TTRPG Wiki

Compare tabletop RPG systems to find your next game

Dungeons & Dragons 4th Edition

Core Rulebooks
Heroic fantasy built around party roles and tactical battles
View on DriveThruRPG →Affiliate link: we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
Fantasy
TacticalGrid-BasedMiniaturesCombat-HeavyCharacter BuildingResource ManagementCrunchyStrong GM SupportHeroicHigh-Fantasy
Languages: English, French, Italian, German, Spanish, Japanese, Polish, Portuguese

Best For

Groups who want coordinated battles on a grid and long campaigns with substantial character customization.

Core Mechanic

Roll d20 plus the relevant modifiers against a difficulty class or target defense. A total equal to or higher than the target succeeds.

Diced20
System Familyd20 System
PublisherWizards of the Coast
Year2008
ComplexityHow much there is to learn
High

The basic d20 check is straightforward. Character advancement requires repeated choices among powers and feats. Positioning and conditions interlock with power refreshes and reactions across a broad set of combat rules. The DM also learns separate procedures for skill challenges and encounter budgets.

AvailabilityHow you get the rules
  • Free to tryQuickstartA free starter you can actually play
  • Get it nowSold newIn print or as a legal PDF
RunnabilityWhat the book gives you to run it
  • ✓IndexFind any rule by page number
  • ✓GM guidanceA chapter on how to run the game
  • ✓Examples of playRules shown in action at the table
  • ✓Quick referenceCheat sheet or summary tables
  • ✓Cross-referencesRules point to each other by page

5 of 5 book tools found in the core book

Highlights

  • Defender marks penalize attacks against allies, giving protection a concrete tactical role.
  • At-will, encounter, and daily powers separate repeatable actions from limited reserves.
  • Monster roles and XP budgets help the DM assemble encounters with complementary threats.

Considerations

  • Combat assumes a grid and tokens or miniatures, making precise spatial tracking part of every fight.
  • Players must monitor triggered actions that can occur outside their own turns.
  • Rituals take minutes or hours to perform.

No verified third-party publishing route found · Reviewed 2026-10-09 · Summary only, not legal advice. Check current terms before publishing. Rules license Dungeons & Dragons 4th Edition Game System License (February 27, 2009) The historical 2009 GSL authorized conditional commercial supplements. A current official route for new 4e publishers was not verified; DMs Guild accepts only fifth-edition products.

Similar systems

Added