Dungeons & Dragons 5.5e (2024)

Overview

D&D 5.5E (officially the 2024 core rules revision) is the modernized, updated evolution of the immensely popular
Dungeons & Dragons 5th Edition (2014) https://groupfinder.eu/library/dungeons-dragons-5e-2014
https:///library/dungeons-dragons-5e-2014. The new and updated version of the system was released to coincide with the game’s 50th anniversary. Rather than replacing 5th Edition with a completely new "6th Edition," 5.5E refines and expands upon the existing 5E framework and most of the already existing mechanics. It is maintaining backwards compatibility with the  adventure and source books from 5th Edition.

Description

D&D 5.5E is the continuation of the iconic d20-based heroic fantasy roleplaying game. Players take on the roles of daring adventurers and the Dungeon Master (DM) describes the world, the events, controls the monsters and non-player characters, and referees the rules. The 5.5E revision was driven heavily by years of player feedback and data on how tables actually run the game. As a result, the new core rulebooks, the Player’s Handbook (September 2024), Dungeon Master’s Guide (November 2024), and Monster Manual (February 2025) are better organized, have clarified language and wording, and try to bring a stronger balance between spellcasting and martial classes. It plays exactly like the 5th Edition, but with tighter mechanics, fewer confusing edge-cases, and more tactical options for the players to have a more unique approach and feel to their characters.

System Overview & Key Features

Weapon Masteries This is a massive change to how martial classes are played in combat. Weapons now have specific "Mastery" properties, such as Cleave, Graze, or Push. This allows the characters to apply tactical, battlefield-controlling effects on their strikes rather than only rolling for standard damage on their turns.
Subclass Standardization All character classes now choose their defining subclass at Level 3. This standardizes character progression and prevents the narrative weirdness of a Level 1 character instantly unlocking ultimate magical bloodlines before they've even adventured.
Streamlined Conditions & Mechanics Historically clunky rules have been completely overhauled. For example:
Surprise Instead of enemies randomly losing their first turn, surprised combatants simply roll their Initiative with Disadvantage.
Exhaustion Replaced with a much simpler, cumulative 1-to-10 scale where each level of exhaustion simply subtracts from your d20 rolls and reduces your movement speed.
Hiding Normalized so that successfully hiding essentially grants the "Invisible" condition, removing ambiguity for the DM.
The Bastion System Introduced in the new Dungeon Master's Guide, this is an official customizable base-building system. It allows players to construct and manage their own strongholds. From arcane observatories to gambling dens.
Apex Monsters & Upgraded Threats The 2025 Monster Manual expanded the roster to over 500 creatures, redesigning legacy stat blocks to be more dynamic in combat. It also introduced "Apex Monsters". These are a higher Challenge Rating versions of classic monsters (like an Apex Hag) designed to serve as more challenging bosses or enemies adding more danger and flavor to the basic version of the creature.
Backwards Compatibility The core promise of 5.5E has been that you can still run older 5E adventure modules or campaign settings, even while adapting and using the newer ruleset and systems. If a table wants to bring a 2014 character class into a 5.5E game, the rules are there to accommodate, though it is highly encouraged to transition older characters to the updated 2024 mechanics, as the new systems bring  horizontal expansions to various classes and abilities.

Additional links

D&D Beyond Basic Rules https://www.dndbeyond.com/sources/dnd/br-2024 - Free basic ruleset for the 5.5E D&D

Active games and players

DND5.5E
Dungeons & Dragons 5.5E (2024)
Online
Campaign
Lucid Adventure
Players
3/5
GM
1/1
Dungeons & Dragons 5.5E (2024)
en English

Lucid Adventure

Homebrew Homebrew
Newbie friendly Newbie friendly
Game Edition: 5.5e, 5e, and homebrew Experience: None required Session Time: Sundays PST, 1:00-5:00 PM Requirements: Discord, Google Docs, mic, device System: Modified point buy, fixed HP, metric-based leveling (Custom), no multiclassing, homebrew allowed Themes: High fantasy, low fantasy, some dark themes, some sci-fi, some political intrigue, some modern themes This is a long-term campaign with heavy homebrew. The storyline may extend upwards to 7 years over 3-4 campaigns. There is also a spot for a co-DM if any of you are interested. Lucid Adventure is a world-renowned VMMORPG accessed entirely through a person's dreams, known for its unparalleled realism and absolute freedom. As a limitless sandbox game, it functions as a literal second world for its users. The game was created by Giga, the country's most powerful corporation. While the general public initially dismissed it as a mere simulation, players are shocked by the game's realism upon first logging on. The game changed more than just how people played games; top-ranking players were treated as global celebrities, and real-world economic opportunities increasingly depended on a person's in-game capabilities. Furthermore, Lucid Adventure offered employment to injured or disabled individuals, enabling them to regain their physical mobility. Professor Altria Pendragon wrote a paper about Lucid Adventure called “The Fulfillment of Dreams,” in which she famously wrote: "This game is a new wave. For lack of a better word, it is an evolution and revolution of a new mankind." If you are interested in being a player or co-DM, please submit an application through this Google Form: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScxlZiN6WcnBSVGlGnoTApidrjLVTpdluZlt5-G7vf74581ow/viewform?usp=dialog

