The right gear at the right time can make all the difference between life and death. But how do you keep track of what you're carrying? This section introduces inventory slots, object bulk, and new systems to help you manage your inventory.

Inventory Slots

Equipment to increase Inventory Slots

• Backpack increases Slots by 6
• Handy Haversack increases Slots by 20
• Bag of Holding increases Slots by 80
• Portable Hole increases Slots by 200

Free Inventory Items  (No Bulk)

• Ration Box (Holds 5 Food Rations)
• Water Skins (Holds 5 Water Rations)
• Coin Purse (Holds 200 coins)

Quickdraw Slots

• # of Quickdraw Slots = 3 + Dex Modifier
• Retrieving other items from your inventory requires use of an Action.
• Equipment can increase # of Quickdraw Slots.
• Change items in Quickdraw Slots during Short Rest.

Bulk

Objects have Bulk values that determine the number of Inventory Slots filled — the bulkier the object, the more slots it occupies.

Bulk represents the effort needed by a medium-sized creature to carry an object based on its size, weight, and shape—the more awkward or uncomfortable it is to hold an object, the higher its bulk.

Bulk Table

Equipment Wear and Tear

Equipment damage tracked by Notches.

• Armor – Armor gains Notch on Critical Hit. Each Notch reduces AC by 1.
• Weapons – Weapons gain Notch on Critical Failure. Each Notch reduces damage die by one die size, ie 1d8 -> 1d6 or 2d6 -> 1d6 + 1d4.
• Spellcasting Focus – Spellcasting Focus gains Notch on Critical Failure. Each Notch removes the ability to cast spells without Material Components and will either reduces Spell Attack Bonus or Spell Save DC by 1.

Notches can be removed by craftsmen for 10% item cost per Notch OR characters can repair equipment with with 1 hour of work using appropriate tools and an Ability Check. 

• Critical Success = All Notches repaired.
• Success = Repair one Notch.
• Failure = No effect
• Critical Failure = Add one Notch.

Craftsmen can temper equipment against damage following the table below.

Tempering Table

Ammunition/Usage Dice

The lands outside of protection from city walls, guards, and armed citizens can be extremely dangerous! Starvation, thirst, and exposure to the elements can be just as deadly as weapons and magicks, so planning before travel is advised. Before embarking on a long journey, plan your route, investigate the details of the road, and gather supplies or allies to protect your party against the hazards of weather, terrain, and banditry.

Prepare For Your Journey: 

Successful travel relies on planning— choose a destination and a means of conveyance to estimate the time your journey will require..

1. Pick a destination, plot your route, and estimate your journey length

After choosing a destination, you can estimate the amount of time to reach the destination based on ideal travel conditions. On foot, you can travel 15+ miles per day with good weather, ideal travel terrain, and a moderate travel pace. Many factors can affect travel time and survival difficulty, such as weather conditions, terrain conditions, pace, and type of conveyance.

Additionally, you can discuss your trip with locals to obtain maps, learn of shortcuts, or be warned of conditions to prepare for.

2. Gather information and supplies, then outfit your party

With your destination and route set, it’s time to get to the specifics of the trip. You may want to investigate for information about the route and destination, which could be critical to survival along the trail. How many are in your party? Do you have allies tagging along? Do you have livestock to feed and water? Check the ration requirements for your party and stock up  before traveling to ensure that you have enough food and water for the trip, expecting there could be complications along the way. Additional equipment and supplies may make your travel easier, so find out what might be available for sale at various vendors.

Set Pace

How quickly do you want to get to your next destination? How quickly do you NEED to get to your next destination? You will need to choose a travel pace: slow, moderate, fast, or grueling. Slower paces reduce the difficulty of Travel Role Checks and your resistance to survival conditions at the expense of time spent traveling. Faster paces will decrease travel time but Travel Roll Checks will become more difficult. You should try to find a good travel balance depending on travel conditions and supplies on hand. 

Travel Day:

A Travel Day has four phases.

Morning

The sun rises, providing light to navigate your journey again.

• Check weather: Weather can have a drastic impact on your travel plans, especially if you're not properly prepared. You may want to avoid travel completely during heavy rains, storms, and snows.
• Assign roles: Decide the roles each character will play: guide, forager, scout, and lookout.
• Set pace: Decide travel pace
• Hit the trail: Start the travel day.

>>Scout check

Afternoon

The sun is at its peak, providing an ideal time to take a short break in the pace of travel.

>>Forager check

Evening

The sun is beginning to set and the party uses the last of the day’s light to continue travel.

>>Guide check

Night

The time of night creatures approaches, set up camp and rest until daylight.

• Set up camp: Each character in the party will perform a Camping Check to determine how well the campsite was prepared, determining DC for Camp Activities Checks.
• Eat/Drink: Account for required food and water rations for the day, assign survival conditions for Hunger and Thirst.
• Camp Activities: Each character can attempt to perform one Camp Activity.
• Sleep: Go to bed to heal, regain abilities, and reduce Fatigue.

