2024

 I'm back. I didn't intend to be gone so long but work was killing me. Also, I turned 49. Yeah, next year, God willing, I'll have lived on this rock adrift upon infinity for half a century. I know less than I ever have about things. I think, as we move out of the zeitgeist, things just get fuzzy. Or we are in the Darkest Timeline. Or both.

I figured I'd start with the 800 lb. gorilla in the room, the Evolution if Dungeons and Dragons due out in 2024. 

I think the timing is right, especially with the 50th Anniversary of DnD and I think 5E's lifespan has been pretty darn good. I don't think 2024, what I'm calling the Anniversary edition, will be 5.5. That new gift bundle due in January (the only way to get the new Mordenkainen's book at that point) is 5.5. And I think the bundle is a good idea. I can say to my new players you need this slipcase eventually and then you'll need this slipcase when you need or want more.

My main concern is Wizards of the Coast and Hasbro, their corporate masters. I've watched WotC use digital products to compete with their tabletop Magic: the Gathering line over the last few years. I've also experienced the crunch when to prioritize Amazon, Walmart, and Target over the direct market. I get it, but those three companies don't sustain the community. Basically, I'm worried that WotC will go back to monthly DnD products and push their audience to their own digital tools for the 2024 edition. Hopefully, all the money I've invested in DnD Beyond won't be for nought but its happened with other digital assets before.

I hope the 2024 edition channels the best parts of 5E and blazes new trails but we'll see.

I also wonder about the 5E audience that chooses not to "evolve" to the 2024 edition. That market was big enough to sustain Paizo for a good run when 4E came out and Pathfinder 1E still has a larger presence on Roll20 over Pathfinder 2E.

Every version of a new edition has a lot of question marks so that is nothin new. I hope they consider having another open playtest but that is harder to do when your current edition is still selling products.

I will say that 5E is my favorite modern version of DnD. The OSR still calls to me most days, but 5E did a lot of things right, hopefully 7 years into the 2024 edition I'll be able to write the same thing.

Prime Materials: Dynamo, a wand for D&D 5th Edition

Dynamo

Wand, uncommon

Rumors persist that Dynamo was given to the Blackstaff by his master upon finishing his apprenticeship.  However, many assume that if the wand really did belong to the archmage, he'd have sought it out at some point in the intervening years.  Darker rumors about a curse that follows the wand occasionally is gossiped about amongst mages over tea.  They story insists that the wand is the resting place of an ancient evoker who is stealing the life energy of its wielders, so that he may one day return to life.

Dynamo has 1d4 charges that reset at dawn each day.  You may spend one charge to bump the damage dice of a spell by one step (from d6 to d8, etc.).


Force Multiplier (requires attainment) Evokers who are attuned to Dynamo, may spend one charge to add one additional damage die to a spell.

Dungeons & Dragons Release Schedule July to November

I was disappointed when I got my weekly solicitations from WotC on Saturday and there were no July preorders yet, but I had a feeling we'd get an announcement today and sure enough it hit.

What's great about this is that my store, Comic Book World, will get the PHB 6 days before Gen Con and 11 days before Amazon, which is great because I'm planning on matching Amazon's pricing.

July 3:  
D&D Starter Set released at WPN retailers (CBW is a WPN Retailer)
 
July:  
WizKids’ Dungeons & Dragons Fantasy Miniatures Starter Set Heroes released
 
July 15:  
D&D Starter Set released at non-WPN retailers
 
August 8:  
D&D Player’s Handbook and Hoard of the Dragon Queen released at WPN retailers
 
August:  
WizKids’ Dungeons & Dragons Fantasy Miniatures Set One Standard Booster released
 
August 14:  
Tyranny of Dragons launches for Cryptic Studios’ Neverwinter
 
August 14-17:  
Gen Con (Hoard of the Dragon Queen and D&D Player’s Handbooksold there)
 
August 19:  
Hoard of the Dragon Queen and D&D Player’s Handbook released at non-WPN retailers
 
September:  
D&D Monster Manual released
 
October:  
Rise of Tiamat released
 
November:  
Dungeon Master’s Guide released

Advanced Next (AD&D 1E/OSRIC + D&D Next/5th)

 

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So I enjoy the ease of character creation and straight forwardness of ADnD, but prefer the unified mechanic and "bounded accuracy" of DnD Next.

