Aurora Rule Guide

Making a character (D&D Beyond)

Home settings

• Sources: only 5e Core Rules, 5e Expanded Rules, Legacy/Noncore and Homebrew.
• Partnered content: only Critical Role and The Griffon’s Saddlebag.
• Advancement Milestone · Hit points Fixed · Encumbrance Use Encumbrance · Ignore coin weight on.
• Dice rolling, all optional features, prerequisites and level-scaled spells on.
• Ability display Modifiers Top · Character privacy Public.

Class, background & species

• Don’t use anything from Core Rules: pick from Expanded Rules, Legacy (2014) or Critical Role.
• Enable everything in the class’s Optional Feature Manager.
• No 2024 spells. If a spell’s source says “D&D Free Rules (2024)”, it’s out.
• Species filter: All Sources + Show Legacy Content. Custom backgrounds: double-check proficiencies.

Starting level

Ability scores

Standard array, point buy, or an Aurora array:

Equipment

• Class starting equipment + 15 gp.
• Explicit firearm proficiency: swap a ranged weapon for a Musket or Pistol.
• No modern or futuristic weapons.

Allowed books

Ask your Player Manager before taking a background from an adventure or setting book.

Core

• Basic Rules (2014)
• Player’s Handbook (2014)
• Dungeon Master’s Guide (2014)

Supplemental

• Acquisitions Incorporated
• Book of Many Things
• Fizban’s Treasury of Dragons
• Mordenkainen Presents: Monsters of the Multiverse
• Mordenkainen’s Tome of Foes
• Tasha’s Cauldron of Everything
• The Griffon’s Saddlebag: Book Two (items only)
• Volo’s Guide to Monsters
• Xanathar’s Guide to Everything

Setting

• Bigby Presents: Glory of the Giants
• Dragonlance: Shadow of the Dragon Queen
• Eberron: Rising from the Last War
• Explorer’s Guide to Wildemount
• Guildmaster’s Guide to Ravnica
• Mythic Odysseys of Theros
• Spelljammer: Adventures in Space
• Strixhaven: A Curriculum of Chaos
• Sword Coast Adventurer’s Guide
• Tal’Dorei Reborn
• Van Richten’s Guide to Ravenloft

Adventures

Items only. See allowed adventure items and the banned items.

Ban list

• Content: all D&D 2024 content.
• Backgrounds: any that grant a feat (e.g. Astral Drifter), except Aurora homebrew. You can still use the background without the feat.
• Feats: Lucky, Bountiful Luck, and Sentinel + Polearm Master together (each is fine alone).
• Races: Custom Lineage, Fairy, Hadozee, Kender, Eberron dragonmarked races, Xeno-Beast (unless in the New Age Babylon setting).
• Spells in the West Marches: you can’t cast 7th level or higher except through racial or class features. Items can’t let you cast them either.

Banned spells (outside the WM too)

Banned items have their own list below.

Multiple characters

• Everyone starts with 1 slot.
• Auroran Elite: all the extra slots, along with canon levels, the prestige system and faction leadership eligibility.
• Auroran Explorer, Supporter and Vanguard don’t add slots.
• Buy extra slots with credits, or get 1 by subscribing to Sensei’s Twitch. Slots a prepaid tier gave you stay. Max 6 slots.
• TC characters don’t use a slot and can’t trade with your other characters.

Respecing

• One free respec while the character is Rank 1. Change anything except race and subrace.
• Open a General Questions ticket and tell your PM what you’re changing.
• Quests can also respec a character (race included), usually with DM-set costs such as deleveling.

Tomes & ability score caps

• Permanent ability scores cap at 25 (outside specific TCs). Temporary boosts like a Belt of Cloud Giant Strength may exceed it.
• You benefit once from each of: Manual of Bodily Health, Manual of Gainful Exercise, Manual of Quickness of Action, Tome of Clear Thought, Tome of Leadership and Influence, Tome of Understanding, and the Bag of Beans egg (81–90 roll).

Leveling & ranks

Aurora uses Adventure Points (AP) instead of XP. You track your own AP and keep the Bot up to date.

AP per level

Ranks

Claim a rank reward by creating an in-game event for it before reaching the rank’s halfway level. You can also opt out of AP to stay at a level.

