What in the Holy Hell is this? WotC Creates Safe Spaces for Characters.

[@philh8259]

What... DM has no dominion over a Bastion? Watch this!

[@helotaxi]

"...meanwhile, back at the Hall of Justice..." "...meanwhile, at Superman's Fortress of Solitude..." "...meanwhile, back at the Batcave..."

[@dracoyaminiatures5143]

@@helotaxi 😆😆😆 that's too funny

[@homebrewisthebestbrew5270]

And for today's WotC clown show: "...Meanwhile, back at Pee Wee's Playhouse..."

[@Scarbonac]

I've designed all kinds of homes/strongholds/businesses/treasure-rooms/etc, for my own PCs for over 40 years. Funky defenses, teleport chambers/circles, labs, libraries, extra-dimensional spaces, you name it, I've probably designed/mapped it out. My dungeons [as a DM] tended to be less-than stellar unless I had a clear idea to work with.

[@golgauntpc-xbox-ps6227]

I feel like this was just put in the books to sell you microtransactions on their VTT. They are making D&D for people who play life simulators not dungeon delves.

[@dracoyaminiatures5143]

That is exactly what's happening. Won't be long now until we see bastions on Dnd beyond with micro transactions

[@thepickleddragon8590]

Totally! By making this untouchable by the dm, the players can make all the moves and additions on D&D beyond and just load up on buffs

[@TheOGGMsAdventures]

It was exactly put in the DMG so it will be in the VTT and let them buy microtransaction

[@schemage2210]

I once had ran a campaign where my players were put in charge of an adventurer's guild. And frankly one of the best moments pretty early on was when the BBEG (who happened to be a vampire and father of one of the PCs) asked to enter which was granted by a PC that didn't know better, and proceed to threaten the PCs. The conflict itself was short but the IC moments of the other PCs learning about the connection one of them had to the BBEG, not to mention going about vampire-proofing the building was awesome to see. A Stronghold is meant to be part of the story, it's that simple. And frankly, I am so refreshed to hear that I am not the only one that feels this way about 2024 5e design.

[@dracoyaminiatures5143]

Dude. I wanna be a part of your game. I love it when people share campaign stories. The vampire/BBEG/daddy is such a good angle. 😆

[@schemage2210]

@@dracoyaminiatures5143 I will be completely honest, the vampire/father was part of the player's backstory but as any good DM does, I gladly took advantage. :)

[@dracoyaminiatures5143]

@schemage2210 Well played, sir. Well played.

[@crankysmurf]

WotC will sell the Bastions' rooms and buildings as microtransactions for the upcoming 3D VTT...

[@dracoyaminiatures5143]

💯. You're smart enough to know what's coming.

[@miguelnollet3056]

I find Bastions to be a wonderful idea. However. As a DM, and it is my world, and the bastion is in my world, you'd better be sure the DM comes knocking - and gets in no matter what.

[@thepickleddragon8590]

I think the reason they want to exclude DMs is to remove any gatekeeper to the microtransactions they are going to offer on D&D Beyond when players begin to build their bastions there.

[@ZexyAdventures]

What I notice about alot of these 5e mechanics is that they really just boil down to "You get another pool of points and you can spend those points to do things". Do you notice that?

[@thepickleddragon8590]

The broken builds in the core books are extremely worrying as well as the change in spell mechanics

[@TheMerrox]

My players have had manors, bastions, strongholds, castles, towers and even villages, towns & cities. It was always super fun building and planning them and I was never afraid giving them to much treasure because I knew they was just going to invest them in their buildings and such so the economy actually worked and the players always had a ton of fun stuff they could do with their gold. The buildings never had any bonuses though. Well perhaps a library that a player had collected and bought so many books for so I finally gave him like +1/+2 to history if searching for some info in it. And if you built a fort or castle and hired a blacksmith he could repair your armor and make weapons (non magical) for you. IF you spent money for materials and such. But that meant he had to actually be there so it didn't feel OP because he couldn't use it while out adventuring, which was like 98% of the game time. It was great fun to build and then fill it with treasures you found and furniture's you bought etc. I mean, if you find a talking grimoire and a brain in a jar and things like that you got to have a nice tower to put them in right? It was like a minigame you could do between adventures and on downtime. hire hirelings that worked in the bastion, se that they had material, gear and food and so on. And of course it was never safe! That's just silly and takes all the risk, excitement & fun from it all. If you built a "bastion" out in the wilderness there was going to be monsters and bandits knocking on the door now and then. I even played out sieges on their town & bastions. My players knew there was always a risk, and sometimes they lost their bastion due to dirty politics, armies of orcs, undead, monsters and what not, that just made it feel even more fun. They planned their fortifications, went out to earn gold so they could hire soldiers and hirelings to defend their place while they were out saving the world and adventuring. And when a neighboring town was under attack they marched out with their soldiers to aid them. It was great fun! We used the DnD 3.5 Stronghold Builders Guidebook & DMG (back when they actually made good material for the game...) a lot, and some even older books from 2nd ed. & own homebrew material when the guidebook didn't cover something. Well I can ramble on and on about this because it was so much fun. =) These new bastion rules looked fun at first, and I was hoping to get a lot of tools & prices to do what we did back in the day so we could keep doing it but with better rules and tools for it. But I see now that its not what I hoped for. To be fair, I can just ignore the "OP perks & buffs" and "This is a safe place" and all those things that I don't like, but then its like paying for an expensive book that's missing a lot of pages & info...

[@thepickleddragon8590]

I suggest everyone just use the old school rules. Make owning a stronghold a role-playing experience!

