Erenel House Rules
Wizard Burnt the Toast is the official house ruleset for campaigns set in Erenel when using the 5E 2024 rules. These updates and changes to mechanics are meant to reinforce the tone, pacing, and stakes of adventuring in Erenel.
Approved 5E Books
We’ve used the 2014 rules for a decade. It’s time to move forward and check out the new stuff. All of Brews campaigns now run on the new 5E 2024 rules!
- Official 5E.24 Wizard of the Coast releases.
- All 5E.24 Gamingbrew player options.
Wizards Burnt the Toast
Erenel House Rules
Use the article below if playing 5E 2014
Character Creation
Background Ability Scores
You aren't locked into the three ability scores listed in a background. When choosing a background, you can ignore the listed ability score improvements and instead choose one of the following:- Increase one ability score by 2 and another by 1.
- Increase three different ability scores by 1 each.
Determine Ability Scores
Players have multiple options for generating ability scores, including a unique Erenel variant for those who want a rougher start and immediate flavor.
Choose one of the following three methods to generate your ability scores:
Standard Array
Assign these six scores however you like: 15, 14, 13, 12, 10, 8.Deprived
All ability scores start at 10, except one which starts at 14. You gain a Feat of your choice. If choosing a level 4+ Feat, you do not gain the Ability Score Increase associated with the Feat and must meet any other prerequisites. Epic Boon Feats are not included.
Point Cost
Spend 27 points to buy your stats using the adjacent table:| Score | Cost |
|---|---|
| 8 | 0 |
| 9 | 1 |
| 10 | 2 |
| 11 | 3 |
| 12 | 4 |
| 13 | 5 |
| 14 | 7 |
| 15 | 9 |
Element Alignment
If choosing to use an alignment, instead of the classic nine alignments characters in Erenel are defined by Element Alignment. These six elements created by Al'Madoon, the Architect help define morality and are present in all intelligent creatures. Their diversity and opposition shape an individual's personality and identity. However, an individual can vary from their alignment's typical behavior, and few people are perfectly and consistently faithful. Consider each element choice as a guideline to shape your values and character emotion.
AIR (Creativity) or EARTH (Diligence)
ASH (Individuality) or MIST (Community)
FIRE (Passion) or WATER (Control) An Erenel element alignment example would be Air, Mist, and Water (creative, community, control). Feel free to consult each element before choosing in the Element Alignment article to help you understand how each element can shape your character.
Build your Element Alignment
Choose one of each opposing element. You can never have two opposing elements as part of your element alignment.AIR (Creativity) or EARTH (Diligence)
ASH (Individuality) or MIST (Community)
FIRE (Passion) or WATER (Control) An Erenel element alignment example would be Air, Mist, and Water (creative, community, control). Feel free to consult each element before choosing in the Element Alignment article to help you understand how each element can shape your character.
Hit Points at Higher Levels
You can roll for Hit Points or play it safe with the average. If you roll a 1, you may reroll once and must take the new result.Languages
Erenel’s language system is built on root languages and dialects, adding depth and nuance to communication. Your character knows at least three languages: The Word (Common) plus two languages of your choice from the Standard Languages section of the Erenel Languages article. Some features or in campaign events will let characters learn rare languages from the Rare Languages section .
When learning languages, players learn the dialect, not the root language. If a language is not under a root language, the language can be chosen but has no ties to the language barrier checks. When attempting to communicate with a dialect you are not fluent in, which falls under the same root language, you make a language barrier check.
Magic Item Wishlist
Magic item wishlists are encouraged to help tailor loot drops and reward character goals. Adding items to your wishlist doesn’t guarantee you’ll get them, but it does put the items on my radar. Lower rarity items have a higher chance of showing up than rarer ones.
Milestone Leveling
Players do not gain or track XP. Leveling is handled through milestones, based on story progress and session count. You'll notice Tier 1 (levels1-4) progression is quicker with leveling pace easing into higher tiers to match stakes and weight of narrative decisions. Most campaigns will not reach level 20 and instead end when the campaign's main story arc is complete.
Combat Updates
Do or Dodge
Combat is fast-paced in Erenel. You’ve got time to think, but not forever. During combat, players have 2 minutes to begin their turn. If a player hasn’t started their turn by the time the timer runs out, they automatically take the Dodge action and end their turn.
