TRPG General Chat

NautArch

2:01 PM

@ThomasMarkov Rats, lost a player for Rime for a few weeks while they finish up their EMT course.

Thomas Markov

Live game?

Or internet game?

NautArch

internet. no live games around here.

Thomas Markov

...I may be looking for a game ;)

NautArch

debating if I can adjust on the fly for just 2 players. Pretty sure I can.

orly?

You on discord?

Thomas Markov

Yeah, my game is probably on hold for several weeks as well.

Yeah.

thomasmarkov#9771

I can keep meta knowledge of your game and the book separate easily enough.

Bardic Wizard

2:08 PM

Good morning

Medix2

I'm just gonna keep adding dupe targets to that question XD

Well, time to get ready for my 13 hour work shift :(

Thomas Markov

13 hours?

Arent you a teacher?

Medix2

I was in grad school for a master's in education; dropped out because the professors, and the coordinating teacher were not able to teach effectively (or at least, not as well as I know they normally teach) online, to the point that I felt like I simply wasn't learning anything. I'll go back into the program next year and all the financials worked out beautifully, so that's great. Now I'm working at an Olive Garden

And if there's one thing I've learned, it's that there's always always another way to pronounce Gnocchi

So after a year of Olive Garden, I'll have a year of getting my Masters, and then be a teacher

Thomas Markov

Gotcha.

Gnoccha?

:p

Bardic Wizard

@ThomasMarkov I think most of my teachers work more than 13 hours at a time if you count all the grading and such. My history teacher always says his tests take 24 hours to write and an hour to take, so we ought to get good grades

RevenantBacon

2:27 PM

My mom teaches 7th grade science, and she definitely works at least 12 hours a day

I assume that college teachers work significantly more, or in rare cases, significantly less, hours

AncientSwordRage

2:43 PM

@BardicWizard <Insert Hobbit Quote>

Bardic Wizard

2:59 PM

@AncientSwordRage insert response that was supposed to be pithy but comes out wrong

AncientSwordRage

Hey, I get what you mean

good pithy reply

KorvinStarmast

3:19 PM

@NautArch Thanks for the quick reply, you and BlueMoon both offer good food for thought.

@Ben For dragons, that's just "back in the day" ...

@user-024673 No, I did not mean majority when I said Consensus. Just to be clear.

@Medix2 Nok-kee is how it sounded when I lived in Italy

NautArch

@KorvinStarmast had to change my title to a michael jackson reference, sorry

KorvinStarmast

3:35 PM

@NautArch that was cool; I like it.

NautArch

vote to reopen?

KorvinStarmast

@NautArch OK, but only because you are my friend. :)

And that's gonna be a tough answer ...

AncientSwordRage

@NautArch needs more focus

maybe one strain at a time?

NautArch

@AncientSwordRage I think we've done class/subclass reviews, but I could see that. Just turns it into a lot of questions.

Thomas Markov

@NautArch mashed it as soon as it clsoed.

illustro

3:44 PM

@NautArch done

KorvinStarmast

I think it is just as well to stay one question, still has some fat to trim, though

illustro

It's significantly better than when it was closed for linking to a document that can change at a moments notice, but it is a loooong question

Thomas Markov

4:04 PM

Ive found a monster in Descent into Avernus; the CR seems a bit high.

dndbeyond.com/monsters/kostchtchie

AncientSwordRage

@illustro yup

Someone_Evil

I like that it is limited to one bite attack, when it's bite attack is the worse one :)

illustro

It can make one creature every round vulnerable to all damage dealt by it

and it can cast harm

Thomas Markov

Even with that though, it seems pretty underwhelming for a CR25.

illustro

14d6 * 2 if you fail a save

(and with a DC of 20...thats likely)

Oh, and it has truesight and can, at will, cast darkness, meaning it will have advantage on every attack

and you will have disadvantage on every attack

Someone_Evil

4:09 PM

Advantage, on top of a +18 to hit bonus

illustro

Also, if you try to make it have a saving throw from a spell, it has advantage on that

Someone_Evil

Not how much accuracy CR and balance has (or is expected to have) when above 20

illustro

It has a +16 con saving throw,a +14 wis saving throw and a +9 dex saving throw

Thomas Markov

Compare to this thing: dndbeyond.com/monsters/marut

illustro

Oh, also, it's straight up immune to a bunch of damage, and can't be charmed or frightened