Here is what I've wrought (its not like I'm reinventing the wheel):

I use the Ability Score Bonus scale from DnD Next [though you could easily switch it to 3 (-3), 4-5 (-2), 6-8 (-3) 9-12 (0), 13-15 (+1), 16-17 (+2), 18 (+3)], as well as use the Proficiency Bonus that applies to weapons, skills, tools, and saving throws that you are trained in.  For simplicity sake I allow a character to simply choose three Skills (or simply use Secondary Skills) and two Saving Throws to be Proficient in.

I also have all one-handed weapons dealing 1d6 damage and all two-handed weapons dealing 1d6+2 damage which essentially allows weapons choices to be cosmetic.  However, if your using a weapon not on your list, don't add your Proficiency Bonus.

Here are how the Class Features are used and how I change them:

Assassin is per OSRIC, except gain +2 to Damage, when an Assassination is attempted the target makes a Dexterity Save vs a DC of 8 + Assassin's Dex Mod + Proficiency Bonus finally they gain Disguise at their Proficiency bonus with an additional +5 at Level 1.

Cleric is per OSRIC, except gain +1 to Hit with their God's chosen weapon and Turn Undead using the following rules:

Turn Undead
As an action, you present your holy symbol and speak a prayer,  each undead creature within 25 feet of you must make a Wisdom saving throw vs  DC 8 + your Wisdom modifier + your Proficiency bonus. If the creature fails its saving throw, it is turned for 1 minute or until it takes damage. If such a creature has a hit points equal to or lower than your cleric level multiplied by 5, the creature is destroyed instead of turned.  A turned creature must spend its turns trying to move as far away from you as it can, and it cannot willingly move closer than within 25 feet of you. 

Druid is per OSRIC.

Fighter is per OSRIC, except they gain +1 to Hit and Damage, replace Fighting the Unskilled (I hate this ability, I don't know if it appeared here or in Castles and Crusades first) with a +4 to Initiative and choose a third Saving Throw to be Proficient in.

Illusionist is per OSRIC.

Magic-User is per OSRIC.

Paladin is per OSRIC, except they gain a +1 to Hit and Damage, Improved Saving Throws gives a +1 bonus to all Saving Throws at Level 1.

Ranger is per OSRIC, except +1 to Hit and Damage, Tracking uses the Proficiency Bonus and gains an additional +5 at Level 1.

Thief is per OSRIC, except a Thief gains their Proficiency Bonus to Climb, Find Traps, Hide In Shadows, Move Quietly, Open Locks/Disarm Traps, Pick Pockets, and Read Languages; they also pick two of these skills and gain an additional +5 Bonus at Level 1.  Also, ignore Dexterity and Racial Adjustments to skills.

To save vs a Spellcaster, the target must make an appropriate Ability Saving Throw vs a DC of 8 + Spellcasting Ability Mod + Proficiency Bonus (e.g. to save vs a wizard's fireball make a Dex Saving Throw vs a DC of 8 + 2 (Int of 14) + 3 (Proficiency Bonus for 7th Level) or 13.


Skill List if you choose to use it:
Acrobatics,
Animal Handling
Arcana
Climb
Deception
History
Insight
Intimidation
Medicine
Nature
Perception
Performance
Persuasion
Religion
Search
Stealth
Survival

Playing D&D Next

I finally got a chance to play the current beta rules for DnD Next.  There was an Elven Wizard, Dwarven Monk, Elven Ranger, Dwarven priest and myself, a Human Fighter.

