The Dungeon Master's Guide is the second of three core rulebooks for the 4th edition of Dungeons & Dragons, and includes rules and guidelines for the Dungeon Master. This version is a complete rewrite of the third edition, with entirely new art and layout. The book starts with general advice on running a game, then continues with guidelines for creating various types of encounters and adventures, rewarding the players, an overview of the campaign and world, a series of tools for creating custom elements like NPCs and monsters, a starter town (Fallcrest) and adventure, and ends with combat cards and battle grids. Some elements formerly in the book, like magic items, are now part of the Player's Handbook.

The encounter guidelines assumes a more dynamic combat environment, with more focus on terrain, tactical movement, maneuvering, encounters that span multiple rooms, hazards like traps or ramshackle bridges, and greater numbers of monsters. Challenge ratings are gone and replaced with monster levels.

The implied setting focuses on the "points of light" concept, where PCs are often the only power or authority able to make a difference. Instead of relying on the Greyhawk pantheon, a mix of gods is provided including some old and some new. The cosmology has also changed, dispensing with the Great Wheel. The Inner Planes are replaced with the primordial Elemental Chaos, also home of demons and the Abyss. Tn Astral Sea is littered with divine domains and realms suitable for epic-level adventures, including the domain of devils known as the Nine Hells. Two distorted reflections of the mortal world also exist: The dark land of the dead known as the Shadowfell, and the home of the faerie known as the Feywild.

This game is also contained in Dungeons & Dragons 4th Edition Core Rulebooks. There are 2 editions of Dungeons & Dragons 4th Edition Dungeon Master's Guide. Click on an individual title, below, for more information on that edition.

Game Editions

[ Add Edition ]