TRPG General Chat

SPavel

18:00

If anything, dominate is more palatable to a player than confusion

Domination orders are very vague so the player can at least make decisions and activate abilities, objectively fun things. He is still playing, even if the outcome is detrimental to the alive-ness of his teammates

David Coffron

@SPavelI don't think I've ever seen confusion cast in 5e

SPavel

But confusion takes away all agency, the player must do only what the dice command

Charm is similarly problematic

GreySage

@SPavel It's at least as fun to attack your teammates as it is the monsters.

SPavel

Instead of saying thou must they say thou must not

Rubiksmoose

@DavidCoffron My DM let me summon 8 pixies using conjure woodland creature. Oh man... so much confusion

Mike Q

18:03

@goodguy5 Also, very important to mention how natural 20s interact with skill checks. It means you do the best you possibly can on a potentially difficult task. It does not mean you instantly succeed at achieving the impossible. You can't intimidate a door to unlock itself, you can't use bluff like a Jedi mind trick, etc.

goodguy5

I actually have that written down already.

But, also, I would never allow a bluff (deception?) on a lock.

"Do not ask me if you can roll something, ask me if you can DO something."

Mike Q

@goodguy5 There are a lot of DnD memes and stories that suggest that a natural 20 is equivalent to a blank-check wish.

NautArch

@Rubiksmoose ah, that's fair. Illusions are tough. I generally try to approach them both as a player and DM with wanting to make it work, but using the target's intelligence as a lever for when not to.

David Coffron

What if I use my Speak with Objects spell?

GreySage

@goodguy5 What about a Charisma (seduction) check on a lock?

NautArch

18:04

and also not letting it really do other things that other spells actually do

goodguy5

@GreySage I mean, that depends on the shape, depth, and sexual orientation of the lock.

NautArch

that being said, i'm prepping a gnome wizard (divination) for an upcoming campaign. And we have a character with a 3 INT, so that'll be fun :)

goodguy5

@NautArch oh, neat. you're letting someone play an animal companion?

David Coffron

We dice rolled stats. Can't play with those. Not my scene

NautArch

@goodguy5 basically

David Coffron

18:05

Ew*

goodguy5

^ +1

NautArch

We usually do major heroic with a 4d6, reroll 1s and drop lowest.

but this one was a straight 3d6 down the ability line

goodguy5

@NautArch what's the curve on that

NautArch

@goodguy5 yes?

:D

SPavel

@goodguy5 You can bluff your friends to make them think the door is open

David Coffron

18:06

When I randomize stats I use random point investment from point buy. Makes much more sense and gives reasonable characters

SPavel

Then they walk face first into it and you laugh

Then they use your head as a battering ram to knock it open

David Coffron

"But I don't want to use my head!"

goodguy5

@DavidCoffron you get 8d6 points to spend?

David Coffron

I've never actually rolled amount of points. We use the standard 24 and then I made a spreadsheet that randomly generates arrays that are reasonable (so no boring all 11s and 12s)

goodguy5

"standard 24"? which system?

Mike Q

18:08

Roll 1d20 for each stat! Uniform distribution!

David Coffron

27* my bad

goodguy5

@MikeQ that's terrifying

I'd much rather do like... 1d12+6

David Coffron

In the game I'm playing rn he modified point buy to be 24 above 9 rather than 27

Mike Q

@goodguy5 Yes, that would be a uniform distribution within the classic 7-18 range.

GreySage

@MikeQ That would be fun

goodguy5

18:10

6d20

Dice Service

4

5

17

20

6

2

goodguy5

almost playable as a wizard

SPavel

I like 2d6+6, you still get a bell curve but no 3s for INT

Mike Q

It's a slow but durable wizard?

GreySage

@DiceService Perfect, be a fighter

SPavel

18:11

I have seen people who thought you rolled straight d20s for ability scores

Mike Q

6d20

Dice Service

8

9

15

7

20

12

goodguy5

god, that is a bizarre distribution I rolled

At least Mike gets a playable character

Mike Q

Hooray, it's a 3.5 cleric

David Coffron

Oh 3.5. Those days

goodguy5

18:13

anyone else want to get in on this jank?

ACuriousMind

6d20

Dice Service

11

1

15

16

18

13

ACuriousMind

Uh.