>>Lookout check

>>Campsite check

Adventuring is a tough business. After battle or at the end of a long travel day, you'll need to heal wounds, rest, and prepare for whatever hazards may come up next. This section defines the rest periods and describes how they work, what activities can be done during them, and the results of taking some much needed down time.

Short Rest

Minimum of 1 hour, maximum of 8 hours. Can be done anywhere.

Activities During Short Rest

• Regain HP by spending Hit Dice.
  • If Bloodied, must expend use from Healer’s kit. Only one use required per Short Rest.
• Regain Class/Species features that recharge on Short Rest.
• Eat and Drink to improve Survival Conditions.
• Recover from Magical Burnout by spending Hit Dice.
• Change Inventory Quick Slots.
• Treat Wounds and Injuries.
• Research/Investigate: books, magical items, maps, etc.

Long Rest

Minimum of 8 hours, maximum of 24 hours. Can be done anywhere.

Steps to long rest:

1. Set Up Camp: Establish a campsite to facilitate Camping Activities and get some sleep.

• Campground DC determined by Terrain and Weather tables.
• Skills Checks: Each PC performs the following.
  • Describe a way they will contribute to improving the campsite.
  • Roll Skill check for contribution (one Survival Check required).
• # Failures determines Camp Activities DC.

2. Securing Campsite: PC serving as Lookout from travel day rolls Lookout Check.

• INT/WIS Check to determine security of camp site.
• Spells and equipment can be used to improve chances of securing campsite.
• Failure results in Surprise for Encounter (if one occurs).

3. Camp Activities: Perform 1 activity during rest, each requiring a Skill Check against Camp Activities DC.

Forage: Repeat Forager Role (Travel) to gather additional food and water rations.

Cook Food: requires proficiency with and access to Cooking Utensils.

• Create Food Rations: Turn excess fresh food rations into stored food rations.
• Stretch rations: Consumed food rations reduce Hunger by 2 instead of 1.
• Cook hot meal: Consuming food rations provides Well-Fed condition.

Brew Drinks: requires proficiency with and access to Brewer’s Kit.

• Create Water Rations: Distill clean water rations from potentially tainted sources gathered while Foraging.
• Brew a balm: Roll 1 Hit die. Consumed water rations reduce Thirst by 2 instead of 1 and provide Temp HP = Roll + Constitution Modifier. 
• Brew a restorative: Consuming water rations provides Well-Hydrated condition.

Play Music/Tell Story: requires proficiency with a musical instrument or in Arcana, History, Religion, or Performance.

• Choose 1 PC to gain Inspiration Point.

Repair or Improve an Item: requires necessary tools.

• Remove 1 damage Notch.
• Improve 1 offensive or defensive item to gain Improved Condition.

Craft an Item: requires proficiency in and access to any tools required for item being crafted.

• Crafting rules apply for objects that can be made within 4 hours.
• Create ammunition or kit uses: Increase ammunition/usage die by 1.

Relax: perform activity to improve your physical/mental state.

• Gain 1 Inspiration point.

         or

• Reduce Stress by 1d4.

         or

• Reduce Fatigue by -1

Magic is a powerful force that can rewrite the laws of reality—turn ice into fire, restore life to the dead, travel great distances in a heartbeat. Magic can grant unimaginable power, but it is not without risk—channeling raw energies can be deadly to the unprepared. The advent of the Spellplague has made magic much more chaotic and unpredictable, so discretion may be needed when deciding to tap into The Weave.

Spells by Level

Spells by School

Spells by Class

Mechanics

Magical Burnout

All spellcasters begin with a d12 Magical Burnout die. When a character uses magic, they roll their Burnout Die dependent upon the magical conditions in their environment, following the Magic Zone Effect table below. On a roll of 1 or 2, the character’s Magical Burnout die reduces by one die level and they roll d100 with the effect from the Burnout Consequences table below. Note that while magic can be a fickle mistress, not all Burnout Consequences are negative - sometimes the fates align to provide benefits from a perceived loss! Magic abilities granted through species or class traits and magic items are all Safe Magic, and never require a roll for Magical Burnout.

Magic Zone Effect

Burnout Consequences

Burnout Recovery

Rest and potions provide opportunities to increase a character’s Burnout Die, but may come at a cost.

1. Short Rest: increase Burnout Die level by 1, must sacrifice 1 Hit Die
2. Long Rest (minimum 8 hours): =  increase Burnout Die level by 1
3. Extended Rest (minimum 4 days): = return to d12 Burnout Die
4. Consumables: Potion of Mageblood increases Burnout Die level by 1, Elixir of Inner Peace provides Advantage when rolling Burnout Die for 1 hour

Spellcasting Foci

Critical Failure when casting spells requiring Spell Attack causes 1 Notch of Damage. Damaged Foci lose the ability to cast spells without Material Components, and each Notch reduces Spell Attack Bonus by 1.

