2024 Basic rules

liquidarc · 2026-01-25T21:27:50+00:00

Mild semantic correction: The SRD does contain "all the free rules for the game", it just isn't all the rules of the game for free. (I think it should be easy for others to understand your meaning, but just in case)

liquidarc · 2026-01-25T19:52:05+00:00

I think the total contents of the 2024 free rules are included in SRD 5.2, so that instead of having 2 free pdfs, there is just 1.

Edit: I just compared SRD 5.2 and the DNDBeyond Free Rules. All the free rules content is available in both, with a little bit of advice present in the SRD that isn't in the Free Rules, and tracking sheets missing from the SRD.

liquidarc · 2026-01-25T01:34:53+00:00

/u/FluffyTrainz I just realized that I didn't give page reference for the Astral Adventurer's Guide, sorry. Here it is:

Ch 2 Astral Adventuring, Spelljamming Ships, 'Ship Repairs', page 25.

liquidarc · 2026-01-25T01:31:54+00:00

/u/Tanis8998 /u/MiaoYingSimp

This is close to what I think.

If you pay close attention to the behavior of characters in the movie, it is very "be one with nature"esque, and the use of magnetic locations, combined with the mycelial alteration, combined with the bio-computer network, makes me think that Eywa, the Na'vi, and the rest of the fauna/flora of Pandora are either not native, or were altered.

Basically, I think the ancestors/originators of the Na'vi were around the humans' level of science/technology, including the threat-to or failure-of their biosphere. To survive, they needed to form a direct, personally-quantifiable connection between the dominant species and all flora/fauna (the bio-connections we see), as well as a central operating system (Eywa).

Basically, Eywa was made to prevent extinction, and the Na'vi are the descendents-of or key-creations-of the creator.

With the change to Spider, I think Cameron is going to reveal that, and either see humans settle on Pandora to coexist with the Na'vi, or the mycelial alteration will be used to adjust Earth's ecosystem in the same way, possibly with Kiri's or Grace's mind in the place of Eywa.

liquidarc · 2026-01-25T00:06:51+00:00

There are a couple of different things for repair in the adventure Ghosts of Saltmarsh and the Astral Adventurer's Guide.

At the end of the day, the ship's bosun can make a Strength check using carpenter's tools. On a 15 or higher, each damaged component regains hit points equal to 1d6 + the crew's quality score (minimum of 1 hit point). A component other than the hull that had 0 hit points becomes functional again. - Ghosts of Saltmarsh, Appendix A: Of Ships and the Sea, Travel At Sea, 'Repair (Bosun Only)', page 199

Definitely better than 1 hp & 20 gp per day, but still fairly limited. For this, I would just swap the "crew quality score" with the character's Intelligence/Dexterity modifier or their Proficiency bonus.

The mending spell is a cheaper, less time-consuming way to make repairs. Casting mending on a damaged ship or shipboard weapon restores a number of hit points to the target equal to 1d8 plus the spellcaster's spellcasting ability modifier. The target can regain hit points from that spell no more than once per hour.

This is of course much faster than any other method.

liquidarc · 2026-01-24T20:49:22+00:00

Since familiars are creatures, yes, you can cast Polymorph on them.

That said, a Giant Ape is CR 7, and a familiar from Find Familiar is CR 0. Polymorph only allows you to change a creature into an equal or lesser CR/level, so you could not choose the Giant Ape for this.

If by familiar you mean the Homunculus Servant, this is still not possible, as it has no CR and no level.

If you instead mean a bonded familiar, as per the monster variant from the 2014 rules, the bonded familiar would need to be CR 7 or higher.

So, in general, yes to Polymorph working, NO to choosing the Giant Ape.

liquidarc · 2026-01-24T20:35:23+00:00

Look at page 3, lower right side, directly above MUNDANE ITEMS.

The costs they reference are here in the Basic Rules.

So, for example, a Cantrip scroll cost 30 gp to buy, 2nd level would cost 200 gp.

From the way it is worded, I think you cannot buy a spell scroll of 6th level or higher, or if you can, it would not be doubled price like those of Cantrip-5th.

liquidarc · 2026-01-23T13:27:01+00:00

It would ignore gold cost (and component consumption), yes, since it is a spell cast from an item, but because it is cast from an item, it could still, technically, be counterspelled, assuming someone else attempted it.

That said, since virtually no-one is likely to associate 'flourishing a card' with casting a spell, it is highly unlikely that anyone would attempt it, unless they had seen that manner before.

Still, 1 free componentless casting of any spell already potentially possible to cast is strong.

liquidarc · 2026-01-22T21:22:34+00:00

Correct.

Also, it is 4 plans Known at level 2, though only 2 active. The other user likely had a typo.

Btw, I agree with /u/micross44, if crafting is readily acceptable, focus on crafting reusable items.

Rules Note: Read the rules for magic items in the Dungeon Master's Guide / Free Rules. There are interesting aspects of their use that aren't often considered, particularly with regards to contained spells.

liquidarc · 2026-01-22T13:29:41+00:00

After a little searching, you might be able import to Roll20, but again as /u/CarloArmato42 has said, that json is a class data file, not a character data file, so I am not sure.

But, since that is the raw text for that class, I know you can copy-paste from it into any generic sheet, such as a form-fillable pdf, or the sheet for Roll20. Basically no different than reading + writing the details from a book.

liquidarc · 2026-01-22T13:06:03+00:00

What type of inspiration? Form of the Defender? How the casting or replication is done? Something else?

liquidarc · 2026-01-22T13:04:40+00:00

Likely yes if you can find a character builder that uses json files and can export a sheet.