[@Therealravencry]

I like the idea of bastions in theory as a headquarters for the players (I'm running a pirate campaign where my players will have the option to build their own pirate haven). But i look at this the same way i look at DND as a whole: "thanks for the idea and core mechanics WoTC, but ill take it from here." After all, they're moreso guidlines than actual rules

[@Eladdan]

The best way to look at Bastions are as demiplanes. That's the only way to explain how they work. Nevermind how much power it takes to make a demiplane, somehow players are able to, at level 5, create a permanent demiplane where their conjured NPCs can transmit to the demiplane's owner some benefit.

[@thepickleddragon8590]

That description makes me hate them more

[@Eladdan]

@@thepickleddragon8590 You and me both. It's bad enough that the game has been increasingly more babsitter'y, but now we have, as you've noted, in-game safe spaces that are 'in the world yet aren't'... doesn't matter that there's a level requirement to get 'PC's First Safe Space', that it even exists is insulting.

[@optionalrule9813]

I think I'm less stirred up about this than a lot of people. If I want to give them an asset I intend to be vulnerable I'd just use something ousdie this system.

[@thepickleddragon8590]

Fair point

[@lanir9543]

Bastions sound like they have a handful of things that maybe work towards the fantasy of having your own place. But a lot (maybe most) of it sounds like a bunch of the stuff my groups often forget they even have. Little bonuses here and there. One use magic items. Effects that can only be used once a week; I've had badly paced games where you go from the equivalent of an assistant pig keeper to fighting deities in a week and a half. I think discouraging that is probably the main use for Bastions but it won't work. The best use I can think of for them is if you're doing something the system doesn't really support well. Like a one player, one DM game.That's when the extra little bonuses and abilities that encroach upon what other classes can do will actually be beneficial to your game. Can't think of any other situation where they'd really be great though, outside of maybe a minmaxer's toolkit. But then they'd be using a tiny part of it and ignoring the rest.

[@dracoyaminiatures5143]

That's a good thought for it being useful as a 1-2 player game. Else, it's just too overpowered. I've been in badly paced games too. Not a fan.

[@LordOz3]

Also - I would bet Bastions will be integrated into the VTT so WotC can sell special Bastion skins/cosmetics. VLO!

[@dracoyaminiatures5143]

100% microtransactions will be coming

[@americanbaldguy]

If you are the Dungeon Master, YOU make the rules! Attack those bastions!! It is ultimately YOUR game. Gary would say the same, you know he would!

[@dracoyaminiatures5143]

@@americanbaldguy 😆 you make an excellent point. For gary!!!

[@thepickleddragon8590]

I agree but I already seeing these things causing friction at tables. The game store where I run games are already talking about it

[@MrBenjaminsisko]

I like the idea of the team having a head quarters but but bastion sounds super lame it should be like fortress or stronghold, also it shouldn’t be something that personal the team should own it or better yet the village they have helped the most

[@dracoyaminiatures5143]

@@MrBenjaminsisko That's my thought too. I love the concept of it, but not this.

[@LordOz3]

I like the idea of bastions - strongholds have long been part of D&D (though it seems little used). I homebrewed a simpler system as 3PP stronghold supplements often fall into a game I call Expenses and Excel. I think character bases should be tied into downtime. So, I have strongholds provide facilities for downtime and in some cases benefits. Many activities require or are bolstered with rolls (in my game) and I don't allow various mulligan features or spells to affect these rolls. The exception being those provided by strongholds - which usually require improved facilities. But all the Orx need is a cave. Viva Los Orx!

[@thepickleddragon8590]

I use a combination of the 1e, 2e, and 3.5e books depending on the level of magic in the campaign. ORX!

[@homebrewisthebestbrew5270]

Talk about repellent! Totally unearned benefits, with token responsibility at NO real cost--or risk. Reminds me of the Dire Straits hit from 1985: "Money for nothing, and your chicks for free!" (In this case, the chicks in all in the coop, but still...) I once ran a 3E game some 20 years back, centered around a once beautiful but now ruined manor house the party blundered into. What the players didn't know was that their ancestors, centuries ago, held legal title to this property. Wait, there's more! The structure itself was a SENTIENT ENTITY (long story) who decided by itself that the PCs were the "rightful heirs". And hidden within the structure were wonders that any wise adventurer would risk their lives to protect, including a magical gate--part of a network that spanned the entire continent. What followed was a sarcastic take on the "Oh, the joys of homeownership!" shtick, cranked up to 11. The structure was a mess, and all the treasure from several levels of adventuring was pumped into repairs. Expert hirelings needed to be found, selected for their character as much as their skills. The threat of attack was ever present, and at least two attempts were made to take the manor by force. And let's not forget the sacred shrine to the God of Forests that lay on the very edge of the property, its 12th-level custodian extremely nonplussed about the threat of PCs clearing farmland willy-nilly; let's just say the negotiations were tense (though to their credit, the PCs kept their heads throughout). The manor was within the borders of a true nation-state, so issues of taxation and legal title reared its ugly head (eventually landing the party in court). And even a corrupt superior of the party's cleric got in on the act, resorting to underhanded tactics to pry possession away from the party. (The aftermath of that was, let's just say, horrifying to witness...) As for the magical gate I mentioned? Well, the manor had within its bowels several "tokens" which could activate the device--but there was NO owner's manual, and NO map to show the location of the other gates on the "network". The trial-and-error the PCs had to go through to operate the device at the most basic level proved nearly lethal on multiple occasions. In summary: a money pit, a legal nightmare, with surly neighbors, and NO end of trouble. And the players loved every minute of it!

