My D&D 5E Hack

I still have to find time to read Pathfinder 2E, but this tower needs maintenance. So, given that I seem cursed to keep running 5E, let me try at least to write “my version” of the game. Which one is that? I’m glad you asked!

Proficiency Die (p. 263 of the Dungeon Master’s Guide). Why? Because I like a little bit of chaos with my dice. Considering my experience at the table with DCC RPG, the players also like the wobbly effect that a random dice gives you each round.

Background and Personality Trait Proficiency instead of Skills (p. 264 of the DMG). Why? Nowadays I prefer open-ended skill systems, like 13th Age. Also, I frequently forget which skills does what (it is the same with languages, but that is easier to fix).

No multiclass! Why? Well, first because it is a mess (I’m looking at you spellcasters) and it is always about character optimization (please, go play a video game). Also, I prefer to keep characters concepts simple at the table, because that keeps players focused on the narrative and not on their character sheets.

No feats. Why? You see, I completely LOVE the way that 5E approaches feats. A good and solid package of traits outside of a class. They are not only awesome, but in my opinion work a lot better than multiclass to customize a character. I just don’t like the way that they are given to PCs “for free”. I prefer to use DCC RPG’s rule “Questing for the Impossible”. You want that feat? OK, so go after it: seek a master, kill a specific monster, collect a few special items, perform a heroic (crazy) quest. It makes feats special (heck, just look at the Dungeon Master’s Guide guidelines for Epic Boons… actually, a few of those are perfect gifts and you don’t need to wait until the 20th level. After all, who plays D&D until 20th level?!). What about humans? I know that most players get humans to gain that feat at 1st level. OK, let them have it. It makes humans unique (and tempting).

Variant Rests. Why? Basically, because it keeps players on their toes and avoids some of those metagame strategies that so irk me. The idea is that resting “inside the dungeon” follows the basic rules (1 hour for short rests and 8 hours for long rests). But if the party is on a “sandbox” or “exploration mode” (i.e. outside the dungeon) then a short rest requires 8 hours and a long rest would require 7 days (I prefer to follow Low Fantasy Gaming’s principles and declare that a long rest here requires 1d6+1 days).

At 1st level, your initial hit points equals your Constitution score plus half your class hit dice. Why? Alright, this one is more radical. I consider PCs in 5E to be special. There are other good heroic d20 fantasy systems out there like 13th Age, Exemplars & Eidolons and Red Box Hack that spell that out clearly (and if you want to play more “down to earth” I suggest retroclones/pre-4E versions of the game, or cool stuff like Maze Rats or Into the Odd). So, for games like 5E, I consider that PCs are special and above the average. Which kind of makes sense, considering how only PCs have all those nifty class traits and powers (particularly spellcasters). Check the NPCs stats on the Monster Manual. Also, before you point out to me that I’m mad, I have 2 other good arguments: (1) D&D 5E did the wise decision of separating attack bonus from Hit Dice. Which means that monsters attacks are not bound by Hit Dice but basically by Challenge Ratings. Which also means that I can finally have a big “brute” monster, with lots of hit points, but also with a terrible attack (however, when it lands an attack, oh boy, that is going to hurt). This simple rule allows to easily change the game’s scale regarding hit points without having to change other subsystems. (2) Finally, D&D Next (the playtest version of 5E) at one point did granted 1st level PC an amount of hit points equal to their Constitution scores plus half their class’ Hit Dice. That is perfect and avoids stupid deaths at 1st level (which should be lethal, but not impossible in 5E… if I wanted a “Hard Mode” RPG I would just use OD&D or previous pre-3rd Edition games). Of course, if I'm not playing 5E in "heroic mode" I would just keep the normal rules for hit points (but, as I told you, I usually prefer other d20 games for lethal games).

Now you can play your damn 5E with all those class feature that you so much love and I can run the (almost) rules light game that I want. See ya!