Spell Components

Spell components are required for casting spells that have a Material Component if the spellcaster does not have a Spellcasting Focus. Having Material Components for a spell allows casters to cast those spells even when their focus is damaged. Component Pouches and spell components can also be damaged/destroyed by magical mishaps.

Magic Items

Magic items will be more difficult to identify and attune to. Identification of a magic item can be attempted during a Short Rest, but will require one or more skill checks, depending on the rarity of the item. Attunement will require attempts during a Long Rest, and one or more skill checks. Spells and potions will provide opportunities to speed up the process and make it easier.

A typical combat encounter is a clash between two sides, a flurry of weapon swings, feints, parries, footwork, and spellcasting. This game includes additional rules for flanking, facing, high/low ground, targeting specific body parts, and more.

Random Combat Encounters

When Random Combat Encounters occur (i.e. encounters experienced during travel or encounters with low threat levels), combat mechanics will be simplified to expedite play. Simplified Combat will have 4 phases per round, as per the following.

(1) Movement

Each character/creature decides on their position for the round

• Melee: within 5 - 10 feet of enemies
• Ranged: 10+ feet from enemies

(2) Action

Each character/creature decides on 1 Action for the round. Characters with access to Bonus Actions may use them as well.

• Attack: choose weapon and target(s) for round
• Dodge: defend against attacks for round
• Hide: attempt to conceal self for next round
• Magic: choose spell and target(s) for round
• Utilize: use abilities or items that are available as Action or Bonus Action

(3) Execution

Each character/creature rolls d20 to determine outcomes of Execution phase.

• Initiative: d20 + Initiative Bonus to determine order for round
• Attack: d20 + Attack Bonus to determine Chance to Hit for round (for each Attack per Action)
• Dodge: add +5 to AC for round
• Hide: d20 + Stealth Modifier vs DC = 10 + Highest Perception Modifier, on save gain Invisible Condition (+5 to Attack/AC, access to Sneak Attack) for next round
• Magic: d20 + Spell Attack Bonus to determine Chance to Hit for round
• Utilize: if abilities require a d20 Check, perform as normal

(4) Resolution

Determine results of Execution phase for each character/creature in order of Initiative for round

• Attack/Defense: normal Chance to Hit versus AC Check, on hit roll Damage Dice
• Saves: d20 (from Execution phase) + Save Modifier
• Condition: add/subtract HP from Actions, and determine characters/creature downed or dead
• Advance: start next round or end encounter
  
  

Combat Encounters with Tactical Modifiers

Normal combat encounters will have enhanced Tactical Modifiers to make combat more dynamic and increase potential threats, making tactical planning much more important. Additional Tactical Modifiers are as follows.

Dim Light

Characters or creatures without Darkvision receive -2 Attack Modifier when targeting an enemy in Dim Light.

Flanking

A character or creature is Flanked when two or more enemies are within Melee range and on apposing sides. Attackers gain +2 Attack Modifier to Flanked characters/creatures.

Facing

While in combat, a character/creatures ends their turn Facing the direction of their last Action or Bonus Action. Attackers gain +2 Attack Modifier on creatures Facing the opposite direction. (Does not stack with Flanking)

Threatened

When within melee range of an attacking enemy, a character/creature is in a Threatened condition. Creatures with the Threatened condition provoke Opportunity Attacks when attempting Ranged Attacks or Magic on a target outside of melee.

High/Low Ground

High/Low Ground affects a creature’s ability to see and attack enemies with Ranged attacks. Changes to cover/concealment and Attack Modifiers are as follows.

Cover from Other Creatures

Creatures obscured behind creature of the same or larger size and in direct line of sight have three-quarters cover (+5 AC) from Ranged attacks and spells. If the Attack roll made on the target misses due to the increased AC, the Attack hits the creature that is blocking line of sight.

Called Shots/Attacks

Targeting a specific limb/part of an enemy is allowed (ie head, wing, arm, eye, etc) but will increase AC of the target by an amount determined by the GM.

Cleave Through Creatures

If a melee attack reduces an undamaged creature to 0 hp, excess damage carries to adjacent creature, if the original Attack Roll would hit that creature as well.

Additional Actions Available in Combat

Additional Actions will be available in combat to make combat more dynamic and improvisatory. These additional actions are as follows.

Climb Onto Larger Creature: Contested Strength (Athletics)/Dexterity (Acrobatics or Sleight of Hand) checks as determined by GM.

Disarm: Melee Attack roll to hit. In lieu of damage, contested Strength (Athletics) or Dexterity (Acrobatics or Sleight of Hand) check. Disadvantage on Attack if defender is wielding two-handed weapon. Size difference between attacker/defender may also confer Advantage or Disadvantage. On success, defender drops weapon.

Mark: Successful Melee Attack allows for use of Bonus Action to Mark target, which lasts until end of attacker’s next turn. Attacker gains Advantage on Opportunity Attacks against target.

