D&D (2024) Bonus Unearthed Arcana Reveals The Bastion System

A 'bonus' Unearthed Arcana playtest document has appeared, and it shows off D&D's upcoming Bastion System.

This October, we’re bringing you a special treat. While we’re continuing to develop and revise public playtesting material for the 2024 Player’s Handbook, we’d thought you’d enjoy an early look at what we’re cooking up for the 2024 Dungeon Master’s Guide.

The coming Dungeon Master’s Guide will be the biggest of its kind in decades and contain an assortment of new tools for DMs and their tables. In Bastions and Cantrips, we’re showcasing one of these tools, the Bastions subsystem. Dungeon Masters and their parties can use this subsystem to build a home, base of operations, or other significant structure for their characters.

And if you’re raring to test out more character options, we’re also including revisions for 10 cantrips in this playtest packet.

Claim Unearthed Arcana now! - D&D Beyond

www.dndbeyond.com

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[TwoSix]

Feeling slightly vindicated about the Necromancer.

I suspect that the problem with the Necromancer is that many younger folks expecting to play video game style Necromancers in D&D are gobsmacked by a 1970s concept of the archetype. Outdated and a lot of micromanaging the undead. I'm worried that WotC will think that the problem is only the subclass rather than many of the core spells that compose its class fantasy.

Agreed. The modern version of the horde necromancer is a pet class primarily, and needs to be balanced very differently than the blaster/utility chassis of a wizard.

 

[mamba]

One of the attainable abilities is literally resurrection but yes continue to tell me about what shouldn't be level gated.

then level gate resurrection (you kinda do anyway as it costs 100 points, which I assume takes a while to accumulate, haven’t read the UA yet), not owning a pub. Plenty of normal folks own pubs, why can’t a level 1 char…

 

[Remathilis]

I don't see either of these as a hole in the system. Personally my players would enjoy having their own strongholds as opposed to being forced into a group one (though group strongholds should be an option). And D&D is a level based game so I expect level gating.

You can also read it as "you can build a specific type of room earlier, but you won't see enough returns to get the benefits of it until you reach the proper level".

 

[Reynard]

then level gate resurrection (you kinda do anyway as it costs 100 points, which I assume takes a while to accumulate, haven’t read the UA yet), not owning a pub. Plenty of normal folks own pubs, why can’t a level 1 char…

You can own a pub at level 1. it just isn't a Bastion until you hit level 5.

 

[darjr]

The bastion system is a good idea. I like that we’re getting a chance to give feedback on it and it’s implementation. Note something like this was also in the Eberron AL campaign.

I do wish it would have done a look back to the ACQ Inc book.

 

[Ruin Explorer]

then level gate resurrection (you kinda do anyway as it costs 100 points, which I assume takes a while to accumulate, haven’t read the UA yet), not owning a pub. Plenty of normal folks own pubs, why can’t a level 1 char…

I can accept maybe level 5 gate for strongholds... er Bastions anyway, but like, nothing non-magical should be level-gated beyond that. Cost-gated maybe, but even then a pub has to be one of the cheaper options. Surely vastly cheaper than a library or the like.

 

[Imaro]

Oh dear oh dear.

That's not a rational or logical argument. That's an outright logical fallacy.

Just because a magical power should level-gated, doesn't mean OWNING A PUB is justifiable as level gated lol. What does this pub serve magic drinks?

(I am disappointed to say I cannot locate the ancient World of Warcraft "Drinking Magic Dranks" rap)

So your problem is with one specific use of bastion points not the whole level gated system... clarity is key.

 

[Parmandur]

You can own a pub at level 1. it just isn't a Bastion until you hit level 5.

This.

Heck, one fo the best selling D&D Adventures of all time has owning a pub as a Level 1 accomplishment.

 

[Parmandur]

The bastion system is a good idea. I like that we’re getting a chance to give feedback on it and it’s implementation. Note something like this was also in the Eberron AL campaign.

I do wish it would have done a look back to the ACQ Inc book.

Hope it does better than either of the attempts at a mass combat system.

 

[MonsterEnvy]

This is mostly just the bastion rules, which is weird, as that's unlikely for people to playtest. 'ah, yes, we were just making a stronghold in this 2-week window'

I guess anything else they might've been considering is in a flux? So they just copy-pasted a completely new section here to bide time until UA9? I dunno, it feels out of place with how specific it is.

Shillelagh has scaling now. Look at that damage go up, one die step at a time!

If you have a magic staff or club Shillelaghs will still apply to it.