Mike Q

Well, it's some kind of caster

ACuriousMind

Smart but clumsy as hell

goodguy5

18:15

Just cast mage armor, you're fine

GreySage

@ACuriousMind Wildshape druid, you don't need Dex if you're a wolf

goodguy5

GreySage

6d20

Dice Service

8

15

8

1

5

20

Mike Q

@GreySage You also don't need Dex if you're a tree

Rubiksmoose

18:16

6d20

Dice Service

13

2

18

19

20

19

goodguy5

woahhhh

GreySage

...Warlock or Sorcerer I guess?

Rubiksmoose

holy...

GreySage

@DiceService lol, just don't make ranged attacks

Rubiksmoose

18:17

RIP my AC Heavy armor time!

David Coffron

6d20

Dice Service

10

5

20

8

17

8

David Coffron

Ranger baby.

goodguy5

this is delightfully silly

David Coffron

Oh wait. It's dex con not con dex

Yuuki

18:18

@DavidCoffron ಠ_ಠ

ACuriousMind

@DiceService I found the tank.

Mike Q

@DavidCoffron Press up arrow in chat to edit previous messages

Rubiksmoose

@DavidCoffron whoa we're playing that kind of RPG?

Yuuki

6d20

Nope, edits don't trigger dice bot.

GreySage

Edits don't evoke the roller

Yuuki

18:19

6d20

Dice Service

4

7

12

13

1

20

goodguy5

rip

Mike Q

Very unwise sorcerer. Or just... a bard.

Yuuki

I think I die with 1 WIS, don't I?

Or will die very easily.

goodguy5

blind deaf, and dumb

i.e. - pinball wizard

David Coffron

18:19

The most charismatic fool

Yuuki

If I have a high CHA and low WIS, does that mean I can convince myself that I have a higher WIS?

goodguy5

@Yuuki I mean... yes. but it won't do anything.

ACuriousMind

@Yuuki Clearly, your character should be named Dunning-Kruger.

David Coffron

6d4+16

Oh...

Yuuki

@DavidCoffron 80.

Mike Q

18:26

6d100

Aww

d20d20

Darn, that doesn't work either

Simon H.

6d20

Dice Service

9

13

5

14

19

8

Simon H.

Ayyyyy

6d2

NautArch

6d20

Dice Service

2

16

17

18

14

NautArch

18:28

FIGHTER! :P

Simon H.

'No coins?

Noice

GreySage

@DiceService Dex fighter

NautArch

@doppelgreener @nitsua60 @SevenSidedDie Should there be a chat created for this comment thread. Getting looooong.

or let it go because it's good discussion?

and done, thanks @doppelgreener

doppelgreener

Tʜɪs ʙʟᴏᴏᴅ ᴘᴀᴄᴛ ʜᴀs ʙᴇᴇɴ sᴇᴀʟᴇᴅ

Rubiksmoose

Thoughts on this and this being duplicates?

NautArch

18:36

@Rubiksmoose looks like a dupe. Can I ready an action to avoid an attack?

Rubiksmoose

@NautArch That is my strong inclination as well.

NautArch

nice answer, @Szega on the Dodge being a thing :)

Rubiksmoose

agreed!

Funnily enough if this question gets closed now, the top answers will be completely opposite of one another.

oh wait, looks like they are tied

David Coffron

I think there is a difference. Readying movement and readying Cast a Spell are different. I don't know if it's different enough to avoid dupe but that might be where the answer differences are coming from (can't read them rn)

NautArch

I'm 17K away from levelling, but already looking at magical secrets for 7th level spells. Crown of Stars looks amazing.

@DavidCoffron argh, I think you're right. They're two different cases of the same thing. Not dupes.

Rubiksmoose

18:42

@DavidCoffron I marked it as a dupe. It really is basically identical at the core. I agree on spell vs move is different, but there is nothing enough that justifies having them as two separate questions

NautArch

@Rubiksmoose I dunno, I feel like dupes i've created have been undone because of just this.

Rubiksmoose

I love how you guys pick the very second that I mark it to disagree lol. Should have been more patient.

Well people can vote to reopen then. I'll think on it as well.

I still see no major differentiation. The key part of the question is the ready trigger. The actual action being readied matters not at all (besides the fact that they both move you away)

The question is: can ready action interrupt an attack?

