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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[dave2008]

I guess maybe I give the Bastions overall like, maximum score and then minimum score to every single element inside it?

That could work. There is typically a comment box also where you can get into specifics of what you don't like. That would be my plan, but I need to review the document first

 

[Kurotowa]

Anyway the Bastion system should have a Inn/hotel/feasthall option, we're you host guests, the ability to hire live entertainment for your pub.

You can get a lot of the way there by combining Gaming Hall, Theater (for dancers and live music), and Pub. That's most of the way to a rocking gambling den. It's not a true Inn, yes, but they may think that's best covered as a non-Bastion business. Bastions aren't meant to cover all land and business ownership, after all.

 

[OB1]

Interesting that they don't feel the Bard needs another playtest even though one of their major features, picking from Divine, Primal and Arcane magic is going away. Wonder if they are confident enough that replacing that with Cleric, Druid, and Wizard (Sorcerer?) lists will be enough for the class or if they still plan on giving Bards access to the three types.

 

[Ruin Explorer]

That could work. There is typically a comment box also where you can get into specifics of what you don't like. That would be my plan, but I need to review the document first

Yeah I just think the odds of my comment actually being read are tiny. It could happen but there's no way they're fully reading 10000+ comments. They're either using some kind of numerical system to detect potentially "interesting" comments, or at best, having some low-paid outsourced people go through the comments flagging which ones are "worth reading" on some kind of unknown-to-us criteria.

 

[Ruin Explorer]

Interesting that they don't feel the Bard needs another playtest even though one of their major features, picking from Divine, Primal and Arcane magic is going away.

Yeah and other changes invalidated or modified a number of other Bard features. So them not doing another playtest here seems pretty silly. It's like 50/50 whether we'll get a Bard that's a total mess or a Bard that's kind of OP at this point.

 

[Parmandur]

Interesting that they don't feel the Bard needs another playtest even though one of their major features, picking from Divine, Primal and Arcane magic is going away. Wonder if they are confident enough that replacing that with Cleric, Druid, and Wizard (Sorcerer?) lists will be enough for the class or if they still plan on giving Bards access to the three types.

Honestly, maybe people didn't like that and that contributed to the combined lists going away?

 

[Parmandur]

Indeed, though I'm still wrapping my brain around all the interactions. As best I can tell you have zero Bastion Defenders if you don't have a Barracks. But on the other hand, all having zero defenders when under Attack does is shut down two Facilities for a couple Bastion turns, unless the DM picks a result you only have a 5% chance of rolling an Attack result, and you don't even roll on the table unless you're on an extended trip and default to Maintain.

So it's not like having a Barracks is absolutely mandatory. It helps, even if you're going for a public house with a Gambling Den and a Theater. Just stipulate that the Defenders are bouncers, ready and willing to face off a street gang that tries to bust up the place. But I wouldn't say you absolutely had to have a Barracks on a stand alone Bastion.

Still, pooling resources with the party is probably a good idea, unless you each want to do your own thing. One Barracks to cover everyone is a good investment. But I'm not so sure about the Armory. That second Facility and the gp cost just to make your Defenders better seems like overkill, unless the DM is scripting more frequent Attacks as part of the story.

It does seem to be very rewarding for the players to pool together and build a campus/castle/cult compound or what have you, without actually being necessary.

 

[Dausuul]

I believe this is because WotC is switching from legendary actions to multiple reactions for monster. A cantrip shutting down all of the monster’s reaction options for its three reactions per round would be crazy powerful for a cantrip.

That would make sense. On the other hand, it's still a substantial nerf to a spell that wasn't exactly topping the list to begin with.

 

[Yaarel]

Anyway the Bastion system should have a Inn/hotel/feasthall option, we're you host guests, the ability to hire live entertainment for your pub.

It also needs to discuss things like mobile bastions (Spelljammers, Walking Castles, Ships, Traveling Circuses, etc...), a Ritual Casting Room, maid/butler/masseuse/Chef and other pampering Hirelings maybe tied to basic rooms, washrooms should be treated like closets, just a carve out a chunk of your bedroom to as act as a washroom,unless it's a truly opulent spa kind of deal.

Also how spells with permanent benifits like Mighty Fortress, Temple of the Gods, Major Illusion, Glyth of Warding, Planar Ally, etc..., work with Bastions.

Also what if the location you choose to put your Bastion has region specific rules, like Undermountain, Sigil, Gatetowns, Hell, Astral Sea, Wildspace, etc....

What if you want to use Bastion rules with a preexisting structure, like Spelljammer, Boat, Trollskull Tavern from Waterdeep: Dragonheist, part or a Dungeon (like the Manorhouse like part of Undermountain), etc....,

All good concerns. But the Bastion already had me at ... my own demiplane.

I am approaching the Bastion as a separate character with its own character sheet. The different options are like Bastion classes.

In your list of things, making a Spelljammer a Bastion sounds appealing. Adding to your list. A Bastion at a Fey Crossing can be cool, shifting back-and-forth between planes. An arcade with shops along it.

I also have this image of having a door that you can setup anywhere in any city. It takes up no room since it is a door. But to go thru it is to step thru a Gate to the Bastion. The Bastion can be palatial overlooking a beautiful scenic view. Then return to city thru same door.

 

[Ruin Explorer]

I believe this is because WotC is switching from legendary actions to multiple reactions for monster. A cantrip shutting down all of the monster’s reaction options for its three reactions per round would be crazy powerful for a cantrip.

This could be - is that how MotM or Giant book monsters are designed? Or is this entirely theoretical (but quite possibly correct)?

Either way I think a better redesign would be to have it delete one Reaction rather than only hit OAs. If they're super-concerned they could make it non-stacking so no matter how many times it was cast only one Reaction was deleted.