TRPG General Chat

NautArch

17:07

@Kevin fireball is usually a go-to for secrets. I'm currently playing a Lore Bard 12/Warlock 2

Kevin

The rest of my team is two fighters, a sorcerer, and a rogue. I think I'll go for something with utility/support value over raw damage.

NautArch

@Kevin Not sure if you fight a lot of casters, but counterspell may be something you'd want (although your DM will hate it...especially if you also have dispel magic)

and with no cleric...mass healing word may be something you'd want.

Kevin

Counterspell is high on my list of candidates. We haven't fought any spellcasters yet, come to think of it, but between now and two levels from now, I expect CRs to go up

NautArch

Are any of your fighters ranged?

Kevin

One of them has a ten foot weapon. Pike or something.

Yuuki

17:18

I need to figure out a way to provide healing as a paladin.

NautArch

@Yuuki er...lay on hands and cure wounds?

Yuuki

The party’s starting to take more damage and Lay on Hands isn’t nearly enough for more than one minor heal.

Maximillian

Paladin is a hybrid, so he's only going to be good for a few heals.

Yuuki

I don’t think I have Cure Wounds.

NautArch

@Kevin ah, was thinking conjure barrage or lightning arrow, but not gonna work there :)

@Kevin Haste may be something you'd want to get. Great buff for a fighter.

Yuuki

17:19

@Maximillian I know that but I’m also the only one with any semblance of healing in the party.

NautArch

@Yuuki you definitely do.

5e, right?

Kevin

Last campaign I played a Druid and I pretty much cast Haste every combat

Yuuki

Yeah, must’ve missed it in my spellbook.

NautArch

@Kevin um...druids don't get haste...

Yuuki

I’ll double-check when I get home.

Maximillian

17:20

If you lack additional healing in the party, you're going to have to spend on potions.

Kevin

Oh dear.

NautArch

@Yuuki 100% have it.

at least as an option, still have to prepare it

Kevin

I remember now, druids get Haste if they pick the grassland circle

Maximillian

This conversation stirred a memory of a controversial house rule one of my GMs had. Clerics and Paladins healing people of the same faith got +1 per die.

Kevin

I thought about playing an agnostic cleric... Cure wounds is more like "you're fine, rub some dirt on it" for him

goodguy5

17:23

note to self: always say "snuck" around slagmoth

@Kevin XCOM reference?

David Coffron

What would "Half-Advantage" look like in 5e?

Maximillian

.... a d10?

Kevin

Nah, just general life reference

goodguy5

@DavidCoffron roll four d20 and take the one second from the top?

David Coffron

Like roll 3d10 take best 2 then subtract 2? I have no idea

Yuuki

17:25

@DavidCoffron Too complicated to bother with.

Kevin

Sounds hard, just give +3 to the thing and be done with it

goodguy5

@DavidCoffron alternatively, bless and bane (for hald advantage and half disadvantage)

David Coffron

third quartile of the range created by the higher and lower values of 2d20?

goodguy5

or, half advantage is the same as half disadvantage, wherein both are just "take the center of three d20"

Yuuki

I really don’t want to do any more math than adding when playing D&D.

David Coffron

17:27

I can't wait for AI DM's. So many more options for dice mechanics (since they could be figured out quick enough)

Or at least AI dice checkers

Maximillian

To find out if you hit, solve the following quadratic...

AI DMs will be biased to AI players.

David Coffron

@Maximillian A friend of mine told me about a hyper-simulationist system where you had to calculate trajectories and stuff. Can't remember what it was called.

It would take hours for one combat, would be fun to try once or twice

If an ooze is all the rage, when they split are they half the rage or are both oozes independently all the rage

NautArch

@Kevin ah, that makes sense. SO yeah, if you're looking for a different playstyle, i wouldn't get Haste then :)

David Coffron

@NautArch Or choose a different circle. SOme of the XGtE circles are a lot of fun and you still have the caster vibes (unlike Moon Druid)

NautArch

Hunger of Hadar is a fun one :)

@DavidCoffron He was saying that he previously played a druid who used it, but now has a Bard and is looking at his first magical secrets.

