D&D 5e Overflow

@JoshuaAslanSmith @Grubermensch and @RobertF thanks for a great game! Was a lot of fun hanging out with y'all tonight. First time I've actually been in the DM chair for an online play game so hope it wasn't too rough for y'all

Grubermensch

This was good, and I've been itching to play in a game for a while now. Looking forward to next week!

wax eagle

awesome! glad to heard it. I'm trying to swing running part 2 for my gaming group this weekend so I'll have a bit of practice

we got through more than I thought we would with the later start.

but the slightly lower Hps and damages, and the fact that you guys made the handle animal check certainly made this go better. Though I was a bit sad not to get to flood the tunnel this time :(

Grubermensch

of note: I'll be on west coast time starting the 13th and working until probably ~7pm PST (10pm EST) starting the week after, so if we're still going then, the session schedule will probably have to change

but the next two weeks will probably work out fine

Stack Exchange

7:48 AM

0

Q: Looking for a Detective/Mystery Adventure (D&D)

I have been playing D&D for a month or so now and I have realized that games I enjoy most are the ones that are Detective/Mystery centred. I have played Assassins Knot but it was far too easy and to find the culprit was even easier. I am in search of a good Detective/Mystery adventure that revo...

Joshua Aslan Smith

11:57 AM

@waxeagle felt great to be a player for the first time in 3 months

wax eagle

12:17 PM

codenamemorningstar.com/blog/two-bards-walk-into-a-tavern

→ 1 message moved to RPG General Chat

Joshua Aslan Smith

1:01 PM

dreadgazebo.net/review-dnd-5e-starter-set

His review of the Starter Set

RobertF

1:19 PM

Yes, fun game, thanks for DMing waxeagle!

Did we forget saving throws for the magic? Or no savings throws vs. spells in 5e?

Grubermensch

Some spells are attacks, some get saving throws, some just work.

RobertF

Ok, I need to read thru 5e rules again.

Joshua Aslan Smith

when I made sacred flame attacks

he had to save

RobertF

Regarding bards in codenamemorningstar article - I still don't quite understand bards. They're a cross between a rogue & wizard, but with more theatrics? IMO the bard is a true roleplaying rather than rollplaying character. Perhaps a bard player should actually have to sing/play instruments/tell stories during the game?

Joshua Aslan Smith

2:23 PM

nah

it doesnt require that

the bard is probably going to have a lot more buff/debuff stuff going on than the wizard or cleric

with a rougish single melee weapon kind of bent

we wont really know till we get to see the bard colleges

@robertf dnd.wizards.com/articles/features/keeping-it-classy

college of lore looks like a big skill buff focus and college of valor more like a 4e style warlord, wont know for sure until we see it

wax eagle

2:49 PM

@RobertF There were a couple of times where I should have made the cleric roll a concentration check when I damaged him during the encounter with the bugbear, but I forgot (I need to add a note, and a token next time someone has a Concentration spell up)

Joshua Aslan Smith

only 1 hit

it was a good one

but yeah I shouldve made a con save to keep up the shield of faith on you

wax eagle

its one of the mechanics I have the hardest time remembering in 5e right now

Joshua Aslan Smith

its very not 4e which is what we have the most experience with (those of us playing with you) so I think its legit to forget it sometimes

wax eagle

yep

Joshua Aslan Smith

and save to keep a spell going is less player agency

wax eagle

2:57 PM

(same in my home group, everyone who is playing in that group has realy only played 4e)

@JoshuaAslanSmith definitely

Joshua Aslan Smith

its okay ish because really only the most powerful spells seem to have concentration

its a nice wway to avoid some serious shenanigans of previous editions with chaining magic effects

I do like that shield of faith is an untyped bonus

Could cast it on myself and laugh at having 20 AC

oh wow hadnt actually looked at the armor prices in basic, much more reasonable than in playtest plate is only 1500 vs 5k

Max AC from light and medium is 17, 19 with a heavy shield

I like that

wax eagle

that gives real weight to actually having full plate which is good

Joshua Aslan Smith

exactly

heavy armor trades disadvantage on stealth and reduced movement for superior defenses

(except against enemy magic users who have that melt armor spell)

which I guess isnt in basic from my search

soooo nevermind

wax eagle

@JoshuaAslanSmith yeah, was gonna say I hadn't seen that in basic (which is good I think)

Joshua Aslan Smith

I concur

level 2 is going to be fun

wax eagle

3:18 PM

yeah, I'm definitely looking forward to L2 play. L1 is relatively boring, but there are a lot of reasons for that (From the fact that it's supposed to be short to that it's an intro to the fact that I think they want MCing to be a more meaningful choice than a single level dip)

Joshua Aslan Smith

right

RobertF

So I get the impression the Basic 5e D&D we played last night is what Basic D&D should have been 35 years ago. In old school Basic D&D classes and races were the same, no skills or feats, weak low level magic (no cantrips).