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DND5.5E
Dungeons & Dragons 5.5E (2024)
Online
Campaign
High Lords of Terra (5e/5.5e homebrew) (21+)
Players
3/5
GM
1/1
Dungeons & Dragons 5.5E (2024)
en English

High Lords of Terra (5e/5.5e homebrew) (21+)

Homebrew Homebrew
Roleplay focused Roleplay focused
Intro to Terra If you’re coming from Faerûn, think of Terra as a vast continent that used to feel like one big, functioning empire. A tradition of feudalism, with noble "High Lord" houses ruling over their regions. All offering allegiance to a central authority, the most powerful noble house, Arista, and crowned it's leader as the First Lord. So the Legend Goes At the dawn of this world, the Gods watched our people struggle to survive in an unforgiving world - Early settlements decimated by violent storms. Explorers slaughtered by ferocious beasts. To have a chance at survival, these benevolent Gods gifted the lands with powerful spirits. And for the inhabitants, an ability to bond with these spirits. As these lands were conquered, creatures brought over were quickly surpassed by Humans, who found they could tame and even command these spirits. For thousands of years, these settlers fought and struggled to secure as much power for themselves as possible. Anarchy, chaos, and endless bloodshed, with the most vulnerable most at risk. It was not until those wielding the most powerful elemental magic banded together that law and order was able to form. Rather than fighting each other, they spread across the lands in a uniform effort to end the violence. Forming what are now known to be the High Lords of Terra. These High Lords rallied behind the most powerful among them, First Lord of House Arista. For generations, there was peace among the world. Humans across Terra in harmony with one another and their spirit blessings, working together to build great cities, sprawling farmlands, relying on each other for protection. The Civil War starts... Nearly one hundred years ago, tragedy struck when the First Lord passed away, leaving behind two sons with competing claims to the throne. The older son, born of an illegitimate affair with the High Lady of House Kalara, vied for the throne against his younger brother, son to the First Lord's wife. The conflict immediately turned bloody amongst the High Lords. On one side stood the loyalists, supporting House Arista and the rightful heir to the throne as appointed by the King's betrothed. On the other stood the would be usurping traditionalists, who sought to uphold the laws of succession. They rallied behind House Kalara. Now, a century later, the realm remains divided, locked in a never-ending struggle for power and dominance. The loyalist houses of Teos, Retosia, and Pytion stand firm in their support of House Arista, while the traditionalist houses of Sultern, Rhodes, and Toria remain steadfast in their allegiance to House Kalara. As the conflict rages on, the fate of the realm hangs in the balance. One thing is certain - It cannot survive another century of civil war. A Forgotten Evil Stirs... While the realm is torn apart by war, a new shadow rises. Mysterious disappearances reported near the uninhabited forest. Legend of an undisturbed kingdom made of wax in it's center. Ghost stories of an ancient evil laying dormant... now waking up. ------------------------------------------------------------------- Hello! Looking to stretch myself and finally start a new table with a homebrew I've been putting together for a few years.Hello! Looking to stretch myself and finally start a new table with a homebrew I've been putting together for a few years. Looking for players that are in a similar timezone (PST). I'm also a parent, so would be looking for evening sessions after kiddos are asleep (after 7-8pm). The world's lore is loosely inspired by Jim Butcher's Codex Alera series, mashed together with Faerun. Familiarity with source material is not required or expected at all. Lore will be provided on this world, and the unique elemental powers ALL characters will have access to... With this world, there will be some restrictions on the Player Characters. All playable characters at this time will be Humans. Most classes are workable, though the system really lends itself to Martials/Half-Casters. I would highly recommend using one of those. I'm not a major Rules Lawyer, big believer in Rule-of-Cool and being adaptable. Improvising and leaning into the roleplay is where the magic happens. There will challenging, purposeful combat but not a meat-grinder style of a campaign. Getting the right dynamic is very important to me, so will definitely be intentional. Would also love some diversity (both in character and out of character) at the table. If this sounds interesting, please reach back out! Would be happy to discuss further and share more info on the lore to make sure it's a good fit. Regardless, best of luck to you on finding the right table. :) Cheers, Windy

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DND5.5E
Dungeons & Dragons 5.5E (2024)
Mount Prospect
Campaign
Crooked Moon by Legends of Avantris
Players
4/6
GM
1/1
Dungeons & Dragons 5.5E (2024)
en English

Crooked Moon by Legends of Avantris

Session 0 will start July  6th. The campaign will play every other Monday evening from that date. Normally start at 6:30-7:00 and go till about 10:00-10:30 at Games Plus in Mount Prospect Illinois. The campaign is 5e Crooked Moon by Legends of Avantris All levels of experience welcome.