Overrun/Tumble: Can move through enemy creature’s space with contested Strength (Athletics) or Dexterity (Acrobatics) check. Provokes Opportunity Attack.

Push/Shove: Attempt to move enemy 5ft in any direction with contested Strength (Athletics) or Dexterity (Acrobatics) check. Size difference between attacker/defender may also confer Advantage or Disadvantage.

Mastery is a class feature shared between some martial classes that reflects their specialization with certain types of weapons, shields, and armor. Each piece of equipment lists a mastery property in addition to it's Properties. If the equipment meets the requirements in your class's Mastery feature, you can learn its mastery property and use it in combat. 

Learning a mastery property isn't permanent. During an Extended Rest, you can practice weapon drills and swap out one of your choices at the end of the rest.

There are 16 total masteries, be sure to click Next Page!

An adventurer without a scar is either very good, very lucky, or very new to the profession—trap-ridden dungeons, rabid monsters, and sharp weapons are notoriously bad for your health. Some adventurers are fortunate enough to retire with just a few injuries to show for their career. Many, however, die from injury long before retirement.

Wounds

On dropping to 0 HP, suffer a serious injury creating a Wound. Roll d10 to determine location of wound.

Wound Treatment

While Wound is open and untreated, gain one level of Exhaustion. Spend 1 hour and 1 use of Healer’s Kit with DC = 10 Wisdom (Medicine) check to treat wound. Treated wounds no longer cause Exhaustion but Wound Effects persist.

Reopening Wounds

Becoming Bloodied or receiving a Critical Hit can reopen wound, making it no longer Treated. Roll d20 + CON modifier to see if wound reopens.

Wound Healing

At the end of a Long Rest, roll Constitution check, DC = 15 for wound to heal. Greater Restoration Magical healing removes wound, but forfeits regaining HP. A healed Lingering Wound leaves a scar, which can be removed with Greater Restoration or higher healing spells.

Lingering/Permanent Injuries

When taking Massive Damage (a single damage source of more than half of max HP), roll on Lingering/Permanent Injuries table below. In addition, take 1 level of Exhaustion that remains until Lingering Injury is Treated. 

Lingering/Permanent Injury Treatment

Lingering/Permanent injury treatment follow that of Lingering Wounds, with the following caveats:

1. Injuries involving loss require treatment with appropriate prosthesis.

2. Non-loss injuries require DC = 15 Wisdom (Medicine) check.

3. Effects from Lingering/Permanent Injuries are not removed with natural healing.

Encounter Conditions are triggered on either a Critical Hit or a roll of maximum damage.

Defender makes a Constitution saving throw, DC = 12 or half damage received, whichever is higher. On failure, defender suffers Encounter Condition, depending on damage type. Creatures that are immune or resistant to damage types always succeed on saving throw.

At the end of the creature's turn, they make a DC 12 saving throw, ability as specific by the Encounter Condition

All Encounter Conditions end with the end of the encounter.

Bleeding

Triggered by Slashing or Piercing damage. Constitution saving throws.

• At the beginning of turn, take 1d4 bleed damage.
• Disadvantage on Constitution saving throws.
• Condition ends with use of healer’s kit or magical healing.

Burning 

Triggered by Fire damage. Constitution saving throws.

• At the beginning of turn, take1d4 fire damage.
• Disadvantage on Attack rolls.
• Can fall prone and use Bonus Action to end condition.
• Condition ends on contact with non-flammable liquids.

Chilled

Triggered by Cold damage. Constitution saving throws. 

• At the beginning of turn, take 1d4 cold damage.
• -5 Speed.
• Disadvantage on Dexterity saving throws and ability checks.
• Condition ends when within 5 feet of heat source.

Confused

Triggered by Lightning or Psychic damage. Wisdom saving throws.

• Disadvantage on Intelligence, Wisdom, and Charisma saving throws and ability checks.
• Disadvantage on Ranged or Spellcasting Attack rolls.
• Any source that removes Charmed condition also removes Confused.

Concussed

Triggered by Thunder damage. Wisdom saving throws.

• Disadvantage on ALL rolls using Dexterity.
• Gain Deafened condition, which ends when Concussed ends.
• Condition ends with magical healing.

Dazed

Triggered by Bludgeoning or Force damage. Constitution saving throws.

• Cannot use Bonus Actions or Reactions.
• Condition ends with magical healing.

Singed

Triggered by Radiant damage. Constitution saving throws.

• At the beginning of turn, take 1d4 radiant damage.
• Gain Blinded condition, condition ends when Singed ends.
• Condition ends with magical healing.

Weakened

Triggered by Poison or Necrotic damage. Constitution saving throws.

• Damage from attacks using Strength reduced by 1d4.
• Disadvantage on Strength saving throws and checks.
• Speed is halved.
• Condition ends with magical healing.

Conditions alter a creature’s capabilities in a variety of ways and can arise as a result of a spell, a class feature, a monster’s attack, or other effect. Most conditions, such as blinded, are impairments, but a few, such as invisible, can be advantageous.

