5E

5th Edition Dungeons & Dragons

Sketches and ideas for Dungeons and Dragons Fifth Edition

Character Generation

Martial Arts

As players around here don't like to wear armor, there are Martial Arts rules.

Skills & Proficiency

You can generally count on being allowed to roll a skill with the ability score it is associated with. You can request to use a different ability and the GM may or may not allow this.

If you gain the same skill training or proficiency from two different sources, such as from both class and background, you can gain any other training or proficiency instead. This does not apply to skill expertise (double proficiency bonus) - you only gain expertise when the rules specifically say you do. If you gain expertise in a skill you already have training in you can replace that training with another training or proficiency, as above. This does not apply if the training and expertise comes from the same source, such as the rogue class.

Acrobatics Acrobatics can do some tasks of Athletics. Tasks in italics are new. Typical Acrobatics tasks are to

• Acrobatic stunts, including dives, rolls, somersaults, and flips.
• Climb a sheer or slippery cliff, avoid Hazards while scaling a wall, or cling to a surface while something is trying to knock you off.
• Jump an unusually long distance or pull off a stunt midjump.
• Push through a tunnel that is too small.
• Slip out of bonds.
• Swim or stay afloat in treacherous Currents, storm-tossed waves, or areas of thick seaweed. Or another creature tries to push or pull you Underwater or otherwise interfere with your Swimming.
• Stay on your feet in a tricky situation, such as when you’re trying to run across a sheet of ice, balance on a tightrope, or stay upright on a rocking ship’s deck.

Athletics Athletics have taken over some tasks that used to be pure Strength checks. Tasks in italics are new.

• Break free of bonds.
• Climb a sheer or slippery cliff, avoid Hazards while scaling a wall, or cling to a surface while something is trying to knock you off.
• Force open a stuck, locked, or barred door.
• Hang on to a wagon while being dragged behind it.
• Jump an unusually long distance or pull off a stunt midjump.
• Keep a boulder from rolling.
• Push through a tunnel that is too small
• Swim or stay afloat in treacherous Currents, storm-tossed waves, or areas of thick seaweed. Or another creature tries to push or pull you Underwater or otherwise interfere with your Swimming.
• Tip over a statue

Investigation This is the skill used to find things, as opposed to creatures (noticing creatures is covered by perception). Secret doors, obscure clues, and strange construction are all covered by Investigation.

Half-Level Bonuses

Half-level bonuses give small additional advantages at the halfway point to each new level. Leveling happens in very large steps which can lead to long periods when characters do not develop, particularly in a slow-leveling campaign.

Every half level (but not at full levels), a character gains one advancement point. The following things can be acquired with advancement points. Benefits noted GM require consulting the game master.

• Learn a new languages
• Gain proficiency with any one weapon, skill, tool, or vehicle
• Increase an ability score by one point to a value no higher than 13
• GMExchange one class ability dependent on choice, such as ones from domain, oath, school, or college for the same (or lower) level ability of another such path.
• GM Gain one permanent magic item. This also has a cost in money, favors, or service.
• GM Gain the patronage of one of the leading Avowed. Requires training in their associated skill, and grants Expertise in this skill.
• GM Make a character made friends with during an adventure into a henchman.

Multiclassing

All classes count as the best spellcasting class you have levels in for multiclassing.

Classes

Wizard

The savant ability gained at level 2 in certain schools allows you to pick two spells of your school when you learn new spells upon advancing in level. For each spell of your school you already know upon attaining 2nd level, you gain an additional spell of your school. You can substitute two such spells for one spell from any school.

• School of Theurgy

Combat

Outflanking

A creature is outflanked with it is not within the reach of any allies, and within the reach of two or more enemies. Melee attacks against an outflanked creature gain advantage.

Opportunity Attacks

A creature adjacent to an ally who is also adjacent to an potential opportunity attacker is not subject to opportunity attacks.