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en English
DND5E
Dungeons & Dragons 5E
DND5.5E
Dungeons & Dragons 5.5E (2024)
...
Online
Blueflare
Hello I'm blue I've been playing ttrpgs for about 5 years now I mainly play dnd 5e as well as pathfinder 2e as well as dabbing in a few other systems but mostly recently I'm looking to get into daggerheart due to it's emphasis on telling the best story possible when it comes to play I really like role playing as well as the ability of meeting new people through ttrpgs
en English
DND5.5E
Dungeons & Dragons 5.5E (2024)
Online
Drastic
Hello, there!  I am a veteran player (38-years-old) who switched to D&D 5.5 ever since its release and has played sessions weekly (even multiple times a week). I like exploration and all kinds of discoveries. I enjoy RP the most when it furthers the characters, the campaign's story or both. I like combat especially when it mixes in interesting mechanics and objectives, and when I can be creative in my descriptions and my actions. I love overcoming challenges, whatever form they take, through teamwork and preparation. I like believable character actions, because I value immersion a lot, which is why I generally prefer a serious tone over a silly one. Jokes are more than fine, but I much prefer it when they don't undercut tense and emotional moments. As a player, I gravitate the most towards themes related to morality, knowledge/lore and creativity/art, I take my time to gather information (keeping notes) and strategize, and I'm good-aligned pretty much always. I never come in with a clear idea on what character to play, as I very much enjoy trying to weave species, class, concept and backstory with the campaign's world, letting the latter inspire character creation itself. So I tend to ask some questions after I join a new game, to get a better idea and then decide, with an eye on party composition as well. As a person, I'm a big believer in fairness, I'm as anti-toxicity as it gets, and I'm respectful, inclusive, punctual and communicative.
en English
DND5E
Dungeons & Dragons 5E
DND5.5E
Dungeons & Dragons 5.5E (2024)
...
Online
Ymmi
Anyway, hello, I am Ymmi. A 26 year old from the United Kingdom.  I am not gonna do a lengthy intro like i was writing before, i will give you some quick notes about me Likes:  - Videogames, Anime, Youtube (Average chronically online people things) - Animals (My number 1 is the red panda, and basically everything in the Musteloidea family)  TTRPGs: - I have experience in both PF2e and D&D5e (2014 rules havent done the new ones yet).  - I am comfortable learning new systems - I want to play, NOT pay. Do not invite me to paid games.  - I prefer the roleplay, exploration and discovering aspects, combat is fine but I HATE when it drags on. Okay thats all, thanks for reading.

Other entries

Fantasy Grounds Unity
Tools & Platforms

Fantasy Grounds Unity

Virtual tabletop (VTT)
English
Free
Fantasy Grounds Unity is a high-power virtual tabletop originally released in 2004 and completely rebuilt on the Unity engine in 2020. Developed by SmiteWorks, it is the industry pioneer of "automated play," where the software handles complex rules, modifiers, and combat math natively. In a massive industry shift in late 2025, the platform moved to a completely free-to-play model, removing the traditional $50 license fee to compete directly with modern browser-based rivals. Description Fantasy Grounds is often described as a "Digital Dungeon Master’s Assistant." It is a standalone application (not a browser site) that provides the most stable and deep automation available. While it has a more traditional, window-based interface that can feel daunting to new users, it rewards the "Power GM" with unparalleled control over combat and data. Since becoming free in late 2025, it has positioned itself as the premier "zero-cost" entry point for groups who want professional-grade automation without a subscription. System Overview & Key Features Native Ruleset Automation Unlike other VTTs that rely on community plug-ins, Fantasy Grounds features "Hard-Coded" automation for its primary systems. When a player drags an attack onto a target, the software automatically checks for cover, calculates the hit against Armor Class, applies damage, and tracks temporary hit points or resistances without any manual input. V5.1 Visual Intelligence The 2026 update introduced "Aggregated Notifications." Instead of scrolling through a wall of text in a chat box, combat results like damage, saving throws, and status effects now appear as elegant visual icons and pop-ups directly over the tokens on the map. 2.5D Tactical Mapping While it supports traditional 2D top-down maps, FGU includes a unique 2.5D camera mode. This provides a sense of depth and perspective to battlemaps, making the digital table feel more like a physical diorama with "placeable" 3D-like objects like trees and furniture. Total Offline Capability Because it is a localized application, you can prepare your entire campaign, build NPCs, and write story entries without an internet connection. Your data is stored on your hard drive, giving you total ownership of your campaign files. The Fantasy Grounds Forge FGU features an integrated marketplace and community portal called "The Forge." This allows GMs to browse and auto-install thousands of community-made extensions and themes that update automatically whenever the main software is launched. Cross-Platform Unity Engine Built on the Unity 6 engine (as of 2026), the software offers smooth performance on Windows, macOS, and Linux. It uses hardware acceleration to handle complex dynamic lighting, weather effects, and large-scale vision blocking for massive dungeon crawls. Additional links fantasygrounds.com : Official Fantasy Grounds website fantasygroundsacademy.com : Community-led training and free classes forge.fantasygrounds.com : Official community content and extension portal