Falling Unconscious
Regaining consciousness after facing Death Saving Throws comes with consequences. When you regain Hit Points after being reduced to 0 HP, you suffer from grogginess as your body catches up. Until the end of your next turn, you are affected by the Slowed condition as follows:
Slowed. Your speed is halved, you takes a -2 penalty to AC and Dexterity saving throws, and you can’t take Reactions. On your turn, you can take either an action or a Bonus Action, not both, and you can only make one attack if you take the Attack action. If you cast a spell with a Somatic component, there is a 25 percent chance the spell fails as a result of you making the spell’s gesture too slowly.
If you regain Hit Points after being at 0 Hit Points multiple times during the same combat encounter, the rounds you are Slowed increases by one. Example. You regain Hit Points after being at 0 Hit Points for the third time this encounter. You are slowed for three rounds, ending the effect at the end of your third turn.
Opportunity Attacks
Opportunity attacks require players to seize the opportunity!- Players must track their own Opportunity Attack triggers. If a creature moves away from you and you don’t call it, it’s missed.
- The same applies for NPCs. If I forget, they miss the chance too.
- Allies do not provoke Opportunity attacks. Run by heals using War Caster won't work.
Sunder Shield
A nod to Pathfinder. When you’re hit by a Critical Hit, you can take a Reaction to destroy your equipped Shield and reduce the attack to a normal hit. The shield is smashed into pieces and can’t be repaired. Magical shields become mundane for 8 hours when used in this way and will be destroyed if used to negate a Critical Hit while mundane.
Underwater Combat
Fighting underwater without the ability to breathe underwater is difficult. When you take damage while holding your breath, you must succeed on a Concentration check as if you were concentrating on a spell, or immediately begin to suffocate.
Gameplay Updates
Attunement
Attunement and identification are streamlined in Erenel.- You can identify and attune to a magic item during the same Short Rest, as long as you focus solely on that item for the entire rest.
- You can voluntarily end attunement by spending a Short Rest focused on breaking the connection.
- If another player wants to attune to that same item, both players may share a Short Rest, ending and beginning attunement at the same time, as long as both focus entirely on the item for the entire rest.
Help Action
Help requires actual knowledge. To use the Help action to assist on an ability check, you must have proficiency in the relevant skill or tool.
Take 10
Not every task needs the chaos of a d20. If there's no pressure, you can trade time for consistency. When you spend 10 minutes performing a skill check without immediate danger, you can choose to "Take 10" instead of rolling. When taking 10, you treat the d20 roll as a flat 10 without modifiers. You can't take 10 during combat or when failure has an immediate consequence.
What Not to Track
Here’s what I don’t track during the campaign. If it’s not listed, assume I’m tracking it but feel free to ask! Things like ammunition, carrying capacity, and multi-classing prerequisites still matter. The following elements are not tracked in Erenel campaigns:- Electrum pieces (just convert them to gold or silver)
- Dehydration
- Malnutrition
Travel
Erenel’s travel system is inspired by Dolmenwood and The One Ring!When traveling across Erenel, the group moves on a hex grid with each hex being 6 miles across. Rather than tracking exact time spent traveling, traveling is abstracted into a system of daily Travel Points. Travel Points represent time taken for travel and travel actions. Any excess Travel Points not used by the end of the day are lost.
Traveling on Roads
The party can explore any features along the road in hexes they pass through.
Traveling in the Wild
The Terrain Travel table below lists the cost to enter a hex, based on the hex type. Once the party has paid the cost to enter a hex, they can explore any non-hidden features in that hex without further cost; large towers, forts, etc. To find hidden features, the party will need to perform a search.
Travel Points Table
| Party's Speed | Travel Points |
|---|---|
| Mount | 8 |
| Vehicle | 6 |
| Normal | 4 |
| Slowed | 2 |
Mounts and Vehicles
Mounts and vehicles make traveling roads and light terrain more convenient. However, traveling is difficult in certain terrain types as shown in the Terrain Travel table. Vehicles refer to land-based options, such as carts or wagons.
Searching a Hex
A hex in the wild might contain hidden encounters or locations which remain hidden if the party simply enters the hex. The Terrain Travel table lists the Travel Point Cost to search a hex. Once a hex has been searched. If a hidden feature is located and can be found again without searching.