Combat was simplified, but we'd still be playing at midnight if we were using all the bells & whistles.

wax eagle

yes

the fact that it can get through what'd we play about 4ish mid sized encounter in a night is fantastic.

Joshua Aslan Smith

3:35 PM

very much

and itll go faster next time now that we are familar with the tools

@RobertF you can totally put in your spells in the character sheet if you have tht ime

RobertF

Yes I'll do that.

I've always felt combat options like charging, grappling, kicking, tripping, etc. can be rolled up into a single melee die roll, although I know some players like to roleplay every detail.

Grubermensch

We didn't really get to use any combat actions last night, though. Except interfering with ranged attacks.

There were several times I wanted to try shoving goblins off ledges though. But the positioning didn't work for it.

Joshua Aslan Smith

thaumaturgy seems like itll be super useful all the time

brightning and dimming fires

changing the color of fire

eyes glowing

thunderclaps

booming voice

making doors and windows open or close

wax eagle

yeah, I'm inclined to let creative uses give you advantage on specific checks

@RobertF same goes for things like mage hand and prestidigitation)

(well mage hand for different things, but yeah)

Joshua Aslan Smith

3:50 PM

I feel like the fighter should be a pretty boy

reveals abs gets advantage on persuade checks

like we said before right now the fighter gets the least non-combat utility

wax eagle

yeah, but the melee fighter does have +2 cha...so totally

Joshua Aslan Smith

indeed

you think way of the shadow monk = ninja?

hmm be interesting to see how way of the shadow monk stacks up against assassin rogue

also loving that cthulu sorcs are in the phb

wax eagle

@JoshuaAslanSmith very possible, I doubt they'll release an assassin for 5e (I have a feeling that a lot of the splats for 5 come in adding builds to main classes that fit archtypes that in previous editions were whole classes, rather than building new structures, but what do I know)

Joshua Aslan Smith

'@waxeagle "Rogue: A rogue selects a roguish archetype that reflects his or her approach to crime and chicanery. The Thief is an evasive, sneaky trickster. The Assassin is a focused and quiet killer. The Arcane Trickster uses enchantment and illusion magic to enact his or her schemes."

from the keeping it classy article by mearls

dnd.wizards.com/articles/features/keeping-it-classy

wax eagle

@JoshuaAslanSmith yeah I mean a full assassin class

Joshua Aslan Smith

4:02 PM

oh

yeah I agree

I think its going to be full on essentials subclasses

which I support

Stack Exchange

0

Q: Would D&D 5e be considered OSR?

Obviously it's a new and 'modern system', but with the discussion of OSR and the focus of D&D 5e on bringing back a lot of the old-school feel, wouldn't it qualify as OSR similarly to the AD&D clones springing up everywhere? It seems to fit the criterion listed by answers in the myriad answers of...

dnd-5e osr

Joshua Aslan Smith

wow super opinion based

wax eagle

well... 5e isn't open source... (IIRC OSR is open source rp right?)

but "open source" is kind of an...oddball thing for an RP

oh old school revival...nm

Joshua Aslan Smith

yeah I also misread that

but yeah its still way too subjective

wax eagle

4:18 PM

ooh: slyflourish.com/4e_dms_guide_to_5e.html

Grubermensch

I think there are a lot of things that are associated with "old school" that we don't see in 5e

simulationism i think is still comparatively low

(this is only really based on my experiences with AD&D/2e)

it's closer, but i wouldn't call it old-school

Joshua Aslan Smith

complete list of tyranny of dragons adventures dndadventurersleague.org/tyranny-of-dragons-premier-adventures

wax eagle

Yeah, I was trying to find the words there, and I think you've just nailed it. It's still more abstract and less simulationist. It's still pretty gamist, but it runs over to narrativist and has coffee every once in a while

Grubermensch

on the other hand, it's not very new school either

Joshua Aslan Smith

D&D: Gestalt edition

wax eagle

4:27 PM

@Grubermensch no, definitely not. it's lacking in a lot of more modern game design stuff that would be really nice (namely more player agency)

Joshua Aslan Smith

@waxeagle we should have a google docs for you to look at for our pc traits

you guys read teh faction article?"

dnd.wizards.com/articles/events/faction-talk-part-1

Stack Exchange

0

Q: +11 to hit? combat question

My friends and I are very new to dnd. Played like 3 times. On the premade character sheets next to weapon damahe it says stuff like +11 to hit and hit (1d8+1) my question is what is hit if I role a d20 against AC anyways? Sry if its a stupid question.

combat dnd-5e

Grubermensch

@StackExchange argh roll/role

@JoshuaAslanSmith * glances * Seems interesting. I'm not into organized play and I don't run the official setting, so it's of limited relevance to me.