A condition lasts either until it is countered (the prone condition is countered by standing up, for example) or for a duration specified by the effect that imposed the condition. If multiple effects impose the same condition on a creature, each instance of the condition has its own duration, but the condition’s effects don’t get worse. A creature either has a condition or doesn’t.

The following definitions specify what happens to a creature while it is subjected to a condition.

Berserk/Bloodlust

A Berserk/Bloodlusted creature is driven mad with blind rage/blood frenzy. The conditions are commonly due to the effects of a drug or a curse, overindulging in violence or sadism, or through fits of madness.

• Must use Movement, Action, Bonus Actions, Reactions, and Opportunity Attacks to attack nearest creature (including allies).
• Disadvantage on Intelligence and Wisdom ability checks and saving throws. Cannot cast or concentrate on leveled spells.
• Immune to Charmed and Frightened.
• Calm Emotions, any effect that suppresses/removes Charmed also ends Berserk/Bloodlust.

Blinded

• Blind and automatically fail any ability check that requires sight.
• Attack Rolls against have Advantage, Attack Rolls have Disadvantage.

Charmed

• Can’t attack the charmer or target the charmer with harmful abilities or magical effects.
• Charmer has Advantage on any ability check to interact socially with the creature.
• Calm emotions removes Charmed condition.

Deafened

• Can’t hear and automatically fail any ability check that requires hearing.

Frightened

• Disadvantage on ability checks and attack rolls while the source of fear is within line of sight.
  
• Can’t willingly move closer to the source of fear.
  
• Calm Emotions, any effect that suppresses/removes Charmed also ends Frightened.

Grappled

• Movement speed is 0.
• Disadvantage on attack rolls against any target other than the grappler.
• The grappler can drag or carry the grappled, movement speed is halved unless grappled is Tiny or at least two sizes smaller.
• Grappled creature can use Action to make Strength (Athletics) or Dexterity (Acrobatics) check against grapplers Escape DC or against Strength (Athletics) check if no Escape DC is given. On success, grappled creature escapes. On failure, Grapple continues.
• Condition ends if Grappler becomes Incapacitated or if distance between grappler/grappled is <5 ft.

Hallucinating

A hallucinating creature is plagued by false sensations, usually due to the effect of a drug, poison, spell, or curse.

• Disadvantage on Attack rolls, as well as ability checks that use Intelligence, Wisdom, or Charisma.
• May encounter false objects, creatures, or scenarios that only they can perceive, as if they were experiencing a Major Illusion spell.
• Lesser Restoration or any other similar effect ends condition.

Ill

An Ill creature suffers from a minor, common disease that would not benefit from expanded rules or is otherwise suffering from a bout of nausea, such as from bad food or drink. 

• Disadvantage on Strength, Dexterity, and Constitution checks and saving throws.
• Lesser Restoration or any other similar effect ends condition.
• Condition ends when creature finishes a Long Rest.

Incapacitated

• No Action, Bonus Actions, or Reactions.
• Concentration is broken.
• Cannot speak.

Inebriated

An Inebriated creature is drunk as fuck.

• Disadvantage on Dexterity, Wisdom, Intelligence, and Charisma ability checks and saving throws, as well as Attack rolls/Spellcasting using these abilities.
• Advantage on Strength ability checks, saving throws, and attacks.
• Gain Temporary Hit Points equal to level + 5 for the duration of the condition.
• Further consumption of intoxicants requires Constitution Saving Throw, DC = 10 + 2 x Exhaustion. On failure, gain level of Exhaustion. On save, remove one level of Exhaustion.
• Condition ends after a Long Rest.

Invisible

An invisible creature is impossible to see without the aid of magic or a special sense. For the purpose of hiding, the creature is heavily obscured. The creature’s approximate location can be detected by any noise it makes or any tracks it leaves.

• Not affected by any effect that requires a target to be seen.
• Advantage on Initiative rolls.
• Attacks against have Disadvantage and Attack Rolls have Advantage. These effects do not apply to creatures with Blindsight or Truesight.

Paralyzed

• Gain Incapacitated condition.
• Movement speed is 0.
• Automatically fail Strength and Dexterity saving throws.
• Attack rolls against have Advantage.
• Any attack that hits is a Critical Hit, if made within 5 feet.

Petrified

A petrified creature is transformed, along with any nonmagical object it is wearing or carrying, into a solid inanimate substance (usually stone). Its weight increases by a factor of ten, and it ceases aging.

• Can’t move or speak, and unaware of surroundings.
• Gain Incapacitated condition.
• Attack rolls against have Advantage.
• Automatically fail Strength and Dexterity saving throws.
• Resistance to all damage.
• Immune to poison and disease, although a poison or disease already in its system is suspended, not neutralized.

Poisoned

• Disadvantage on Attack Rolls and Ability Checks.

