The Wizard is one of the most iconic and oldest classes in Dungeons & Dragons. With the revision from the D&D 5e Player’s Handbook to the new 2024 Player’s Handbook 🛒, the Wizards do not experience many changes compared to the druid, for example, but a number of noticeable ones. In this article, we take a look at what has changed for Wizards, what new mechanics have been added and what this specifically means for the game.

This article contains affiliate links where we receive a part of the purchase price. So if you want to support us, feel free to use these links 🛒 to buy books, dice or similar. Thank you 🙂

Changes in the basic mechanics

Although the Wizard class was already solid in the original 5e version, the Player’s Handbook 5.5e brings some targeted adjustments. For example, Spellcasting has been slightly revised: Wizards can now exchange a cantrip during a long rest, among other things, which brings flexibility that was not previously provided. They also gain expertise in a skill area at a lower level, which further emphasizes their role as intellectuals and problem solvers.

In addition, from level 5, the Wizard may swap an already prepared spell for another one at every short rest using the “Memorize Spell” ability. This change noticeably improves tactical flexibility, as the Wizard is no longer dependent on a long rest to switch spells.

Subclasses & Arcane Traditions: greatly reduced, but more focused

One striking aspect of the revision is the drastic reduction of Arcane Traditions/Subclasses for Wizards: In the 5.5e version, there are only four schools to choose from: The schools of Abjuration, Divination, Evocation, and Illusion will remain. This means that the schools of Necromancy, Enchantment, Conjuration, and Transmutation are no longer available as Arcane Traditions in the new version.

Each of the four remaining schools receives targeted improvements or new features:

• School of Abjuration: Wizards of this subclass receive an Arcane Ward feature that can now be regenerated by using a spell; in addition, resistances/immunities of damage effects are clearly taken into account beforehand.
• School of Divination: This school retains its basic concept, but Wizards of this school will now be able to cast “See Invisibility” without using a spell slot.
• School of Evocation: Damage is the focus – with changes such as “Potent Cantrip”, where a cantrip deals at least half damage even if an attack fails.
• School of Illusion: This school has the most extensive revisions – illusion spells with verbal components are dropped, ranges are extended, and new features such as “Phantasmal Creatures” have been added.

This focus means that the Wizard class offers less subclass variety, but each remaining school is strengthened in a targeted manner. However, the loss of the schools does not necessarily mean that the corresponding spells are lost. You can still learn and use spells such as necromancy. You can find out which spells are available in detail in the new 2024 Player’s Handbook 🛒.

What does this mean for the game?

These changes have some important implications for players and Dungeon Masters. By swapping cantrips and prepared spells, the Wizard becomes more agile and can react better to different situations without having to wait for the next long rest. The expertise in a skill supports the classic role of the Wizard as a scholar and problem solver, not just a damage dealer. Those who miss the classic schools such as Necromancy or Enchantment must decide: Either fall back on older rules, adjust to the four new schools, or switch to another class, such as the Warlock for Necromancers.

The reduction in subclasses bothers some players, but the improved overview, focus and revised abilities are expected to make the game more fluid and balanced. For example, the rules regarding resistances and immunities are now clearer before the Arcane Ward is reduced.

Short overview of the important new features

• Exchanging a cantrip after a long rest.
• Swapping a prepared spell after a short rest (from level 5).
• Expertise in a skill area from level 2.
• Arcane traditions/subclasses reduced to four schools.
• Each school with new or improved core features (e.g., Potent Cantrip for Evocation; Improved Illusions for Illusion).
• Clearer rules regarding resistances/immunities in relation to class features.

Conclusion

The revision of the Wizard class in D&D 5.5e does not involve a complete redesign but targeted fine-tuning. The effects are significant. Those who want to play a Wizard in 5.5e will benefit from greater flexibility and cleaner mechanics. However, those who focused on exotic schools such as Necromancy or Transmutation will be disappointed with the changes. Overall, however, it can be said that the Wizard remains powerful, just a bit leaner.

