2024 D&D PLAYERS HANDBOOK - Epic Boons

RPGBOT.Podcast

Join Tyler, Ash, and Randall in the latest episode of The RPGBOT.Podcast as they dive deep into Epic Boons in Dungeons & Dragons! From the classic 2014 rules to the new 2024 updates, the hosts break down these powerful abilities for 20th-level characters. We explore what's new, what's missing, and what these changes mean for your high-level play.

Summary

In this episode of the RPGBOT.Podcast, Tyler, Ash, and Randall dive deep into the world of epic boons in Dungeons & Dragons. The conversation quickly shifts to the main topic: epic boons, the powerful abilities available to 20th-level characters. The hosts explore the rules surrounding epic boons, offering examples from the 2014 Dungeon Master's Guide, and share their thoughts on the usefulness of certain boons.

As they compare the 2014 and 2024 rules, the hosts express disappointment in the lack of new additions and the removal of certain boons like the Boon of Quick Casting and Boon of the Stormborn. They also speculate on the potential for future updates to reintroduce or tweak these boons. The discussion moves on to the new boons in the 2024 rules, including the Boon of Combat Prowess and Boon of Energy Resistance, where the hosts analyze their benefits and drawbacks.

In the final segment, they touch on the mechanics of invisibility and hiding, and discuss the impact of energy resistances in high-level play.

Takeaways

• Epic boons are special powers available to 20th level characters in Dungeons & Dragons.
• Epic boons can be earned through major quests or notable accomplishments.
• The 2024 rules allow for the inclusion of bonus feats as a form of advancement after reaching level 20.
• Some epic boons from the 2014 Dungeon Master's Guide include Boon of High Magic, Boon of Immortality, and Boon of Magic Resistance.
• Opinions on the usefulness of epic boons vary, with some boons being more powerful or desirable than others. Some Epic Boons did not make it into the 2024 rules, but they could still be used with some tweaks
• The hosts discuss the potential for future updates to include more Epic Boons
• The new Epic Boons in the 2024 rules offer interesting abilities for characters
• The Boon of Combat Prowess allows you to turn a missed attack into a hit once per round
• The Boon of Dimensional Travel allows you to teleport 30 feet as part of the attack or magic action
• The Boon of Fate allows you to add or subtract 2d4 from a d20 test once per short rest
• The Boon of Energy Resistance, which is new in the 2024 rules, grants resistance to a specific type of energy damage The hosts express disappointment in the lack of new epic boons in the 2024 rules compared to the 2014 rules.
• They discuss the benefits and drawbacks of each epic boon, highlighting their usefulness for different character classes.
• The Boon of Speed is particularly powerful for monks and rogues, while the Boon of Spell Recall is underwhelming.
• They speculate on the potential changes to monster stat blocks in the 2024 rules and how the epic boons may impact gameplay.
• Overall, they feel that the epic boons could have been more exciting and impactful. The mechanics of invisibility and hiding in D&D can be complex and have specific conditions for activation and maintenance.
• The hosts express frustration with the changes made to the Epic Boons in the new D&D book, feeling that it was unprofessional and negatively impacted content creators.
• Energy resistances can be valuable in high-level play, especially with the prevalence of damage types that bypass resistances to physical damage.

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Tyler Kamstra

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Ash Ely

• Professional Game Master on StartPlaying.Games
• Twitter: @GravenAshes
• YouTube@ashravenmedia

Randall James

• @JackAmateur
• Amateurjack.com

Producer Dan

• @Lzr_illuminati