Prone

• Only movement is crawl, unless it stands up and thereby ends the condition.
• Disadvantage on Attack rolls.
• Melee Attack rolls against have Advantage. +1 AC against ranged and light-of-sight based spells.

Restrained

• Movement speed = 0.
• Attack rolls against have Advantage, Attack rolls have Disadvantage.
• Disadvantage on Dexterity saving throws.

Stunned

• Gain Incapacitated condition.
• Automatically fail Strength and Dexterity saving throws.
• Attack rolls against have Advantage.

Unconscious

• Gain Incapacitated and Prone conditions.
• Movement speed = 0.
• Automatically fail Strength and Dexterity saving throws.
• Completely unaware of surroundings.

Well-Fed

• A Well-Fed creature has had a particularly delicious and healthy meal.
  
• Gain Temp HP equal to Hit Die + Constitution Modifier.

Well-Hydrated

• A Well-Hydrated creature has quaffed a beverage of particularly high quality.
• Boon follows Bardic Inspiration mechanic, but Well-Hydrated Die expires after 24 hours.
• Well-Hydrated Die received is determined by Constitution Modifier, as follows.

0 = d4 (minimum)

+1 = d6

+2 = d8

+3 = d10

+4 = d12

+5 = d20

Well-Rested

• A Well-Rested creature has had a particularly comfortable and restful rest, outside of the uncertainty of the wild.
  
• Boon follows Luck Point mechanic, but Well-Rested Points expire after 24 hours.
• Gain Well-Rested Points equal to Constitution Modifier (minimum 1)

The adventuring life is not an easy one. Moving from town to town, delving into dark dungeons and hunting dangerous monsters for perhaps a few gold coins, is not a safe—or sane—way to make a living.  A character's survival conditions and the stress they accrue, can have lasting consequences on their adventuring career.

Survival Conditions

Survival Conditions Table

Stamina Checks

After particularly strenuous physical activities such as repeated or high DC Athletics/Acrobatics checks, the GM will ask a character to perform a Stamina Check (Constitution Saving Throw) with a DC equal to the character's best Survival Condition. Stamina Check failure increases a Survival Condition Stage by 1, with the condition determined by Stamina Failure Table.

Stress

Stress reflects the emotional, psychological, and metaphysical strain that adventurers encounter during their travails. Stress can come from a variety of sources and in varying amounts, detailed in the Stress Table below.

Skill in crafting, and the associated tools, help you make specialized ability checks, craft certain items, or both. 

Ability. This entry lists the ability to use when making an ability check with the tool.

Utilize. Examples of things you can do with the tool when you take the Utilize action. You can do one of those things each time you take the action. This entry also provides the DC for the action.

Craft. This entry lists what, if anything, you can craft with the tool.

Variants. This entry appears if the tool has variants, which are listed. Each requires a separate proficiency. (For example, proficiency with a Lute, does not grant you proficiency with a Viol.)

Tool & Skill Proficiency

If you have proficiency with any Tool, add your Proficiency Bonus to any ability check you make that uses the tool.

If you have proficiency in the Skill that’s used with that check, you have Advantage on the check as well. 

Example: a musician with proficiency in the performance skill as well as an instrument adds their proficiency bonus and rolls with advantage.

If you use an Artisan Tool you are not proficient with, you make the roll with Disadvantage.

To craft an item, you must have the appropriate Tool Kit in your inventory.

Toolkit and Crafting Syngeries

Adventurers can combine their proficiencies to craft items or tackle complex problems together.
For example, a character proficient in Woodcarving might craft arrow shafts that another character—skilled in Fletching—can turn into finished arrows.

A player with a Forgery Kit could partner with someone proficient in Calligraphy to produce a highly convincing invitation or collaborate with a Book Binding expert to fabricate an entire false historical text.

A Bastion is a location that belongs to a player character: a home, a stronghold, and a place of power that the character develops over the course of a campaign. A Bastion offers a character temporary refuge from the dangerous world of adventuring, and it provides opportunities for a character to craft magic items, conduct research, harvest poisons, build ships, and carry out a range of other activities.

Introduction

Not every character needs to have a Bastion. It's fine for some players in your campaign to opt in to Bastion ownership and others to opt out.

There's no need to choose between going on adventures and commanding a Bastion; a character can do both at once. A Bastion has special facilities that generate benefits. and these facilities can also undertake projects while the character is otherwise occupied.

Most importantly, a Bastion is a creative playground for a player and a shared storytelling space in the campaign. Be as permissive as you can with the stories players tell in their Bastions, but players should know their control might be limited by the campaign's larger story, which you strive to make fun for everyone.

Gaining a Bastion

The shape, style, and function of a character's Bastion are up to the player to determine. For example, a Wizard might build a tower, a Cleric might establish a shrine, a Fighter might build a fortified keep or similar stronghold, and a Rogue might establish a guildhall or lodge.