David Coffron

17:33

Oh. I missed that

Yuuki

@DavidCoffron They would be none of the rage since they are no longer “an ooze”.

David Coffron

@Yuuki Thank you for that answer. I am content with all of my life now

Rubiksmoose

@NautArch Man I love Magical Secrets

David Coffron

@NautArch @Kevin If you want spells for magical secrets the ones I've had the most fun with are Wall of Force, Reincarnate, and Holy Weapon (for a Valor or Swords bard).

NautArch

@DavidCoffron 3rd level spells

David Coffron

17:36

Oh Lore Bard

I should've gone back and checked

uhh...

Rubiksmoose

@NautArch I'm pretty sure reincarnate is 3rd level :P

David Coffron

reincarnate is 5, revivify is 3

NautArch

@Rubiksmoose you're thinking of revivify

goodguy5

how does one spell that word where fabric unravels?

all I can come up with is "thrayed"

Kevin

frayed?

goodguy5

17:38

I guess, but I thought there was also a 'th' word

maybe I'm just combining thread and frayed

Kevin

there's "threadbare" but that's an adjective not a verb

David Coffron

fun (imo) non-Bard 3rd level spells: Phantom Steed, Conjure Animals/Summon Lesser Demons, Animate Dead, Tiny Servant

But I am a huge fan of conjuration magics so...

Kevin

Dabbling in necromancy would be in character for my guy, because part of his Tragic Backstory is that all of his plucky sidekicks keep dying on him

David Coffron

Sleet Storm is really strong against enemy casters

NautArch

@DavidCoffron yeah, sleet storm is a lot of fun. ANimate Dead is great, but managing minions is kind of pita for the table

David Coffron

17:40

@Kevin In that case you could consider Speak with Dead

But that might already be a Bard spell...

Kevin

Let's see... Yep.

goodguy5

@NautArch I love ordering Mediterranean food for D&D. Pita is delicious

David Coffron

@Kevin Find Steed is awesome

Kevin

Hmm, Phantom Steed was pretty useful when they used it in The Adventure Zone...

goodguy5

@DavidCoffron it's okay. anyone with a half-decent perception can find the steed.

David Coffron

17:43

It's always good to have access to goodberry

Mike Q

@DavidCoffron Yes, it's berry good

David Coffron

@MikeQ stop. :)

GreySage

@NautArch Animate Dead is fun, but you end up trading one of your 3rd level slots for a 1/4 CR minion

Kevin

"Finally, a plucky sidekick whose demise can't logically be my fault!"

David Coffron

@GreySage up to 4 1/4 CR minions I think

Mike Q

17:45

@Kevin Or more practically, a sidekick whose demise is reversible

goodguy5

and if you've chosen that as your special wizard spell you can cast all day.....

GreySage

@DavidCoffron If you have >1 Slot, yes (1 to raise another minion, 1 to reassert control)

NautArch

@DavidCoffron @Kevin I'd wait for 4th level Find Greater Steed :)

David Coffron

@GreySage You get 2 lvl 3 slots the first time you get them. Just takes a little bit of prep and you'll have 4 zombies in no time

Yuuki

Is there a ranged healing option for Paladin?

Maximillian

17:47

Strechy arms.

David Coffron

My abjuration wizard with his pet skeletons was one of the most fun I've ever had. Super strong and I flavoured the ward as a magic ball that I through back and fourth with my skeleybros. Lots of laughs, especially when I had to throw trick shots

GreySage

@DavidCoffron Huh, I keep thinking you get 1 at 5th level, but it seems most full casters get 2 right away for levels 1-3

Rubiksmoose

@NautArch It was supposed to be sarcastic. Sigh. So hard to get across in text though.

Mike Q

@Yuuki Maybe dip into a class that can get Healing Word?

Rubiksmoose

@MikeQ So Bard/Cleric maybe druid?