[@thepickleddragon8590]

Thats what I'm talking about! Wotc is just taking the role-playing out of the game with crap like this. Its a sad state of our game

[@RvnKnight]

I like the idea of starting out as an adventurer with a hut. Now if I wanted to give players a bastion, I would make it where there was a mega dungeon next to, or under it that has to have a percentage cleared and the bastion repaired/built for that area before anything new could be added. Basically, you have a set of ruins that you need to clear and rebuild near the dungeon. The bastion would also need to have a maximum amount of additions and anything new being added would require something old to be removed. And the players would have to pay taxes to the king/regents/etc based on the size. Failure to pay that tax means you lose your bastion. Add on that it can be attacked and sacked every d100 days, and we may have somerhjng interesting.

[@dracoyaminiatures5143]

You and I are on the same thought. I like the idea of it as something you grow through a lot of time, but not the rules that they have here.

[@thepickleddragon8590]

Death and taxes...the king will either collect one or deliver the other!

[@synetsynet9905]

This was added as an incentive to keep coming back and logging in to D&D Beyond on a regular basis. If you don't return often enough, your characters lose their bastions.

[@dracoyaminiatures5143]

@@synetsynet9905 Goes back Matt's phone game comments. ☠️

[@satori2890]

@@synetsynet9905 That fits the Micro Transactions DnD

[@Boonedale]

You don't need D&DB for this at all.

[@doyscherr]

As a DM, I am not sure why the publisher would encourage players to make a detailed map of their bastion if I am not allowed to have a group of monsters attack the bastion in a Tower Defense game. But listening to your video I figured out that the reason it is supposed to be safe is so Hasbro can sell Bastions on D&D Beyond and make the Bastion into a micro transaction app. And for every character, the player can have another Bastion.

[@dracoyaminiatures5143]

@@doyscherr OH, shit. I didn't even think about the micro transactions possibility ☠️

[@thepickleddragon8590]

That is a fantastic point!

[@satori2890]

Im glad my 5e DM isn't into Lite Six, but yeah, it's a long walk from Keep on The Borderlands to Bastions. That's why I went SD . On Mieomi Piniot, it's a start, and mid Piniot. Like in Sideways, Piniot can be Anything.

[@dracoyaminiatures5143]

@@satori2890 I need to learn more about wine and branch out to other bottles.

[@satori2890]

@dracoyaminiatures5143 I intended to email in shake of a badgers tail

[@Darkwintre]

Depends on the DM I've met some who would abuse that so one player keeps losing theirs whilst another gets power ups despite not qualifying

[@dracoyaminiatures5143]

Facts. that's why you gotta find the right group

[@journalm]

The Bastion System sounds very much in line with the current WotC approach. No care for the DM and lots of buffs for the PCs. We've used the stronghold and dominion systems in BECMI forever. Very satisfying and it provides the DM with lots of adventure hooks. The player characters have something they really care about. Threaten it somehow and you've got them trudging through the fens on a moonless night.

[@dracoyaminiatures5143]

@@journalm That sounds like way more fun. I wanna play that

[@thepickleddragon8590]

Having to work for something makes that thing more memorable and meaningful

[@journalm]

@@dracoyaminiatures5143 I have a few friends scattered around the world. When my work schedule stops looking like something the pharaoh's slave overseer came up with, I want to start a new BECMI+ (BECMI with some AD&D seasoning) campaign online for them. You're most welcome to join, if we can resolve the horrible time zone issues.

[@journalm]

@@thepickleddragon8590 Exactly so. After writing a 5e module (as a challenge from my players), I told them: "Everybody likes apples. But if you've got an Orchard of Infinite Apples, there's no joy in eating them". I still published it, but went back to writing for BECMI immediately after. PS: Do you know how hard it is to write a decent horror module for 5e, when the system coddles and protects PCs? You want the players to truly fear for their characters, but there is scarce fear to be mined.

[@journalm]

@@dracoyaminiatures5143 I replied but my reply seems to have disappeared. I want to try running an online campaign for overseas friends when my work schedule gets a bit better. You're most welcome to join if we can make the time zones work.

[@intuitivealchemist]

I'm really glad ya'll made this video. WOTC seems obsessed with hand holding players and making it difficult for DMs to challenge them in interesting ways. Isn't half the fun of having a stronghold getting to defend it? Isn't that the point? Loved seeing Matt's stronghold pictures, great stuff as always!!

[@dracoyaminiatures5143]

@@intuitivealchemist Pickled Dragon always has the best pictures and stories to share.

[@thepickleddragon8590]

Having to work for something makes it more meaningful and memorable! These bastions are a throwaway bonus for players.

[@intuitivealchemist]

@@dracoyaminiatures5143 He does, they're always a great surprise!

[@intuitivealchemist]

@@thepickleddragon8590 Definitely! If they're meaningful they're memorable.

[@michaelriggs9232]

Like your shows. Keep em coming. DnD left me a few years ago. Our group still plays 5e ish rule set. But haven't really purchased a wotc product in a few years now. Not my style anymore. Third party stuff mostly. Trying to lean my players into ShadowDark.

[@dracoyaminiatures5143]

@@michaelriggs9232 Thank you and much appreciated

[@dracoyaminiatures5143]

If you have other topics that you'd like us to cover, please let us know!

[@thepickleddragon8590]

My group is almost to the end of our last 5e campaign after nearly 4 years. We are first going to try Alien RPG, then The One Ring, and Castles and Crusades.

[@helotaxi]

I haven't seen anything concerning D&D 2024 that does anything other than take control away from the DM and give the other players more and more say over the game and its world. This is just one more example of that.

[@dracoyaminiatures5143]

Exactly. They're making it so players never have any hurt feelings or booboos. lol

[@andrewthomas7202]

Mystic Days lethal high fantasy rpg does NOT cater to modern sensibilities and soccer mom kids who never kept score and who need safe spaces.

