D&D (2024) Dungeon Master's Guide Bastion System Lets You Build A Stronghold

The Dungeon Master's Guide's brand new Bastion System has been previewed in a new video from Wizards of the Coast.

Characters can acquire a bastion at 5th-level. Each week, the bastion takes a turn, with actions including crafting, recruiting, research, trade, and more.

A bastion also contains a number of special facilties, starting with two at 5th-level up to 6 at 17th-level. These facilities include things like armories, workshops, laboratories, stables, menageries, and more. In total there are nearly thirty such facilities to choose from.

 

[Micah Sweet]

What the Bastion system reminds me of is the video game State of Decay 2. There are certain bases you can take over on the map for your community - some are small, some medium or large. Inside each base, let's say Rusty Rosey's, a rundown gas station/biker kitchen, there are small slots and large slots. One of the large slots is an auto shop - from the wrecker repair. Inside the bar, there's a kitchen, there are also small slots - the booths, which work as a bed - or you can tear the booths out to put real sleeping areas in, or an infirmary, or your workshop.

That actually sounds a lot more granular than what the Bastion system has been described as.

 

[LuisCarlos17f]

This is a tabletop rpg, not a computer videogame. We have more creative freedom to change elements we don't like so much. We can create our housemade rules.

For example to enjoy a bastion from first level the group could add an "architect", working like a sidekick class. Or the PCs can "hire" a minibastion but on condition of fulfilling some missions ordered by the boss/landlord.

Or thanks certain quests the players earn "bastion points" and then they can start to build one in a lower level.

Even if PCs were enoughly rich in the lowest levels to build by stone would need more time.

And if we are talking about a temple, then "turn off and let's go away" ( = we can do nothing more). This is not like playing the Sims where the building is easy, fast, and not too expensive.

* What if after a total-kill-party the new PCs could enjoy the bastion by the previous group as heirs? Even if the second group started in a lower level.

 

[MarkB]

At the end of the day, these kinds of setting logic questions are why the rules base WotC is using for the Bastion system could never work for me. My simulationist preferences really demand something more connected to the setting. That doesn't mean that it won't have anything of use to me, however, so I look forward to seeing the actual rules when my friend buys the DMG and brings it over, and I enjoy talking and speculating about it now.

Just like the rest of 5.5. I'm still a 5e player, just not WotC anymore.

Yeah, this is why I'm considering keeping the other mechanics but ditching / heavily modifying the random events. Having a one-size-fits-all set of possibilities regardless of the circumstances of the game or the placement of the bastion just doesn't feel connected to the setting.

 

[S'mon]

You control 99.9% of the world. If you can't share a sliver, that's a you problem, not a rules problem.

Players who want to fight the GM for authority... bye bye.

 

[Jefe Bergenstein]

Players who want to fight the GM for authority... bye bye.

It's nice to see them get away from the petty little tyrants who can't stand anyone questioning them.

 

[S'mon]

It's nice to see them get out of an abusive relationship.

Funny how they moan when I boot them, though!

 

[Jefe Bergenstein]

Funny how they moan when I boot them, though!

Probably because they haven't played with actual decent DM's who value collaboration and treat them as adults. It takes a while to learn that bad D&D < No D&D.

 

[S'mon]

Probably because they haven't played with actual decent DM's who value collaboration and treat them as adults. It takes a while to learn that bad D&D < No D&D.

Yeah. Well I hope they're happy.

 

[CaptainRelyk]

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The Dungeon Master's Guide's brand new Bastion System has been previewed in a new video from Wizards of the Coast.

Characters can acquire a bastion at 5th-level. Each week, the bastion takes a turn, with actions including crafting, recruiting, research, trade, and more.

A bastion also contains a number of special facilties, starting with two at 5th-level up to 6 at 17th-level. These facilities include things like armories, workshops, laboratories, stables, menageries, and more. In total there are nearly thirty such facilities to choose from.

This bastion system is bad news

It’s horrible that WoTC didn’t take any feedback and they are using class features, of all things, to gatekeeper players from facilities that fit their characters

For example, a sun soul monk who serves Lathander is not allowed to have a sanctum. A zealot barbarian can’t have a sanctum. And a drow swords bard who worships eilsitraee is not allowed to have a sanctum.

It’s even worse when you consider artificers and forge clerics can’t even have a smithy

 

[Demetrios1453]

This bastion system is bad news

It’s horrible that WoTC didn’t take any feedback and they are using class features, of all things, to gatekeeper players from facilities that fit their characters

For example, a sun soul monk who serves Lathander is not allowed to have a sanctum. A zealot barbarian can’t have a sanctum. And a drow swords bard who worships eilsitraee is not allowed to have a sanctum.

It’s even worse when you consider artificers and forge clerics can’t even have a smithy

How do you know they didn't take feedback on this? Did you get an early release of the DMG somehow?