D&D’s 2024 Dungeon Master’s Guide fixes the worst part of Bastions

The new one Dungeons & Dragons Bastion system is a major selling point of the 2024 Dungeon Master’s GuideBut there are a lot of reasonable concerns to have about this concept. As a specific framework for players to build and maintain bases, Bastions give the party something to be proud of at home even when they’re away adventuring. While it’s not an entirely new concept, anything similar to a Bastion has previously had to be handled with campaign-specific rules or homebrew, rather than any kind of universal rules.

Bastions first appeared in Honored Arcana Play testing for DNDThe 2024 rules revisions, however, unlike class changes that have seen multiple iterations over time, Bastions only had one pass at the process. While the concept was promising – and already fully-founded in some respects – a common concern came from the potential for Bastions to feel like micromanagement. Even if some players love to crunch numbers in between chopping off the heads of monsters, many don’t, and dealing with any finicky elements of Bastions can slow down the pace and excitement of a campaign.

D&D’s 2024 Dungeon Master’s Guide Cuts Bastion Points

More focus and fewer numbers

The biggest culprit of community concern is found in Bastion PointsA unique resource earned through Bastions that can primarily be expended on magic item creation. In theory, Bastion Points could be a simple way to invest a party in the idea of ​​bastions, as collecting and crafting magic items can improve the party and save a lot of hassle. DND Already asks players to keep track of resources like gold and experience points, however, and throwing another unique system exclusively for Bastions could easily become tiring.

DNDin 2024 Dungeon Master’s Guide Deals with the problem of Bastion Points in the most simple way possible – cutting the concept of the game. Bastions are largely comprised of special facilities that can be given orders, which previously generated Bastion Points along with fulfilling specific purposes. Rather than streamlining the way that Bastion Points are handled or orders generating a resource like gold instead, Special facilities are now only used for their individual benefitsRemoving the need to keep track of any additional numbers in the process.

Removing the motivation of the magic number altogether could get rid of a big incentive for the use of bastions, so that the idea is integrated differently. Some facilities can now directly create magic itemsA feature that is not available in the Honored Arcana Version. Once characters reach Level 9, they can use the arcane lore to create common and uncommon DND Magic items in the Arcana category, the Sacristy for common and uncommon relics, the Smithy for common and uncommon armaments, and the Workshop for common and uncommon implements.

The 2024 Bastion changes come with worthwhile compromises

An imperfect solution still helps

The new solution is not a perfect replacement for DNDs original Bastion Point concept, and Distributing the feature among a few select special facilities greatly increases the choice of recipients. An arcane lore might not normally be the first draft choice for a party member not particularly interested in the special arts, but being able to generate arcane magic items is a huge buff, and many other facilities don’t benefit from the equivalent. Come-ups.

DNDin 2024 Dungeon Master’s Guide Also removes the ability to craft rare, very rare and legendary magic items with a bastionWhat the Honored Arcana These rules are accessible through Bastion Point purchases at 9, 13 and 17 respectively. This may be disappointing for players who intend to get the most out of Bastions at higher levels, but with the intensive Bastion Point requirements for each Honored ArcanaIt would have taken a lot of work regardless.

It’s unfortunate that Bastions didn’t get to spend more time in these Honored Arcana process, as the iteration available in the 2024 Dungeon Master’s Guide Feels like a hastily patched version in some respects. Regardless, getting rid of Bastion Points seems like the right move, opening up the concept of Bastions to tables that might not otherwise have been enthusiastic about doing even more math than usual. Bastion Points has the potential to prevent Bastions from being fun for everyone, and the 2024 Dungeon Master’s Guide is a step in the right direction for the new Dungeons & Dragons Feature.