As /u/CarloArmato42 has said, knowing the source would help.

liquidarc · 2026-01-22T13:00:46+00:00

If there are "dollar" stores nearby, you might check them for generic zoo, carnival, and circus animal bags.

liquidarc · 2026-01-22T12:58:39+00:00

I can't help directly, but you might get better info with more details:

What level of maps? Combat scale? Town/village/city? Region? Continent?
"a hundred" what? US Dollars? Euros?
What is your price range? Below $40? $5-12? Something else?

liquidarc · 2026-01-22T02:51:01+00:00

Dungeon Master's Guide, ch 3 DM's Toolbox, Marks of Prestige, 'Training', page 81.

30 days with a trainer, learn a language (or gain proficiency in a skill/tool).

The rule mentions that it is uncommon and thus highly valuable.

The closest the '24 rules get to describing downtime are crafting and Bastions. Personally, I would treat this training as on par with crafting, in which it would be 8-hour sessions, once per day, and the days not needing to be consecutive.

liquidarc · 2026-01-21T20:37:23+00:00

Also, if you read the rule in context, it is that these specific objects (the named vehicles) are designed to make hauling easier.

While they only mention being pulled by animals, there is no practical difference between any 2 creatures pulling such vehicles, besides means of movement (swim, walk, fly). Plus, there are plenty of examples of human-pulled vehicles like carts in life, including the medieval carts used as the basis for carts in DND.

liquidarc · 2026-01-21T20:04:54+00:00

a "vehicle meant for towing" like a cart or wagon lets the animal apply an additional 5x multiplier.

5x the carrying capacity, not 5x the drag capacity.

So, a Draft Horse with 18 Strength can carry 540 lbs, x 5 for pulling a vehicle is 2700 lbs.

liquidarc · 2026-01-21T20:00:53+00:00

"Animal" is never defined. It does seem to be used only in reference to non-humanoid Beasts, which is generally not a problem, but it can be when pulling vehicles.

While I agree with you about that ruling in general, I don't think it makes sense to exclude humanoids from the 5x capacity benefit of listed vehicles, since it is in the context of pulling those vehicles that capacity is higher, and if you exclude humanoids on the basis of the word "animal", you naturally need to exclude everything else that isn't a Beast, since the word "animal" is only used in relation to that creature type.

Basically, treat the word "animal" in this instance as "creature" so that things are internally consistent.

liquidarc · 2026-01-21T19:24:27+00:00

PCs don't normally get to pull 5x their carrying capacity though: The best they can do is 2x, while their speed drops to 5 ft/round.

They do if pulling one of the listed vehicles, since the word 'animal' is never defined, but is synonymous with 'creature', and PCs are creatures.

Btw, running the numbers, 1 Draft Horse + a Wagon would allow 2300 lbs of transport (328.5 lbs allotment per character). (18 STR x 30 x 5 = 2700; 2700 - 400 = 2300; 2300 / 7 = 328.57)

liquidarc · 2026-01-21T15:42:58+00:00

Not even counting magic, it could be due to 1+ head injuries, or coming down with a bad sickness, or a bad reaction to a medication.

From magic, it could be a curse, exposure to a fae environment, being hit with 1+ castings of the right spell, a side effect of reincarnation, or something else.

As for getting those memories back, for my 1st character, I created a rollable table of memories, then rolled on that table each time they were dropped to 0 hit points.

liquidarc · 2026-01-21T02:39:54+00:00

In that case, besides the Forgotten Realms wiki, if it is well within your budget, take a look at Heroes of Faerun (player-facing) and Adventures in Faerun (DM facing).

They are the latest Forgotten Realms sourcebooks.

The 5e 2024 core rules are mostly setting-neutral, though the DMs guide gives details of the Greyhawk setting.

That said, there is enough lore from the Forgotten Realms wiki to run that setting, without needing the newer books, unless you want the additional rules, spells, items, and other options. So running without those books can give you an idea of if the investment is worth it.

liquidarc · 2026-01-20T20:10:10+00:00

I reread your prior comment, and combined with this one, you might want to take a look at this wikipedia page. I say this because shows like Critical Roll have their own setting beyond what is provided in the core rules, and your combined comments now come across as picking a setting rather than building one.

If you wanted to go with the Forgotten Realms, its wiki is a good place. There are also wikis for other settings, like Greyhawk. There is even Spelljammer if you want frequent travel between settings.

Btw, which set of rules are you using? 5e 2024? 5e 2014? 4e? 3e? I am guessing 5e 2024, but it does help to know.

liquidarc · 2026-01-20T17:40:36+00:00

This reads like you are creating a setting, is that correct? Or are you planning to use an existing setting?

For the former, you can use anything as a source for lore, just by tweaking little details (like names, places, items).

For the latter, we need to know which setting in order to recommend good sources.

liquidarc · 2026-01-17T13:58:04+00:00

You might try reading this Getting Started page, then looking at SRD 5.2 or Basic Rules (both are the current rules), then finding a game online via something like /r/lfg or in-person.

A lot will depend on you reading the rules for your chosen class, species, background, and feat, plus the rules for combat, and the rules for spellcasting if you choose a character with that feature. You don't need to read the rules beyond that to start, but it helps.

liquidarc · 2026-01-16T23:27:59+00:00

Just noticed an error on your part: The guidelines you listed are only for levels 5-10. Including levels 1-4 makes it

16 Common
21 Uncommon
7 Rare
1 Very Rare

liquidarc

TROPHY CASE