End of Day
If the party doesn’t have enough Travel Points to enter or search a hex, they must set up camp in their current hex. However, they can prepay for future movement. Example. The party has 2 Travel Points left and wants to enter a Tangled Forest Hex (Cost: 3). They spend their 2 points to get as close as possible but can’t enter until the next day, when they spend the final point.Campsite
At the end of the day, the party camps in their current hex. It's expected the party establishes watches, with at least one member awake at all times. Camping isn’t just a time skip. It’s a moment for world interaction and party cohesion, both mechanically and narratively.- Campfire Camaraderie. The end of day is a natural moment for in-character roleplay. Players are encouraged to connect, reflect, or strategize around the fire.
- Watch Durations. Most players need to rest at least 6 hours a night, with some species only needing 4 hours. A typical night’s watch involves 4 players taking one 2 hour watch each but the party can cover this time in any way they wish.
- Watch Dangers. If the party searched the hex before camping, the night is safer, but not guaranteed. A hex’s danger level is dynamic and influenced by terrain, threats, and DM-determined circumstances.
Terrain Travel Table
| Terrain | Terrain Type | Cost to Enter or Search | Mounts and Vehicles |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arctic | Heavy | 4 | No |
| Blight | Heavy | 4 | No |
| Coastal | Light | 2 | Yes |
| Desert | Medium | 3 | No bonus. Must be led on foot. |
| Forest, Open | Light | 2 | Yes |
| Forest, Tangled | Medium | 3 | No bonus. Must be led on foot. |
| Grassland | Light | 2 | Yes |
| Hills | Medium | 3 | No bonus. Must be led on foot. |
| Mountain | Heavy | 4 | No |
| Road | Light | 2 | Yes |
| Swamp | Heavy | 4 | No |
| Underdark | Medium | 3 | No bonus. Must be led on foot. |
Player Expectations
These expectations exist to make sure everyone at the table has a chance to enjoy the game, stay immersed, and contribute meaningfully. These aren’t suggestions. They’re how we keep the game fun, focused, and respectful for everyone involved!- D&D is a team sport. This campaign is you versus the world, not you versus each other. Prioritize party unity through shared RP and character ties, both in and out of character.
- Be mindful of background noise. If you’re sick, have loud hardware, or play in a noisy space, go push-to-talk to spare everyone from static and sniffles.
- Engage with the setting. You’ll get plenty of chances to explore, roleplay, and make meaningful choices. Take them. Interact. Shape the world with your character.
- Honored start time. Whatever start time the group agrees on is the official session start. At that time, I’ll politely interrupt any ongoing conversations to begin the game. If a player isn’t present, I may send a quick private message asking for their ETA. If the players who are present request a short delay, we can wait a few more minutes. Otherwise, the session starts as scheduled with whoever is present. Life happens, but consistency keeps the game moving. Be on time or let someone know if you’ll be late.
- Match the tone. Create a character that fits the campaign’s world and mood. Avoid joke builds or chaotic-neutral loners that break immersion for others.
- Share the talking space. Not everyone thinks or speaks at the same pace. Give other players time to collect their thoughts before jumping in. Let silence breathe.
Prohibited Roleplay Conduct
Erenel is dark, but the table is safe. Some actions and themes are off-limits to keep the game enjoyable and respectful for everyone. While the subject matter exists outside of the game, we're here to have a great time.- Sexual Harassment. You may not engage in or describe sexual harassment or assault in any form. Romance, marriage, and light flirtation are allowed if agreed upon by all involved. However, erotic content is not permitted.
- Suicide. You may not roleplay a character attempting or threatening suicide. Heroic self-sacrifice to protect others is allowed, but it must be framed as a narrative choice, not self-harm.
- Torture. You may not graphically describe or act out torture, physical or psychological, against NPCs or player characters.
Safety
Your comfort at the table matters. Let me know if a current situation is not one you enjoy as a player. This doesn’t have to be verbal. You can send a Direct Message to me as the DM. If I haven’t responded, a quick “hey, check your messages” in chat will prompt me to pause and address the situation. You are always able to step away from the session to collect yourself, breathe, or message me in more detail. You do not need to explain what’s bothering you unless you want to. Your comfort and boundaries are valid.
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