David Coffron

I think it's a dupe I was just playing devils advocate. The problem is the answer to the one that involves aiming doesnt mean the character has loosed the arrow necessarily. It's a hard thing to rule on. Can the attacker then change it's target to your new location (or someone else if you are out of range?)

goodguy5

what this basically all resolves down to....

Rubiksmoose

@DavidCoffron Ready Action questions are very difficult because they rely on very minute interactions unless you just simply rule that they cannot interrupt another action.

goodguy5

18:55

"The rules say that readied actions occur after a trigger. But I want them to happen before the Trigger.

Can I choose a trigger that allows me to to ready an action that will happen before the trigger I want, even though the rules imply otherwise?"

David Coffron

The way I dealt with it in my games (back when I had a group to DM :'( rip group contingency) is that the wording mattered and any actions taken after would be with the new gamestate considered

goodguy5

1. have you seen/considered/liked any online chat groups (like the RPG oneshot group on facebook).
2. what do you mean?

David Coffron

1. I'll look into that

2. If a readied action causes the gamestate to change anyone can activate their own reactions in response. Or change their active action. Basically I recon back a couple seconds from declaration of attack so that a player can choose to do something different.

goodguy5

2. Can you give me an example? I'm not following

David Coffron

"I run up and punch the guy" as you approach he draws his sword and braces himself (he happened to roll higher initiative and can't be surprised).

"On second thought, I don't punch him"

If he rolled Ready action to draw his sword when someone charged this would be equivalent.

goodguy5

19:03

ah, I see. So your actions aren't atomic.

SPavel

@DavidCoffron This breaks some things

For example, if I ready an action to throw my bolas as soon as the enemy tries to jump over the chasm, so that he falls in and dies, can the enemy un-jump?

David Coffron

If you do that yes. Because the trigger is him trying. If my trigger is "when he's jumping over the chasm" then no, he can't unjump

Yuuki

What if I ready my action for "if I start dying" and my action is to cast Revivify?

Mike Q

Where do you draw the line? If a player attacks and misses, can they un-attack and take another action instead?

David Coffron

I also have a reaction time check in my games for certain things so if he sees the bolas flying before his jump (Dexterity (Perception) check)

When you start dying you are unconscious @Yuuki so the magic dissipates since you can no longer concentrate

Yuuki

19:07

What if I ready an action for "when I go unconscious" and my action is "don't do that"?

goodguy5

@Yuuki well, "don't fall unconscious" isn't an action

Yuuki

@goodguy5 Might be a CON check.

David Coffron

@MikeQ i draw the line at action taken. If a player goes to attack and before they roll or anything, the enemy turns invisible (via a ready action when caught while trying to sneak behind), I don't make the attack target the invisible creature if the player wants to do something else.

Yuuki

I dunno, ready actions are weird and quibbling over exact wording on trigger clauses is the exact kind of behavior that makes people annoyed at rules lawyering.

SPavel

@DavidCoffron Let's say the enemy is taking a running jump, and I throw the bolas at the end of the run but before the jump. Can the enemy ninja-cancel out of his inertia?

David Coffron

19:09

My playgroup didn't mind, bc we all knew each other and debate was kind of our thing (all in the same debate team in High School)

ACuriousMind

I'm suddenly really glad that I've never played a game where we tried to strictly adhere to whatever action economy the system prescribed

SPavel

@DavidCoffron Did they have to take randomized sides?

Mike Q

I agree with Yuuki. I don't like dealing with this last-minute-canceling business. If the player makes an action that they regret, so be it. If you give everyone a "Get out of consequences" button with unlimited uses, then nobody learns.

David Coffron

@SPavel I would rule yes (with a successful reaction time check)

SPavel

"David, you will be arguing for ... flips coin Chaotic Evil."

Simon H.

19:10

Oh no I just got logged out

SPavel

@DavidCoffron Reaction time beats physics?

David Coffron

@SPavel 5e isn't a physics engine so yes

He hasn't jumped yet

Yuuki

@SPavel So Spider-Man could've saved Gwen Stacy if he rolled a high enough Perception check.

This is why you take Skill Focus (Perception), people.

SPavel

@Yuuki Like how in Dungeons of Dredmor, maxing out the spotting skill track gives you devastatingly powerful eye lasers

David Coffron

If I'm running at a wall and someone Readies the action to shoot me when I reach the wall, I will still get shot at. If someone Readies the action to disappear the wall with magic when I prepare to climb it I can react and nor try to climb

Yuuki

19:13

@DavidCoffron Do your players use any actions in combat other than ready actions?

goodguy5

So, that's my point.
"Ready an action to drink this potion when I get attacked".
They get attacked first. Then they turn invisible.