We didn't have any combat, so I didn't get to use my maul, but I enjoyed the game immensely.  While Tony W.'s excellent game is technically DnD Next, it's as much a home-brew as anything else.

This was cool and I hope to play again soon.

I've been leary of the umbrella Proficiency bonus (even though I've argued for it for years), but like how it works.  Next seems to make Ability Scores useful and I found that it was easier to choose a class, because combat ability hinged on weapons, not on class.

It still takes about 15 minutes longer than I think it should to make a character though.

All in all, I am pleased with the current product.

D&D Next Playtest Ending Soon

So I just received an e-mail form WotC letting me know that the playtest files will be taken down on 12/15.  Ghost of Dragonspear Castle is now available in PDF (I have the print version) and two more adventures are on the way next year (with the rules to use them).

My first question is why take the rules down?  We all know that they will still be available and the rules in the Ghost of Dragonspear Castle are not the latest playtest rules.

My second question is when are we going to get a firm release date?  Sure, we all suspect that it will release at Gen Con next year, but we don't know for sure.

I understand that even if every employee at WotC wanted more transparency, Hasbro could easily cut them down.  But I hate to see short sighted ideas being continually used by the "industry leader".  If your not innovating, your dying.

D&D Next & I

I took a break from DnD Next earlier this year after the final play test packet was posted.

It felt like a sharp turn from what we had been testing for many moons.

However, upon further reflection the single biggest problem I had with the newest rules is something I'd been looking for in DnD for years.  You see, I hated the strange bonus economy that DnD had been using.  A +1 for BAB was different from a Save, which was different from a Skill, which was different from Ability Scores.  Apparently a Feat equaled a +2/3 to Skills, a +3 to Saves, and a +1 to a specific weapon.

Next fixed this.  Proficiency spans all of those categories and relies on options, not bonuses to achieve "balance".  It was something I longed for, and then got mad when I saw it rolled out.  It was the same knee jerk reaction I had when saw that only Fighters advanced with an Attack Bonus in Lamentations of the Flame Princess.  While is shocked it, upon reflection it made sense.  It worked.

So I've been revisiting it.

I won't lie, part of it is that while I love 13th Age and I respect Pathfinder, as a store manager it's my job to pave the way amongst my customers for whatever the new version of Dungeons and Dragons is called.  So I need to start think about demoing the game and spreading the word and, hopefully, taking preorders.

One day, I might add in the escalation die and trade out Backgrounds and Skills for Backgrounds from 13th Age, but right now it's getting to be the time where I rally the fans and show the uncertain wether this version of DnD is right for them.  And I'm lucky because I have several exist strategies in place if they don't.

I can say with some authority that there are some cool surprises coming down the line from the developers.  So keep your eyes peeled.

D&D Next Final Playtest Packet is up!

Check it out here!

Battle Beasts Tuesday: Romain Buffalo for D&D Next

Romain Buffalo

Large Humanoid

Armor Class 19

Hit Points 49 (6d10+18) 

Speed 40 ft.

Str 15 (+2)    Dex   10 (+0)    Con 16 (+3)

Int  9 (-1)      Wis    10 (+0)    Cha 8  (-1)

Alignment lawful

Languages common, plains
TRAITS______________________________________

Gore:  Romain Buffalo deals triple damage with his horns on a hit when taking the charge action.

Shaman: Romain Buffalo gains advantage on all Wisdom checks.

(Optional) Heart of Wood: Romain Buffalo is vulnerable to fire damage.

(Optional) Mighty Oak: Romain Buffalo is resistant to water damage.

ACTIONS_____________________________________

Melee Attack—Horn +4 to hit (reach 5 ft.; one creature). 

Hit: 8 (1d10+2) wood damage.

Melee Attack—Claw +4 to hit (reach 10 ft.; one creature) 

Hit: 7 (1d8+2) wood damage.