The post Wizard in D&D 5.5e: What’s new? was first posted at Dice Scroller.

The Warlock is one of the most versatile and complex classes in Dungeons & Dragons. Many players are now asking themselves: What exactly has been changed in the Player’s Handbook 5.5e (2024)? In this article, we highlight the most relevant changes between the classic 5e warlock and the new version in 5.5e.

As we can’t go into all the changes in detail, we recommend that you purchase the D&D Player’s Handbook 5.5e 🛒, especially for the new spells and familiars.

This article contains affiliate links where we receive a part of the purchase price. So if you want to support us, feel free to use these links 🛒 to buy books, dice or similar. Thank you 🙂

Everything for a good story: Patron only from level 3

One of the most striking changes concerns the Patron, the entity from which the warlocks draw their power. In D&D 5e, you had your patron from level 1. In D&D 5.5e, this only happens at level 3. In the Player’s Handbook 5e, the patron could be a Fiend, Archfey, or Great Old One. In 5.5e, the Celestials, from “Xanathar’s Guide to Everything”, were added into the Player’s Handbook as possible patrons. However, covenants that now belong to the Eldritch Invocations may now be chosen from level 1. More on this in the following section.

Many refer to this change as “Story Flavor”. The warlock does not know his patron at the beginning and the gamemaster can let the warlock’s experiences subtly introduce the patron throughout gameplay. The moment of recognizing the patron can then be dramatically played out at the table.

Eldritch Invocations and the Abolition of the Pact Boons

The Level 3 Pact Boons have effectively been abolished. Before panic sets in: The pacts are still there. The pacts – Chain, Blade, and Book – remain, but are now Eldritch Invocations and therefore available from level 1. However, many of these Invocations now have level requirements that did not previously exist.

The selection of Eldritch Invocations has also been expanded. As before, however, you can exchange Invocations with each other when leveling up, as long as you don’t want to remove Invocations that are interdependent. Up to level 18, a Warlock in 2024 can have up to 10 Invocations, instead of the 8 in 5e.

Popular invocations such as Repelling Blast and Agonizing Blast are also no longer limited to the Eldritch Blast, but can now be applied to other cantrips. This means that the charisma modifier can now be added to the damage value of all cantrips. Note that Repelling Blast is still limited to cantrips that require an attack roll.

How do pacts work for the Warlock in D&D 5.5e?

Pacts now fall under Invocations and are available from level 1. You are also no longer limited to one pact when leveling up and can theoretically choose all of them, as they are Invocations. Like all Invocations, you can also change the pacts when leveling up.

From a gameplay perspective, this makes sense, as you can determine your playstyle right at the start. With a level 1 Pact of the Blade, the Warlock works better as a melee fighter in the early stages. But you also want a familiar at level 2? No problem: Choose the Pact of the Chain as an Invocation. If you need a little more magic trickery, consider taking the Pact of the Tome and have your patron hand you the Book of Shadows when you level up again. If you want all three pacts, you can have all three pacts.

Adjustments to the subclasses

In addition to the core changes, each subclass (patron) has undergone some adjustments:

• Archfey: Additional effects for teleportation, mixed forms of movement spells, etc.
• Celestial: Introduced in the new rulebooks (in 5e via “Xanathar’s Guide to Everything”) available or rebalanced. Celestial Warlocks have significantly more spells, including Summon Celestial.
• Fiend: Classic mechanics such as gaining temporary hit points (Dark One’s Blessing) have been reworked so that you gain bonus HP even if it’s not you who defeats the enemy, but someone nearby.
• Great Old One: These have been heavily reworked. Essentially, the Great Old One has been completely rebuilt as a patron. Small teaser: Summon Aberrations and more powerful Mind control. Consult the Player’s Handbook urgently!

Conclusion

The Warlock becomes more modular, more flexible, and in many cases more powerful. Some players criticize the late subclass selection (only from level 3) as a narrative break, while others celebrate this as a great story element. Many welcome the strengthened base class and the more deeply integrated options, especially with regard to the warlock in melee combat. It remains to be seen how the changes will affect gameplay at the table.

The post Warlock in D&D 5.5e was first posted at Dice Scroller.

Gods and goddesses play a central role in the world of Dungeons & Dragons 🛒. They not only bestow divine magic on their followers, but also influence the fate of the worlds and the destiny of mortals. From the shrines of heroes to the rituals of villains – religion and mythology are omnipresent.

In this article, we introduce you to the most important pantheons and their deities, organized by setting and with a clear table of domains and alignments.

This article contains affiliate links from which we receive a portion of the purchase price. So if you want to support us, you can use these links 🛒 to buy books, dice or similar. Thank you 🙂

The gods of D&D

1. The standard pantheon of the Forgotten Realms

The Forgotten Realms (Forgotten Realms) is one of the best-known D&D settings. There is a rich pantheon here, ranging from powerful gods of magic to dark rulers of death.

2. The Greyhawk Pantheon

Greyhawk, one of the oldest D&D worlds, has its own set of gods that is heavily influenced by classic fantasy elements. It offers gods for almost every sphere of life and is of particular interest to fans of the early editions.

3. The Exandria pantheon

The world of Critical Role 🛒 has a unique pantheon developed by Matt Mercer and his team. Gods such as the Twilight Princess and the Archfather are of central importance here.

4. Other pantheons

In addition to those mentioned above, there are also universal gods that are worshiped in different worlds. Some gods, such as Vecna, the god of light, even transcend the boundaries between worlds.

Table of the most important D&D gods

Here you will find an overview of central deities from various pantheons with their associated domains (Domains) and alignments (Alignment).

The importance of domains

In D&D, the domains of a deity are crucial to the abilities of clerics who worship that god. For example, clerics of Pelor gain access to healing and light-based spells, while followers of Vecna can explore dark secrets and necromancy.

Here are some of the most important domains and their typical attributes:

• Life: Healing, protection, support
• Death: Necromancy, curses, control over undead
• War: battle spells, divine wrath
• Magic: Arcane control, protection from magical influences
• Nature: Connection to the wilderness, communication with animals and plants

The interplay of gods and mortals

The relationship between gods and their mortal followers can be multifaceted. Some cultures worship several gods and present them as part of a cosmic balance. Others fanatically worship individual deities and align their entire way of life with their commandments.</p

Gods in D&D – Conclusion

Whether you’re playing a cleric or simply want to explore the mythology of your campaign world, the pantheon of gods offers an inexhaustible source of inspiration and possibilities. Think about how your characters see the world of the gods and how their beliefs shape their actions.

The post D&D Gods – Pantheons at a glance was first posted at Dice Scroller.

In the multifaceted world of Dungeons & Dragons (D&D) 5E, monks are much more than mere fighters. They combine spiritual practices with impressive physical abilities and thus offer a unique gaming experience.

The tradition of monks in D&D has its roots in ancient cultures and martial arts traditions. Early on in the game’s development, monks were introduced as a class that balances body and mind.

Strengths and abilities of monks

Monks are not only gifted melee fighters, they also have a variety of special abilities that set them apart from other classes. Through their training, they can channel their life energy to heal themselves, predict the movements of their opponents, or even use magical powers.

In the world of D&D, Ki points represent the spiritual energy of a monk and are central to many of their impressive abilities. With these points, a monk can tap into their inner reserves and perform extraordinary feats. Some of the most popular uses of Ki points include:

• Flurry of Blows: After a monk performs their regular attack, they can spend one ki point to make two additional unarmed strikes.
• Patient Defense: By spending a ki point, a monk can respond to an attack by making a counterattack, reducing the incoming damage.
• Step of the Wind: With a ki point, monks can double their speed, allowing them to act incredibly quickly or move out of dangerous situations.

These Ki abilities are just a small sample of what is available to a monk, and they provide many strategic options in the game. It is important for a monk player to manage their ki points wisely, as they are a limited supply that replenishes only after a rest.

The different monk traditions

In D&D 5E there are different traditions or subclasses of monks. Each has its own unique skills and techniques:

• The Way of the Open Hand: Specializing in hand-to-hand combat and impressive striking techniques.
• The Way of Shadow: Uses stealth and cunning to achieve his goals.
• The Way of the Four Elements: Enables the monk to manipulate elemental forces such as fire, water, earth, and air.

Integration into role-playing campaigns

Monks can play an interesting and dynamic role in any D&D campaign. With their combination of physical strength and spiritual abilities, they are often the ones who can make the difference at critical moments.

The role of the background

While skills and traditions are important, a monk’s background can say a lot about his motivations and behavior in the game. Perhaps he is seeking enlightenment or has a personal goal that he wants to achieve at all costs.

Tips for playing a monk

1. Connect with your inner self: Remember that monks often have a deeper connection to themselves and their surroundings.
2. Use your abilities wisely: Instead of acting impulsively, think about when and how best to use your monk abilities. Ki points are very limited, especially at the beginning.
3. Develop your character further: The journey of a monk is often also a journey of self-awareness. Let your character grow and develop.

Conclusion on monks in D&D

The monks in D&D 5E offer a rich and profound gaming experience. With their combination of martial arts, mysticism, and inner strength, they are a class that will delight both new and experienced players alike.

I hope this article has given you a deeper insight into the fascinating world of monks in D&D 5E. If you’re looking for something else, take a look at our post on Dungeons and Dragons classes!

Image sources: Dice Scroller at OpenArt.io

The post The mystical world of the monks in D&D was first posted at Dice Scroller.

Critical Role got me into Dungeons and Dragons and pen-and-paper back in the day. I stumbled across a stream on Twitch by chance and was quickly enthralled by this new magical world that opened up to me. The mixture of improv theater and dice game captivated me. The actors from Critical Role, their humor and their acting talent were also particularly charming. But over the years, I have followed Critical Role less and less. But why is that? I would like to summarize my thoughts on this below.

This article contains affiliate links where we receive a part of the purchase price. So if you want to support us, feel free to use these links 🛒 to buy books, dice or similar. Thank you 🙂

What is Critical Role anyway?

Critical Role is a popular web show format that was originally launched in March 2015. The show features a group of professional voice actors who play „Dungeons and Dragons“ every Thursday. Members of the group Ashley Johnson, Travis Willingham, Laura Bailey, Liam O’Brien, Taliesin Jaffe, Marisha Ray, and Sam Riegel, take on the roles of their DnD characters and dive into adventures led by Matthew Mercer as the Dungeon Master.

The show is known for its high quality, professional roleplaying, dedicated and passionate fanbase and has been instrumental in popularizing Dungeons and Dragons and the hobby of roleplaying. On Twitch, Critical Role is consistently one of the most subscribed channels. While many viewers love the show and get carried away by the creativity and emotional moments, I think there are reasons why Critical Role is now overhyped.

Why Critical Role is overhyped

1. Raises unrealistic expectations of Dungeons and Dragons in viewers: One of my criticisms of Critical Role is that it can raise unrealistic expectations of the D&D game. The players in the show are all experienced actors and improv artists who can embody their characters masterfully. Matthew Mercer is one of the best Dungeon Masters in the world and spends hours each week preparing for the sessions. Their dialogue is fluid and humorous, and they act in impressively crafted role-playing worlds. This can lead viewers to think that every D&D gaming table should be similar, which is often not the case in reality. New players may be disappointed if their own role-playing experiences are not as epic and perfectly staged as in Critical Role. Because what Critical Role streams is by no means the average experience at the role-playing table. Here, normal people meet, not actors, and the game master rarely has the time, experience or skill of Matthew Mercer. Over time, this distorted perception has even acquired its own vocabulary: The Matthew Mercer Effect.
2. Episodes are too long and the story doesn’t move fast enough: Another criticism relates to the length of Critical Role’s episodes. The show is often streamed live or made available as video-on-demand, and each session can last up to 5 hours. This can be a hurdle for some viewers, as they may not have enough time to watch the episodes in their entirety. Personally, I don’t have that much time in the week for a single show. I also feel that the story in the show often progresses slowly as the actors spend a lot of time on social interactions and character development. This is frustrating for viewers hoping for a fast-paced and action-packed plot. I don’t need 5-hour episodes in which nothing more happens than characters sitting together in a tavern. I wouldn’t need them in my game rounds either, because then the players would also run away from me.
3. Critical Role is now too commercialized: What originally began as a simple D&D game among friends has developed into a veritable media empire. Critical Role has launched a variety of merchandise such as T-shirts, action figures, dice, and more. In addition, the show has expanded in partnership with various companies, including its own TV series, books and comics. Critics rightly accuse the production of being too commercially oriented and losing its original charm. Especially as some of the products, such as the Critical Role book “Kith and Kin” 🛒, have received very poor reviews. I enjoy reading books about the world and characters of CR, but not when they are written by nameless ghostwriters with no passion or skill. This feels like heartless profiteering.
4. Toxic fan culture: Unfortunately, the popularity of Critical Role has also led to a toxic fan culture. There is always hostility between different groups of fans in the fandom. In my opinion, the hardcore critters often overdo it. Every merch product from the series has to be bought and every criticism of the show or the actors is shouted down. In a community that claims to be tolerant and open, this is hypocritical. Fan expectations can also be overly critical and overbearing, leading to unnecessary pressure and stress for those involved. For example, in the past, sponsored content such as an oneshot for the burger joint Wendy’s had to be taken offline because fans saw Wendy’s as an enemy of the LGBTQIA+ scene. The money raised was donated. In the past, I think Critical Role took more risks and didn’t feel so slick.
   

   Also, actors have publicly reported harassment and bullying based on fans who had their own ideas about what the characters and stories should look like. Marisha Ray in particular has often been criticized for her acting style, and Matt Mercer has to defend virtually every interpretation of his rules. For a series that wants to capture the spirit of the home D&D round, this is a huge burden that sucks the fun and spontaneity out of the rounds. There are many great critters who enjoy their show, support their idols, or even create fan art, but unfortunately, there is also a loud minority who make the slogan „Don’t forget to love each other“ a meaningless phrase.

Critical Role Hype: My Conclusion

While Critical Role has undoubtedly helped bring Dungeons and Dragons and role-playing games to a wider audience and inspired many people, it’s important that we don’t over-hype the show or hold it to unrealistic standards. It remains a fun and unique experience for those who enjoy role-playing, but it’s also important to accept that not every D&D round needs to be as epic and perfectly staged as the show. Likewise, we should be respectful of the actors and their time without encouraging toxic expectations or behavior. I will continue to follow the evolution of the show because it has done a lot for our hobby. I will also probably watch relevant highlights on YouTube. But I don’t count myself among the hardcore critters. Not anymore. And I probably won’t watch all of the new and old episodes either. Nevertheless, it is important to me at this point that I do not condemn anyone for loving Critical Role with all their heart. Just please make sure to respect other fans and the actors. One last note: If you feel similarly to me, you might find your community on /r/fansofcriticalrole/ rather than /r/criticalrole/.

The post Is Critical Role overhyped? was first posted at Dice Scroller.

Kenku are one of the most fascinating races in the world of Dungeons & Dragons. These bird-like creatures are known for their ability to perfectly imitate sounds and voices. Originally, kenku were winged creatures that served as messengers for a powerful, unknown master. However, due to a severe transgression—the nature of which remains a secret—they were stripped of their wings and cursed never to have their own thoughts or ideas again.

This curse deeply shapes the culture and life of the Kenku. They are incapable of speaking independently. Instead, they are compelled to mimic their surroundings. This mimetic ability extends not just to sounds and voices, but also to movements and behaviors, making Kenku often regarded as master thieves and spies due to their ability to seamlessly adopt other roles.

This article contains affiliate links where we receive a part of the purchase price. So if you want to support us, feel free to use these links 🛒 to buy books, dice or similar. Thank you 🙂

Traits and Abilities of the Kenku in DnD

Kenku possess several unique traits that make them an intriguing option in the game (find it all in the Player’s Handbook 🛒):

• Attribute Score Increase: When you allocate your character’s ability scores, increase one score by 2 and another by 1, or increase three different scores by 1. None of your scores can exceed 20.
• Speed: Their base walking speed is 30 feet.
• Expert Forgery: You have advantage on all ability checks made to produce an exact duplicate of a piece of writing or a craft you or someone else has made.
• Kenku Training: Thanks to your excellent memory, you gain proficiency in two skills of your choice. When you make an ability check using either of these skills, you can give yourself advantage on the roll. You can use this feature a number of times equal to your proficiency bonus, and you regain all expended uses when you finish a long rest.
• Mimicry: You can flawlessly mimic any sounds you have heard, including voices. A creature that hears the sounds you make can tell they are imitations only if it succeeds on a Wisdom (Insight) check against your mimicry DC, which is 8 + your proficiency bonus + your Charisma modifier.

Role of Kenku in DnD

Kenku are frequently depicted as shifty figures who lurk in the shadows and remain keen observers of their environment. They perfectly fit the roles of thieves, rogues, or spies, enabling them to operate nearly invisibly thanks to their remarkable talent for mimicry and disguise. Their enigmatic history and tragic past render them as complex and rich characters, capable of adding thrilling twists to any campaign.

Example Kenku Character Idea: A Kenku rogue modeled after a legendary master thief. Not only does he mimic the thief’s voice and movements, but he has also mastered his burglary strategies and combat techniques. Yet, despite all his skills, he is desperate to find a way to lift the curse and restore his people’s ability to speak originally.

The Kenku Race is Versatile

Kenku offer abundant potential for both players and Dungeon Masters. Their mimicry skills and their shadowed past make them distinctive characters who can play pivotal roles in various stories and adventures. Whether as a master thief in a thieves’ guild or a mysterious spy for an unknown lord, Kenku consistently offer surprises.

It is crucial to note, however, that Dungeons and Dragons features a flexible ruleset, allowing Kenku to embrace all other DnD classes.

Characters of the Kenku can vary widely. Players and Dungeon Masters are encouraged to individualize the Kenku, avoiding a one-dimensional portrayal. The comedic potential of Kenku speechlessness can lead to engaging storytelling, but overuse might detract from the enjoyment of the game. With effective communication, Kenku can significantly enhance any role-playing group.

Interested in more?

• Tieflings in Dungeons & Dragons
• Humans in Dungeons and Dragons
• Halflings in Dungeons & Dragons

The post Kenku in Dungeons and Dragons was first posted at Dice Scroller.

Rulebooks for pen-and-paper role-playing games like the D&D Player’s Handbook 🛒 are often hundreds of pages long, with detailed descriptions of rules, worlds, and monsters. This artist has set out to do the exact opposite with the One Page Adventure, creating complete rulebooks and adventures that fit on a single page.

The adventures of gshowitt can be found here. Most of the rulebooks are available for download for a voluntary donation.

This article contains affiliate links where we receive a part of the purchase price. So if you want to support us, feel free to use these links 🛒 to buy books, dice or similar. Thank you 🙂

KOBOLD ENDEAVOUR

The first of these rule sets that we tried out years ago was KOBOLD ENDEAVOUR. Players assume the roles of kobolds who serve a (super awesome) dragon king. However, there is a (naturally less awesome) rival to the dragon. Now the group must embark on a mission to steal as many treasures as possible from this rival and bring them to their own dragon without being detected.

Creating characters is super easy. First, a D6 is rolled to determine the color (and thus the element). Then, two D20s are rolled to determine which abilities the kobolds have for distracting opponents. There’s everything from “pointing somewhere” to “sales pitches” and “magical items”.

The game master then rolls a few more D6s to find out what type of enemies they are and where to find them, and you’re ready to go!

During the game, players simply roll a D6, and there are bonuses for the skills that were previously determined. It can also happen that the kobolds “involuntarily retire” if they fail too often.

With this set of rules, you can start within 10 minutes and have a lot of fun. The rounds will be so different each time that you can play it multiple times. The rules are simple and therefore also suitable for first rounds of new players, although the game master often has to improvise quickly and should perhaps be a bit more experienced.

One Page Adventure: Honey Heist

Another One Page Adventure, which might be familiar to some from Critical Role, is Honey Heist. This adventure involves a group of bears attempting to steal a vast amount of honey.

The characters are different types of bears and have various skills that are crucial for the heist. These are determined by rolling a D6. During the heist, players must ensure that their bear neither becomes too wild and escapes back into nature, nor becomes too much of a “criminal mastermind” and therefore betrays and abandons the rest of the group.

The game master rolls a few D6s to determine which obstacles are in the way and what special treasures await the band of bears. There might even be a plot twist once the safe is finally cracked.

This adventure is also quick to set up, very simple, and lots of fun. It does require some improvisation from the game master to weave a coherent story. If you’re still unsure, you can learn more about improv in pen-and-paper role-playing games here.

Of course, you can also prepare these adventures beforehand, or even incorporate them as mini-adventures into your own homebrew world. That’s what Marisha from Critical Role did:

The post One Page Adventure – quick P&P rounds was first posted at Dice Scroller.

Creating your own world to experience adventures in is a dream for many fans of the fantasy genre. Most of them have probably already given it some thought or made a few notes, but haven’t made much progress. Creating your own homebrew D&D world can quickly turn into a huge project. That’s why I want to give you a few tools here that can help you get started.

Where do I keep my documents for my homebrew D&D world?

I can only recommend World Anvil to anyone who wants to try their hand at creating their own world. This platform allows you to create your own wiki for a project and use linked articles with images and even interactive maps. You can read more about creating your own world maps here. There is a limited free version, which should be enough to find out if you like what’s on offer.

Personally, I really enjoyed sending Wikipedia-style articles to my players to introduce them to my homebrew D&D world. But it’s also just a good way to work in a structured way and slowly expand the project.

If you don’t want to spend money, but you already know that your project is going to be very large, it might make sense to start with a different program. You can use Google Docs or note-taking programs such as Notion. Here, too, it is possible to link pages and make connections between places, characters and events clear.

If you want to send your notes to your players, but also want them to look good, I can only recommend Homebrewery. You can use it to make your homebrew fantasy D&D world look like an official Dungeons and Dragons rulebook.

First steps to creating your own homebrew D&D world

Once you’ve decided where you want your documents, it’s time to get down to the content. But what’s the best way to get started?

There are two very different approaches: from the outside in or the other way around. This means whether you start with details (such as a single city or person) or think about the “big” things like continents, factions or territories first. I think it really depends on how big the project is going to be and why you are starting to create this world.

From the outside in

This is probably the more intuitive way to create a world. You start with a map of the continents and divide them first into regions, then into realms or other smaller parts. This makes the overall context of the world relatively clear and allows the imagination to run wild when inventing the most diverse and varied areas.

With this approach, you quickly commit to a large project. This is super exciting, but can also be a bit overwhelming at times. Especially if you get lost in the details but still have a lot of “white” space on the map, you may feel like you’re not making any progress.

So if you fancy your own huge homebrew fantasy world like in The Lord of the Rings or Game of Thrones, this is for you!

From the inside out

With this approach, you start with the small things in the world. Perhaps you start by thinking of a village with a few relevant characters. Then you can build on this and describe the surroundings to make the world “grow” in different directions.

This type of world-building is a little less overwhelming (although it’s still not a small project) and can help you to have a few places that you can get excited about relatively quickly. It’s also good for D&D if you can start inviting players to your world relatively early on and build in some kind of dynamic growth.

