Project 5.5 v2

by SovereignLeaderLore

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Project 5.5

Version 2

Preface

The D&D 5.5 project is a large collection of variant rules for 5th edition Dungeons and Dragons, meant to act as a “vanilla plus” modification of the original system and as a compendium of the majority of material released for the original system over the past few years. It includes numerous fundamental changes to the original rules, and is partially backwards compatible with the original system and subclasses.

I do not claim to own ideas and rules presented in the original 5th edition material, nor do I claim any of the art presented. This is unofficial fan content permitted under the Fan Content Policy. All credit goes to Wizards of the Coast and artists’ whose works are used, the latter of whom are credited directly on pages where their art appears or at the end of the document where their work appears.

Playtest Material

These variant rules are to be considered major modifications in playtest. They are not official in any capacity, nor are they necessarily complete or balanced. As new updates and fixes are made, they will be added to this doc and its subsidiaries.

Backwards Compatibility?

Many of the rules here, especially classes, were changed to fit the balancing of the 5.5 project, and are not backwards compatible with the original system as they are currently written.

The races and subraces, renamed here to Ancestries and Heritages, are mostly compatible with the original system, but may interfere with balancing.

When using this system, especially with 5.5 classes, it is recommended to use all applicable 5.5 rules instead of the original content for a given item, if available. For example, if you were to play with the 5.5 rules for the Fighter class, a subclass from Tasha's Cauldron of Everything may not be easily translatable to the new progression system.

Can't Find a Rule?

If a rule from the original 5th Edition D&D is not present here, then it is either unfinished or it is material with too few or no changes that warrant a revision. Until a revised version of a rule is made, the original version is recommended.

Mistakes, Feedback, and Questions

If you find a mistake in one of these docs, you have a question about one or more rules presented here, or you have feedback you'd like to give about anything you find here, please contact @esteban_7581 on Discord, or /Scared_Carob771 on Reddit!

Player's Handbook

Ancestries

The following ancestries are available to be played in Project 5.5. They are sorted into four categories: Common, Uncommon, Rare, and Prestige. Common will likely be allowed in most games and in most worlds, with those ancestries usually comprising the majority of society. Uncommon ancestries may be harder to find, and Rare ancestries may be much harder to find; you should ask your DM if you can play one of those ancestries.

Prestige Ancestries

Prestige ancestries are ancestries that modify another ancestry, usually at later levels to meet their prerequisites. You must always build your character using a Common, Uncommon, or Rare ancestry before you can apply a Prestige ancestry (For example, you must make your character a Human before they can Prestige into a Dhampir).

Some ancestries can also be played as Prestige Ancestries (such as Shifter, for example), and some have Prestige ancestries for specific ancestries listed on their document (such as Fledgling, for example). The rules for these specialty Prestiges are written in a dedicated note on that ancestry, and are labeled here with a " P ". If an ancestry has a " P+ ", it has multiple Prestige options.

Common
Uncommon
Rare
Prestige

Classes

The following classes are available to be played in Project 5.5. They are sorted into three categories: Common, Uncommon, and Prestige. Common classes will likely be allowed in most games and in most worlds, with those classes likely being somewhere within most societies. Uncommon classes may be harder to find; you should ask your DM if you can play one of those classes.

Prestige Classes

Prestige classes are class options that modify another classes, usually at later levels to meet their prerequisites. You must always build your character using a Common or Uncommon class before you can apply a Prestige classes (For example, you must make your character a Barbarian before they can Prestige into Multiclass).

Prestige

Equipment

Character Customization

The Rules of Magic

Dungeon Master's Guide

Combat

Mechanics
Imposed Effects

Roleplay

Roleplay Details
Roleplay Mechanics

Exploration

Between Adventures

Magical Curiosities

Magic Items
Secret Spells

Monsters and Encounters

Miscellaneous Goodies

Epic Levels
  • Epic Levels
  • Epic Spells
Playtest Campaigns
Other

Monster Manual

Wildlife

Aberrations
  • Stargazers
Beasts
Celestials
Constructs
Dragons
Elementals
Fey
Fiend
Giants
Monstrosities
Oozes
Plants
Undead

Sample Organizations

Organizations are yours to create. Not all or even any of the following organizations are required for a given world, but could exist if the DM decides. If not, perhaps they inspire organizations of your own.

Level 3-8 | Order of the Black Rose

The hidden bane of cities, pulling the strings from the shadows to achieve their insidious goals.

Level 10-20 | The Undying Evil

A conclave of immortals orchestrating the inevitable end of all deities.

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