D&D 5e: the 2014 rules, ready to play
The fifth edition of Dungeons & Dragons as it was published in 2014, built from the System Reference Document 5.1. Choose 5e Compatible when you create a game, and the character builder, the sheets, the conditions and the creature library all follow the 2014 rules.
What D&D is
Dungeons & Dragons is the fantasy roleplaying game published by Wizards of the Coast. One person runs the game: they describe the world, play everyone in it and set the challenges. In RollQuest that person is the GM (Game Master); the rulebooks call them the Dungeon Master. Everyone else plays one adventurer, built from a race (such as dwarf, elf or human), a class (such as fighter, rogue or wizard) and a background.
The table tells a story together. You say what your character does; when the outcome is uncertain, the dice decide. Characters gain levels, from 1 to 20, and each level brings more hit points and new abilities.
Fifth edition came out in 2014 and is still played by a great many groups, and nearly ten years of published adventures were written for it. Wizards of the Coast revised it in 2024; RollQuest has that version too.
How a roll works
Most rolls are a d20 plus a modifier, against a target number:
- Ability checks, such as climbing a wall or spotting a trap, against a Difficulty Class (DC) the GM sets: 10 is easy, 15 medium, 20 hard.
- Saving throws, to resist a spell, a poison or a fall, against the DC of whatever caused it.
- Attack rolls, against the target's Armor Class (AC).
The modifier comes from one of six ability scores (Strength, Dexterity, Constitution, Intelligence, Wisdom and Charisma), plus your proficiency bonus when you're trained in what you're doing. Advantage means roll two d20s and keep the higher; Disadvantage means keep the lower. A natural 20 on an attack is a critical hit, which rolls the damage dice twice, and a natural 1 always misses.
How the 2014 rules differ
| Rule | In the 2014 rules |
|---|---|
| Ability score increases | Come from your race, such as +2 Constitution for a dwarf |
| Backgrounds | Give skills, tools, equipment and a feature, but no ability scores or feat |
| Subclasses | Chosen at level 1, 2 or 3, depending on the class |
| Exhaustion | Six levels, each with its own effect, from Disadvantage on ability checks to death |
| Inspiration | The GM awards it; spend it for Advantage on one roll |
Making a character in RollQuest
The character builder walks you through the 2014 rules a step at a time, and the sheet works the numbers out as you go:
- Name Your Character, and a starting level from 1 to 20.
- Choose Your Class, then Choose Your Background and Choose Your Race.
- Set Ability Scores with the standard array, point buy (27 points), 4d6 drop the lowest, or by hand. Your race's bonuses are added for you.
- Roll Hit Points, roll your Starting Funds, then buy weapons and equipment and pick spells.
Start above level 1 and the builder adds a step for every choice those levels bring, such as a subclass or an ability score improvement. The finished sheet rolls from a click: a skill, a saving throw, an attack and its damage.
At the table
Click Attack on a weapon and RollQuest rolls the attack and its damage. Cast a spell with Target, pick who it hits from the list or the board, and resolve it. Area spells place a template on the map, conditions such as Prone or Frightened run for a set number of rounds, and the combat tracker rolls initiative and keeps the turn order.
A Long Rest or Short Rest shows a preview of what comes back before you confirm it. Enemies come from a creature library of SRD 5.1 monsters with their numbers already filled in.
Links and downloads
Wizards of the Coast publishes Dungeons & Dragons and owns the game and its name.
The official D&D site has the rulebooks, news and where to buy the full books.
SRD 5.1 (PDF) is the free 2014 rules reference RollQuest's 5e system is built from, in its Open Game License edition. Every SRD version is on D&D Beyond's SRD page.
The 2014 rules reference on this site lists the SRD 5.1 spells, classes, monsters and conditions, free to search with no account.
D&D 5.5e (2024 rules) is the revised version, also in RollQuest, if your group has moved to the 2024 books.
Licence and trademarks
This work includes material from the System Reference Document 5.1 ("SRD 5.1") by Wizards of the Coast LLC, licensed under the Open Game License Version 1.0a. The licence, with its Section 15 copyright notice, is reproduced in full at rollquest.io/open-game-license.
Dungeons & Dragons and D&D are trademarks of Wizards of the Coast LLC. RollQuest is not affiliated with or endorsed by Wizards of the Coast.
Frequently asked questions
Does RollQuest include everything in the 2014 Player's Handbook?
No. The SRD 5.1 is the part of the rules Wizards of the Coast releases for anyone to use: all twelve classes with one subclass each, nine races, and hundreds of spells and monsters. On Pro, homebrew (in beta) lets you add your own.
Should my group play 5e or 5.5e?
Play the one your books are for. The two are close enough that adventures work with either, but character options differ, so a game uses one or the other.
Is 5e free to play in RollQuest?
Yes. Every game system, 5e included, is on every plan, Free included.
Can I switch a game to 5e later?
Yes, while the game has no character sheets. Once the first sheet exists, the system is fixed, because every sheet is built on its system's rules.
Try it
Create a game on the free plan, choose 5e Compatible under Game System, and build a character in a few minutes.