 GMT -6 hamurai said:

If you want a professional print version, check out Dungeonesque White Box

I'd forgotten about those. I like the look, but not the price.

[hamurai]

We're on the same page. I was tempted, too, but the price kept me from getting this box.
The content is a little more than just the basic 5e rules, though, I think. The monster section, for example, has lots of good creatures.
Still, since it's mostly what I have in my PHB anyway... If the price drops, I'll probably get the White Box.

[waysoftheearth]

Hi Team.

I have a couple of young nephews who have been getting into D&D 5e recently. This has encouraged me to take another look at the (free) 5e basic rules.

So, a question for those who have read the full 5e PHB and DMG: What extra material is in these (phat) books that is not in the free basic rules? Or the other way around; what goodies are missing from the free basic rules? Any insight much appreciated

[Finarvyn]

I haven't looked at the freebie rules much, but my recollection is that you get four classes (cleric, wizard, fighter, rogue) and only one path for each. That's actually pretty neat, as it mirrors somewhat the OD&D "core four" from the LBB plus the thief. A nice way to get them started!

The PH has something like 3 paths for each class and a total of 11 or so classes. I think that between the free player's rules and free GM's rules there is enough content to play a decent enough campaign for a long time. The problem is that if your nephews play at a game store or with folks who have the complete hardbacks they will feel like they are missing those extra options. Many modules (such as Goodman's Fifth Edition Fantasy product line) tend to give monster stats in the module anyway, so you can get away without the Monster Manual for a while, too.

If they like the game enough, expanding to the full PH is a good thing. I use my Monster Manual a lot when I DM, but I get very little use out of my DMG.

[waysoftheearth]

Thanks Finarvyn. In fact they started out with just the 5e PHB, and have been playing at school and a game store. It was only me that was limited to the free rules.

Since that post I have got myself the 5e books and skimmed through them. Have to say they are huge (combined 988 letter-sized pages), but I agree you could go a long way with just the free version. Even that is 180 pages, compared to OD&D at ~37 equivalent-sized pages (okay, ~68 including GH).

So yeah... not quite sure I have the head-space for all that. Something else will have to fall out

[Vile Traveller]

Maybe I'll do a Holmes 5E based on the SRD (different from the free basic rules) one day. I'll try to get close to 100 pages.