D&D (2024) 2024 House Rules / Fixes

[Rabulias]

• Shields: (Un)equipping a shield will require a bonus action.
  I dislike 2024's rule that (un)equipping a shield doesn't require any action at all, but I don't feel the need to stick with 2014's rule that it requires an action. So a bonus action feels like a reasonable compromise and should hopefully nip in the bud any shield + weapon juggling shenanigans. An alternative could be that (un)equipping a shield uses up your one free object interaction for the round.

I currently tie it to Shield Proficiency:
If you are proficient: 1 Bonus Action to equip, Free Action to drop.
If you are not proficient: 1 Action to equip, 1 Bonus Action to drop.

difficult terrain, maybe add option that allies can spend their Reaction to actively move out of your way for normal movement.

I like this idea! I really would like more general Reactions for all PCs and NPCs.

Could the shield issue be resolved by confirming that when equip a shield without using your action, you gain the shield bonus to AC from the start of your next turn?

Interesting... I will have to ponder this.

 

[Kannik]

Personally, I'm frustrated with some of the changes to Smites. I appreciate that they're 1/turn, as the system limits how many spell slots you can blow through, but Eldritch Smite doesn't cost a bonus action. So I'm gonna bake Smite into the paladin progression, but still require the smites to be learned with spell slots.

Wait, they left Eldritch Smite as a free/no action? Do Warlocks gain the same spell level/uses as they did in 5e14? If so, compared to a 7th level pally, a 1/6 Fighter/Warlock could deal an additional 10d8 damage in a single round vs the Paladin's extra 3d8. And with slots recovering in a short rest, they might be able to deal out more extra damage per day than a Pally could spending all their spell slots. That seems harsh for the Paladin.

My own house rule will be as such: Smites (of any kind) may be cast on a successful hit at no action cost. However, you may only cast a single smite (of any kind) once per round.

(Or, perhaps make it once per turn to match sneak attack, if that's still how sneak attack is worded in 5e24.)

 

[Xeviat]

Wait, they left Eldritch Smite as a free/no action? Do Warlocks gain the same spell level/uses as they did in 5e14? If so, compared to a 7th level pally, a 1/6 Fighter/Warlock could deal an additional 10d8 damage in a single round vs the Paladin's extra 3d8. And with slots recovering in a short rest, they might be able to deal out more extra damage per day than a Pally could spending all their spell slots. That seems harsh for the Paladin.

My own house rule will be as such: Smites (of any kind) may be cast on a successful hit at no action cost. However, you may only cast a single smite (of any kind) once per round.

(Or, perhaps make it once per turn to match sneak attack, if that's still how sneak attack is worded in 5e24.)

Once on your turn should be fine. I'm not concerned about beefing up their opportunity attacks; rogues can have that extra advantage.

 

[pukunui]

@DEFCON 1: Thanks for reminding me about stealth! I would definitely use the 2014 rules for hiding. I will have to double-check, but I think the only other thing I would need to change for that is the thief rogue’s level 9 feature, which adds a new cunning strike option that states “If you have the Hide action’s Invisible condition …” I would just change that to say “If you are hidden …”

@Kannik Eldrith Smite and Sneak Attack are both still 1/turn. Eldritch Smite costs a spell slot.

 

[mellored]

I currently tie it to Shield Proficiency:
If you are proficient: 1 Bonus Action to equip, Free Action to drop.
If you are not proficient: 1 Action to equip, 1 Bonus Action to drop.

If you are not proficient, then you don't get any benefit from using a shield. You are just kind of holding it.


Also, I am not 100% sure what the new shield rules are. Is there even still a 1/turn interaction?

 

[mellored]

Wait, they left Eldritch Smite as a free/no action? Do Warlocks gain the same spell level/uses as they did in 5e14?

It's 1/turn and you need to use Pact slots (i.e. no multi class Valor bard).

And yes. Warlocks has the same pact magic.

 

[pukunui]

Also, I am not 100% sure what the new shield rules are.

As far as I can tell, the book does not explain how to use a shield, only that it provides a +2 bonus to AC while you are holding it (and only if you have training with shields). Presumably a shield counts as an object, so it would come under the rules for using objects (one free interaction per turn; otherwise, take the Utilize action).

Is there even still a 1/turn interaction?

Yes.

 

[mellored]

As far as I can tell, the book does not explain how to use a shield, only that it provides a +2 bonus to AC while you are holding it (and only if you have training with shields).

It's only +2 with proficiency.

 

[pukunui]

It's only +2 with proficiency.

That’s what I said, except that in 2024, you have training with armor and shields, not proficiency. I’m not sure why they felt that needed a different word but it is what it is.

 

[Will Brandiman]

That’s what I said, except that in 2024, you have training with armor and shields, not proficiency. I’m not sure why they felt that needed a different word but it is what it is.

They moved away from the term 'proficiency' for anything that did not apply your proficiency bonus.