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
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. 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 (~7pm PST). 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)
Online
Campaign
Legacy of Vestallia
New
Posted 16 hours ago
Players
0/5
GM
1/1
Dungeons & Dragons 5.5E (2024)
en English

Legacy of Vestallia

Homebrew Homebrew
Adult Adult
Greetings friends, I would like to tell you all about this place I found, far away from other boring places you've probably have been and seen everything. Here, the realm is vast and beautiful, the people are kind and nice, and there's plenty of adventures to be had, and plenty of coin to be earned. Find me if you can, and shall we tell a story for the ages! Legacy of Vestallia  Legacy of Vestallia, is a D&D 5.5e campaign, set in a fictional world of Thexia, and specifically set in a continent called Vestallia. This is going to be a long-term campaign, focused on a story of adventurers who have traveled far and wide, to write a new chapter in their life, whether to find riches and galore, or become legendary adventurers and heroes.  For those who are interested, here's a few points of information, for you to know prior to you sending me a message: Age - 18+ for all players Players needed - 5 players Campaign Style - 35% RP, 35% Combat, 30% Exploration and Puzzles If you are interested for more information about this campaign, feel free to send me a message here. 

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DND5.5E
Dungeons & Dragons 5.5E (2024)
Online
Campaign
Phandelver and Below: The Shattered Obelisk
Players
1/5
Paid game
Paid game
GM
1/1
Dungeons & Dragons 5.5E (2024)
en English

Phandelver and Below: The Shattered Obelisk

Roleplay focused Roleplay focused
Paid game Paid game
Hello! My name is Jared and I have been playing D&D for over a year and have been DMing for 8 months. Still newish since I have only done two campaigns, but have experienced to run a game for everyone to have fun. I also use dndbeyond for my vtt Phandelver and Below is a high fantasy and cosmic horror campaign where you are hired by your dwarf patron Gundren Rockseeker to escort a wagon of supplies to the small frontier village of Phandalin, where he and his brothers reportedly found "something big." Little do you know that your journey will to something darker and ancient than what they discovered.  My rate for each session is 10$ per session. We will use discord for Voice/Video. Thinking to play around 5:00 EST Wednesdays

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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). My window of availability is between 6 AM and 11:30 AM, and between 2 PM and 10:30 PM, CET times. 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'm committed, invested in the story and a note-taker, I gravitate the most towards themes related to morality, knowledge/lore and creativity/art, I take my time to gather information and strategize, and I'm good-aligned pretty much always. I never come into a campaign 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
CAIN
CAIN
...
Online
Jay
Name: Jay Pronouns: She/her Timezone: Eastern (GMT -5) System: D&D 5e (2014 or 2024) (Open to others) Platforms: Discord, Roll20, Foundry VTT, DnD Beyond (Open to others) Discord: jay.iz.exhausted Availability: Monday - Wednesday from 2-6pm What I'm looking for: A consistent group/DM for a bi-weekly or monthly long-term campaign. Not as experienced in D&D, so looking for a group that is welcoming and helpful towards newer players. I want to get immersed in the world and the story, and I want to find a table that's welcoming and also fits that lighthearted friend group vibe. About me as a player: I'm content just being part of the game, through the serious and the silly, the scheming and the meme-ing. I tend to lean towards caster classes since I like casting spells more than just doing a martial class, but I am willing to try out other classes. I'm more into lighthearted campaign that get a little serious, but I am also into mystery and political intrigue as well. I'm pretty good with attendance and communication. About me: I like listening to music and D&D podcasts, and also enjoy wrestling. I've only started to play D&D about 2 years ago. Deal-breakers: - Paid games (I don't have money like that) - Use/endorsement of generative AI - Disrespect towards LGBT+, POC, or people with disabilities - Use of slurs or disrespectful jokes - Horror or excessive gore (light horror is fine) - Romance (don't know how to play that) Feel free to message here or on Discord. I look forward to discussing things with you.
en English
DND5E
Dungeons & Dragons 5E
...
Missoula
Online
Nolan
Hello,  My name is Nolan and I am new to playing DnD but have been watching and listening to games for years.  I am looking for a classic DnD fantasy/ medieval long term campaign. Heavy on the roleplay but still inense battles/fighting.  I love a good story. I have created a elven ranger charcter and come up with a decent backstory.  I am open to jumping into a game that is already underway as a replacement or character you came across.  Message if interested.

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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Roolipelit
Communities

Roolipelit

Discord server
Universal
Finnish
This is a general purpose roleplaying discussion server, mostly in Finnish or for people living in Finland.  Links Discord server invite

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Hand on the Door
Actual Play & Podcasts

Hand on the Door

English
Actual Play
Delta Green
Hand on the Door is an actual play Delta Green podcast of four best friends laughing into the void and kicking against the pricks. Sam leads Jimmy (FP), Mazie (Fruman) and Aubrey (Thaddeus) through a surrealist nightmare in New Mexico, an original campaign inspired by coffee black as midnight on a moonless night, children of Old Leech, and the writings of Sutter Cane. New episodes of HotD will be released every other week! Links youtube.com - Youtube channel spotify.com - Spotify feed podcasts.apple.com - Apple Podcasts feed

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