David Coffron

17:49

@Yuuki Aura of life technically heals but not much

Kevin

Healing-potion-coated crossbow bolts

Maximillian

Can't multiclass a Paladin can you?

NautArch

@Yuuki Aura of Vitality

GreySage

@Kevin Sounds good to me

David Coffron

@Maximillian You can multiclass anyone

Mike Q

17:50

@Maximillian If multiclassing is allowed, then you can multiclass in and out of classes if you meet the ability score prereqs

NautArch

changed my mind, @Yuuki :)

goodguy5

Does ability damage change how well you can multiclass? or is it that "base value" thing?

Yuuki

@NautArch Which oath is that?

Devotion?

goodguy5

I think it's ghouls that do strength drain or whatever

Rubiksmoose

@goodguy5 I don't think that interaction is specified in the rules. JC had a tweet on it though I think?

NautArch

17:52

@Yuuki all paladins have access

David Coffron

@goodguy5 depends on how levelling is handeled. I had a question similar

NautArch

@goodguy5 ability damage?

David Coffron

5

Q: Can I choose a temporary proficiency for Expertise?

I am a multiclassed bard 2/cleric 2 with the Knowledge Domain. I use my Knowledge of the Ages Channel Divinity moments before leveling up and within the 10 minutes reach level 5 and choose to advance as a bard. What happens if I select the proficiency granted by Knowledge of the Ages for Expert...

Rubiksmoose

I would allow it no question at my table though.

Maximillian

I'm still stuck on thinking about a stretch-armstrong paladin.

Rubiksmoose

17:54

@DavidCoffron That was a fun one.

David Coffron

@Maximillian can a bugbear use lay on hands at reach?

Mike Q

@Maximillian homebrew idea: Oath of Flexibility

Maximillian

Yeah, reach + lay on hands is the idea here.

That's the only reasonable way I can see getting any kind of ranged heal on a paladin.

Yuuki

@NautArch Where is it from?

Mike Q

@Maximillian the Paladin X / Bard 1 idea isn't terrible

Yuuki

17:55

I don't see it on my R20 spell list, which I think means it's not in the PHB.

David Coffron

@Maximillian I don't think it works RAW, bugbear only gets reach during melee attack

Yuuki

@DavidCoffron Shiv of healing?

NautArch

@Yuuki 3rd level spells, PHB.

David Coffron

@Yuuki Paladin only gets it with Oath of the Crown which is Sword's Coast. That's why its not on whatever list you have

NautArch

@Yuuki def in the pHB :)

goodguy5

17:56

from the shadow:
Strength Drain.Melee Weapon Attack: +4 to hit, reach 5 ft., one creature. Hit: 9 (2d6 + 2) necrotic damage, and the target's **Strength score is reduced by 1d4.** The target dies if this reduces its Strength to 0. Otherwise, the reduction lasts until the target finishes a short or long rest. If a non-evil humanoid dies from this attack, a new shadow rises from the corpse 1d4 hours later.

Maximillian

Animated paladin hand on a 10' pole.

Rubiksmoose

:44414589 yup yup I realized it the instant I sent it. And then saw your message too.

@goodguy5 Just don't level up with a negative CON score...

Mike Q

@Kevin I've seen the "Shoot friend to heal friend" work with PF's alchemist. You can make a healing bomb and then launch it 100+ ft with a crossbow. It's not very efficient but it is optimized for silliness.

Rubiksmoose

@MikeQ I loved the PF alchemist so much.

Yuuki

I need some version of the PF alchemist in 5e.

I guess there's the Artificer.

Mike Q

17:59

@Yuuki Artificer is somewhat close. I've seen some homebrew alchemist attempts and they're either missing the point or horrendously overpowered.

Rubiksmoose

@Yuuki Me too! I was so hopeful with the Artificer, but not really what I wanted

Though I actually do like the artificer

goodguy5

@Yuuki I was just thinking about this the other day.... I was thinking of basing it off of warlock.