Prestige

After level 12, keep earning AP to unlock prestige levels (every 60 AP).

Game rulings

Updated on World Anvil 25 Oct 2026 This summary may be out of date until it’s reviewed: read the handbook article.

These override a DM’s ruling, except the ones marked DM optional.

Multiclassing

Not allowed with a Project Aurora homebrew subclass.

Consumables

Use one as a bonus action. Throwing or administering it takes an action. Spell-casting consumables use the spell’s or item’s action type.

Healing potions

Action = maximum healing. Bonus action = roll normally.

Help with skills

You need proficiency in the skill to Help with it.

Death saves

Rolled by the player, visible only to them and the GM.

Drawing weapons

Drawing and switching weapons is free, within reason.

Hit points

Always take the average hit die on level-up; never roll.

Overkill

Massive damage doesn’t kill: you fail one death save immediately.

Critical hits

Add the dice’s maximum instead of rolling extra (2d6+5 → 2d6+5+12). Applies to Smite, Sneak Attack, etc.

Inspiration

Hold one at most. Reroll any one die, including another player’s with their consent.

Nat 20 / Nat 1

Auto hit/miss on attacks only. Checks and saves go purely by the DC; the DM may judge degree of success.

Crimson Rite + two weapons

One bonus action ignites both weapons.

Divine Smite

Declare before the attack roll; a miss keeps the slot.

Two-weapon fighting

The off-hand attack is part of the Attack action (once per turn), and ranged too with Crossbow Expert or Firearm Specialist. It can’t be combined with a magic item’s bonus-action attack that turn.

Bonus action spells

No two leveled spells from your action and bonus action in one turn (Action Surge is fine).

Bad News

The Exandria firearm counts as a rare magic weapon.

Size & weapons

Creature or weapon size doesn’t change damage or reach unless a feature says so.

Summons

Max four summons or companions at once. Summoned zombies and skeletons can attune, are proficient with all weapons and armor, and use the summoner’s level as CR for PB.

Hold Person

Can’t be used on another PC in PvP.

Spell scrolls

Anyone can cast any scroll, with no check for higher levels.

Death save bonuses

Only effects that say “death saves” apply (not Aura of Protection).

Flame Tongue

The 2024 version is allowed in the West Marches.

Drow

2014 PHB Drow may ignore Sunlight Sensitivity.

Exhaustion (DM optional)

Gain one level of exhaustion when raised from unconscious.

Flanking (DM optional)

Allies on opposite sides flank. You can’t flank something bigger than you by a size or more, and incapacitated allies don’t count. NPCs can flank.

Item limits

Each quest you can bring items worth up to your level + 3 points, prestige levels included (prestige 3 → 18 points).

• Consumables: up to 2 × proficiency bonus per quest (magic ammo, scrolls, tattoos, potions, ointments, dusts that run out).
• No Rare+ items in Rank 1 games; no Very Rare+ in Rank 2 games.
• Artificer infusions are worth 0.

Roleplay nights

• No deaths or lasting injuries unless agreed with the DM beforehand.
• No gold reward, but up to 200 gp of goods or gold through activities.
• At the end, roll on the boon tables. A boon works once in your next session (any character), then expires. DMs may pick a boon instead of rolling, or give inspiration.

Downtime

• Each character gets 4 downtime weeks on the 1st of every month once they reach level 3, plus 1 per 20 AP earned at any level. Weeks never expire; you track them.
• Characters can’t pool weeks on the same task.
• Each activity’s weeks are in the table below. Submit with its template on the Discord Downtime forum and wait for a DM to confirm.
• In TCs, downtime is up to the TC’s DM.

Each activity has a template to post on the Downtime forum. Your character’s Downtime log builds it for you, with what the app knows already filled in.

Estates

To build: play 3 sessions on the continent, get the continent lead’s OK on the location, and pay 500 gp. There’s no upkeep. You can have one estate of each type and use each type once per session.

Garrison

Add the Estate Die to a failed Athletics, Acrobatics, Strength save or weapon attack.

Institute

Pick two of Arcana, History, Nature, Religion, Animal Handling, Medicine or Performance. Add the die to a failed check (once each per session).

Sanctum

Subtract the die from a creature’s successful Str/Dex save against your spell or feature.

Business

Start of session: gain die × 5 gp, or mundane 5e goods worth up to die × 10.