[@thepickleddragon8590]

@@andrewthomas7202 Yeah, wotc thinks they are the future. I disagree...

[@dracoyaminiatures5143]

😂😂😂 Hilarious

[@lauramumma2360]

I pointed out some of this on X and found myself being told I didn’t get it, hadn’t watched the video (the info they said I missed wasn’t in the video from WotC). I think it is very much like the Zombie game on my phone. I have no problem with strongholds but I want more Role Playing, more threat potential and more like old stronghold rules. It sounds like the stuff in my home video games too. So I think I will just use older rules for this sort of thing.

[@thepickleddragon8590]

Zombie game is a perfect way to describe it

[@lauramumma2360]

I’m just going to use the older rules as a guide and have the players properly role play vs create a video game app in my table top games

[@thepickleddragon8590]

Totally! Use the classic sources!

[@philh8259]

Drinkers and Drunkards... roll a CON save!

[@dracoyaminiatures5143]

@@philh8259 😎 my Scottish background should let me roll with advantage

[@Runehammer1]

earn😅ng, designing, build😅ng, and fine tun😅ng strongholds has been part of dnd since the beginning. the bastions section in the new dmg is a great next iteration.

[@Max-gh1ov]

I think what it is is a cheap imitation of older rules for strongholds and domain-building. Wizards have been displaying sheer laziness in design in spite of their having more money than their every competitor combined for years. Any half decent DM could have come up with something better in the space of a weekend.

[@dracoyaminiatures5143]

​@@Max-gh1ovFACTS

[@dracoyaminiatures5143]

We're going to do a few videos on older editions and do an analysis.

[@thepickleddragon8590]

I get that some people will like the system and thats cool. I just hate that it feels like they are taking the role-playing out of the process. I realize that the DM can insert themselves into the process and do what they want but as written, the rules feel like a hollow shell of what we had in the past.

[@adolexical]

I also like the idea, but as with anything I'd probably homebrew it a bit. There's a line in the book that player control over the bastions can be limited by the larger story of the campaign. So as with anything, if you're the DM, make it work however you like. It's kind of funny that they put this system in the DM guide instead of the player's guide though. I think they want everyone to buy both books. But let's be honest... how many players will buy the DM guide? 😛 IOW this system is likely to lay entirely on the DM's shoulders regardless of the player agency they're trying to promote.

[@dracoyaminiatures5143]

@adolexical Facts. haha. Players wouldn't dream of buying the DM guide. haha. I know that a DM can homebrew rules and usually does, but in an ideal world, the official rules wouldn't need "fixing".

[@thepickleddragon8590]

I think the bastions will be part of d&d beyond with all kinds of microtransactions associated. I think that's why they don't want dms in them so the players can go to town and spend $

[@dracoyaminiatures5143]

This was an interesting video. 🎉 Can't wait to hear everyone's thoughts.

[@RvnKnight]

Good video today! Also, cute top, Dracoya.

[@dracoyaminiatures5143]

@RvnKnight Awe, shucks. 🥰 Caught me one one of the very few days I wasn't wearing black

[@RvnKnight]

@@dracoyaminiatures5143 black is always a good choice, but sometimes a bit of color is good too.

[@thepickleddragon8590]

Boy this blew up! I get busy at work and suddenly have 90 comments to read!

[@dracoyaminiatures5143]

​@@RvnKnightJust for you, my friend! 😎🫡

[@SavageBruski]

The bastion seems reminiscent to some recent video games like GTA. You go see a prostitute and get plus health, and go max out your gear and THEN go do a crazy mission. Or some more recent FF games where you just end up with endless buffs to your party until the game is absolutely shattered. So every DM is going to have "vacation sessions" where the PC's all have a spa day and THEN get to the adventures. Not loving this.

[@dracoyaminiatures5143]

😆😆 my old DM used to actually write in possible spa days during our adventures. Man, it was such a fun time, but he didn't give us any Stat boosts.

[@SavageBruski]

@@dracoyaminiatures5143 but that party sure had milky smooth skin and perfect hair! 🤣

[@dracoyaminiatures5143]

@@SavageBruski Damn straight. We looked hella suave 😎

[@SavageBruski]

@@dracoyaminiatures5143 I think David Wenham on the commentary for 300 said there was a manicurist with the Spartans, since in a close up, after all the fighting he had perfect hands and nails. 🤣

[@Boonedale]

Just because the group takes a rest for a week doesn't mean that NPC's do.

[@xytek]

I would love to see the OG stronghold rules

[@dracoyaminiatures5143]

Video idea!!!! 🎉

[@homebrewisthebestbrew5270]

If you look carefully, you can find the 1E DMG as a .pdf, downloadable for free. Don't know about the 2E Castle Guide the video mentioned.

[@briansmaller7443]

The AD&D DMG had extensive rules for building castles - along with costs.

[@thepickleddragon8590]

We will put something together on this

[@golgothika]

I remember well that one thing Gary G. stressed was to not run a Monty Haul campaign; if you know, you know. I have a player that received a magical sword from his god, this required an oath to adhere to three things, which were set by the god. The party was small, had no healer at the time, and needed the boost. There was a breadcrumb quest to obtain it, the group had to work for it. Now, lately, he is close to breaking that oath. He is close enough, in fact, that I fleshed out a story that an Erinyes failed that god, lost her cherished sword, and would like it back. She is watching for the moment he breaks that oath,and she stands to get her sword back. Now, say he breaks the oath, and with Bastion rules, said Erinyes can't touch him in his Bastion. Yeah, that's not going to work in our campaign. I brought this Bastion idea up to the group two game nights ago,and the comments were hilarious. My wife suggested (in jest) just giving everyone a magical wishing cat that grants unlimited wishes. I still run a 1st Ed. AD&D campaign with my world that I created back in the early 1980's. The closest that we've come to modern D&D is when my wife bought me Shadowdark as a gift, which I really like. I would love to see some of your stuff from back in the day. We made many drawings, but never got to the 3D printed buildings. Quite nice!