NautArch

@goodguy5 nice answer on that advantage/disadvantage beancounting. I wasn't sure if there was a mathematical difference, so i stayed away :)

goodguy5

thanks^_^

Rubiksmoose

@goodguy5 Same and same

Yuuki

18:01

I like how one of the Artificer's class features is basically "get some magic items". And I could see a problem with that in that the DM might think you have some magic items and so you drop down the priority list for loot.

But in fact, the items are part of class power budget.

goodguy5

there might be a mild mathematical difference, but over the course of the entire game, it evens out, or very nearly anyway

NautArch

@goodguy5 I've heard folks using poker chips (red/black) for keeping track of stacking ( i think it was on here)

Rubiksmoose

@Maximillian technically it doesn't even have to be a hand lol

goodguy5

@NautArch could be. I just bought a used set of poker chips for HP and inspiration.

David Coffron

@Rubiksmoose I think HP updates retroactively when CON changes

Rubiksmoose

18:04

@DavidCoffron it does indeed.

goodguy5

but that doesn't answer my question.

does ability drain affect your multiclassability?

Maximillian

I suspect my plan doesn't make you the Paladin that Princess Celestia wants you to be.

David Coffron

@goodguy5 Yes. If you level up as a low-Strength Barbarian you cannot choose to multiclass for that level

goodguy5

@DavidCoffron okay, then followup.... can you pokemon-style delay your level up?

David Coffron

@goodguy5 RAW no, but almost every table I've played at waits to level up til end of session etc. anyway so I don't see why not

Also RAI the reduced Strength isn't a factor (I think): sageadvice.eu/2016/06/10/…

NautArch

18:08

@goodguy5 Yeah, Level-up is usually at end of session and not mid-session for my table, too. We also generally don't get access to the new spells/slots until after a long rest (but do get other abilities like feats/ASI if applicable) Which is kinda weird.

Yuuki

@goodguy5 Up to your DM.

I recently did because I wanted to wait for a story beat to multiclass to Warlock.

goodguy5

@Yuuki I think it should depend on how many times you can press 'b'

Yuuki

Oh and it's something you should discuss with your party.

Because you're effectively gimping yourself and making things tougher on them until you level up.

David Coffron

I don't know why anyone would ever have a problem with you delaying a level-up (at least in the short term, like with the Strength drain that goes away after a rest)

Yuuki

@DavidCoffron It might be a problem if you're the only one standing between the squishies (them) and the big bad monsters.

Rubiksmoose

18:12

@DavidCoffron yeah I "delayed" my 1 level dip from cleric into Bard for multiple sessions actually until the appropriate story beat came up. I used some of the features and abilities that I could hide and it was a surprise for the rest of the party.

David Coffron

0

Q: How would you calculate damage from a weapon used in an unorthodox manner/creature?

I'm trying to create a homebrew though I don't know if I may play it with anyone for some time (to many incomplete ideas at the moment). If case anyone might ask about the "unorthodox manner/creature" some ideas could be: a dog holding a sword in its mouth, a dragon/dragonet wielding a sword coi...

gm-techniques combat weapons homebrew damage

@goodguy5 A new question for your Dog Sword

Kevin

Hmm, when I have the opportunity to cast Counterspell, do I get to know what spell the other guy is casting?

Rubiksmoose

@DavidCoffron are we talking about the training a wolf to use a sword question?

David Coffron

@Rubiksmoose Yes, this new question uses a dog wielding a sword as an example

Kevin

"The wizard wiggles his fingers menacingly"
"I counterspell that"
"Ok, but it was just Prestidigitation, good job spending your lvl 3 slot on that"

Maximillian

18:16

Giving me flashbacks to Sif. Dogs don't need swords!

David Coffron

@Kevin best way to bait out a counterspell

31

Q: How does Counterspell work in 5e?

I'm not entirely clear on how Counterspell works, when trying to counter higher-level spells: the CS description only talks about disrupting a creature you can see, within 60 feet, casting a spell. However, when trying to counter a higher level spell: Do I know what spell is being cast? Do I...

dnd-5e spells

9

A: How to identify a spell being cast?

