February 2022 (D20 Rules Archive)

This Page is an Archive – these rules are no longer in use

D20 Chaos One-Shots are a chance to try out the very best characters against ridiculous odds. Every month the gauntlet is laid down to players to make a Level 20 build to group up and take on epic trials and god-like evil creatures. Are you up to the challenge?

Each themed event is spread over a week, with multiple sessions scheduled for different parties to face the challenge (usually 10 sessions, at least one per day, 6-8 players per session). In the weeks leading up to it each player can sign up to a single upcoming session, but in the final days players can opt to play in multiple session to fill in any gaps in the other parties as well.

There are two main types of event – Chaos Escape (challenges vary between low-combat puzzle/sneaky problems to high-combat arena clashes and Boss battles) and Chaos Towers (either Attack or Defences style, but high-combat all the way).

Character and Magic Item rules change each time to keep things interesting, but expect level 20 with a range of powerful items (always wanted to try that particular Legendary?) and a big pile of gold to spend!

Create your character sheet in D&D Beyond using the campaign link supplied in the discord Rules channel, which will allow you to select from all officially published races and classes. Unless specifically excluded in a particular month (for example due to theme) content from any any official published Wizards of the Coast DnD 5e book (including Critical Role) can be used in the one-shot, for magic items, races, classes etc.

Character Creation Rules

• Level 20 build
• Point Buy or Standard Array methods only for Ability Scores
• Max HP formula
• No Unearthed Arcana or Homebrew (but role-play flavor allowed if you want)
• No Custom Lineage or Variant Human race (any other core race allowed)
• No Custom Background (any other core background allowed)
• Tasha’s Cauldron Customise Your Origin rules and Optional Class Features are allowed
• Free starting feat with every race
• No more than one feat with the same name
• No boon is gained from the Aberrant Dragonmark feat
• Start with 2000 gold pieces
• Spells with component gold cost must be paid for using this gold
• Choose any mundane equipment from your class and background
• Choose 6 magic items, only one can be Legendary rarity
• No Artifacts
• No firearms or future technology (unless DM announces they are thematically appropriate for a specific event)
• No more than three magic items of the same name (healing potions excluded)
• Only 1 Spell-wrought Tattoo
• Only 1 Tome or Manual affecting ability scores
• Only 1 Spell Gem
• 90 days downtime for Escape Room only (not Towers events)
  • Craft up to Very Rare rarity in downtime (with right tool proficiency and enough time and gold)
• Cannot trade or sell magic items
• Leftover gold can be donated to party

House Rules

Please be mindful of other players and don’t use strategies that will significantly limit them being able to participate or have fun. To keep the game running as quickly and smoothly as possible, the following rules apply to our level 20 games:

• No Wish or Simulacrum spells
• No Short or Long Rests during the one-shot
• Players can’t cast the same levelled spell two rounds in a row (1 round cooldown)
• Magic items always morph into a Shapechange form unless the new form is the same size-class and has the same size body part (hand/head) as your original form
• Players can’t use mythic or legendary actions from a creature’s stat block
• Familiars or summoned creatures cannot use magic items
• Divine Intervention can only create spell effects from core Cleric list spells
• Each Artificer “Replicate Magic Item” Infusion will count as a free item pick, except the first one
• Any effect requiring DM interpretation will be quickest/worst outcome (unless previously agreed in discord chat – so make sure you get approval in advance!)