Characters of other classes might choose one of these forms or combine them— a Paladin's Bastion might be similar to a Cleric's shrine but as fortified as a Fighter's stronghold. And multiple characters can combine their Bastions to form a single large structure (see Bastion Map).

Every Bastion has facilities that serve basic needs as well as special ones, such as libraries, menageries, and workshops (see Basic Facilities and Special Facilities).  

Bastion Turns

As time passes in the campaign, players take Bastion turns to reflect the activity occurring in their Bastions, whether or not the characters are present. On a Bastion turn a character can issue orders to the special facilities in their Bastion or issue the Maintain order to the entire Bastion (see Orders).

Frequency of Bastion Turns

By default, a Bastion turn occurs every 7 days of in-game time. Here are common examples of players taking one or more Bastion turns:

• The characters are on a long journey away from their Bastions. After the characters have been away for 7 days you might say, "Time for a Bastion turn. Since you're not there, we'll assume you issue the Maintain order for your Bastions." Then roll for events as described in the Bastion Events section in this chapter.

• The characters spend 7 days or more in their Bastions between adventures, You might say, "You have six weeks to spend in your Bastions. Go ahead and resolve six Bastion turns." 

• The characters return to their Bastions in the midst of an adventure. You might say, "You have just enough time to take a Bastion turn before you leave again in the morning,"

• The characters are adventuring near their Bastions and resting in their Bastions at night. You might say "lt's been a week since your last Bastion turn, so you can take one now."

You can slow the frequency of Bastion turns to better serve the needs of your players and your campaign. For example, if the characters have months between adventures, you can call for a Bastion turn every month instead of every 7 days, so the characters aren't issuing so many orders or reaping too many benefits at once. 

Bastion Map

Encourage players to create floor plans of their characters' Bastions, configuring its facilities as they see fit and using the same techniques you use to create dungeon maps (see Dungeons in chapter 3 and Adventure Maps in chapter 4 of the 2024 DMG).

In addition to basic and special facilities (described later in this chapter), a Bastion can have the following features:

Closets. A basic or special facility can have one or more closets, washrooms, or similar enclosures. The closets must be inside the facility and can't increase the facility's area in squares, These features are free.

Corridors, Ramps, and Staircases. A facility can contain one or more corridors. ramps, or staircases leading to other facilities in the Bastion. These features are free.

Defensive Walls. A character can add defensive walls around their Bastion. A defensive wall is 20 feet high and may include a walkway along its top, with a means to access it (such as a ladder or lift). Each 5-foot square of defensive wall takes 10 days to build and costs 250 GP. If a character's Bastion is completely enclosed by defensive walls and it comes under attack (see Bastion Events at the end of this chapter) reduce the number of dice rolled by 2 to determine how many Bastion Defenders are lost in the attack.

Doors and Windows. Each facility comes with one or more doors and shuttered windows, placed wherever the player sees fit. See Doors in chapter 3 of the DMG for kinds of doors to choose from, including locked doors, secret doors, and portcullises. These features are free.

Combining Bastions

Two or more players can combine their characters' Bastions into a single structure. Doing so doesn't change the number of special facilities each Bastion can have, how those special facilities work, or who issues orders to each Bastion.

Each Bastion retains its own hirelings. which can't be sent to or shared with another Bastion, Bastion Defenders are handled differently: if some event deprives one character's Bastion of defenders, another character can apply all or some of those losses to their Bastion instead, provided the two Bastions are combined.

Special Facilities

Special facilities are Bastion locations where certain activities yield game benefits. A character's Bastion initially has two special facilities of the character's choice for which they qualify. Each special facility can be chosen only once unless its description says otherwise. 

Unlike basic facilities, special facilities can't be bought; a character gains them through level advancement. At level 9, a character gains two additional special facilities of their choice for which they qualify; they gain one additional facility at level 13 and another at level 17. The Special Facility Acquisition table shows the total number of special facilities in a character's Bastion.

Each new special facility immediately becomes part of the character's Bastion when the character reaches the level. Each time a character gains a level, that character can replace one of their Bastion’s special facilities with another for which the character qualifies.

Special Facility Level Acquisition

Lvl 5: 2 Special Facilities

Lvl 9: 4 Special Facilities

Lvl 13: 5 Special Facilities

Lvl 17: 6 Special Facilities

Requirements

Each special facility has a level. A character must be that level or higher to gain that facility. A special facility might also have a prerequisite the character must meet to gain that facility. For example, only a character who can use an Arcane Focus or a tool as a Spellcasting Focus can have an Arcane Study.

Space

A special facility occupies a certain amount of space (see Facility Space). A player can configure the squares of a special facility as desired on the Bastion’s map. A special facility can be enlarged to grant additional benefits if its description says so.

Hirelings

A special facility comes with one or more hirelings who work in the facility, maintain it, and execute Bastion orders there, as described in the next section. A player can assign names and personalities to hirelings in their character's Bastion using the same tools DMs use to create NPCs (see chapter 3 of the DMG).

Each special facility in a Bastion generates enough income to pay the salary of its hirelings. Hirelings follow the orders they're given and are loyal to the Bastion’s owner.

Orders

On a Bastion turn, a character in their Bastion can issue special orders—called Bastion orders—to one or more of their Bastion's special facilities. A character needn't issue orders to all the special facilities in their Bastion on a given Bastion turn.

The Maintain order is unusual; it is issued to the whole Bastion rather than to one or more special facilities. If a character isn't in their Bastion on a given Bastion turn, the Bastion acts as though it were issued the Maintain order on that turn unless the owner can communicate with the Bastion hirelings using the Sending spell or similar magic.

The orders are as follows:

Craft. Hirelings in the special facility craft an item that can be made in that facility. During the time required to craft an item, the facility can’t be used to craft anything else, even if a special ability allows the facility to carry out two orders at once. The hirelings have proficiencies with Artisan's Tools as specified in the facility's description.

Empower. The special facility confers a temporary empowerment to you or someone else.

Harvest. Hirelings gather a resource produced in the special facility. During the time required to harvest a resource, the facility can't be used to harvest anything else, even if a special ability allows the facility to carry out two orders at once.

Maintain. All the Bastion’s hirelings focus on maintaining the Bastion rather than executing orders in special facilities. Issuing this order prohibits other orders from being issued to the Bastion on the current Bastion turn. Each time the Maintain order is issued, the DM rolls once on the Bastion Events table at the end of this chapter. Bastion events are resolved before the next Bastion turn,

Recruit. Hirelings recruit creatures to the Bastion.

These creatures might include one or more Bastion Defenders, whose main purpose is to defend the Bastion if it is attacked (see “Bastion Events” at the end of this chapter). The Bastion generates enough income to provide for the needs of its Bastion Defenders.

Research. Hirelings in the special facility gather information.

Trade. Hirelings buy and sell goods or services stored or produced in this special facility.

Special Facilities Descriptions

Special facilities are presented in alphabetical order. The Special Facilities table lists all the special facilities presented in this section, along with their prerequisites and orders. Some facilities confer additional benefits, specified in their descriptions.

Facility type	Level	Requirements	Benefits
Arcane study	5	Uses arcane focus	Craft an arcane focus, book or magic item
Armory	5	None	Makes bastion defenders harder to kill
Barracks	5	None	Recruit up to 12 bastion defenders
Garden	5	None	Harvest for rations, potions of healing, antitoxins or basic poison. Can also sell produce for gold.
Library	5	None	Research to acquire information
Sanctuary	5	Uses holy symbol or druidic focus	Craft a sacred focus and cast healing word
Smithy	5	Has fighting style or unarmored defense	Craft weapons, armorand equipment, including magic armaments
Storehouse	5	None	Buy and sell items at a profit
Workshop	5	Expertise in a skill	Gain heroic inspiration or craft adventuring gear and magic items
Gaming hall	9	None	Earn gold from gambling winnings
Greenhouse	9	None	Eat fruits that provide lesser restoration or create potions of greater healing or poisons
Laboratory	9	None	Craft potions, poisons and concoctions
Sacristy	9	Uses holy symbol or druidic focus	Regain a spell slot on a short rest here and produce holy water or a temporary sacred item
Scriptorium	9	None	Copy a book, multiple sheets or create a scroll
Stable	9	None	House horses, mules and similar beasts. Gain advantage handling these beasts and buy and sell similar beasts
Teleportation circle	9	None	Invite mages to stay and cast a spell in the bastion
Theater	9	None	Stage performances to receive theater dice. These can be used like bardic inspiration with a longer duration
Training area	9	Has fighting style, unarmored defense or expertise in a skill	Gain an expert training benefit for 7 days like damage reduction or skill proficiency
Trophy room	9	None	Learn lore about a legend, monster or famous item. Discover magical trinkets
Archive	13	None	Gain effects of legend lore and a listed, rare book
Meditation chamber	13	None	Roll twice for bastion events and pick one, advantage on 2 saving throws
Menagerie	13	None	House and acquire creatures that can defend your bastion
Observatory	13	Uses a spellcasting focus	Random chance of having a boon bestowed by an unknown power
Pub	13	None	Research local events. Create magical beverages for enlarge, spider climb, necrotic resistance, frightened immunity or darkvision
Reliquary	13	Uses holy symbol or druidic focus	Allows casting of greater restoration and create an amulet that can ignore material components of a spell up to 1,000gp
Demiplane	17	Uses arcane focus	Gain 5 x level of temporary hit points, create basic, non-magical object
Guildhall	17	Expertise in a skill	Guild members perform special assignments
Sanctum	17	Uses holy symbol or druidic focus	Gain temporary hit points equal to level and cast heal and use sanctum as destination of word of recall (which you have prepared)
War room	17	Has fighting style or unarmored defense	Reduces numbers of lost defenders when bastion is attacked and amass additional guards