Joshua Aslan Smith

I think we should close this

its so totally a I dont know the basics of the system at all

Grubermensch

It's basically read the rulebook to me.

Joshua Aslan Smith

4:34 PM

also Im doubtful its 5e

non of the pregens have 11 to hit as far as I know

prof is only +2 at level 1

Grubermensch

yeah that would be unexpected

Joshua Aslan Smith

max modifier is +5

nobody is holding a +4 magic weapon

which Im not sure exists

Grubermensch

you can take archery

which gets you to +9 with ranged weapons

Joshua Aslan Smith

yeah

Grubermensch

but that's pretty much it

wax eagle

4:36 PM

@JoshuaAslanSmith +11 is um at 17th level character...or a like L11 archer

(or so)

Grubermensch

i think you could get it earlier with an archer

wax eagle

@Grubermensch hmmm, yeah, starting at 20 you'd have 9, so you need a +4 prof which comes at...

9th level

Grubermensch

17 dex at level 1 (elf)

i don't think you can start at 20

oh nvm you could roll an 18

wax eagle

yeah...

Grubermensch

rolling for scores is horrible though

wax eagle

4:39 PM

but these are pre-gens...*starter* pregens definitely don't cover a to-hit that is that high

Joshua Aslan Smith

0

Q: Can we have a RTFM equivalant in the Vote to Close options?

Often enough we get really low-quality questions that are obvious that the asker has not read the rules at all (vs. asking for clarification). Generally these questions seemed to be looked down on by the community as not serving our purpose or helping anyone and encouraging a "read the rules to m...

feature-request vote-to-close

Grubermensch

also you can take archery which gives you +2 with ranged weapons

@JoshuaAslanSmith are VTC options network-wide?

Joshua Aslan Smith

some are inherited but we have sub-versions of them (off-topic) that are made for us

wax eagle

@Grubermensch most are, but each site can have custom ones

Joshua Aslan Smith

I think hes confusing hitpoint

like the Hitpoints box is right above weapon damage

wax eagle

4:43 PM

that would make sense...depending on the character sheet layout

Grubermensch

1d6+2 piercing is the shortsword

but the pregens don't have average damage callouts

could he be looking at monsters?

Joshua Aslan Smith

no like I mean the PC's hit points

wax eagle

@Grubermensch very possible

Joshua Aslan Smith

that is another possibility

wax eagle

@Grubermensch that's about how they do it for monsters

Grubermensch

4:45 PM

@JoshuaAslanSmith yeah i don't think that's what's happening here

wax eagle

let me see if I can figure out which

Joshua Aslan Smith

only monster with a to-hit that high would be a certain green reptile

Grubermensch

bite attack then maybe?

wax eagle

and it's only at +7

Grubermensch

hrm

Joshua Aslan Smith

4:46 PM

also in his final sentence I think hes asking what he as a gm would roll to hit against

or something else

its super confusing

wax eagle

yeah we need to close this as unclear.

it's not so much "Read the rules for me" I don't actually have a problem with those. Explain your problem clearly though

Joshua Aslan Smith

in party my heart goes out to him

Ive tried to teach myself CP2020 so many times

everytime I reread the book I wanna play but there are a dozen rules questions that I cant seem to definitively answer

and the GM guide book, Listen up you primitive screwheads, is more of an article collection about GMing style rather than concrete mechanical tips for building setting, NPCs, and adventures like teh DMG is

and CP2020 being such an oldschool game, I get the usual oldschool gamer response, oh just run it on the fly itll all work out etc.

wax eagle

oof. I tried marvel heroics once..but my group didn't really get it (part of the problem is that when we run once offs it's usually because our DM can't show, and he's the one with prior RP experience)

Grubermensch

@waxeagle you mean prior experience with Marvel?

Joshua Aslan Smith

oh yeah

@waxeagle next time we play use a status effect marker for me and robertf to show concentration is in use, will help both us and you to remember if we're already concentrating on a spell

wax eagle

4:51 PM

@JoshuaAslanSmith yeah I'm definitely going to do that

is there a way to assign...tags...or something to the markers?

Grubermensch

not really

there are the little image markers

but i rarely find them to be clear

wax eagle

k, I'll keep using the colored dots and we'll remember what they mean (and I'll make a note)

CN:MS has the sorcerer today apparently

Joshua Aslan Smith

make a reference legend and toss it in the corner of the maps

wax eagle

(or more of it?)

