Summary

• D&D 2024 is meant to be an upgraded version of 5e, featuring backward compatibility with previous adventures.
• Bastions in D&D 2024 provide player characters with a living home, requiring investment and micromanagement.
• The Bastion system adds a new dynamic to campaigns, allowing for customization, additional facilities, and memorable NPC interactions.

With all the rebranding of its new version, it's difficult to keep track of what Wizards of the Coast is doing with the latest version of Dungeons and Dragons. Rather than call it 5.5e or 6e, in keeping with the naming conventions of previous versions, Wizards called its newest version of the tabletop One D&D, then D&D 2024. D&D 2024 doesn't intend to recreate an entirely new version of the most popular tabletop RPG in the world. Instead, it intends to be an upgraded version of 5e, and features backward compatibility with previous adventures.

The new D&D 2024 Player's Handbook is releasing on September 17.

Because it intends to be an improved and evolved version of the wildly popular fifth edition of Dungeons and Dragons, there aren't a lot of massive additions. There are plenty of tweaks to how things used to work, like a paladin's Divine Smite becoming a spell — rather than big gameplay additions, but there are a few. The crafting system is one, as are the new actions for specific weapons, but one of the coolest that could be revolutionary for how the game is played is the Bastion system.

Bastions Could Revolutionize How D&D Is Played

Who Does Want Their Own Castle?

According to the Unearthed Arcana 2023 playtest rules, the new Bastion feature allows player characters to have a home to come back to, with systems in place to make said home feel like a living, breathing place that is constantly running. Some DMs encourage player homes in their campaigns to give a party somewhere to go back to, or sometimes it is something that players look for, so it is nice that there are now rules around this. At level 5, players can acquire their first Bastion. How a Bastion is received is entirely up to the DM and players and can simply be bought or have a quest built around it.

Bastions won't work for everyone and are best for campaigns that allow players to come back somewhere to have some downtime. World-spanning adventures or fast-paced campaigns that don't give players a lot of in-game free time to lounge and relax might not be best, but for the slow-burn campaigns that are more focused on player character interactions and roleplaying, having a Bastion could be perfect. It gives players a safe, familiar space to return to so that they can engage in roleplaying interactions on their .

Downtime roleplaying can be difficult to manage as a DM, but interactions shouldn't be forced if players don't seem up for it.

A great thing about Bastions is that they are constantly evolving and have to be nurtured and developed into something great throughout a campaign. Although this can be a pain and likely won't suit a party that doesn't want to get too involved with their home, it does mean that a Bastion will have added functionality based on what a party wants. Bastions can also be owned by a player character individually and can then be combined with other players to improve the functionality of their Bastion, although this is up to the discretion of the DM.

How Do Bastions Work?

How They Can Be Added To A Campaign

It should be noted that Bastions require a certain level of micromanagement since investment is required to allow them to develop. As time es, Bastions will get their own turns, which typically occur every seven days. This can change based on where a party is and what they are doing. For instance, if a party is traveling for months without much going on, then the Bastion Turns could be done once a month instead, and during these turns, the party can roll for a specific Bastion event, which could be something like a visit from an Honored Guest.

Players will have to issue orders to their Bastion during these turns, but if the Hirelings, which are NPCs that can be employed to work in the Bastion, receive none for a while, the stronghold will be abandoned. This is a shame, too, since the many facilities that can be added, like a Smithy or Teleportation circle, are incredibly useful and generate Bastion Points (BP), which can be spent on getting Magical Items. This doesn't apply to Basic Facilities, like a bedroom or dining room, which can also be added for better roleplaying functions.

Basic Facilities for Bastions include Bedroom, Courtyard, Dining Room, Kitchen, Parlor, Storage, and Washroom.

Players are encouraged to draw or otherwise create their own map for their Bastion, including defensive walls, windows, corridors and so on and so forth. The Bastions and their facilities can be expanded with investment too, since players can have more facilities based on their level. Money can be spent in-game to make facilities larger, going from cramped to roomy, then vast. This is pricey, though, and Bastions will probably benefit from a DM that is generous when handing out gold.

Bastions Are A Creative Addition That Isn't For Everyone

But Some Parties Love Having A Home Base

Bastions benefit from being functional enough for those who like the pure gameplay aspect of D&D and roleplay-orientated enough to allow for great player-character interactions. They won't be for everyone, but their inclusion can be discussed in session zero to see if it is something that both the DM and the party want. It is only worth doing if the party is interested in it, but having a Bastion will add a completely different dynamic to a campaign and give players something to do with their downtime when both resting and traveling.

Getting Magical Items as a by-product of having a Bastion, due to the BP system, is a brilliant way of letting players feel like their home is doing something for them, and having Hirelings could potentially add memorable NPCs that become party favorites organically. These NPCs can be a double-edged sword too, since a DM can have fun with these Hirelings, especially since one of the Bastion Events involves having a Criminal Hireling. They also give the party a feeling that they are climbing the social ladder as their adventures progresses.

With all the different facilities that Bastions can provide while being the perfect place for roleplaying between party , the new system could add so much to a Dungeons and Dragons campaign. For those looking to have a home to come back to in a campaign, this system could be perfect, especially with all the customization that is available. Players can even have their own zoo with a Menagerie facility, and D&D players do have a history of loving pets in campaigns.

Source: Unearthed Arcana 2023: Bastions and Cantrips