Implied Changes

These are not changes to the system, per se. Rather, if you are playing with the Classes of 5e Advanced, these may seem like changes--even though they are really just a difference between the old and new classes--so it's worth describing them here.

Proficiency in Things Other Than Skills

In 5e, you can be proficient with things like Martial Weapons, Spells, etc. The 5e Advanced Classes do things a bit differently.

Weapon Proficiency

There are no categories of weapon proficiency, only Weapon Proficiency itself. Fighting classes get it, others don't. The list of Weapons has been simplified, but even if it hadn't, the point is that fighters know how to fight (obv), and wizards don't.

Note: I considered simplifying it down to Melee, Ranged, and Unarmed, but...which class would be missing one of those? What would be the point? Is that fun?

Armor

There are no armor proficiencies. Armor can be worn by anyone, although spellcasters might not like it very much.

Spellcasting

None of the Classes uses a Spellcasting Ability Modifier, nor a passive Spell DC, nor a Ranged Spell Attack. Instead, they grant a skill, specific to that class, which they use for:

Rolling to hit with a targeted spell
Establishing a DC to save against the spell
The above two are the same roll
Contesting other spellcasters (using rules like Dispel and Counterspell), opposed to that caster's skill

Magic

All of the Spells added to the system in 5e Advanced have certain things in common. For more, see Magic.

Old Notes (not canon)

Basics

Start with 5e.

Set proficiency bonus to +5 at all levels. (Open for debate on this one)
Certain global formulas that were previously embedded in class descriptions may have been modified:

 * Spell DC, spellcasting ability modifier, and spell attacks are resolved differently (see [[Magic]])
 * Ability score increases are now granted to everyone at levels evenly divisible by 4. They otherwise work the same way.
 * Fighting classes no longer receive multiple attacks per round as a general rule. Instead, there is a standard damage model (see below) affecting weapon attacks and spells.

Since multiclassing is strongly encouraged in this system, classes no longer grant Save proficiencies. Instead, PCs choose two saves of their choice at level 1.

 * In exchange for an ability score increase (both +1s), PCs may elect to gain proficiency in a new Save or Skill.

Damage Model

In addition to their level, all PCs now have a "rank", a simplified number representing their overall power level:

Rank 1: levels 1-4
Rank 2: levels 5-9
Rank 3: levels 10-14
Rank 4: levels 15-19
Rank 5: level 20+

This rank may be referenced by talent requirements or other abilities, as noted. But it has a very specific relationship to PC damage.

There are three damage levels:

Light damage: 1d4 per rank + ability modifier
Medium damage: 1d8 per rank + ability modifier
Heavy damage: 1d12 per rank + ability modifier

Almost all maneuvers and spells are described as doing one of these three types of damage. This replaces previous spell-specific damage dice. Ability modifier is always the same one that applied to the attack; thus, if you rolled a Str check to attack, you add Str to damage, and if you cast a spell with Int, you add Int to damage.

All weapons have been overhauled to inflict light, medium, or heavy damage of their specific type. Most of the time you do damage, you will do damage according to these formulae.

This change effectively encapsulates the bonus damage fighting classes were previously getting from Multiattack (with any remainder handled effectively through changes to those classes).

This damage model allows PCs to gradually gain effectiveness with all of their abilities. High-level abilities will still be superior to low-level ones in other ways. It is against this system's design philosophy to make a higher-level version of a lower-level ability which only improves it by adding damage.

Swift Actions

Many maneuvers and spells will describe their effect as a "swift action" or merely "swift". A swift ability can be used as a bonus action.

Similarly, references to a "standard action" are simply another name for a single action.