Sanctuary

Start of session: temp HP = die + PB. Once, add the die to a hit-die roll.

Haven

Add the die to a failed Stealth, Sleight of Hand, Deception or Intimidation check. Advantage on hiding what your estate really is.

Requests go on the Estates downtime channel (no weeks), and a DM replies with whether it’s fine and what it costs: Establish (ask the continent’s DM lead where), Upgrade power or influence, Invite or remove pledges (ping them; each reacts with 👍), Renovate to another type, Transfer to someone else, or Demolish. Your character’s Estates tab builds the post. Founding a faction goes through the Faction section instead.

Characters pledged to an estate use it at one power level lower (a d2 at level 1). You can be pledged to one estate, run one with pledges, and be in one faction.

Factions

Bigger than an estate: a faction can sway several regions, if not a whole continent. Your tracker is under Factions.

Founding one

• An estate with power 3+ and influence 5+; its location is the faction’s home.
• At least four level-5 characters pledged to that estate, besides the owner.
• A 1,000 gp down payment, pooled by any members of the estate.

A faction keeps every estate benefit, holds up to 15 pledges, has a Treasury, and takes part in Faction Events. It doesn’t count as an estate for pledges, so you can be in one faction and pledged to one estate. Members and Admins use its estate die one size lower.

Keeping it

At least 5 non-retired characters from 5 active players (DM’d or played a quest in the past 3 months). A player’s extra characters don’t count. Checked every 3 months, or the faction disbands.

Stats

Strength (labour, direct action), Knowledge (research, information) and Influence (diplomacy) run 1–20 with D&D modifiers (+5 at 20). Each starts at 8, plus 5 creation points to share out, ASIs at levels 3, 6 and 9, and +1 per full member from their main class. Only projects can push one past 20. Reputation runs 1–20, starting at 12 at home and 10 elsewhere.

Members

Admins up to 5, including the leader · level 3+

Approve treasury withdrawals.

Members up to 10 · level 3+

Count toward Faction Composition.

Initiates no limit

Don’t count toward composition, miss some benefits, and donate half as much.

Treasury

Holds gold, downtime weeks, components and items. Each month a member can donate gold up to level × 100, weeks up to their level, and items up to their level by rarity weight (Uncommon 1, Rare 3, Very Rare 5, Legendary 7). Initiates donate half, rounded down. Items only go in for projects or out-of-game use.

Events and levels

A Faction Event comes every 3–4 weeks. Pick an Approach (one per attribute) and roll d20 + that attribute’s modifier + your reputation modifier there + the approach’s bonus or malus. Then send 3 Representatives to an RP thread, each making a check against a DC set by that roll. 1–2 successes is usually a minor success; all 3 (or the best total) a major one.

EXP: 15 per session with 3+ members (max 45 a month), 25 / 50 for a minor / major event success, project EXP by tier, and monthly EXP from the Guild Hall line. A level every 100 EXP, to 12.

Scouting Parties minor

Advantage on travel and navigation checks in your home continent.

Public Acceptance major

Add your proficiency bonus to Charisma checks with natives of your home continent.

Badge of Office superior

Members cast a chosen non-damaging cantrip or 1st-level ritual through the faction’s badge (not Guidance or Find Familiar).

Faction projects

Each needs its gold, downtime weeks and a specific magic item in the treasury, then the Construction downtime activity (with a DM). A member can post their own contribution, or the leader posts for several at once. Contributions count at 1:1 for Elders, 2:1 for Members and 4:1 for Recruits (4 weeks or gold from a Recruit put 1 into the project). Your faction tracks its own progress.

Tiers open with the faction’s level: Tier 1 at 1–3, Tier 2 at 4–6, Tier 3 at 7–9, Tier 4 at 10. Wonders need a whole tree finished first, and tree paths exclude each other (no Alchemical Center and Holy Site). Knowingly falsifying progress, or swapping roles to game the ratios, resets all of a faction’s projects to 0.

Oathstone Tier 0 · Cloak of Billowing

A monolith: promises or treaties made before it are sacred to the faction and can’t be broken easily.

Vault of Echoes Tier 0 · Instrument of Scribing

A secure underground archive that can record and preserve any information.

