Strongholds and Followers is an exciting supplement for 5th Edition Dungeons & Dragons, designed to enhance your gameplay experience by introducing new mechanics for building strongholds and recruiting followers. This comprehensive guide allows players to expand their influence in the game world, offering a fresh way to spend treasure and resources. Whether you’re constructing a towering castle, a mysterious temple, or a bustling guildhall, the rules provided in this supplement will help you create a unique stronghold that reflects your character’s identity.
One of the standout features of Strongholds and Followers is its class-specific approach. Depending on your character’s class, the type of stronghold you can build and the followers you attract will vary. For example, a rogue might establish a network of hidden tunnels and recruit spies, while a cleric could build a grand temple and gather devout followers. This system adds depth to character development and provides meaningful long-term goals for players.
The supplement also includes new monsters, items, and adventures, making it a valuable resource for both players and Dungeon Masters. With its rich content and innovative mechanics, Strongholds and Followers has quickly become a favorite among the D&D community. Best of all, the PDF is available for free download, making it accessible to everyone looking to elevate their D&D experience.
Overview of the Strongholds and Followers PDF
The Strongholds and Followers PDF is a comprehensive supplement designed for 5th Edition Dungeons & Dragons, created by MCDM Productions. This 268-page document is packed with innovative mechanics, rich content, and stunning artwork, making it a must-have resource for both players and Dungeon Masters. Released in June 2019, the PDF has quickly become a favorite among the D&D community, thanks to its depth and versatility.
One of the standout features of the Strongholds and Followers PDF is its focus on building and managing strongholds. Players can construct a variety of structures, from towering keeps to mysterious temples, each tailored to their character’s class. This class-specific approach ensures that every stronghold is unique, reflecting the abilities and themes of its owner. For example, a rogue might build a network of hidden tunnels, while a cleric could establish a grand temple to attract devout followers. This system not only adds depth to character development but also provides players with long-term goals and a sense of accomplishment.
The PDF also introduces a detailed followers system, allowing players to attract and manage loyal companions. These followers can range from mercenary legions to artisan peasants, foreign ambassadors, or even fellow adventuring heroes. The process of acquiring followers is tied to a class-specific chart, ensuring that the types of followers you attract align with your character’s background and abilities. This mechanic adds a new layer of strategy and role-playing opportunities, as players must manage their followers’ loyalty and effectiveness.
In addition to strongholds and followers, the PDF includes a wealth of new content, such as monsters, items, and adventures. These additions provide Dungeon Masters with fresh tools to create engaging encounters and immersive stories. The artwork throughout the document is equally impressive, with vibrant illustrations that bring the game to life. Matt Colville, the creator, emphasized the importance of high-quality art in enhancing the overall experience, and this is evident on every page.
The Strongholds and Followers PDF is available for free download, making it accessible to everyone. This generosity has made it a beloved resource within the D&D community, as it offers a wealth of content without any cost. Players and DMs alike can download the PDF instantly, unlocking powerful strategies, expert tips, and essential insights to master their game. The document is available in multiple formats, including PDF, EPUB, and Kindle, ensuring compatibility with various devices.
For those interested in printing specific sections, such as the blank unit cards found on page 263, the PDF offers convenience. While copying and printing multiple blank cards may require some creativity, the inclusion of such resources demonstrates the attention to detail and player-centric design of the supplement. Fans of the PDF have praised its utility and versatility, making it a go-to resource for enhancing their D&D campaigns.
Gameplay Mechanics in Strongholds and Followers
The Strongholds and Followers supplement introduces a wealth of innovative gameplay mechanics that enhance the 5th Edition Dungeons & Dragons experience. These mechanics are designed to provide players and Dungeon Masters with new tools to deepen their engagement with the game world, creating opportunities for strategic planning, character development, and immersive storytelling; Below, we explore the key gameplay mechanics introduced in this supplement.
Building and Managing Strongholds
One of the core mechanics in Strongholds and Followers is the ability to construct and manage strongholds. A stronghold can take many forms, such as a fortified keep, a mysterious tower, or even a bustling guildhall. The process of building a stronghold is tied to your character’s class, with each class having unique options for constructing and customizing their base of operations. For example, a rogue might build a network of hidden tunnels and secret passages, while a cleric could establish a grand temple to serve as a beacon of hope for their followers.