Melee Attack—Razor Wedge +4 to hit (10 ft. aura) 

Hit: 6 (1d6+2) wood damage.

ENCOUNTER BUILDING 

Level 4                      XP 250

Clown Prince for D&D Next

For nearly three hundred years, the Master of Shadows headed an elite organization of hired killers culled from the noble families of the whole world.  He sought out those sons and daughters, so far removed from the throne, that their longing for power could be forged into a weapon wielded by the highest bidder.

The Shadow Princes earned a dreadful reputation as preeminent assassins and bodyguards.  After all, who better to protect a powerful target, then the best killers money could buy?

However, after fulfilling a contract for Iggwilv, the Princes refused a boon the witch offered in lieu of the gold they were promised.  Iggwilv, incensed, paid the fee but cursed them by transforming all current and future member to literally become the "short sighted clowns" who refused a favor from the Mother of Witches.

The Princes have chosen to embrace their curse and use it to instill even more terror on their targets than before.

Clown Prince

Medium Humanoid

Armor Class 15

Hit Points 33 (6d10) 

Speed 30 ft.

Str 12 (+1)     Dex   14 (+2)    Con 11 (+0)

Int  12 (+1)    Wis    13 (+1)    Cha 15  (+2)

Alignment neutral evil

Languages common, elven

TRAITS______________________________________

Clown!:  Clown Princes have Advantage on all Charisma checks.

Royal Assassin:  Clown Princes score a Critical on an attack roll of 18-20.

ACTIONS_____________________________________

Melee Attack—Blade +6 to hit (reach 5 ft.; one creature). 

Hit: 12 (3d6+1) slashing damage.

ENCOUNTER BUILDING 

Level 6                      XP 450

Battle Beasts Tuesday: Rocky Rhino for D&D Next

Rocky Rhino

Large Humanoid

Armor Class 19

Hit Points 55 (6d10+24) 

Speed 20 ft.

Str 14 (+2)     Dex   8 (-1)    Con 19 (+4)

Int  11 (+0)    Wis    7 (-2)    Cha 10  (+0)

Alignment lawful

Languages common, rhiknow

TRAITS______________________________________

Assault:  Rocky Rhino has advantage when charging and has a speed of 60 ft.

(Optional) Heart of Fire: Rocky Rhino is vulnerable to water damage.

(Optional) Slash and Burn: Rocky Rhino is resistant to wood damage.

ACTIONS_____________________________________

Melee Attack—Hammer Mace +4 to hit (reach 5 ft.; one creature). 

Hit: 8 (1d8+4) fire damage.

Melee Attack—Wedge Axe +4 to hit (reach 5 ft.; one creature) 

Hit: 9 (1d10+4) fire damage.

ENCOUNTER BUILDING 

Level 4                      XP 250

Final Judgement (+3 Vorpal Battle Axe)

Final Judgement

Legendary Dwarven Battle Axe

Wielded; Weight 6 lbs.

Beacon: On command, this item sheds bright light in a 10-foot-radius sphere. Darkness within 10 feet of the sphere of bright light becomes dim light. Speaking the command word again douses the light.

Painful: The bearer experiences a lingering ache while wielding the item or has a flash of pain when activating one or more of its properties. The pain has no other adverse effects.  
Property: You gain a +1 bonus to the attack rolls and the damage rolls you make with this battle axe.

Property (Attuned): The sword’s bonus to attack rolls and damage rolls increases to +3. Attacks you make using this weapon ignore slashing resistance.
     Whenever you score a critical hit with this weapon, make another attack roll against the same target. If you hit again, the target takes 6d8 extra damage. If this second attack is a critical hit and the target has 150 hit points or fewer, you lop off its head, killing it instantly. If the creature doesn’t have a head, you instead chop the creature in half, with the same lethal result.   

Rarity: Legendary.

