May 2022 (D20 Rules Archive)

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

D20 Chaos On

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 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.

Basic Build

1. Players make a Level 20 Character
2. Standard Array or Point Buy 
3. HP is Fixed Formula
4. No Homebrew or Unearthed Arcana except what I provide for the specific theme
5. Players will use the Variant Encumbrance rules
6. Players start with the Gold Buy option (roll for gold, no starting equipment)
7. Players start with the following
   • 5000 Extra Gold
   • 3 Magic items of any rarity except Artifacts
   • 10 workweeks of downtime

Approved Sources

8. All Official Races are approved for use except for Custom Lineage and Variant Human
9. All Official Sub-Races are approved for use including Critical Role variants
10. All Official Backgrounds are approved for use including Custom Backgrounds
11. All Official Classes are approved for use including Critical Role classes
12. All Official Sub-Classes/Archetypes are approved for use including Critical Role sub-classes
13. Multiclassing is allowed
14. Tasha’s Cauldron Customize your Origin and Optional Class features are approved
15. All Official Feats are approved for use except Aberrant Dragonmark and Lucky
16. All Official Spells are approved for use except Wish, Simulacrum, and Shield
17. Players will be given one free Feat with every race
18. All Official WOTC Books are approved for magic items, summons, and familiars
19. Players may select Themed Homebrew Feats, Backgrounds, or Items provided by me in place of their normal selections

Magic Items & Crafting

20. Cannot attune to more than one magic item of the same name (+1/+2 count as the same)
21. Any Item attuned to a creature under your control (Familiars, Companions, etc.) counts against your character’s limit of 3 attuned items
22. Any Magic Items that give you free flight (broom, carpet) must use an attunement slot
23. Players can use their downtime for the following
    • Use Gold to buy mundane equipment, healing potions, spell/crafting components
    • Craft 1 Magic Item (non-consumable) up to Rare rarity
    • Craft up to 3 Consumable Magic Items up to Rare rarity
24. Firearms or Future tech cannot be used except for my themed items where appropriate
25. Players may choose only one Spell Gem
26. Players who use the following items will have tweaks made to the items
    • Broom of Flying requires holding on with one hand while in the air
    • Blackstaff has no Master of Enchantment feature
    • Potion of Giant-Size can only affect non-magical weapons
    • Spell Gems require the spell’s normal casting time when the gem is used (acts as a reusable scroll)
    • Dragon Masks can only heal from damage dealt by a hostile creature (no friendly fire or terrain damage)

Gameplay Tweaks

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 extra rules apply to our level 20 games:

27. Players may have a max of your Proficiency Bonus tokens under your control on the board (6 for level 20)
28. Players will not be given a Short or a Long Rest during the event
29. No spell effects can be active at the start of the game, anything cast during downtime will have expired unless it has an indefinite duration (until dispelled)
30. Divine Intervention can only be used to heal creatures you can see using their own hit dice
31. An Artificer can only choose one “Replicate Magic Item” Infusion
32. Players can’t use Mythic or Legendary Actions from a creature’s stat block (Legendary Resistances are ok)
33. Magic items are always absorbed into a Shape changed or Wildshaped form unless the new form is the same size class and has the same size body part (e.g. hand/head) as your original form
34. Cannot trade, sell or share magic items, or team up for crafting (only share healing potions)
35. Leftover gold can be donated to the party
36. Player Characters may use their Hit Dice as a free action for the following effects
    1. Heal themselves or an ally within touch range
    2. Add to any attack, save, or check roll made by a player
    3. Subtract from any attack, save, or check roll made by the DM
    4. Hit Dice effects do not stack with any other add/subtract effect on dice rolls