What's New: Mix Your Rulesets, Build Your Monsters, and More - ICE5e Blog

We've been busy. Really busy. And this weekend, you get to reap the rewards.

If you've been playing D&D for a while, you've probably found yourself caught between the 2014 and 2024 Player's Handbooks — each has features you love, and features you… tolerate. What if you didn't have to choose?

And if you're a DM, you've probably wished you could homebrew monsters as easily as you homebrew everything else. Now you can.

Let's dive into what's new in ICE5e.

🎛️ Mixed Ruleset Support: The Best of Both Worlds

This is the big one.

You can now mix and match 2014 and 2024 rules on a per-category basis. Want the streamlined 2024 species rules but prefer the 2014 feat system? Done. Love the 2024 class updates but want classic backgrounds? No problem.

Here's how it works:

When creating a new character, you'll see a new Ruleset Configuration step

Choose "Mixed" mode

Select which ruleset you want for each category:

- Species (2014 "Races" or 2024 Species) - Classes & Subclasses - Backgrounds - Feats - Spells

Your character sheet will adapt automatically. ASI progression, subclass timing, weapon masteries — everything adjusts based on your choices.

Why this matters for your weekend session:

Optimize without breaking immersion. If your table is transitioning from 2014 to 2024, you can do it gradually.
Experiment freely. Try the 2024 Warlock with 2014 feats. Mix until you find your perfect build.
House rule friendly. Running a table with custom rulings? Mixed mode gives you the flexibility to match your table's vibe.

You can also set a default ruleset preference in Settings → Content Sources so every new character starts with your preferred mix.

🐉 Homebrew Monsters: Build the Encounters You Dream About

DMs, this one's for you.

You've always been able to homebrew classes, spells, items, and more. Now you can create custom monsters with the same level of detail and polish.

What you can do:

Full stat blocks (AC, HP, speed, ability scores, saves, skills)
Custom actions, bonus actions, reactions, and legendary actions
Lair actions and regional effects
Damage resistances, immunities, and vulnerabilities
Condition immunities
Senses (darkvision, blindsight, tremorsense, truesight)
Languages and CR calculation support

How to use it:

Go to Homebrew → Monsters

Click Create New Monster

Fill in the stat block (we've made it as intuitive as possible)

Save and add to your encounters

Your custom monsters integrate seamlessly with the Encounter Builder. Build balanced encounters with a mix of official and homebrew creatures, track initiative, manage HP — all in one place.

Perfect for this weekend if you:

Need a unique boss for tonight's session
Want to reskin an existing monster but keep the mechanics
Are running a homebrew campaign with custom factions and creatures

⚔️ Homebrew Weapons: Arm Your Characters (and NPCs) Properly

Not every campaign fits neatly into the PHB weapon list. Now you can create custom weapons with full mechanical support.

What you can customize:

Damage dice and type
Properties (finesse, versatile, reach, heavy, light, thrown, etc.)
Range (for ranged/thrown weapons)
Cost and weight
Special mechanics (using the improved Mechanics Editor — more on that below)

Your custom weapons appear in:

Character Builder equipment shop
Combat Section attack rolls
Equipment lists and inventory management

Use cases:

Homebrew settings (steampunk rifles, elemental blades, etc.)
Unique magic weapons that don't fit the "longsword +1" template
Cultural weapons (campaign-specific arms that reflect worldbuilding)

📚 Content Source Filtering: Your Table, Your Rules

Not every table uses every sourcebook. Maybe you're running a PHB-only campaign. Maybe you ban certain spells or feats. Now you can control exactly which sources appear in your compendium and character builder.

Here's how:

Go to Settings → Content Sources

Toggle sources on/off for each category (Species, Classes, Backgrounds, Feats, Spells, Items)

Use presets (PHB Only, Core + Xanathar's, Everything) or build your own custom filter

Save your preferences

Once set, ICE5e will only show content from your enabled sources. No more scrolling past feats you don't allow. No more accidentally picking a spell from a book your DM hasn't approved.

This is especially useful for:

DMs running curated campaigns
Adventurer's League players (stick to AL-legal sources)
Tables with house-banned content

You can also set this per-character or per-party if you play in multiple groups with different rules.

🛠️ Behind the Scenes: Mechanics Editor V2

If you've ever homebrewed content in ICE5e, you've used the Mechanics Editor to add bonuses, proficiencies, and special abilities.

We've completely rebuilt it.

What's better:

Category-based flow. Instead of one giant form, you now pick a category (e.g., "Ability Score"), then configure the details.
Dynamic fields. The editor adapts based on what you're building. Creating a spell? You'll see spell-specific options. Adding a bonus? You'll get a clean value picker.
Migration support. Old homebrew automatically converts to the new format — no manual work required.

It's faster, cleaner, and way less frustrating. If you've been putting off homebrewing something because the old editor was clunky, give it another shot.

📊 Massive Compendium Expansion

While we were at it, we regenerated all core content using data from both the 2014 and 2024 Player's Handbooks. That means:

Every 2014 and 2024 species, class, background, feat, and spell is now available
19,000+ magic items from official sources (expanded significantly)
Subclass features for both rulesets
Accurate source attribution so you know where each option comes from

You now have access to the most complete D&D 5e digital compendium available for free.

🎉 Try It This Weekend

All of these features are live right now. No signup required. No paywalls. Just go to https://ice5e.com and start building.

Here's what to try:

Create a character with mixed rulesets — experiment with combinations you've always wondered about

Build a custom monster for your session tonight

Filter your compendium to match your table's rules

Homebrew a weapon that fits your character's backstory

And if you run into any issues or have feedback, we're listening. Drop us a note via the feedback button in the app or reach out on social media.

What's Next?

We're not done. Upcoming features include:

Homebrew subclasses (with full progression support)
Party-wide homebrew sharing (so your DM can push custom content to the group)
Encounter balancing tools (better CR calculations and difficulty estimates)
Export improvements (VTT integrations, printable sheets, and more)

But for now, we're taking a breath. And you should take ICE5e for a spin this weekend.

Ready to build? Head to https://ice5e.com — it's free, always will be, and gets better every week.

Happy rolling. 🎲