Summary

With all the rebranding of its novel version , it ’s unmanageable to keep track of what Wizards of the Coast is doing with the late version ofDungeons and Dragons . Rather than call it 5.5e or 6e , in keeping with the naming conventions of old versions , Wizards call its newest version of the tabletopOne D&D , thenD&D 2024.D&D 2024doesn’t intend to recreate an whole new version of the most popular tabletop RPG in the world . rather , it intends to be an upgraded variant of 5e , and features backward compatibility with previous adventure .

The newD&D 2024 Player ’s Handbookis releasing on September 17 .

Because it intends to be an improved and evolved version of the wildly popular fifth edition ofDungeons and Dragons , there are n’t a lot of monolithic addition . There are plenty of pinch to how thing used to work , like a paladin ’s Divine Smite becoming a spell — rather than bad gameplay addition , but there are a few . The crafting systemis one , as are the new action for specific artillery , butone of the coolest that could be revolutionary for how the biz is played is the Bastion organization .

Images from Vecna Eve of Ruin, Curse of Shrahd, and Rime of the Frostmaiden

dungeon & Dragons has released a broad smorgasbord of crusade playscript over the course of 5th version , and some definitely stand out more than others .

Bastions Could Revolutionize How D&D Is Played

Who Does Want Their Own Castle?

According to theUnearthed Arcana 2023playtest linguistic rule , the Modern Bastion feature allows actor grapheme to have a home to come back to , with system in blank space to make said abode feel like a keep , breathing place that is constantly running . Some dm encourage role player homes in their campaign to give a political party somewhere to go back to , or sometimes it is something that players look for , so it is skillful that there are now rules around this . At story 5 , player can acquire their first Bastion . How a Bastion is meet is entirely up to the DM and participant and can just be bought or have a quest build around it .

citadel wo n’t work for everyone andare best for movement that reserve players to occur back somewhere to have some downtime . World - spanning risky venture or fast - paced campaigns that do n’t give player a lot of in - plot gratuitous time to lounge and relax might not be best , but for the slow - burn campaign that are more focussed on instrumentalist character reference interactions and roleplaying , have a Bastion could be everlasting . It gives players a safe , conversant infinite to return to so that they can enlist in roleplaying interactions on their term .

Downtime roleplaying can be difficult to deal as a DM , but interaction should n’t be forced if players do n’t seem up for it .

D&D PHB 2024 Art showing Orcs in a western desert setting.

A great thing about Bastions is that they are always evolving and have to be nurtured and develop into something nifty throughout a drive . Although this can be a pain and in all likelihood wo n’t befit a party that does n’t want to get too ask with their home , it does mean that aBastion will have bestow functionality based on what a party wants . Bastions can also be owned by a histrion fictitious character individually and can then be combine with other players to better the functionality of their Bastion , although this is up to the discretion of the DM .

How Do Bastions Work?

How They Can Be Added To A Campaign

It should be note thatBastions require a certain grade of micromanagementsince investing is required to allow them to germinate . As meter passes , Bastions will get their own turn , which typically take place every seven days . This can change based on where a party is and what they are doing . For instance , if a company is journey for month without much going on , then the Bastion Turns could be done once a calendar month alternatively , and during these turns , the political party can roll for a specific citadel upshot , which could be something like a sojourn from an Honored Guest .

actor will have to release orders to their Bastion during these turns , but if the Hirelings , which are NPCs that can be employed to work in the Bastion , receive none for a while , the stronghold will be abandon . This is a shame , too , since the many facilities that can be added , like a Smithy or Teleportation circle , are incredibly utile and generate Bastion Points ( BP ) , which can be spent ongetting Magical Items . This does n’t apply to Basic Facilities , like a bedroom or dining room , which can also be added for well roleplaying affair .

Basic Facilities for Bastions include Bedroom , Courtyard , Dining Room , Kitchen , Parlor , Storage , and Washroom .

A character holding a trunk in art from Eberron: Forge of the Artificer

instrumentalist are further to suck up or otherwise create their own function for their Bastion , include justificatory wall , windows , corridors and so on and so forth . The Bastions and their facility can be expanded with investing too , since player can have more facilities free-base on their level . Money can be spent in - game to make facilities declamatory , going from cramped to roommate , then vast . This is dear , though , and Bastions will plausibly benefit from a DM that is generous when give out gold .

The new Dungeons & Dragons Player ’s Handbook will first be made usable in a special ladder for Gen Con 2024 attendant well ahead of its panoptic release .

Bastions Are A Creative Addition That Isn’t For Everyone

But Some Parties Love Having A Home Base

citadel gain from being functional enough for those who like the pure gameplay facet ofD&Dand roleplay - orientated enough to allow for great player - character interaction . They wo n’t be for everyone , but their comprehension can be discussed in session zero to see if it is something that both the DM and the political party want . It is only worth doing ifthe company is interestedin it , but havinga Bastion will add a completely dissimilar moral force to a campaign and give players something to do with their downtime when both rest and move .

Getting Magical Items as a by - product of give a Bastion , due to the BP system , is a brainy way of letting participant palpate like their home is doing something for them , andhaving Hirelings could potentially add memorable NPC that become company favorites organically . These NPC can be a double - stinging blade too , since a DM can have play with these pensionary , especially since one of the Bastion Events involves having a Criminal Hireling . They also give the party a feeling that they are climb the social ravel as their adventures progresses .

With all the different readiness that citadel can provide while being the perfect place for play between party extremity , the new scheme could add so much to aDungeons and Dragonscampaign . For those looking to have a home to come back to in a run , this arrangement could be perfect , peculiarly with all the customization that is available . Players can even have their own zoo with a Menagerie facility , andD&Dplayers do have a account of loving pet in campaigns .

A dnd party in front of a castle.

Custom Image by Katarina Cimbaljevic.

Source : Unearthed Arcana 2023 : Bastions and Cantrips

A D&D table playing the game with an image of their characters interacting as well.

A young red dragon breathing fire in Dungeons & Dragons.

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