Soldiers Yard Tier 1 · Weapon, +1

Each month: downtime weeks equal to the Strength modifier (min 1) to the treasury.

Guild Hall Tier 1 · Cloak of Protection

Each month: 10 EXP.

Medical Center Tier 1 · Periapt of Wound Closure

Admins and Members get a lesser healing potion at the start of quests (expires at the end).

War Room Tier 1 · Shield, +1

Everyone pledged can start quests with a 1d4 inspiration to use during them.

Workshop Tier 1 · All-Purpose Tool, +1

Everyone pledged can ignore the tool cost of crafting.

Diplomatic Embassies Tier 1 · Sending Stones

+1 Influence (can exceed 20).

Marketplace Tier 1 · Bag of Holding

Each month: gold equal to the Influence modifier × 100 (min 100) to the treasury.

Barracks Tier 1 · Periapt of Health

+1 Strength (can exceed 20).

Stables Tier 1 · Saddle of the Cavalier

Admins and Members get a mountable Beast of CR 1/2 or lower (no fly, swim, burrow or climb speed) each month if they don’t have one. Controlled mount: Dash, Disengage and Dodge only.

Library Tier 1 · Eyes of Minute Seeing

+1 Knowledge (can exceed 20).

Scribe’s Quarters Tier 1 · Arcane Grimoire, +1

Each month: 1st-level spell scrolls equal to the Knowledge modifier.

Builder’s Regiment Tier 2 · Weapon, +2 · after Soldiers Yard

Each month: downtime weeks equal to the Strength modifier × 2 (min 2), to share out.

Grand Hall Tier 2 · Ring of Protection · after Guild Hall

Each month: 20 EXP.

Holy Site Tier 2 · Amulet of the Devout, +2 · after Medical Center

Once a month an Admin can cast Revivify on a fallen member, ignoring the material cost.

Alchemical Center Tier 2 · Alchemical Compendium · after Medical Center

Admins and Members get a greater healing potion, Initiates a lesser one, at the start of quests (they expire at the end).

Academy Tier 2 · All-Purpose Tool, +2 · after Workshop

Everyone pledged always has common crafting components and ignores the tool cost of crafting.

Informant Networks Tier 2 · Duplicitous Manuscript · after Diplomatic Embassies

+1 Influence (can exceed 20).

Tradehall Tier 2 · Handy Haversack · after Marketplace

Each month: gold equal to (Influence + Reputation modifier) × 100 (min 200).

Military Outpost Tier 2 · Amulet of Health · after Barracks

+1 Strength (can exceed 20).

Beast Hall Tier 2 · Horseshoes of Speed · after Stables

Admins and Members get a mountable Beast of CR 1 or lower (no fly speed) each month if they don’t have one. Controlled mount.

Renowned Academies Tier 2 · Robe of Eyes · after Library

+1 Knowledge (can exceed 20).

Scriptorium Tier 2 · Arcane Grimoire, +2 · after Scribe’s Quarters

Each month: 2nd-level spell scrolls equal to the Knowledge modifier.

Architects Core Tier 3 · Weapon, +3 · after Builder’s Regiment

Each month: downtime weeks equal to the Strength modifier × 3 (min 3), to share out.

Blacksmith Tier 3 · Dwarven Thrower

Makes a Gem of Enhancement (raise an item’s rarity by one, up to very rare) on completion and every 4 months.

Citadel Tier 3 · Helm of Brilliance · after Grand Hall

Each month: 50 EXP.

Divine Temple Tier 3 · Amulet of the Devout, +3 · after Holy Site

Once a month an Admin can cast Raise Dead on a fallen member, ignoring material cost and penalties.

Distillarium Tier 3 · Cauldron of Rebirth · after Alchemical Center

Admins and Members get a superior healing potion, Initiates a greater one, and everyone pledged a common consumable, at the start of quests (they expire at the end).

Arcane Bastion Tier 3 · All-Purpose Tool, +3 · after Academy

Ignore the tool cost of crafting; once a month the faction makes a rare crafting component.

Tinkerer’s Market Tier 3 · Wand of Polymorph · after Academy

Ignore the tool cost of crafting and craft for 1/4 less.

Grand Exchange Tier 3 · Rod of Security · after Tradehall

Each month: gold equal to (Influence + Reputation modifier) × 150 (min 200).

