D&D (2024) 5.5e - What ONE section of the rules would you rewrite for clarity?

[Stalker0]

Though 5e uses natural language....some language is more natural than others We all have sections of the rules that are reasonably clear, but then there are other sections so vague that you just want to toss the rules in a fireplace!

So if there was ONE (and just one so to make the choice interesting) section in the any of the core books you could rewrite for better clarity in the next edition, what would it be?

And a reminder, the goal here is not to rewrite the rules to really change them necessarily, to buff or nerf them....its really just about making the designer's intent clearer.


For me the section would be the stealth rules. Stealth is such a core part of the standard dnd experience (both for rogues sneaking past guards, and parties being ambushed by sneaky monsters), and it is an INCREDIBLY powerful ability. But the rules are not great, there is lots of vague language, there are lots of very common stealth scenarios really not covered in the rules...its a bit of a mess. That would be my number 1 section to just rewrite with a lot more explicit language.

So what is yours?

 

[Sacrosanct]

Grappling.

 

[Morrus]

These ones www.levelup5e.com

 

[Stalker0]

These ones www.levelup5e.com

that's a BIT more than one section sir

 

[Sorcerers Apprentice]

Bonus actions, especially the bonus action spell rules.

 

[Lanefan]

that's a BIT more than one section sir

I dunno - were it up to me I'd rewrite everything between the endpapers of each book, wherein would appear a very different game than current 5e.

 

[jmartkdr2]

Spell components. Shortest answer is to move the sentence about using a hand holding a focus or material component being also used to perform somatic components to the paragraph on somatic components so that you just need a hand on a focus or a free hand and a component pouch.

The long answer I'd really like to see is for each class to get their own rules about components distinctive to the class- although they can be similar.

 

[Sorcerers Apprentice]

Bonus actions, especially the bonus action spell rules.

After thinking a bit more, I have to change my mind. The one section of the PHB I want to see completely rewritten is the index.

 

[Alby87]

After thinking a bit more, I have to change my mind. The one section of the PHB I want to see completely rewritten is the index.

You can not rewrite what was not written

Seriuosly, I'm in for indexes. As I said, a nice and clear table before feats, spells, monsters and treasure. An index table at the beginning of every section with one sentence resume of everything the game as to offer to quickly navigate between them. 3.5 had them, Pathfinder has them... why 5e doesn't have them?

 

[Sorcerers Apprentice]

You can not rewrite what was not written

But there is an index in the PHB, it's just complete rubbish! It has a lot of relevant entries, but instead of directing the reader to the relevant page, they usually refer to a different entry in the index, which again refers to another entry. So you need to look through 2-3 pages before you find the root entry that actually directs you to the page with the info you want.