Constructing a stronghold is not just about spending gold; it also involves strategic decisions about the layout, defenses, and purpose of the structure. Players can choose from a variety of upgrades and enhancements, such as adding barracks for military units, libraries for research, or workshops for crafting. These choices not only reflect the character’s personality but also provide practical benefits in gameplay, such as increased security, access to resources, or improved morale among followers.
Recruiting and Managing Followers
Once a stronghold is established, it becomes a magnet for followers—individuals who are drawn to the character’s cause, whether for glory, gold, or a shared sense of purpose. The followers system in Strongholds and Followers allows players to recruit and manage a diverse array of allies, each with their own abilities and motivations. These followers can range from mercenary soldiers and skilled artisans to powerful magical allies and even other adventurers.
The process of recruiting followers is tied to a class-specific chart, ensuring that the types of followers you attract align with your character’s background and abilities. For instance, a bard might attract performers and entertainers, while a paladin might draw holy warriors and healers. Once recruited, followers can be assigned to various tasks within the stronghold, such as defending the structure, conducting research, or accompanying the character on adventures.
Managing followers also introduces a new layer of strategy and role-playing opportunities. Players must maintain their followers’ loyalty by providing them with adequate resources, recognition, and opportunities for growth. Disgruntled followers may become less effective in their roles or even abandon the stronghold, while happy and well-motivated followers can unlock new abilities and enhancements.
Class-Specific Mechanics
A key feature of Strongholds and Followers is its class-specific approach to strongholds and followers. Each class in 5th Edition D&D has unique options for constructing and managing their stronghold, as well as recruiting and leading followers. This ensures that the mechanics are balanced and flavorful for every type of character, whether they are a stealthy rogue, a charismatic bard, or a devout cleric.
For example, a wizard might focus on building a tower filled with arcane laboratories and recruit followers who are skilled in magic and research. These followers could assist the wizard in crafting spells, creating magical items, or conducting experiments. On the other hand, a barbarian might build a fortress in a remote wilderness and attract a tribe of fierce warriors who share their love of battle and freedom.
These class-specific mechanics not only enhance the gameplay experience but also provide players with a sense of identity and purpose. By tailoring the mechanics to each class, the supplement ensures that every character can fully participate in the stronghold and followers system, regardless of their role in the party.
New Monsters, Items, and Adventures
Beyond the core mechanics of strongholds and followers, the Strongholds and Followers PDF includes a wealth of additional content to enhance your D&D campaign. This includes new monsters, magical items, and adventure hooks that can be integrated into your game. These additions provide Dungeon Masters with fresh tools to create engaging encounters and immersive stories, while players will find new options for equipping their characters and overcoming challenges.
The new monsters in the supplement are designed to interact with the stronghold and followers mechanics in meaningful ways. For example, some monsters might be drawn to the power of a stronghold, while others could serve as powerful allies or formidable foes for your followers. The new items, on the other hand, offer players new ways to customize their characters and enhance their abilities, both within and outside of their stronghold.
The adventure hooks and scenarios included in the PDF provide inspiration for incorporating strongholds and followers into your campaign. These could range from defending your stronghold against a siege to embarking on a quest to recruit a powerful ally. By integrating these elements into your game, you can create a more dynamic and engaging experience for everyone at the table.
Accessibility and Convenience
One of the most appealing aspects of the Strongholds and Followers PDF is its accessibility. The document is available for free download, making it easy for players and DMs to access and share. The PDF is also fully bookmarked and searchable, allowing you to quickly navigate to specific sections or find the information you need during a game session.
For those who prefer a physical copy, the PDF is designed to be print-friendly, with clear layouts and high-quality artwork that looks great on the page. Players who want to create custom unit cards or other resources can easily print out the necessary materials, such as the blank unit card template provided on page 263 of the PDF.
The gameplay mechanics in Strongholds and Followers offer a fresh and exciting way to enhance your 5th Edition D&D campaign. By allowing players to build and manage strongholds, recruit and lead followers, and interact with new monsters, items, and adventures, this supplement adds depth and variety to the game. Its class-specific approach ensures that every character can fully participate in the mechanics, while its accessibility and convenience make it easy to integrate into your campaign.
Whether you’re a seasoned veteran of D&D or a new player looking to expand your options, Strongholds and Followers is a must-have resource. With its rich content, innovative mechanics, and stunning artwork, this supplement is sure to elevate your gameplay experience and provide countless hours of fun and adventure.