@JoshuaAslanSmith ah I can do that :)

Joshua Aslan Smith

when you give a status I think you can name?

which I could see by double clicking on the token

not super helpful but I think thats an option

wax eagle

4:54 PM

legend works better probably

Joshua Aslan Smith

@waxeagle Link? I dont know what that is

wax eagle

@JoshuaAslanSmith codename morningstar, they haven't posted it yet...came through my twitters

Joshua Aslan Smith

ah yesh

wax eagle

We've got an exclusive preview of the PHB from @Wizards_DnD to show you today! Sorcerer fans get ready. #dnd #phb #codenamemorningstar

Tweeted by DnDMorningstar on August 1, 2014 at 4:50 PM

Joshua Aslan Smith

I figure beta wont start till post gencon

wax eagle

4:56 PM

probably not

Joshua Aslan Smith

I just signed up for the accelerated dresden beta that jon hobbes linked

I liked DF a lot, had a little more structure for my 4e group to cling to as we moved into the bold world of narrative gaming

a rules lighter version of that sounds good though since a lot of the magics got complicated (which I think was due to the setting mostly)

wax eagle

yeah, at some point I want to run fate, but definitely going to go with an AE first. DFAE might be the way to go as there is more setting to hang onto there than core fate

Grubermensch

@JoshuaAslanSmith do you Fate?

I'm trying to run my first FAE game this weekend, but I don't know how to set the power level of the big bad

Joshua Aslan Smith

Ive fate cored, not FAE yet

in the same way DF got me into fate I figure DF FAE could get me into FAE

Grubermensch

ah

well what is the normal scaling method in Fate then?

Joshua Aslan Smith

5:01 PM

Do you fate gets a star

DM discretion

Grubermensch

heh

.... that's not really helpful ....

Joshua Aslan Smith

basically you are asking what kind of a bonus they would need to hit somebody or do somethign right?

take the bonus words as a guide and generally apply real world logic

Grubermensch

no i'm saying how do i build a bad guy that would be an appropriate challenge for two starting characters

like should he have more/less refresh or aspects or boosts

Joshua Aslan Smith

ah, you mean more like which skills etc he should have

and how many ticks in the different damage types

Grubermensch

yeah basically

though FAE has set stress and consequence spreads, but if adding something there is the appropriate scaling method, that works too

Joshua Aslan Smith

5:05 PM

this just made me excited which is silly

slyflourish.com/dungeons_of_fate.html

Oath of Enmity in fate as a character aspect should not make me excited #Avenger_Fanboy

Joshua Aslan Smith

5:22 PM

I did not see this yesterday

enworld.org/forum/…

Grubermensch

ZOMG FEATS!!!! GIVE THEM TO ME!!!!!!

Joshua Aslan Smith

exactly

dungeon delver looks really good

fighter could take lead position with that

Grubermensch

yeah

Joshua Aslan Smith

if the feats are good enough the fighter can be viable

wax eagle

Ok, we have some clarity on the +11 question...

Joshua Aslan Smith

5:28 PM

blarg cant find the 5e page with all the class preview images

wax eagle

@JoshuaAslanSmith enworld.org/forum/…!

Joshua Aslan Smith

nevermind they removed the playtest thing where the fighter got more improvements, everyone gets 5, so yeah hes still suboptimal in a non combat situation

when the bard or rogue can take the same feat

wax eagle

@JoshuaAslanSmith no, fighter gets 7

at least he does in basic, rogue gets 6, everyone else gets 5

Joshua Aslan Smith

in the phb preview Im seeing one a 4, 8, 12, 16, and 19

ah accidently reading barb

wax eagle

gotcha was wondering

Joshua Aslan Smith

5:37 PM

okay hmmmm

wax eagle

have they previewed the PHB fighter pages yet?

Joshua Aslan Smith

no they havent

I thought they had

because the barb could be a fighter for all intents and purposes based on the art

and the mini in the first mini line looks like him

wax eagle

yeah it does a bit

Joshua Aslan Smith

so I was just like oh thats the fighter

and scanned to the next page

and some how didnt read the word rage at all anywhere

cause I just went right to lvl 4

wax eagle

happens

wax eagle

5:52 PM

I'm a bit intrigued by the fact that only the fighter and rogue get extra abil ups

(at least so far)

Joshua Aslan Smith

6:10 PM

yeah

I dont know that the rogue needs an extra with his skill focus/expertise stuff going on

Stack Exchange

7:00 PM

1

Q: Does knowing a spell grant me the bonus action with which to use it?

The 5e D&D Basic Rules v0.1 description of casting times says that spells with a casting time of "bonus action" require a bonus action to cast (p. 79, emphasis mine): Most spells require a single action to cast, but some spells require a bonus action, a reaction, or much more time to cast. ...

dnd-5e

wax eagle

10:21 PM

hell wild magic sorcy: enworld.org/forum/…

last bits of Draconic too. that's cool

ok, the wild magic table has some hilarious effects on it

Ooh limited dice explosion on Sorcy damage rolls at 18

also, it's going to be a PITA if I ever decide to model it

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