Xanathar's Guide to Everything, released Nov 2017, contains a specific answer to this question. TL;DR: Use a reaction as the spell is being cast to identify it, or use an action on your turn to identify a spell by effect after it was cast. Int (Arcana) check, DC 15 + spell level. Advantage if ...

Kevin

I already have Cutting Words and the Lucky feat, which already makes me the Official party member that tells the DM "actually I wanted to do something, can you back up a second?" whenever he says that the bad guy deals some damage

Too many abilities worded like "use this after the DM rolls, but before he indicates whether the roll succeeded". That's like a quarter of a second window of opportunity.

That wording is confusing to me already because it implies that I can see the results of dice rolls that the DM makes for bad guys, and base my decision on that. But in practice those rolls are behind a screen.

David Coffron

@Kevin THere is a question that addresses that concern too, let me see if I can find it

7

Q: How can a DM deal with abilities that affect how an attack roll is resolved?

Consider the following: An Orc takes the attack action against a PC with an AC of 18. The DM rolls in front of the screen and gets a 14. He silently adds the +5 bonus from the Orc and announces that the attack hits. Pretty basic. Now consider the same situation, but with a Lore Bard in th...

dnd-5e attack-roll reactions

Rubiksmoose

@DavidCoffron amazing.

goodguy5

is "dragon" a gendered term? because he said "dragonet"?

Kevin

18:23

"Simply having a Lore Bard in the game changes how the DM does his rolls." yep, this is what I'm talking about

NautArch

@Kevin With the Xanathar suggestions on spell identification, I"d just take the risk. Yes, you might blow a 3rd level on a cantrip, but if you feel like it's best to shut down that caster, then shut them down. We used to either allow the DM to say what it was, but ultimately I just counter when I feel like countering and take my risk.

goodguy5

can someone ask dog-sword if he's looking for guidlines on creating monsters?

David Coffron

@goodguy5 I think I'll wait for a system before asking more clarification questions. Avoid the help comment spam

Kevin

@NautArch Yeah, I reckon it's still a good spell even if I don't have any information to go on. If my opponent cunningly tries to bluff me by casting Mage Hand every other round, then I'm already reducing his damage output by 50% without using any resources.

Rubiksmoose

18

Q: What happens if you cast Counterspell on a creature that is not casting a spell?

Inspired by this question. Here's the scenario: A party member wants to fool an enemy into thinking that they are casting a spell. They take out components, do hand gestures, and starting chanting but do not actually initiate the casting of any spell. The enemy, fooled by this, casts counterspe...

dnd-5e spells

goodguy5

18:25

oh wow. yea. There are so many tags, I didn't notice system wasn't one of them

NautArch

@Kevin Yup, you've also forced them to waste their action in return for a spell slot and your reaction. That's still a win in shutting down the caster.

Rubiksmoose

@DavidCoffron I thought adding more tags was a rep-unlocked privilege?

goodguy5

I can't believe I didn't think of this sooner. It's not great and I don't really believe in it since I roll in the open.

Ask the player what their over under is on the die-roll.
"If the roll is between 12 and 16, I'll cast shield on myself."

David Coffron

@Rubiksmoose He can always remove a tag to tell us the system. It's more important than the ones he has

goodguy5

"The roll is between 12 and 16, would you like to use your reaction?"

David Coffron

18:28

If he comments with the system then one of us can add it

Rubiksmoose

@DavidCoffron No I meant I thought new users couldn't add more than one tag... Maybe I'm completely bonkers though.

David Coffron

@Rubiksmoose I don't think so...

Kevin

@goodguy5 Hmm, interesting idea.

Even if used as a guideline rather than a hard-and-fast trigger, telling the DM in what circumstances I'm likely to use Cutting Words or Lucky, would make for a more streamlined combat than asking me on every attack

Rubiksmoose

@DavidCoffron Interesting, yeah I can't find any mention of it. I could have sworn some people complain about that, but maybe they were mistaken.