Training Sanctuary Tier 3 · Horseshoes of a Zephyr · after Beast Hall

Everyone pledged gets a Large or smaller mountable Beast of CR 2 or lower each month if they don’t have one. Controlled mount.

Kindred Grove Tier 3 · Moon Sickle, +3 · after Beast Hall

Everyone pledged starts sessions with an allied Beast of CR 1 or lower.

Summoning Hall Tier 3 · Efreeti Bottle · after Beast Hall

Everyone pledged starts sessions with an unwilling Aberration, Celestial, Elemental, Fey, Fiend or Undead of CR 2 or lower, controlled with a bonus action.

Grimoire Hall Tier 3 · Arcane Grimoire, +3 · after Scriptorium

Each month: 3rd-level spell scrolls equal to the Knowledge modifier.

Legion of Works Tier 4 · Horn of Valhalla (Iron) · after Architects Core

Each month: downtime weeks equal to the Strength modifier × 4 (min 4), to share out.

Relic Vault Tier 4 · Universal Solvent + Sovereign Glue

Admins and Members can attune to one more magic item.

Eternal Throne Tier 4 · Rod of Lordly Might · after Citadel

Everyone pledged gains 1 extra downtime week each month.

Axis of Devotion Tier 4 · Holy Avenger · after Divine Temple

Once a month an Admin can cast Resurrection on a fallen member, ignoring the material cost (active PCs lose a level).

Catalyst Engine Tier 4 · Ioun Stone of Regeneration · after Distillarium

Everyone pledged gets a superior healing potion at the start of quests; each month Admins and Members get a very rare consumable that expires at the end of the month.

Archmage Tower Tier 4 · Crystal Ball of True Seeing · after Arcane Bastion

Ignore the tool cost of crafting; a very rare component every 2 months and a legendary one at the start of each year.

Sovereign’s Forge Tier 4 · Ioun Stone of Mastery · after Tinkerer’s Market

Ignore the tool cost of crafting and craft for half the cost.

Vault of Wonders Tier 4 · Scarab of Protection · after Grand Exchange

Each month: gold equal to (Influence + Reputation modifier) × 200 (min 400); everyone pledged buys components and mundane items for half price.

Throne of Winds Tier 4 · Cubic Gate · after Training Sanctuary

Everyone pledged gets a mountable Beast of CR 3 or lower each month if they don’t have one. Controlled mount.

Druid Grove Tier 4 · Moonblade · after Kindred Grove

Everyone pledged starts sessions with an allied Beast of CR 2 or lower.

Gatehouse of Echoes Tier 4 · Iron Flask · after Summoning Hall

Everyone pledged starts sessions with an unwilling creature (as Summoning Hall) of CR 3 or lower.

Infinite Lexicon Tier 4 · Staff of the Magi · after Grimoire Hall

Each month: 4th-level spell scrolls equal to the Knowledge modifier.

Reincarnation, death & wills

Reincarnation

From level 5, after a significant event: restart at level 1–3 with changed aspects. You may keep your background, memories, belongings and estates. The first one is free, then 2,000 gp each. It’s permanent and gives no bonuses.

True Reincarnation

When a level 5+ character dies, a fragment of their soul passes to a brand-new character. You lose everything, but you gain the Successor background: two skills, one tool, one language, a curio and 15 gp. Its feature, Knowledge From Before, gives advantage on one of those skills once per dawn.

Legacy quest

A normal player-made quest, but your character retires immediately after it. Make it epic.

Wills

On death or retirement, list which characters get your items and estates. Prestige reward items can’t be given away.

Why you reincarnated (optional d6)

1. Divine Intervention: a deity offered, you accepted.
2. Miracle of Alchemy: a full-body transmutation.
3. Lost Between Worlds: you came back from the Feywild or Chaos Plane changed.
4. Gone Far Too Soon: a mundane death, then revived in a new body.
5. A Random Item: a strange artifact vanished, and so did the old you.
6. Effect Without Cause: you just woke up someone else.

Retirement

Pick one path. Benefits of another can be negotiated with a Lore Scribe.

Allowed adventure items

The only items allowed from adventure books. Items marked “quest reward only” can only be received as quest rewards.

Banned items

No item may let you cast a spell of 7th level or higher. These items are banned outright: