Dungeon Master's Screen D&D 2024 Review

The Dungeon Master's Screen has two sides, each serving two functions: one purely aesthetic and the other strictly informative. The new DM Screen for D&D 2024 takes both sides to the extreme. Unfortunately, in one of these two cases, it's the wrong kind of extreme.

Want to flip through the Dungeon Master's Guide with Gergon? Check out his detailed video breakdown of the book.

Evaluating the screen's aesthetics

I know that opinions on art are purely subjective, so you'll have to make up your own mind here. However, in my opinion, the new artwork on the front of the screen is extremely poor. The color palette is quite interesting and has potential, as does the motif of the golden dragon above the die. Unfortunately, the image content is just a boring mix of characters standing around doing nothing. Moreover, it's painted in a rather ugly style and feels forced into WOKE culture. A Black druid in a pink dress is just too much for me – and I have nothing against such people. The knight in pink armor only further undermines the questionable design. The thought of my players having to look at this image for hours on end during a session is quite terrifying to me.

Evaluating the screen's content

The inner side of the screen is an even bigger surprise. This is a radical improvement in every way. Four pages of information and tables that a Dungeon Master (DM) needs at their fingertips during a session have been polished and refined to near perfection.

Almost every important table that a DM might need to look up in the rules is here, and everything included is useful and frequently used. Unnecessary illustrations were removed, and texts were condensed to fit more in – all Conditions are finally on one page, and the tables are clear and easy to read.

Let's start with the Conditions. The rules haven't changed much, but their description on the Screen is perfect. It's no longer just a paragraph of text for each Condition; it's broken down into several smaller sections, highlighted with bold text, making it easier and faster for the DM to find everything.

Improvised Damage now includes not only values but also great examples so everyone knows what to use and in what situation. The Actions breakdown, along with the rules for Jumping and Concentration, is a great reminder of everything a Character can do in combat besides attacking.

Next are two pages packed with tables for Skills, Armor Class, Travel Speed, Weather, and so on. Everything is neatly at hand for immediate use. Simply perfect work.

So, what's the overall impression? If the front had the same artwork as the 2014 DM screen, this would be the best Screen I've ever seen. Unfortunately, the graphics really ruin my impression, so I either have to hide it behind another Screen or hope an alternative version is released with the same interior but a different – better – front image.

author Gergon