Mike Shea

But it works really well. I like that. I like that one a bunch. And that's one that I've definitely used. Thomas C says, in a recent episode, you suggested two resources for kids or students who want to play D&D. These were the 2014 basic free rules and the 5.1 SRD. You said we could give either to students, but which would be better? How would you decide which version to give to which kids?

But it works really well. I like that. I like that one a bunch. And that's one that I've definitely used. Thomas C says, in a recent episode, you suggested two resources for kids or students who want to play D&D. These were the 2014 basic free rules and the 5.1 SRD. You said we could give either to students, but which would be better? How would you decide which version to give to which kids?

And even more generally, what is the difference? It's a good question. So the D&D 2014 basic, this is a little weird, right? The 2014 basic rules has only the core classes in it. So it's a smaller book. I think it's got the core four, the fighter, the rogue, the wizard, and the cleric. and it adds them up to 20th level, and it's got monsters and stuff in there, but it has fewer monsters.

And even more generally, what is the difference? It's a good question. So the D&D 2014 basic, this is a little weird, right? The 2014 basic rules has only the core classes in it. So it's a smaller book. I think it's got the core four, the fighter, the rogue, the wizard, and the cleric. and it adds them up to 20th level, and it's got monsters and stuff in there, but it has fewer monsters.

And even more generally, what is the difference? It's a good question. So the D&D 2014 basic, this is a little weird, right? The 2014 basic rules has only the core classes in it. So it's a smaller book. I think it's got the core four, the fighter, the rogue, the wizard, and the cleric. and it adds them up to 20th level, and it's got monsters and stuff in there, but it has fewer monsters.

But I feel like it's got better general instructions on what D&D is, but I've heard people argue otherwise. The system reference document, the 5.1 SRD, is actually not designed as a product to give to players. It's designed as a reference document for publishers to use to make things that are compatible with 5th edition. But it does have a lot of stuff in there that can help a GM play.

But I feel like it's got better general instructions on what D&D is, but I've heard people argue otherwise. The system reference document, the 5.1 SRD, is actually not designed as a product to give to players. It's designed as a reference document for publishers to use to make things that are compatible with 5th edition. But it does have a lot of stuff in there that can help a GM play.

But I feel like it's got better general instructions on what D&D is, but I've heard people argue otherwise. The system reference document, the 5.1 SRD, is actually not designed as a product to give to players. It's designed as a reference document for publishers to use to make things that are compatible with 5th edition. But it does have a lot of stuff in there that can help a GM play.

So it's still a pretty useful guide. And it has all of the classes with up to 20th level with one subclass each. I mean, I don't have a fantastic answer to this other than you can take a look through both and decide. Both are probably okay. I think if you have new kids that are playing, I'd probably start with the basic rules.

So it's still a pretty useful guide. And it has all of the classes with up to 20th level with one subclass each. I mean, I don't have a fantastic answer to this other than you can take a look through both and decide. Both are probably okay. I think if you have new kids that are playing, I'd probably start with the basic rules.

So it's still a pretty useful guide. And it has all of the classes with up to 20th level with one subclass each. I mean, I don't have a fantastic answer to this other than you can take a look through both and decide. Both are probably okay. I think if you have new kids that are playing, I'd probably start with the basic rules.

And now, of course, it's a different world, too, because now the D&D 2024 free rules are available on D&D Beyond. You can get them. You don't even have to make an account. You can go get the rules that way. I really hope they put them on a PDF.

And now, of course, it's a different world, too, because now the D&D 2024 free rules are available on D&D Beyond. You can get them. You don't even have to make an account. You can go get the rules that way. I really hope they put them on a PDF.

And now, of course, it's a different world, too, because now the D&D 2024 free rules are available on D&D Beyond. You can get them. You don't even have to make an account. You can go get the rules that way. I really hope they put them on a PDF.

And it could be that when the 5.2 SRD comes out, that that will be a better PDF that you can actually download and give to kids instead of, because there may not be a PDF of the free rules. So we'll have to see. I would, so the difference of intention is important, but really both of them are pretty usable for either of them. And they're both free.

And it could be that when the 5.2 SRD comes out, that that will be a better PDF that you can actually download and give to kids instead of, because there may not be a PDF of the free rules. So we'll have to see. I would, so the difference of intention is important, but really both of them are pretty usable for either of them. And they're both free.

And it could be that when the 5.2 SRD comes out, that that will be a better PDF that you can actually download and give to kids instead of, because there may not be a PDF of the free rules. So we'll have to see. I would, so the difference of intention is important, but really both of them are pretty usable for either of them. And they're both free.

So there's no reason that you can't kind of look through both, decide which one you think works best and offer both. I would download both and I would keep a handle on both because both are free. But I don't know that Wizards of the Coast is going to keep those up online forever. But the good news is they're in PDF so you can get them in PDF.

So there's no reason that you can't kind of look through both, decide which one you think works best and offer both. I would download both and I would keep a handle on both because both are free. But I don't know that Wizards of the Coast is going to keep those up online forever. But the good news is they're in PDF so you can get them in PDF.

So there's no reason that you can't kind of look through both, decide which one you think works best and offer both. I would download both and I would keep a handle on both because both are free. But I don't know that Wizards of the Coast is going to keep those up online forever. But the good news is they're in PDF so you can get them in PDF.