GcL

4:11 PM

@ThomasMarkov Yeesh. 25 is probably about right. That would give 4xL15 characters a deadly run for their money.

illustro

5:10 PM

It is worth remembering that Kostchtchie is a Demon Lord of the Abyss, and thus you would expect it to be in the CR20+ range at a minimum (one doesn't become a Demon Lord by getting elected)

In the hands of the right DM, they could be used to annihilate high level parties who aren't optimised against it

If I was planning on using that particular monster against my players, they would have plenty of foreshadowing of what they are facing, and when they eventually faced it, I would play it to TPK to the best of my ability (given their standing)

On the other hand, my players will almost never face a Marut (due to the requirement of having to sign a contract, on the plane of Sigil, and agree to have the Inevitable enforce the letter of the contract), unless they specifically seek it out, to enforce a contract, and agree to the contract (instead of just murder hoboing the other party prior to signing)

Bardic Wizard

@illustro you sure about that? I can think of several examples of demon lord politicians... (which I will not mention because politics)

GcL

5:31 PM

@illustro I dunno... I've got some cheeky monkeys that might just hit it with a lightning bolt to see what happens if they saw it enforcing a contract on someone else.

They also might release a devil of the abyss because they thought they'd get a good deal out of it... so probably 50/50 on fighting either of those if they were to encounter them.

What's that book about role playing intelligent adversaries? CR is a rather crude heuristic.

Bardic Wizard

6:35 PM

My chem teacher mentioned in her lecture that she would play the RPG Metals & Metalloids, or its sequels Halogens & Horrors and Noble Gases & Notoriety

and honestly it just goes to show how awesome my teachers are

GcL

6:58 PM

What do those sessions sound like? "Your party, once again, has crystallized along charged lines. Now the pressure is mounting and things are getting heated. How are you going to react? Have a meltdown or find new alloys to aid you?"

Thomas Markov

@RevenantBacon

GcL

I'd write an adventure for that. "Alloys and Energies. An adventure for transition and other metals of 12 to 32 protons."

RevenantBacon

@ThomasMarkov So in your example, you said that even if an orc could somehow grapple a creature from further away than right next to them, they still couldn't use Aggressive

Thomas Markov

@RevenantBacon No, they could use it.

RevenantBacon

> In the event that you do grapple a target from 10 feet or more away, you can still only move toward the creature, ending your move closer to the creature. There is no way to compel the grappled target to move with this feature.

more specifically

> There is no way to compel the grappled target to move with this feature.

Thomas Markov

7:03 PM

Yeah. That's exactly using it.

RevenantBacon

Is wrong

Thomas Markov

How?

RevenantBacon

Why can the orc not move the target with them when they move?

Grapple states "when you move you can"

it does not stipulate a direction or a distance

Thomas Markov

Oh, I think I see. Grapple from 10 feet, move closer, then carry, ending the move 5 feet away?

RevenantBacon

Exactly

Thomas Markov

7:05 PM

Now how do you grapple from 10 feet?

Bardic Wizard

@GcL I’d totally play that adventure

Thomas Markov

Its irrelevant if theres no use case

RevenantBacon

I grab from 10' away, move, move myself 15 feet but only move you 10 feet

Bardic Wizard

and/or write that system

Thomas Markov

Your reach is 5 feet. How do you grab from 10?

RevenantBacon

7:05 PM

Go Go Gadget Arms?

Unearthed Arcana phychic class too

I forget what it was called, Mystic or something

GcL

@ThomasMarkov Giant octopus for one, or have an unarmed reach of 10'.

Thomas Markov

Im removing that bit about reach until we find a use case.

RevenantBacon

Has an ability to increase reach

Thomas Markov

@GcL Right, but you have to be an orc. Its a racial feature.

GcL

Ooo..... that's a good question that actually could affect a campaign of mine.

RevenantBacon

7:07 PM

Does the spell Enlarge/Reduce increase your reach when it makes you large?

GcL

Grapple is not an unarmed strike, correct?

Thomas Markov

@RevenantBacon no

RevenantBacon

@GcL Not a such, no

GcL

Does the tentacle wand do a grapple?

RevenantBacon

@ThomasMarkov Worth a shot. I know it did in older editions, couldn't remember for this one

GcL

7:08 PM

Three hits and the target is grappled?

Thomas Markov

No.

> On a failure, the creature's speed is halved, it has disadvantage on Dexterity saving throws, and it can't use reactions for 1 minute. Moreover, on each of its turns, it can take either an action or a bonus action, but not both. At the end of each of its turns, it can repeat the saving throw, ending the effect on itself on a success.

RevenantBacon

Tentacles just make them weakish for a minute

too much goop

Anyways, the "grapple from more than 5 feet away" was hypothetical.

So if you hypothetically could grab them from more than 5 feet away, this would totally work

But the only option that I can think of that allows you to do that is from UA

And costs a psychic point to do

Oh, found it

media.wizards.com/2017/dnd/downloads/UAMystic3.pdf

Thomas Markov

meh, not gonna add a defunct UA to my answer

RevenantBacon

> Psychic Focus. While focused on this discipline, your reach increases by 5 feet

LOL, that's fair.

Just thought of it is all

Thomas Markov

Also:

> You attempt to
grasp a creature in telekinetic energy and hold it
captive. As an action, choose one creature you
can see within 60 feet of you. The target must
succeed on a Strength saving throw or be
grappled by you until your concentration ends or
until the target leaves your reach, which is 60
feet for this grapple

I deleted my comments.

GcL

7:15 PM

Grapple using a whip?

Thomas Markov

is that a thing?

RevenantBacon

@ThomasMarkov Me too

@ThomasMarkov It is if you're a cool DM :p

GcL

I dunno. Grapple says within reach and have a free hand. Whip has reach and only requires one hand.

Thomas Markov

In that case, 300 feet grapple please: "Additionally, when you make an attack with the whip on your turn, you can increase the range of the attack to 300 feet. This property of the weapon can’t be used again until the next dusk."

RevenantBacon

Oh boy, what's that from?

illustro

7:21 PM

Be a bugbear:

> Long-Limbed

When you make a melee attack on your turn, your reach for it is 5 feet greater than normal.

grapple replaces a melee attack

Thomas Markov

@illustro You could, but then you wouldnt be an orc.

illustro

True

GcL

Have to be an orc for the other thing they're talking about.

illustro

Ah

Thomas Markov

Borc Bear?

GcL

7:25 PM

Could be an orcbear.... which is actually just a polar bear that's been hanging out in a temperate climate and algae has started to grow in their fur.

illustro

dndbeyond.com/sources/phb/combat#MeleeAttacks

> Most creatures have a 5-foot reach and can thus attack targets within 5 feet of them when making a melee attack. Certain creatures (typically those larger than Medium) have melee attacks with a greater reach than 5 feet, as noted in their descriptions.

GcL

Polar bears, even the green ones, only have 5' reach.

Thomas Markov

@illustro That's not a general rule, thats a statement that specific rules exist.

Being size large doesnt automatically mean 10 feet reach

GcL

Got it. Potion of giant size. Increases reach. Also, you're a huge freakin' giant for the duration

So that make a giant orc with 10' reach.

What was the other part of the discussion about?

Thomas Markov

Found a use case.

illustro

7:36 PM

Where do the rules for oversized weapons live?

(They're somewhere in the DMG...but D&D beyond doesn't do page references)

GcL

Orc walks into a bar, orders a drink, downs it, and subsequently turns into a giant orc. They grapple the bar tender from 10' away, then aggressive move up to them, and inquire "What, pray tell, did you put in my ale?!"

2

@illustro Does 5e have rules for oversized weapons? Enlarge gives you an extra d4 I think.

illustro

@GcL It does...somewhere

> Big monsters typically wield oversized weapons that deal extra dice of damage on a hit. Double the weapon dice if the creature is Large, triple the weapon dice if it’s Huge, and quadruple the weapon dice if it’s Gargantuan. For example, a Huge giant wielding an appropriately sized greataxe deals 3d12 slashing damage (plus its Strength bonus), instead of the normal 1d12.

A creature has disadvantage on attack rolls with a weapon that is sized for a larger attacker. You can rule that a weapon sized for an attacker two or more sizes larger is too big for the creature to use at all.

TheDragonOfFlame

I’m not sure where the rules are... I believe it is something like disadvantage on attack rolls

illustro

dndbeyond.com/sources/dmg/…

TheDragonOfFlame

And, nevermind

i had a barbarian that wielded a massive greataxe

illustro

7:40 PM

under "Base the Damage on the Weapon section"

TheDragonOfFlame

2d12 damage and disadvantage, but reckless attacks

GcL

@illustro ahh... chapter 9. So page 275 - 280 ish.

illustro

@GcL Ta!

Thomas Markov

Updated the answer with a use case that technically works.

GcL

Found it. 278. It's not rules for oversized weapons in the same way older editions had them. It's sorting out damage for making a new monster.

Thomas Markov

7:42 PM

Technically.

illustro

@GcL No, but from a DM perspective, what's good for the goose is good for the gander

GcL

My recollections of 2nd edition where a player of sufficient strength could actually wield ogre and giant weapons, and there were rules for those oversized equipment.

illustro

Or at least thats how I'm running it

GcL

@illustro Geese are not permitted in any campaigns I'm in.

Bardic Wizard

@illustro and what’s good for the gander....is likely banned for the goose

GcL

7:45 PM

Looks like the 5e DMG guidance is disadvantage to wield a weapon fashioned for one size larger.

illustro

But on the flip side of that is additional damage dice

TheDragonOfFlame

You know a gander is just a male goose right

Bardic Wizard

@TheDragonOfFlame I do, it was meant to be a (bad) joke about the GM double standard

RevenantBacon

8:09 PM

@ThomasMarkov I see absolutely zero downside to this use case XD

Thomas Markov

Hard agree.

GcL

Oversized longsword would be 2d8 one handed, but attacking with disadvantage all the time. Nah. I'd still take the regular longsword.

Thomas Markov

@GcL Depends on the AC of the target.

RevenantBacon

Not gonna lie, my immediate reaction to seeing that Seattle question pop up was, "does this guy have the wrong stack?"

But it's abotu Shadowrun

LMAO

GcL

@ThomasMarkov I'd get frustrated with all the extra auto misses. Might do it for a greatsword. 4d6 is a lot of d6.

Thomas Markov

8:23 PM

Twice as many crit fails is a bit.

GcL

And 1/20th as many crits

Might be interesting for a raging barbarian using reckless attack, but that's a big AC hit to take.

RevenantBacon

8:55 PM

But think of all the dice you could roll if you hit

Completely unrelated: how many of you play MTG?

new set comes out today, and I'm grabbing myself a box after work

very excite, much anticipate

GcL

9:06 PM

@RevenantBacon I think the last time I played was 2000? Inherited a lot of my friend's cards, but still think the most recent ones I still have are 3rd edition or revised ed.

TheDragonOfFlame

9:16 PM

@GcL just be a kobold (pack tactics) or a barbarian (reckless attack) or be invisible or any number of other features that give advantage

GcL

reckless attack is a trade for giving opponents advantage... which is pretty bad sometimes, but it is a readily available on-demand advantage. Pack tactics requires an ally to "do the right thing" for your build.... I guess you could have a hireling, but combat hirelings aren't as big a thing in 5th ed.

TheDragonOfFlame

Barbarians have more than twice as much damage absorption so they don’t care

GcL

Invisibility is tough to come by and resource intensive. Most ways of gaining advantage are either resource intensive or entirely situational.

TheDragonOfFlame

Fine be a Drow and cast that spell

the light one whatever it is called

@RevenantBacon I play Magic

RevenantBacon

@TheDragonOfFlame Faerie Fire?

TheDragonOfFlame

9:23 PM

@RevenantBacon that’s the one yeah

@RevenantBacon I’m a bit behind on mtg right now what’s the new set called again?

RevenantBacon

Can't remember myself, but it's one of those in-between-standard sets, and this one is focused on Commander cards. It's being billed as a way to draft commander. There are a bunch of cards in it I want to pick up for my two decks.

Someone_Evil

Commander Legends IIRC

TheDragonOfFlame

Ah all right I thought I was missing a core set or something

i haven’t been as on top of stuff since they stopped doing events

RevenantBacon

Nope, not core. Very cool stuff in it though.

JohnP

So...first week of my masters. Assignment #1 - Introduction post and come up with a business idea.

Downgraded because I did not provide citations and references.

:|

GcL

9:32 PM

Academia!

I suggest you get yourself setup with Endnote, Zotero, or Paperpile for reference management. I find leaving notes in your local db, like "ridiculous signal domain mutation crap" or "lol 4tb memory machine graph db", makes searching for references easier.

JohnP

thanks!

illustro

@RevenantBacon Only digitally on MTGA

(and only for free)

RevenantBacon

@illustro Fair enough.

Mark Wells

9:47 PM

@RevenantBacon My wife does. I normally would, but haven't in several months because I'm not in a good place for competitive activities with strangers.

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