Search results

FAMILIAR BINDER You learn the ritual required to find a familiar, a spirit in the form of an animal that serves you as an aide and mystical adviser. The ritual takes 1 hour to perform and requires 100 gp of arcane components, at the culmination of which the familiar appears in the form of a...

Apologies for not getting back to this last night- the day got away from me and I ran out of steam earlier than I had thought I would. On with the feats! DEADLY TRICKSTER The movement cost for your Cunning Shift and Cunning Skill features are each reduced by 5'. If you have sneak attack...

Me too! That's exactly where the inspiration comes from. If you want to do that, you can just alternate as you go up in levels. This is a concern. So far it hasn't been an issue, but the amount of playtesting I've done is pretty limited, so I'm watching for this. Well, I'm not sure that I am...

Obviously, there are plenty more feast to come, but I have to run to an appointment shortly. I hope to post some or all of the rest later today/tonight!

Here begin the feats! Feats are a major part of character advancement and a huge design space. ACROBAT You gain a 1d6 bonus die when you make a check or save involving jumping, tumbling, balancing, or other acrobatic feats. If you fall prone, you can use a reaction to stand up. If you...

Finally, the wizard- the fourth of the four "base classes". Note that I wrote this version of cloudkill before deciding to re-institute ability damage; I'll probably modify it eventually to use ability damage instead of (or maybe in addition to) hit point damage. Note also that some 5th level...

This is the rogue. I am not fully satisfied with it; for instance, I am waffling on the requirements to sneak attack, and I have been debating whether to make Evasion require a reaction. ROGUE 1d6 HD. Starting Features: Gain proficiency in rapier, short bow, whip, expertise +1d6 (one stat)...

Here is the fighter. I suspect I'm done for the day- I'll try to post the rogue and wizard tomorrow, with the rogue being the class that seems to need the most work from the little bit of playtesting we've done with these rules. FIGHTER 1d10 HD, Starting Features: Gain proficiency...

Okay, on to the classes. First of all- there are only the basic four- cleric, fighter, rogue, and wizard. Other classes are emulated with feats; there is, for example, a Druid feat. Also, there are only ten levels (inspired by E6), with further advancement happening via feats only. Note that...

I just realized that there is a reference to "advancement points" above. So- What are advancement points? When you finish a level (i.e., when you level up), you choose one ability score to advance, roll a die based on the level you just finished, and note those points next to the score. Once...

CHARACTER ADVANCEMENT Level --- Features 1 --- Starting features, class features,race features 2 --- Class features, feat 3 --- Class features 4 --- Class features, feat 5 --- Class features, race features 6 --- Class features, feat 7 --- Class features 8 --- Class features, feat 9 --- Class...

Some checks are made on 4d6 or 5d6 (or 2d6), and some have DCs. Ah, but my perfect D&D uses ability damage- all of the problems with which are removed by removing ability bonuses. You'll see some static bonuses like that when I post the classes (and feats).

And saves! And there are a lot of bespoke elements that are tied to stats. You'll see more as I post more of the stuff for (f'rex) classes and gear. I have neither read nor played Shadowdark, but if there are similarities to my D&D, perhaps I should check it out!

Here are a few miscellaneous rules. INITIATIVE Roll 1d6 + Dex score. Attacks against a creature that hasn't taken its first turn yet get a 1d6 bonus die. A creature is surprised if it is unaware of at least one combatant when initiative is rolled. A surprised creature can't do...

So, what can you do on your turn? You can: Take an action. Move your speed. There are no bonus actions or free interacts. However, there are things you can do by spending some of your movement. For example: Draw a weapon: 5', or 10' if the weapon requires two hands. Drop a weapon: 5'. Open a...

Now then, as to how the game works on the most basic level- there are three basic types of "Did I succeed?" rolls, known in the 2024 rule set as D20 tests. These are: Attacks. Roll 1d20, add any applicable bonuses. Higher is better. Saves. Roll 1d20. You are trying to roll equal to or below...

I'm sure many of us have spent time working on our own perfect version of D&D- perfect, in this case, being perfect for the person doing the thinking. I know that I have done so for, well, decades now, with my design evolving alongside the published versions of the game and my own sensibilities...

I was there, too, in a highly conservative area where my teachers brought me the infamous "D&D teaches assassination, poisoning, witchcraft!!!" flyer to talk about it with me. And I'm not dismissing the 'lesser evils' here- I am saying that they are just that: Lesser. The difference between...

Those kinds of attempts at censorship both pre- and post-date the Satanic Panic. Look at the moral panic around comic books, for instance- well before the Satanic Panic came along. The SP was much worse (and was far more specific) than that; it ruined lives and put people in prison for things...

Is anyone doing that? I have seen a lot of "Enjoy what you like", but not a lot of "you're not allowed to enjoy that". I love a lot of cheesecakey, even sleazy, art. I miss the naked she-monsters from 1e. But even as I love and miss it, I can ALSO see how it can alienate women and perpetuate...