[@thepickleddragon8590]

Will see if I can get them out of storage. I have countless file folders full of stuff

[@golgothika]

@@thepickleddragon8590 If you can at some point, that would be great, but I understand the difficulties. Some of those maps looked like a draftsman created them,and the 3D printed stuff is amazing by today's standards. Saw similar selling for over $100 per set. Great work!

[@Notdoingmuch]

I get all my D&D news from ya'll

[@dracoyaminiatures5143]

@@Notdoingmuch 😎 that comment made my day. If you have other nerdy news you'd like us to follow, please let us know!

[@mikebrock2853]

I’m to the point where I care nothing about this iteration of DnD any longer. But that Meiomi Pinot Noir is fantastic! If DnD was half as good as the wine, it would be a fantastic system. Alas….wah wah

[@dracoyaminiatures5143]

😂😂😂 that is such a great point. If you have other topics that you'd like to hear us discuss, please let us know!

[@calvanoni5443]

Same.

[@satori2890]

@@mikebrock2853 Yeah Mieomi has a cool Paladin Origin Story and doth smite thee unto joyous drunky

[@williampalmer8052]

I sure don't have to tell you guys that strongholds are one of the oldest D&D conventions, and PCs were expected to retire to such places once they reached around level 10. But this bastion system takes that good, traditional roleplaying opportunity and twists it into a superficial "gamey" simplistic mechanic that WotC can take control of. Stuff like this might work in a dumbed-down boardgame, but not a deep RPG. In a weird way, I see things like this feeding into a developing social narrative that certain people are powerless and oppressed in the real world, and that (for a price) WotC will supply the power fantasy for these real-world sad sacks to escape into. EDIT - Looking back at my comment, I think it's important to clarify that there are absolutely oppressed groups. But the problem arises when companies try to monetize that fact, and to benefit financially from perpetuating it.

[@douglasrood2650]

I have ledgers full of info on my old castles and the people that populated them.

[@dracoyaminiatures5143]

@@douglasrood2650 You're a good DM.

[@satori2890]

@@douglasrood2650 Yeah I could repopulate Milwaukee with index card NPCS

[@thepickleddragon8590]

Me too! They are treasures of a golden age

[@anonymouse2675]

Huh. Whereas in my campaign, I gave my players a run down castle as a reward for their military service. It was one they took from the bad guys in arc 1. They had to rebuild it, and make it functional. Unfortunately for them, it also happens to be a nexus of time and space... Obviously why the bad guys wanted it in the first place. I still remember the looks on their faces when they walked into the dinning room and found a very angry T-rex in there. It was awesome. Or when they walked through a doorway and went back in time to the stone age. Or the time when visitors from the future showed up. They weren't exactly friendly. Or the time when a group of U.S. Army Rangers appeared and needed help to get home, while demons also showed up to get the god's skull that was powering everything... I don't exactly think it's a safe space... But my players will never forget it!

[@thepickleddragon8590]

Having to work for something makes that thing more fun, meaningful and memorable! Phone apps are so easily forgotten the moment you put them down

[@benitopulatso6637]

Character strongholds have been around since Redbox, well Bluebox (if not earlier), but they came with a cost and expectations. They were opportunities for roleplay, or things to keep players invested in their character's lives. This feels like a cash grab now (putting something in the DMG that is exclusive for players, encouraging players to buy a DMG) and a cash grab later (selling bastion assets on a VTT).

[@israelmorales4249]

I kind of miss the "Dr. Doom backround" May be the DM can use the "Orc Bastion" to become invulnerable to player's attacks It sounds like the author have to cover a certain number of pages and it was commited to do that only Great video, thx guy!

[@dracoyaminiatures5143]

@israelmorales4249 Dr doom is gonna come back soon and I'm going to interchange some photos as well to highlight other miniatures I've done.

[@thepickleddragon8590]

I told her that doom was awesome!

[@sketchasaurrex4087]

I often reference the 3e Stronghold Builder's Guidebook since it came out.

[@dracoyaminiatures5143]

@@sketchasaurrex4087 We should probably make a video on the different strongholds so the people have options

[@sketchasaurrex4087]

@dracoyaminiatures5143 I know 3e and up but not 2nd or AD&D or BECMI?

[@Vaerceagoth]

Definitely check out Adventurer Conqueror King System, even if it’s only to use the domain rules in your own game. It’s a great rpg built on B/X and BECMI that is amazingly well made. And the best part is the PDF is $10 on DriveThruRPG.

[@cobinizer]

If you like Vancian magic, you'll love Vancian boxing.

[@askelephant9819]

I have been playing a lot of time in Baldurs Gate 3 as of recent, when I eventually run my first campaign I will treat the bastion system as the home camp where different encounters would happen. Stuff like a messenger comes to deliver a message on behalf of a king or maybe an assault by bandits. As for the different tools a player can use, I would say the players need to hire some stuff and people out in the world instead of them just conjuring into reality. No where is inherently safe in a fantasy game, maybe the players can make the bastion a safe space by tracking down a lawful dragon and hiring it to defend your place in exchange the players give it gold and sacrifices. In the end, tabletop doesn't have to be by the book, the DM can decide what is good and what needs to change. For example for the sake of flavor I am letting people use any race but mechanically they are a certain race (for example, gnome raised halfling who inherited the luck from being raised by them for so long, the player presents the character as a gnome but mechanically uses gnome mechanics)

[@LeonardAndHisBiscuit]

Imagine tying a roleplay and world thing to character level progression.