"Ready an action to drink this potion when the enemy gets within 5 feet of me".
Even if the player says "I run up and attack" is really a concatenation of "I use X-amount of my movement to move up to this guy. -pause- I use the Attack action"

It's during that pause, before the action is really declared, that the ready would "trigger"

David Coffron

@goodguy5 but what about when movement is split between walking and jumping (like in the bola examole)

SPavel

@DavidCoffron If I am sprinting at full speed and see something bad happening, I physically cannot stop on a dime.

It's not an issue of reaction speed, it's an issue of inertia

David Coffron

@SPavel I'm not sprinting full speed without the dash action. I'm walking. It's walking speed

SPavel

@DavidCoffron You're not walking in a running jump

David Coffron

19:14

Inertia may not exist in the dnd multiverse

SPavel

Walking is 1/2 movement speed

Always has been

goodguy5

In the bola example, RAW, nothing happens. They trip and fall on the spot, or whatever.

That's where dm adjudication comes in.

SPavel

@goodguy5 It's 5e, DM adjudication came in as soon as we sat down and never left

goodguy5

@SPavel good.

Simon H.

You act as the trigger becomes perceivable to you. Therefore, you wouldn't be able to roll out of the way before getting hit.

David Coffron

19:16

True projectiles travel instantaneously RAW. So if ur trigger is "they reach the ledge to jump" it'll stop him there

goodguy5

^ exactly

Simon H.

^^exactly

Yuuki

Eggs at me?

How rude.

But also possibly delicious.

David Coffron

Can i ready action to duck the eggs? Lolol

goodguy5

Now, what would be funny, and theoretically work.

Ray of frost on someone jumping over a gap.

reduce their movement speed

Yuuki

19:17

@DavidCoffron No, they're chicken.

Simon H.

@goodguy5 Oh lord no

David Coffron

@goodguy5 how is movement done? All at once on declaration or in intervals. Can ready action interrupt movement?

Simon H.

@DavidCoffron Can jumps take multiple turns?

goodguy5

@DavidCoffron movement can be interrupted, kinda. You have to decide how molecular movement is (we use 5 feet), but yea

Yuuki

D&D Planck length is incredibly large at 5 ft.

Planck time is 6 seconds.

ACuriousMind

19:20

::Zeno nods proudly::

goodguy5

@Yuuki You're confused with a pirate ship.

David Coffron

I think it's 1 foot and 6 seconds. Grids aren't inherent in the rules

goodguy5

Actually... there's a joke there....

something about chemists make terrible pirates... they like planck

I'll work on it.

ACuriousMind

Also, I can't help but pointing out that the Planck units actually are not the "smallest unit" of anything in mainstream physics :P

David Coffron

What even is the action economy of a jump. It doesn't say, only that it consumes your movement. Is it free as long as you have enough movement? "When you make a long jump..."

SPavel

19:22

It's part of the movement, I think

Yuuki

@ACuriousMind What about upstream physics?

SPavel

You can walk or run 10 feet like a chump, or you can do a sweet ninja flip

ACuriousMind

@Yuuki Well, tributary physics is weird.

David Coffron

I'm making a character that only jumps a la Mario Sunshine speedrun.

@SPavel you are right: "Your movement can include Jumping, climbing, and swimming. These different modes of Movement can be combined with walking, or they can constitute your entire move."

Yuuki

@DavidCoffron So you're going to ya, wa, and wahoo your way across the battlefield?

David Coffron

19:27

Of course

If I jump 10 feet does the next jump count as running?

GreySage

@DavidCoffron Probably

David Coffron

@GreySage nope. "...if you move at least 10 feet on foot immediately before the jump."

SPavel

@DavidCoffron As DM, I would amend that to add jet ski, sweet motorcycle, or tame dire bobcat

David Coffron

I made a character that rode a Harley once. But it was a panther....

We need more time travelling sphinx's in the forgotten realms. I want a jet ski now

SPavel

@DavidCoffron Panthers don't count for a running jump, but they do have a bonus to anti-tank fire

David Coffron

19:42

@SPavel +1

Simon H.

@SPavel Is that one of those new D&D: Panzer Edition feats?