Battle Beasts Tuesday: Sledgehammer Elephant for D&D Next

Sledgehammer Elephant

Large Humanoid

Armor Class 19

Hit Points 51 (6d12+12) 

Speed 20 ft.

Str 16 (+3)     Dex  10 (+0 )    Con 17 (+3)

Int  14 (+2)    Wis    9  (-1)     Cha  11  (+0)

Alignment lawful

Languages common, pachyderm

TRAITS______________________________________

Big & Tough:  Sledgehammer Elephant has advantage on any Constitution or Strength checks.

(Optional) Heart of Water: Sledgehammer Elephant is vulnerable to wood damage.

(Optional) Riptide: Sledgehammer Elephant is resistant to fire damage.

ACTIONS_____________________________________

Melee Attack—Hammer Fist +6 to hit (reach 5 ft.; one creature). 

Hit: 10 (1d12+3) water damage.

Ranged Attack—Rocket Baton +2 to hit (range 60 ft./120 ft. 5 ft.) 

Hit: 6 (2d4) water damage

ENCOUNTER BUILDING 

Level 4                      XP 250

Friday's D&D Next Playtest Packet

While I wasn't expecting the changes to the DnD playtest being discussed in Legends and Lore, I'm still disappointed we didn't see them.

I think this version was to bring the game in line with next week's Free RPG Day event and to give us something to keep us occupied with until the next packet timed for Gen Con (and to be sold there).

I like what I'm seeing, but it's hard to read about a game your not playing yet.

While my patience is being tried, I sill have faith in the crew at WotC.  However, if your growing very impatient and Pathfinder or an older version of DnD isn't your thing, definitely check out 13th Age, if you preorder you get the finished PDF immediately and it's definitely worth the price of admission.

Battle Beasts Tuesday: Horny Toad for D&D Next

Horny Toad 

Medium Humanoid

Armor Class 19

Hit Points 59 (4d6+18) 

Speed 30 ft.; jump 60 ft.

Str 11 (+0)     Dex  15 (+3 )    Con 10 (+0)

Int  13 (+1)    Wis 11  (+1)      Cha  12  (+1)

Alignment lawful

Languages common, ribbit

TRAITS______________________________________

Leaper:  Horny Toad can move 60 ft. when jumping horizontally and 30 ft. vertically.

Spring Attack: Horny Toad may jump to charge a target and gains advantage on the attack.


(Optional) Heart of Wood: Horny Toad is vulnerable to fire damage.

(Optional) Mighty Oak: Horny Toad is resistant to water damage.e.

ACTIONS_____________________________________

Melee Attack—Fist Lance +2 to hit (reach 10 ft.; one creature). 

Hit: 6 (1d10) wood damage.

Melee Attack—Headcleaver +2 to hit (reach 5 ft.; aura 10 ft.) 

Hit: 7 (2d6) wood damage

ENCOUNTER BUILDING 

Level 4                      XP 250

John Titor, Time Traveler for D&D Next

John Titor

Medium Humanoid (Time Traveler)

Armor Class 19

Hit Points 59 (9d8+18) 

Speed 30 ft. 

Str 12 (+1)     Dex  13 (+1 )    Con 14 (+2)

Int  17 (+3)    Wis 15  (+2)      Cha  14  (+2)

Alignment chaotic

Languages all
TRAITS______________________________________

Deja Vu:  John Titor gains advantage on all saving throws.

Prescient: John Titor gains advantage on all ability checks.

ACTIONS_____________________________________

Multiattack: John Titor makes one kung fu attack and one future shock attack.

Melee Attack—Kung Fu +4 to hit (reach 5 ft.; one creature). 

Hit: 8 (2d6+1) bludgeoning damage.

Ranged Attack—Future Shock +6 to hit (range 150/300 ft.; one creature). 

Hit: 14 (2d10+3) psionic damage

ENCOUNTER BUILDING 

Level 9                   XP 2,400

Skaven Skavenger for D&D Next

Skaven Skavenger

Medium Humanoid

Armor Class 13

Hit Points  11 (3d6) 

Speed 40 ft.