[@sirguy6678]

Thanks for the update and warning! Question- do the “players” that all of these woke, soft soap, and fruit loop games are designed for- actually play? Activists don’t game- they prefer to complain about inclusion or lack there of- but never really doing anything- like actually gaming. It seems that WOTV is pandering to an echo chamber where everyone just smells their own farts- gaming is the last thing they actually do

[@Joshuazx]

I have a half tiefling half asimir sorcerer monk rogue paladin with a batcave bastion. I'm soooo cool

[@thepickleddragon8590]

@@Joshuazx damn.. Sounds really...uhhj

[@bigH101]

Since it is in the DMs guide isn't it implied that the DM controls how the bastions work? I think it is a decent start and ideas to implement. Of course you can always change it. Why bother leaving you ask? Because I have an adventurers soul and don't like sitting around idle. The same reason why conquerors conquer even though they have plenty of land. Why do wealthy people want to become more wealthy? Because some appetites are never sated. Personally I will use parts of it. It is just a guideline just like every book. I have been playing since the early 80s, and I have seen that many modern players don't like putting in the effort that they used to. We loved strongholds back then. Now, the many younger players seem like it doesn't matter to them. I can see why WoTC came to this conclusion. But, they should have the simple version and a more extensive one too. For those of us who love putting in the extra effort. I am really OCD and can't half arse it.

[@dracoyaminiatures5143]

@bigH101 In an ideal world, the official rules wouldn't need "fixing."

[@thepickleddragon8590]

It will also be in D&D beyond for players to use directly. Likely with all kinds of microtransactions which is likely why they don't want the dms involved as a gatekeeper to purchases

[@bigH101]

​@dracoyaminiatures5143 Correct, only in our own self created fantasy can anything be ideal. Someone else will always think it to be less than ideal.

[@DanSmith-x2p]

Good stuff

[@dracoyaminiatures5143]

Thank you! 🎉

[@Cosmic_K13]

The system here is trying to solve multiple problems simultaneously. Today's players fantasize about owning property as it is an unreachable goal for most people. Having a home base that you can consider safe is great. If it wasn't this, it would just be tiny hut and magnificent mansion. There are some dms that are seemingly allergic to giving magic items, so being able to contribute to when you actually get to advance gear is nice. This is especially nice for martials. I think the kinds of players they are making this for aren't interested in the micromanagement of a base and its people. I think this is also one step closer to removing the need for a dm. What's stopping you from adding more complexity to this? Why not have sidequests where players try to hire young adventures and build guilds in their bastion?

[@Darkwintre]

Consecrate a shrine that functions like a sanctuary granting you access to a small garden within the feywild. Multiple shrines allowing them access to the same garden maybe at a higher level can pick which to exit from but all of the shrines can be easily destroyed and no shrines means no access to that garden. That just for starters as it depends on the DM.

[@dracoyaminiatures5143]

@@Darkwintre That's just so ridiculous

[@Darkwintre]

Why? The DM still has access they just need to be actually good at doing and unlike my last DM literally crap over my character instead of running his game properly. He'd destroy that bastion just for kicks then awards another player their own bastion even though they did nothing to earn it in game.

[@Darkwintre]

Planned series of supplements for it?

[@dracoyaminiatures5143]

@@Darkwintre Have something in mind? 🤔

[@HermieMunster]

Isn’t that the Inn?

[@dracoyaminiatures5143]

@@HermieMunster Right?! 🤦🏼‍♀️

[@OldHeadAlan]

Everything I heard is stupid in relation to this new version of NOT-D&D. Now imagine all of this in Wizbros VTT. 🤮🤮🤮 2E 4 life. 🤘🤘🤘

[@dracoyaminiatures5143]

@@OldHeadAlan Stay tuned for our other videos highlighting older editions

[@OldHeadAlan]

Awesome! 👍👍👍

[@aaronsomerville2124]

The new rules (safe spaces!) are designed for… well I wouldn’t say “powergamers”. The correct word also starts with “p”, and is related to cats. And I’m not talking about pumas.

[@dracoyaminiatures5143]

@@aaronsomerville2124 🫣 lol

[@thepickleddragon8590]

Oh dear!

[@b.stankov3356]

