4e System Reference Document

Speusippus · Post by **Speusippus** » Mon Jul 20, 2009 1:07 pm

Used to be, in 3.5, that I could use the SRD (system reference document) to get a very good idea as to how basic D&D gameplay works. Indeed, if I wanted, I could legally run an entire campaign using just the 3.5e SRD, freely available online at the WotC website.

Is there any way to do this in 4e? I've seen the SRD for 4e, but it's nowhere near as clear or complete looking as what I remember from the 3.5e SRD. Is it possible to learn, in some detail, how the basics of gameplay work for D&D 4e? (I.e., what the classes and races are, what powers are available to them, and how combat works, and so on?) and perhaps even legally run a character or campaign this way? Without looking in the published handbooks, I mean.

Siberys · Post by **Siberys** » Mon Jul 20, 2009 2:53 pm

Unfortunately 4E is not open source like 3.5 is. We will likely never see a 4th edition SRD. At least, not a legal one.

BountyHunter · Post by **BountyHunter** » Mon Sep 21, 2009 11:50 pm

While I much enjoy actually having the books when it comes time to run a game, I found the SRD for 3.5 very helpful when I was simply wanting to research / prepare for a game etc.

Its really easy to just type what page I want and browse through it on the computer and everything. While there appears to be no SRD for 4E I did actually get my hands on a PDF of the three core books.

Granted I still actually have purchased the books, and use them whenever I've gathered in a dark basement somewhere with fellow geeks. But its nice to just pop open a PDF and go right to the page on Teiflings so I can double check something ...

hunterofjello · Post by **hunterofjello** » Sun Sep 27, 2009 9:09 pm

A 4e SRD might be released once all of the 4th edition books are out of print and 5e comes out.

Unless you feel like waiting, I'd look for another source.

Stuntman · Post by **Stuntman** » Wed Dec 02, 2009 3:50 pm

Speusippus wrote:Used to be, in 3.5, that I could use the SRD (system reference document) to get a very good idea as to how basic D&D gameplay works. Indeed, if I wanted, I could legally run an entire campaign using just the 3.5e SRD, freely available online at the WotC website.

Is there any way to do this in 4e? I've seen the SRD for 4e, but it's nowhere near as clear or complete looking as what I remember from the 3.5e SRD. Is it possible to learn, in some detail, how the basics of gameplay work for D&D 4e? (I.e., what the classes and races are, what powers are available to them, and how combat works, and so on?) and perhaps even legally run a character or campaign this way? Without looking in the published handbooks, I mean.

The D&D Compendium is available to do research on classes, races, powers and monsters. I find that when running a campaign, the Compendium is invaluable for looking up monsters of an appropriate level for my group. The Compendium not only contains all information on published books, it also contains customised monsters from published adventures in Dungeon and Dragon magazines. If you look up goblins, you will find so many more goblins of many more different levels and different roles than the MM's alone.

Siberys · Post by **Siberys** » Thu Dec 03, 2009 3:10 am

Except that's not an SRD like the one being suggested.

The 3.5 SRD was basically a cut and dry, non unique rulebook for 3.5 rules of D&D. It didn't have gods listed, or some unique monsters like Mind Flayers or Rakshasas, but it had detailed stat blocks of all class tables, all races, all items, all magic spells and so on and so forth.

The demo only gives you the source page, meaning it'll tell you what page to look in for the book you bought.

And as for the D&D insider one...well, that defeats the purpose of a free SRD considering it costs money to subscribe to get D&D insider.

The second purpose of an SRD and 3.5 being open source was to allow online gaming of a 3.5 edition game without worry of any legal issues or precedents, allowing people all over the world to get together to game. With 4th edition, it's very sketchy when playing an online game considering posting any actual rules is technically illegal and it is VERY hard to play without passing rules back and forth between people (i.e. if I don't understand one of the rules of the game, no one would be allowed to explain it to me).

I haven't read the copyright laws for 4th edition so I don't know if it would technically be allowed to do something like that or not, but I imagine that considering they don't have an SRD and are doing a LOT of stuff online now, online interaction is no longer a free and legal thing.

Stuntman · Post by **Stuntman** » Thu Dec 03, 2009 11:12 am

There is a 4E SRD and it does list what you can legally use in a licensed product. I'm not sure what the legality of usage online would be. I would expect that you have to be licensed to do so, and that is not free.