Senses dark vision 30 ft.

Str   11 (+0)      Dex 14 (+1)    Con  10 (+0)

Int  15 (+2)     Wis 16 (+3)    Cha   8  (-2)

Alignment chaotic evil 

Languages undercommon, common

TRAITS______________________________________

Stealthy +5: The skaven gets +5 to all checks to avoid detection.


Climber +5: The skaven gets +5 to all checks to climb and can move at it's full speed.


Filthy +5: The first time a target is hit by a skaven's weapon in an encounter, they must make a DC 12 Constitution Check or have their speed reduced by 1/2.

ACTIONS_____________________________________

Melee Attack—Warp Blade: +2 to hit (reach 5 ft.; one creature). 

Hit: 8 (2d6+1) piercing damage.

ENCOUNTER BUILDING 

Level 3                   XP 120

Playing with D&D Next House Rules

So tonight I got to implement the changes I wrote about in this post.

I think they went very, very smoothly.

The Areas of Knowledge work very, very well and it's fairly easy to work out the different levels of knowledge in a minute or two.

The only class that still had Skill Dice was the Rogue and I'm seriously contemplating just changing that to gaining Advantage in those areas.

I think it streamlined things to simply ask the players to make Ability checks and slightly reduced the clutter on the character sheets.

Proficiencies didn't really come up, but I can see them being useful.  I have a character that's a musician and simply listing the instruments he played as Proficiencies was easy and painless.

Honestly, I'm even contemplating spell lists, I have some creative players and may simply define basic attack and healing spells and then let them generate their spell effects on the fly...we'll see about that one.

I'm not sure when we'll see a new packet, but I'm pretty happy with what I have.

Battle Beasts Tuesday: Triple Threat Snake for D&D Next

Triple Threat Snake

Medium Humanoid

Armor Class 12

Hit Points 14 (4d8) 

Speed 35 ft.; 

Str 16 (+3)     Dex  12 (+1 )    Con 9 (-1)

Int  12 (+1)    Wis 10  (+0)   Cha  8  (-1)

Alignment lawful

Languages common, parseltongue

TRAITS______________________________________

Constrictor:  When Triple Threat Snake misses with a coils attack roll, the target takes 3 points of water damage.

(Optional) Heart of Water: Triple Threat Snake is vulnerable to wood damage.

(Optional) Riptide: Triple Threat Snake is resistant to fire damage.

ACTIONS_____________________________________

Melee Attack—Coils: +5 to hit (reach 10 ft.; one creature). 

Hit: 9 (1d10+3) water damage.

Ranged Attack—Venom Spit: +3 to hit (range 25 ft./50 ft.; one creature). 

Hit: 5 (1d6+1) water damage.

ENCOUNTER BUILDING 

Level 4                   XP 250

Tonberry for D&D Next

Tonberry

Small Humanoid

Armor Class 14

Hit Points 32 (9d6) 

Speed 20 ft.

Senses lowlight vision 50 ft.

Str    9 (-1)      Dex 16 (+3)    Con 11 (+0)

Int  12 (+1)     Wis 13 (+1)    Cha  15  (+2)

Alignment chaotic evil 

Languages undercommon

TRAITS______________________________________

Stealthy +5: The tonberry gets +5 to all checks to avoid detection.

Grim Determination: When the tonberry is constrained it can use an action to end the constraining effect at the end of its turn.

ACTIONS_____________________________________

Melee Attack—Wicked Dagger: +5 to hit (reach 5 ft.; one creature). 

Hit: 28 (7d6+3) piercing damage.

Ranged Attack—Hooded Lantern: +6 to hit (range 10 ft. radius; all creatures). 

Hit: 10 (2d6+3) radiant damage.

ENCOUNTER BUILDING 

Level 9                   XP 2400