D&D 5E (2024) Help me Houserule 5e Equipment & Items

[FitzTheRuke]

You could make them enhance existing healing effects.
Alchemical band-aid: When taking a short rest you may re-roll up to half (minimum 1) of the expended hit dice. You may take either result.

If you care, this is technically a D&Dism. Historical bucklers took a hand to use, but were more portable than a big shield.

I know that one can't always trust reenactment for historical accuracy, but I once saw a row of archers fire their bows and then cover themselves against returned fire with their bucklers. It was enough to make it believable to me that such a thing could be done.

It's also my experience (25 years of martial arts unrelated to the afore-mentioned reenactment) that the difficulties and drawbacks of various weapons and techniques are so different from what people imagine, that any inaccuracies that something like allowing a buckler to work with a bow might add to the game - would pale compared to the inaccuracies that already exist.

If that makes any sense.

 

[Kobold Stew]

If you care, this is technically a D&Dism. Historical bucklers took a hand to use, but were more portable than a big shield.

That's fair.

The whole-hit-points-to-weapons thing is filed with artificiality. It bugs me that you swing a dagger with the same speed as a greataxe ,but I have to let it slide.

 

[FitzTheRuke]

That's fair.

The whole-hit-points-to-weapons thing is filed with artificiality. It bugs me that you swing a dagger with the same speed as a greataxe ,but I have to let it slide.

True, though I feel like reach often makes more difference than speed. At any rate, we're a little into the weeds (not that I mind that, this is really meant to be a discussion, after all).

 

[Merlecory]

Some other items you could add

Bolas: a thrown tripping weapon. Maybe they could have some sort of limited use enchantment? A target wrapped in the bolas is also silenced for example.

Rope in a bottle: When you open this bottle up to 90 feet of rope begins to pour out and harden. The rope lasts for 1 hour. When thrown, the bottle breaks and acts like the web or grease spells? Concentrationless web might be stronger than you want, so maybe a smaller area and for 1/2 rounds?

 

[Merlecory]

Goal #3: Do It Yourself Crafting

• Yes, I'd like a crafting system. 2024 D&D is close, maybe, to a working system, but I'm not sure I like things taking months and months at higher levels. Maybe.
• OTOH, I don't want people crafting Magic Items. At least, not pumping them out like Bastions seem to do, or building all the broken combos like 3e seemed to do. IDK - I'm open to feedback on this one.

Looping back here, and I think I've seen it mention elsewhere in the thread.

The revised Star Wars RPG gave players the ability to customize/personalize weapons and armor. I would suggest that those become available to players who craft/have a bastion craft things for them.

Some possible modifications:

• Increasing max dexterity bonus by +1
• Reduce/eliminate a speed penalty for armor? Not sure how often players are wearing armor they don't have the strength for, but maybe this would change that?
• Reducing weight- Not sure how much you track encumbrance, but that might have some additional value in a more gear focused game.
• Armor could be disguised as something less restricted, or as something more threatening. Advantage on deception/intimidation checks
• Mount equipment/weapons to armor- Reduce the action economy to gain access to say a grappling hook (those are in 5E, right?), or allow you to quick draw a weapon.
• Weapons could be made to be easier to conceal
• Increase the short/long range of a weapon.

 

[Merlecory]

Now that I am thinking about it, are you interested in Bastions? If so

• Crafting assorted items
• People generally looking for intrigue
• Hiring scholars to answer specific questions your characters might have
• Warding (spells, lead sheet to prevent scrying, etc)
• General "Cosmetic" improvements that have no real mechanical effect might still be nice touches for a players home.

 

[FitzTheRuke]

Now that I am thinking about it, are you interested in Bastions? If so

• Crafting assorted items
• People generally looking for intrigue
• Hiring scholars to answer specific questions your characters might have
• Warding (spells, lead sheet to prevent scrying, etc)
• General "Cosmetic" improvements that have no real mechanical effect might still be nice touches for a players home.

I'm interested in Bastions, but I absolutely loathe most of how they were implemented. I was honestly more excited about them when they were first announced than they probably deserved, and I find them a big letdown. There's certainly something salvageable about them, but I suspect that it would be a lot of work.