David Coffron

I got broads(swords) in Alcanza. Black ×6... Panzer

Azcanta* and that's Magic the gathering not dnd. Whoops

Simon H.

Man, MtG is still going?

David Coffron

Yeah. But I'm not actively playing. Just watching the tournament's.

Simon H.

Wow, that's pretty cool, actually. I remember I nicked a card from my friend to play before realizing I couldn't play without a deck back in high school.

...Simpler times

SPavel

20:09

Ah yes, childhood, when the concept of ownership was flexible

Yuuki

20:24

@SimonH. I play "Pot of Greed"! Since I don't have any more cards, I win!

BESW

The Secrets of Cats, Die geheime Welt der Katzen, at #fantasticempire in #Basel #Switzerland - @EvilHatOfficial , your stuff travels the world, congrats!

Tweeted by GMRaphi on April 3, 2018 at 12:18 PM

Simon H.

@Yuuki Oh, man, I forgot what pot of greed does! Could you explain it in full detail for me??

Yuuki

IT'S A MAGIC CARD WHICH ALLOWS ME TO DRAW TWO ADDITIONAL CARDS ON MY TURN.

SPavel

@Yuuki What is your go-to cool way to draw the two extra cards?

Do you swipe them sideways, fully extending your arm, then hold that pose for a few seconds

Yuuki

@SPavel I use that weird machine that shoots dollar bills.

SPavel

20:31

Simon H.

Pot o' pot o' greed y'all

SPavel

I use your granddad's cards
I look incredible
I’m in this blue eyes coat
From that card shop down the road

Yuuki

Simon H.

@SPavel Card shop (2012)

SPavel

BESW

20:49

Ok, I hadn't been planning to do the #AprilTTRPGMaker thing for many reasons, but it is such an exceptionally *good* thing, that I was starting to feel like a grinch, so here we go.

Tweeted by rdonoghue on April 3, 2018 at 2:29 PM

Shalvenay

22:14

hey there @KorvinStarmast

hey there @SimonH.

Simon H.

@Shalvenay Hi shalvenay

Shalvenay

how're things going?

Simon H.

Pretty good, just trying to fix my earbuds. How about you?

Shalvenay

doing alright here

KorvinStarmast

@Shalvenay hello, hoping to get trog to toss in a few ideas before we finish the brain storm, or the cerebral zephyr ...

Simon H.

22:21

You guys are having a brain storm?

KorvinStarmast

@SimonH. An attempted one.

Simon H.

@KorvinStarmast Lol what's it about?

KorvinStarmast

@SimonH. discretion does not permit me to reveal ... ;)

Simon H.

@KorvinStarmast Oh, I see... o-o

David Coffron

I want more brain storm synonyms

Simon H.

22:31

Hypothalamus hurricane

Shalvenay

hey there @DavidCoffron, how're things going?

David Coffron

encephalic tempest

@Shalvenay doing good

Shalvenay

alright out here

David Coffron

@Shalvenay I'm on my way to choir practice. Gonna be great. How have you been doing?

Shalvenay

@DavidCoffron fine here

David Coffron

22:34

Nervous nimbus

Simon H.

Cerebral Cyclone

David Coffron

I was gonna say cranial cyclone. Dang

Simon H.

Ouch, sorry

brb

Frontal Firestorm

KorvinStarmast

23:25

@SimonH. Lobal Tornado

Tim Grant

Hey there KorvinStormast.

BESW

Anisodon grande was a huge chalicothere from the late Miocene in Europe. They stood 1.5 metres tall & were related to horses & rhinos.

Tweeted by Extinct_AnimaIs on April 3, 2018 at 7:01 PM

KorvinStarmast

@TimGrant Howdy Tim, hope all is well. Love your hat.

Tim Grant

Hey BESW. We trying to figure out if the chalicothere should be proficient in stealth?

Thanks. I was thinking up updating my profile pic (it's old) but the hat will stay.

KorvinStarmast

Oh, yeah, good hats are hard to come by.

My wife hates most of my preferred hats.

Just got the message, off to play Hearthstone with son. Cheers.

Tim Grant

23:33

My son picked it out for me years ago, at peak cuteness. So it's unimpeachable in my house.

Cheers!

doppelgreener

Have fun!!!

nitsua60

23:59

@DavidCoffron Noggin nor'easter.

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