House Rules & Rulings for 5R (D&D 2024 Revision)

@InsightCheck @TreantmonksTemple @DnDShorts @DnDDeepDive! I've started giving some thought to house rules that I want to use for playing with the D&D 5R rules. 

This is a WIP posting, really just a some info I want to have handy when I get around to actually writing my rules.

Dungeon Dudes Five (really 6) House Rules for 5R

Dungeon Dudes: Five Simple D&D House Rules We're Using in 2025

1. Maximized Critical Hits
2. Full Action Healing Potions
3. Draw & Stow Siplification
4. Rules Glossary: Stealth (Invisible, really?), Stunned Creatures can move (really?)
5. Custom Backgrounds

Warcaster and Opportunity Attacks

There has been a dustup on the internet about a wording change in opportunity attacks between 5E and 5R rules.  The most relevant RAW text being:

5E: "...opportunity attack when a hostile creature..."

5R: "...Opportunity Attack when a creature..."

The 5R rules also include this, perhaps flavor, text on opportunity attacks: "...Combatants watch for enemies to drop their guard..."

The deletion of hostile opens up the possibility of opportunity (warcaster buffs) for friendlies. This has triggered a storm of YouTube talk: @InsightCheck, @TreantmonksTemple, @DnDShorts, @DnDDeepDive!,  Dungeon Dudes, and others coming down on both sides of the issue.  

Mackenzie De Armas, WotC Game Designer, in the Dungeon Dudes video, explained that the elimination of hostile was motivated by hostile now being rules word that charges the DM with deciding what is hostile to the players, it has to do with attitudes.  Having attitudes control this element of the game made no sense, so the word was cut.  She seemed to think that RAW now allows friendly opportunity attacks (and allows them at her table) but that RAI still prohibits them. 

The Dudes argued that Warcaster, as a feat is already nearly a must have and letting it also be a source of buffs is a bit over the top.  Their proposal was to restrict Warcaster to enemies and introduce a new feat which allows for  casting on allies. They included a at initiative buff feature that has some virtue on its own.

Combat Caster

Ability Score Increase. Increase your Int, Wis or Cha by 1

Reactive Support. When an ally you can see starts or ends their turn within 5 feet of you, you can use your reaction to cast a spell on them. The spell must have a casting time of 1 action, and target only that creature.

Preemptive Magic. When you roll initiative, you can use your reaction to cast a spell. The spell must have a casting time of 1 action, and the spell must target only you or your allies.