Hello. I would like to bring up a few points, that I think were grossly misinterpreted or glossed over in this video. Your bastion can definitely be disabled or even destroyed. It's in the rules for it - you can absolutely change a bit the table to increase the likelihood of detrimental effects to reflect a war-like state of the realms. You guys (and that's an overall theme I've noticed) often forget that a DM can handwave, change and bend rules AT HIS DISCRETION at ANY TIME. There are NO places where the DM can't touch, there are NO places where the DM can't step into - it's IN THE RULES as written. If you want to run a rampaging, pig-faced orc hordes campaign, you can absolutely do that, as long as you tell your players in advance. If your players don't want that, but you want it - that's not a WOTC or a Bastion problem. Running the Bastion is expensive. That's the balancing that they've done. Is it perfect? Probably not, but I would have loved if you guys could do a better analysis of what the different buildings do and how much they cost to build and upkeep (both time and money). I'm not even gonna touch on the subject of the level 17 buildings - when was the last time you played at level 17? It's in there along with other bunch of broken stuff at level 17 and it's definitely not the most broken and those have been in the game for a while (older than this edition). In addition - the rules for running it, I think are a good start, to give the players framework for what they can expect in terms of pacing from their Bastion. While at it I would also like to touch on the subject of the DMs handling the so-called "OP" players, which seem to be another recurring bogeyman, which is absolutely not true. The PCs did get stronger in this edition, but not by much and ESPECIALLY not before levels 11+ which is where most adventures end. You, as a DM have so, SO many tools to make the game interesting and challenging for the players and unfortunately the only way to do it is to get better at DMing, just like your players got good at creating strong characters. Just don't forget - your job isn't to make the life of the PCs hard. Your job is to make it interesting. Hard can be a part of it, but it's not all. On the topic of safe spaces - I'm not sure why do you feel so strongly against safe spaces. Maybe it's conditioning, because the word has been associated with other negative co-notations, but I personally see nothing bad about the player having a sanctuary for himself. It creates rhythm and contrast in your game. If it's a constant fight for survival it wears on the players, and that's a lesson I've learned from experience. I don't see anyone complaining about Rivendell and that place is a sanctuary in every sense of the word. Think about it - it's purpose in Lord of the Rings was indeed to create balance and rhythm - a place to convene, to recoup and plan their next move, after they had this tense chase with the Nine behind them. Could the Ringwraiths have crossed the river and just cut them down? It definitely makes logical sense, but no - some sort of tidal wave comes out (and there is nothing mentioned at all that ANYTHING like that can happen), like a veritable ex-machina and just handwaves the Ringwraiths away. Cool Sanctuary, safe space moment right there. With all that being said I would love to see you do an analysis of the so called "old" bastion system, especially compared with the new one, given that it's actual analysis and not a rant (which this video mostly sounded like). Keep up the good work - cheers.

[@dracoyaminiatures5143]

Cheers, mate. Thanks for the feedback. We don't forget about the fact that the DM has the luxury of crafting his own world and rules, but if the base game was good then the DM wouldn't have to "Fix" it. I like your mention about 17th level. I've rarely played above 13th. My issue with safe spaces isn't that they exist. Inns have always been a safe space in my previous games. It's the way WOTC has created them with all these "benefits" that more or less break the balance of the game. Clearly it's being targeting to change to an online demographic with micro transactions. I do like your idea of analyzing the previous versions of the same idea. 🧐 I'm going to take a look into this. Really appreciate the feedback! 🫡💃🍻

[@thepickleddragon8590]

Very inciteful comment. I have a lot to process as my knee jerk is to disagree on a few points. I will respond tomorrow when I am at my computer.

[@b.stankov3356]

@@dracoyaminiatures5143 Unfortunately nothing is created perfect so that's the nature of the beast. Sometimes it's not even about what's objectively better, but what's appropriate to the table. One time I had to run a game without spiders, because a girl at the table had a very real arachnophobia. It's not that spiders were bad - they were just inappropriate. Circling back to make the point - if the aforementioned pig-faced orc horde is ravaging the lands, it will make sense that the bastions are in danger too, and I don't think anyone will have a problem with that, as long as they all agree on the general direction of a campaign with the pig-faced menace. In that sense the regular bastion rules will be inappropriate, and therefore will have to be "fixed". I don't think that when WOTC were designing the Bastions, they were twirling their moustaches, thinking how much money they will make with the MTX, but that doesn't mean you are incorrect. It is true that the general direction seems to be power creep, which does in fact sell better, so in that sense I think you may be unto something. But that doesn't make them a bad idea, too - I just wanted to put another opinion out there (apologies if the critique seemed harsh), as the video seemed very negative towards the Bastions and I couldn't really understand why or even how were the older systems better (which I would love to hear about). Regarding the balancing - this game was never balanced - there were always outliers and there will always be people that will want to optimize - it is a part of the game. Bastions are just another tool to be taken advantage of and that ultimately isn't a bad thing. More content is good, I think.

[@thepickleddragon8590]

Alrighty, I get that the DM should be able to dip their hands into anything that their players interact with but the way these rules are written, especially the conditions by which a bastion can be destroyed, definitely gives the impression that the DM should not meddle. In fact, at the 2 game stores where I run games there are already discussions and disagreements on this very topic. Those disagreements are why I even looked at bastions in the first place. Players are drooling and DMs are annoyed. I think the reason they want to exclude DMs is to remove any gatekeeper to the microtransactions they are going to offer on D&D Beyond when players begin to build their bastions there. In regards to the funds, players are allowed to pool their resources to create a bastion. Doing so greatly diminishes the cost burden. The 5e 2014 core books had their faults but I truly loved the system. While the wording of some rules, particularly spells, wasn't always clear, I thought the power balance was spot on. That remained true until Tasha's released with some truly crazy class builds like the Rune Knight and Twilight Cleric which pretty much dominated organized play thereafter. After the releases of Tasha's and Witchlight, the D&D nights I coordinated slowly began to lose DMs. Those DMs were becoming frustrated with the gameplay of 5e and opted to do something else with their nights which I totally understand. 2022 and 2023 were tough years for DMs and there were a number of D&D KZbinrs who began to sound the alarm about the DM shortage which was all too real. With the 6e release, my DMs held high hopes for a return to balance but those hopes were dashed. WotC's desire to mirror BG3's spell mechanics have created eye rolling maneuvers. Add that to the growing number of silly class builds circulating on youtube and we were greatly let down by the design of the new core books. When the new PHB released a few months ago all of the DMs at the shops upgraded their games to the new player options. In just the last 2 weeks, we have lost 2 DMs who are frustrated by 6e. One of them really hurt as he ran 3 separate games for a shop. This is a big deal because we want to support our FLGS. I am working on enticing players to other game systems to get things back on track but, among the younger crowd, they want to play what they know which is 5e/6e. I don't think your characterization of Rivendell is valid. Sauron laid siege to Imladris in the 2nd age and Elrond knew that the ring would not be safe if kept there in the 3rd. Yes, Rivendell was a respite but it was not a permanent one as a bastion would be. Not even Tom Bombadil, who was immune to the call of the ring, was a viable option to hide the ring as Sauron would eventually topple all the lands around the Old Forest and inevitably take back the ring. "Safe space" does have a negative connotation by my reckoning. In my circles, it has become a place to hide the weak or frail. Adventurers should be neither. Do I think their stronghold should be besieged all the time? No, I don't think so. Not unless the story calls for it and that is what it comes down to in my estimation. Everything the players do should be immersed in the fabric of the world and the events therein. Maybe this is just a difference in playstyle. In which case we disagree and that's totally cool! I think its a very interesting conversation, regardless of what side you are on. Cheers! Pickled