For such a world, you could think about playing a West Marshes campaign in which there is a central location from which the group experiences its adventures. You can find out more about this here.

Do you have any other tools or tips for creating your own homebrew worlds for D&D? Feel free to leave a comment so we can incorporate your opinion to help more fantasy nerds build their own world!

Image sources: creator.nightcafe.studio / World Anvil / Homebrewery

The post Create Homebrew D&D world – where do I start? was first posted at Dice Scroller.

Gnomes are one of the most fascinating races in the world of Dungeons & Dragons. Known for their sharp minds, creativity, and relentless drive to discover new things, they are a staple of many adventuring parties. In this article, we take a look at the origins, characteristics, and special features of gnomes in D&D.

This article contains affiliate links where we receive a part of the purchase price. So if you want to support us, feel free to use these links 🛒 to buy books, dice or similar. Thank you 🙂

Origin and Culture

Gnomes are small creatures, usually standing between 90 centimeters and 1.20 meters tall. Their slight build, however, belies their sharp minds and boundless energy. Gnomes are often seen having a close connection with nature, especially concerning the mysteries of the earth and the underground. Their curiosity drives them to develop new technologies or delve into deep magical secrets.

In their culture, family and community are central. Gnomes often live in small, close-knit communities protected by deep caves or dense forests. These hideouts are frequently equipped with complex traps and illusions to keep out uninvited guests.

Subraces of the Gnomes

There are various subraces of gnomes, among which the most well-known is the Rock Gnome. These gnomes are recognized for their ingenuity and resilience and possess some specific abilities:

• Artificer’s Lore: Rock gnomes have a deep understanding of magical items and alchemical objects. They can apply their proficiency bonus twice on appropriate intelligence checks related to them.
• Tinker: Rock gnomes are master tinkerers. They can create small mechanical devices that serve a variety of practical purposes, such as a tiny lighter or a music box.

Characteristics

Gnomes possess a variety of unique traits that make them an attractive choice for player characters, all of which are also detailed in the Player’s Handbook 🛒:

• Attribute Increase: Gnomes are known for their intelligence. Thus, the intelligence score of a gnome character increases by 2, making them excellent wizards or inventors.
• Age: Gnomes mature at a pace similar to humans, but they only reach adulthood around the age of 40. Their lifespan can be an impressive 350 to 500 years, providing them ample time to deepen their interests.
• Alignment: Gnomes tend to be good, whether they are lawful or chaotic. Lawful gnomes are often brilliant engineers or scholars, whereas chaotic gnomes express their creativity as bards, rogues, or inventors.
• Size: With an average height between 90 centimeters and 1.20 meters, gnomes are smaller than most other races in D&D, enhancing their agility and dexterity in combat.
• Darkvision: Due to their long history often spent in underground dwellings, gnomes have the ability to see well in darkness and dim light. They can see within a radius of 60 feet as in bright light, though only in shades of gray.
• Gnome Cunning: Gnomes are resilient against mental attacks and have advantage on intelligence, wisdom, and charisma saving throws.
• Languages: Gnomes speak Common and Gnomish, a language known for its technical precision and intricate catalogs of knowledge.

Gnomes in the Game

If you choose to play a gnome character, you have the opportunity to create a creative and often unconventional character. Gnomes are perfectly suited for roles that require intelligence and ingenuity, such as wizards, alchemists, or bards. Their penchant for curiosity and relentless inventiveness make them valuable members of any adventuring party.

Whether you choose a gnome who researches magical artifacts or one who unravels the secrets of nature – the possibilities are nearly limitless.

Conclusion

Gnomes bring a unique blend of intelligence, creativity, and a touch of playfulness to any adventure. Their long lifespan allows them the opportunity to master many different skills, and their natural curiosity drives them ever onward. If you are looking for a character who constantly questions the world around them and desires to explore new horizons, then a gnome is the perfect choice.

Have fun playing your gnome character in your next adventure!

The post Gnomes in Dungeons and Dragons was first posted at Dice Scroller.