Original Doc by deldon. Text has been edited by Window Dump.

This is a curated collection of the official optional rules in D&D 2014 (aka 5e ‘14) culled from the DMG and PHB to create a simpler, more streamlined game. These rules should be compatible with many other similar games including D&D 2024 (5e ‘24), Tales of the Valiant, and Level Up!: Advanced 5e.

The Core Rule

Above all, the players agree that the dungeon master will follow the core rules of play as a neutral arbitrator, as referenced in How to Play (PHB p. 6), and The Role of the Dice: Ignoring the Dice (DMG p. 236):

1. The DM describes the environment
2. The players describe what they want to do
3. The DM narrates the results of the adventurers’ actions

The DM is at the sole liberty to say if and when the dice and any other rules come into play.

Character creation

Additional options (races, classes, subclasses, backgrounds, etc.) may be available at the DM’s discretion, based on the campaign setting.

Race

Limit offerings to that which is available in the Essentials Kit:

• Dwarf (hill, mountain)
• Elf (high, wood)
• Halfling (lightfoot, stout)
• Human (no variants)

Class

Limit offerings to that which is available in the Essentials Kit:

• Bard (College of Lore, College of Valor)
• Cleric (Life Domain, War Domain)
• Fighter (Champion, Eldritch Knight)
• Rogue (Thief, Arcane Trickster)
• Wizard (Evocation, Transmutation)

Spells

Limit offerings to that which is available in the Essentials Kit.

Additional rules

Levels are capped at 5.

Multiclassing is forbidden.

Feats are forbidden.

Ability proficiencies

Skill Proficiencies by Class following Skill Variants: Ability Check Proficiency (DMG p. 263)

The skill list is not utilized, instead each class gains proficiency on all checks made with an ability, selected from this list:

Class	Proficiency Options
Bard	Any One
Cleric	Intelligence, Wisdom, or Charisma
Fighter	Strength, Dexterity, or Wisdom
Rogue	Dexterity, Intelligence, Wisdom, or Charisma
Wizard	Intelligence or Wisdom

Characters that gain Expertise pick one Ability Check to gain Expertise in, instead of two Skills.

Resting

Backgrounds

Backgrounds grant one ability check proficiency relevant to your background, and a total of two relevant tool or language proficiencies.

Level advancement

Decide as a group which of the three variant level advancement options you would like to utilize, found on DMG p. 261:

1. Milestone
2. Session-based
3. Story-based
4. (Optional) Use XP as per Unearthed Arcana: Three-Pillars Experience with the following adjustment: Do not grant any experience for combat encounter of CR less than a quarter of the party’s level.

Combat

Flanking is not utilized.

Initiative

Use the Initiative Variants: Side Initiative (DMG p. 270)

• Initiative is settled by a simple unmodified d20 contest, side vs side. Winner goes first
• On their turn, all members of a side can act in any order they wish.
• When all members of a side have finished their turn, the other side begins.

Morale

Use the optional rule Morale (DMG p. 273) to speed up combat on the monster’s side.

• Make a DC 10 WIS Save for an individual creature or using a group’s leader.
  • If the opposition is overwhelming the save is made with disadvantage.
• On a failure, the group flees by the most expedient route or else surrenders if escape is not possible.

Character advancement beyond Level 5

There are many, many rules that this system removes from the normal system of character creation that happens throughout play. These mechanics can still be added to characters, but it is up to the player of the character to communicate to the DM if they are seeking these mechanics (such as a feat or higher level spell) so the DM can tie the mechanic to a fictional source (such as a tutor, or library of forbidden arcane knowledge) and place it in the campaign world.

The DM is also of course at the liberty to place any number of mechanical boons throughout the world, but should do so in a manner that compliments the fiction.