[@b.stankov3356]

​@@thepickleddragon8590 Hey, again! Thank you for taking the time to go over my long post and respond. I did write a shorter response to Dracoya, but it seems to have been lost somehow. I do, largely agree on the point of microtransactions - the way they're doing it is highly monetized and thus it may seem annoying. And I do understand how power creep may be resented as it is very well known that it does, in fact sell, turning it into a de-facto an extension of said monetization. I really want to stress, however on the fact that what must be resented here is the greedy practice of "milking the customer" more than anything else. The One DnD product and the monetization of it all is the real enemy here, as ANY content that they create WILL be gated behind the annoying MTX practice - no matter good or bad. Do you think Bastions would be that much of a problem if they were free? And there is a second part of the problem - as you pointed out, players are drooling. Unlike the monetization problem, which is a WOTC issue, the drooling players is in fact a player problem. If a player is willing to pay for an "advantage" against his DM, we are already having a problem at the debut, before even the transaction took place and that is the mindset - players should not try to "arms race" against their DM, but instead focus on collaboration. A Bastion system should not be purchased because it gives advantage, but because it is an interesting and engaging system, that adds to your game. That doesn't mean it doesn't give advantage. I hope the subtle difference is clear. As far as I understand you are speaking from experience, and I'm sorry to hear that the game store DMs in your area are distancing themselves from the game and they blame the power creep. I personally avoid game stores or similar places as I have far too often had unpleasant experiences - players there seem to be far too infatuated with the desire to "win" rather than cooperative storytelling (again this has nothing to do with the game itself - its a mindset problem). I understand how this might be the same problem, but I refuse to blame the power creep for it - the DM just has too many tools to dial up the difficulty. If necessary - you can increase the number of monsters, the CR of those monsters, you can have them work in groups or work together to take down a party - there are NO abilities in the game that make you completely unbeatable. If abilities like Twilight Sanctuary seem to be a bother - you can simply increase the number of encounters for your adventuring day. Again - I understand that it's a different environment, than what I'm used to. I am a little bit shocked to hear that a DM that had run 3 separate games with no problems beforehand has suddenly packed his things and left just because of the 6e ruleset. I personally don't think the change is that big, which is why I am inclined to believe there were some underlaying problems. In case I'm wrong, that would be quite concerning. I am struggling to see your tangent on Rivendell. I have never imagined the ring would be safe in Rivendell - there are plenty of reasons behind that, as you pointed out in good detail. But the Lord of the Rings is not a tale of Rivendell. Neither it is a tale of Tom Bombadil, nor Elrond. It is the tale of the Ring and the Ringbearer's quest, and his quest takes him far beyond Rivendell. The place is used as a Sanctuary when the plot called for it and Tolkien created a cool moment about that. Safe spaces might be where you find the weak and frail, but in all honesty - how do you know that you are strong, if not by comparison to the weak? A strong Adventurer needs the weak, which he will defend and that is the very essence of heroic fantasy - the hero does what others cannot, by virtue of his strength in the name of his higher morals and his struggle to obtain the necessary strength is the tale we want to hear about - the tale we want to play through. My point was that instead of focusing on the possible ways that the Bastion can break your game, a DM might instead use it to create cool moments in his story, just like Tolkien did. I cannot stress enough how important your players' mindset for this is. Any power can be abused, but the abuse comes not from the power itself - it comes from the abuser. Cheers.

[@tourette0106]

I got about halfway through this video before I just couldn't take anymore... For the love of all that is holy, can you PLEASE put that dog in another room when you know you're going to be filming? If I was making a video with someone and they spent more time distracted by their pet than being present in the discussion, I would just cancel the video and call it a day. Maybe I'm reading it wrong...is this a regular gimmick that your fans enjoy or something? This was my first introduction to your channel, and I couldn't force myself to keep watching after 15 minutes even though I was otherwise interested in the topic. It just comes off as very rude behavior to ignore a person while they're speaking to spend the whole video playing with your attention-starved dog instead.

[@dracoyaminiatures5143]

@@tourette0106 WOW. Alright. thanks for the feedback. It's never been an issue in any of our previous videos.

[@scottishguard]

Dude... Grow up or start your own channel. #MoreDog 🤟

[@dracoyaminiatures5143]

😅 thanks. ​@scottishguard I do have a bad habit of being distracted, and it's definitely something I need to work on. Zuko is an ADA animal, so he is very much on top of me all the time.

[@scottishguard]

@@dracoyaminiatures5143 You didn't do anything wrong, Miss Dracoya. God bless.

[@b.stankov3356]

Hot damn I've never seen anyone being so triggered by someone playing with his dog before. I don't think you have a dog, do you? They always do that - a bit like children, which I bet you don't have too. I see something else though. Are you really so jealous of the dog, that you feel so emotional about it receiving the attention and not the discourse (and by projection) you? All I see is your skill issue. You didn't do anything bad, Dracoya - keep scratching that adorable fluff.