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Bonus Reaction
Video

Bonus Reaction

TTRPG
English
Dungeons & Dragons
Bonus Reaction is a dedicated TTRPG resource channel focused on the art of Game Mastering and the mechanics of storytelling. Rather than traditional long-form actual play, the channel specializes in deep-dive analysis, DM tips, and commentary on the tabletop industry. It is designed for those who want to level up their own home games and understand the "why" behind the rules. The channel provides high-energy, insightful breakdowns of both popular systems like Dungeons & Dragons and rising alternatives like Vampire: The Masquerade and Daggerheart. Through a lens of critical world-building and player engagement, the content explores how professional GMs—from Brennan Lee Mulligan to Matt Mercer—shape their narratives, offering viewers actionable advice to apply to their own tables. Links youtube.com - Youtube channel patreon.com - Patreon page discord.gg - Discord server twitch.tv - Twitch channel

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Ishanekon World Shapers (2022)
Tabletop Roleplaying Games

Ishanekon World Shapers (2022)

TTRPG
English
Rules-medium
Ishanekon: World Shapers is the (probably) biggest free Indie TTRPG with over 2,500 character options. It has been mainly developed by Jan Luyken, aka Blaze Reason, with the aim of creating a game that can compete (if not surpass) the current biggest games on the market while remaining affordable for anyone. With its easily adaptable rules and wide range of options, from beginner-friendly to highly complex, it is designed to satisfy the needs of almost any story and play style. Description From epic fantasy and sci-fi to mundane humans facing everything from common threats to cosmic horror, Ishanekons: World Shapers’ modular design lets you easily adjust the rules to help you experience your stories. This game is designed with the idea that you bring the flavor, and the mechanics help you bring it to life. The 10 Archetypes with over 200 Sub-Archetypes, 1000+ Abilities, 600+ Talents, 300+ items and upgrades, and more allow you to build anything from a simple cat to a city-destroying kaiju. Role and complexity filters let you find what you need quickly while helping you avoid those features that might be too overwhelming for your liking. System Overview & Key Features Combat d20, Skill d10 The core of combat is built around d20 attack and defense rolls with modifiers that try to beat the enemy's Evasion and DR Power, respectively. Skills, on the other hand, are rolled with d10s, creating somewhat of a dice-based separation between combat and non-combat. Cinematic Actions While IWS has a solid tactical core that will satisfy most war gamers, it also comes with so-called “Cinematic Actions”. These allow narrative-driven actions, independent of what the rules say your character can do, balancing the rule of cool so that role players have a rules-light way to interact with the action, bringing the best of both worlds. Flexible Character Customization This system allows you to mix and match all sorts of Archetypes, features, and Abilities. It encourages such behavior and does not introduce any blocks, such as stat requirements. All sorts of interesting mechanical and flavor combinations open up once you start experimenting. This is also true for items. An extensive upgrade and crafting system exists that can turn any old blade into whatever you want. Carefully Balanced The system's core math has been calculated to ensure that every character option is viable. Breaking the game is not trivial, and you will feel strong, no matter if you are a martial, caster, or something in between. Every weapon and armor type can be wielded to great effect, and each Stat has its uses. “Optimal play” should never get in the way of what fits your character narratively. Regular Patches As a digital product, IWS can be easily expanded. Monthly patches bring new content, buff weak options, and nerf broken combos to help this game evolve and become the best it can be. New digital tools are also added and expanded, such as online character sheets and an encounter calculator. Build Your Own Creatures The website comes with more than 100 creatures, each of which has Level 0 to 15 versions, but creature templates and an online creature builder help you as the GM to create whatever monstrosities you want to throw at your players. All those 2,500 options can also be used for whatever you cook up. Additional links world-shapers.com - Official website world-shapers./resources/adventures - Free adventures Super short rules - Get started with Ishanekon fast

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