Editing Dungeon Master's Guide (section)

==''Dungeons & Dragons'' 4th edition==
{{Infobox book
| name              = Dungeon Master's Guide (2008)
| genre             = [[Role-playing game]]
| publisher         = Wizards of the Coast
| release_date      = June 2008
| media_type        = Print ([[Hardback]])
| pages             = 224
|subject            = ''Dungeons & Dragons'' 4th Edition
| isbn              = 978-0-7869-4880-2
| congress          = 
| oclc              = 
| author            = [[James Wyatt (game designer)|James Wyatt]], Wizards RPG Team
| cover_artist      = [[Wayne Reynolds]]
| followed_by       = [[Dungeon Master's Guide 2]]
}}

The 4th edition D&D ''Dungeon Master's Guide'' was released on June 6, 2008, at the same time as its companion volumes. It is a 224-page hardcover written by [[James Wyatt (game designer)|James Wyatt]]. The front cover illustration was by [[Wayne Reynolds]] and the back cover illustration is by [[Brian Hagan]], with interior illustrations by Rob Alexander, [[Steve Argyle]], [[Wayne England]], [[Jason Engle]], [[David Griffith (artist)|David Griffith]], Espen Grundetjern, Brian Hagan, [[Ralph Horsley]], [[Howard Lyon]], [[Lee Moyer]], [[William O'Connor (artist)|William O'Connor]], [[Wayne Reynolds]], Dan Scott, Ron Spears, Chris Stevens, [[Anne Stokes]], and [[Eva Widermann]]. In addition to a comprehensive look at how to DM a 4th Edition campaign or adventure, it contains information on building encounters, aquatic and mounted combat, skill challenges, traps and hazards, rewards, NPC creation, artifacts, monster creation, and template, along with a sample town and short adventure so that DMs can start running their first 4th Edition adventure right away. Although it does contain artifacts, it is the first ''Dungeon Master's Guide'' not to contain standard magic items, which were moved into the ''Player's Handbook'' for 4th Edition.

[[Shannon Appelcline]], author of ''Designers & Dragons'', highlighted that the book introduced mechanical changes such as a "new style for adventure encounters" and a "skill challenge system" which were part of the key design philosophies of 4th edition. Appelcline wrote "besides revamping philosophies ''and'' rules, D&D 4e also revamped the game's standard world model and its cosmology" and "Wizards also introduced a new world setting that has become most popularly known as 'Nentir Vale' (though that just designates a small part of the world)".<ref>{{Cite web|last=Appelcline|first=Shannon|title=Dungeon Master's Guide (4e) - Product History|url=https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/56694/Dungeon-Masters-Guide-4e|access-date=2020-06-20|website=DriveThruRPG|language=en}}</ref>

In September 2009, the ''[[Dungeon Master's Guide 2]]'' was released. It was written by James Wyatt, with [[Bill Slavicsek]], [[Mike Mearls]], and [[Robin D. Laws]]. Appelcline wrote "the original Dungeon Master's Guide had covered heroic adventuring (levels 1-10), so now the Dungeon Master's Guide 2 detailed paragon adventuring (levels 11-20). However, there is much more in the book too, including storytelling advice, skill challenge and monster customization, and the return of one of D&D's most beloved settings". The "fan-favorite setting of Sigil" was last revisited in depth in the ''[[Planescape Campaign Setting]]'' (1994) for the 2nd edition.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Appelcline|first=Shannon|title=Dungeon Master's Guide 2 (4e) - Product History|url=https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/144108/Dungeon-Masters-Guide-2-4e|access-date=2020-06-20|website=DriveThruRPG|language=en}}</ref>

As part of the ''Essentials'' line of products, which were intended as an easy entry point for new players, Wizards of the Coast released a ''[[Dungeon Master's Kit]]'' (2010) that included a digest-sized book for the Dungeon Master containing much of the same material as the 4th edition ''Dungeon Master's Guide'' along with a two-part adventure module and a set of cardboard tokens for monsters.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Kulp|first=Kevin|title=Dungeon Master's Kit (4e) - Product History|url=https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/121978/Dungeon-Masters-Kit-4e|access-date=2020-06-20|website=DriveThruRPG|language=en}}</ref>