David Coffron

@goodguy5 But my over-under changes depending on the rough threat level of the enemy

NautArch

18:31

Did my first rollback of an edit someone did to something I posted.

@Kevin Personally, I think the player should know what the actual roll was for cutting words.

SPeaking as a lore bard, but also speaking as a DM.

goodguy5

fair. it's a rough idea. but I think there's something there.

Like I said, I'm in favor of open rolling

Kevin

I suspect my DM likes to roll behind a screen because he can fudge numbers downward so we don't die all the time.

goodguy5

should we vote to close dogsword dragontail (next character name) as unclear? Until they clarify?

Rubiksmoose

@goodguy5 It is going to be very interesting in my Masks campaign because the GM doesn't roll at all.

NautArch

@goodguy5 Same here. I think the DM should roll everything (in combat) in the open. If there's something passive going on, that's fine to do behind the screen. But when players are rolling open, so should the DM.

David Coffron

18:33

@NautArch Did he actually just remove a bunch of capital letters...? That's... strange

Kevin

He's more of a "let's tell a cool story together" DM than a "dare you enter my Chamber of Horrors?" DM

NautArch

@DavidCoffron Yeah - and for game terms. I wanted those capitalized as game terms.

David Coffron

"Rinse and Repeat"? I mean do what you want, your answer, but those aren't game terms :)

goodguy5

@DavidCoffron not in your games, maybe.

Kevin

Sorry Timmy, I rolled a 20, Blackleaf is dead, no I don't care that they were the chosen one

Rubiksmoose

18:36

@goodguy5 Yup VtC questions like this for sure until system is given.

NautArch

@DavidCoffron Rinse and Repeat, no. But Opportunity Attack and Reaction yes. But thanks for nitpicking that :P

goodguy5

@DavidCoffron Time Weasel gets Rinse and Repeat from the Aquionics subclass. Level 11, I think.

Rubiksmoose

If it needs a system of course, which I think it is pretty clear this one does.

Yuuki

@Kevin Is your DM by any chance the Whizzard?

David Coffron

@Rubiksmoose For a second I thought he might be homebrewing a whole system that he wants to include unconventional combat uses, but in that case it still get VTC since we need way more information in that case

Kevin

18:37

Hmm, maybe there's some passing resemblance

Rubiksmoose

@DavidCoffron And even after they are probably going to have to narrow their scope significantly in order to get an answer I think.

NautArch

i.sstatic.net/EN1BA.jpg @KorvinStarmast

David Coffron

@Rubiksmoose Although it is interesting that we don't have a homebrew-system tag. The homebrew tag only applies to " new rules content for an existing system"

goodguy5

I feel like the answer to this question is just going to be:
"follow the guidelines on page blah blah in the monster manual/dmg about creating monsters. Also just SAY that the creature has a sword in it's _______ and roll damage normally"

NautArch

should be working on day before going on vacation...shopping for dice.

Rubiksmoose

18:40

@DavidCoffron that is a good point though I never thought that they might be homebrewing a system. Though I do think they are not likely (hopefully since that would make this wayyy more difficult/impossible)

@goodguy5 Yeah if they are creating a monster that is true. I'm not even 100% that is what they are talking about. But probably.

GreySage

Why do people keep wanting to put swords in dogs mouths?

I mean, in no universe can a dog effectively wield a sword in its mouth

Why do people keep asking question about doing it?

goodguy5

I mean, I think they're literally asking "how can I have creatures and monsters do weird things, like attack with a sword with their tail?"

But the base question, imo, (if that is actually the question) is "how can I present monsters that have weird attacks, such as a dragon holding a sword with its tail"

@GreySage dark souls

NautArch

@GreySage JEDI LIES

GreySage

@NautArch That video pretty much proved my point.

NautArch

@GreySage dog faired as well as the kid :P

GreySage

18:45

@NautArch My girls could have taken him out

Yuuki

@GreySage What about the universe where dogs can effectively wield swords in their mouths?

GreySage

And one of them is 2 years old

NautArch

@GreySage the kid or the dog?

Kevin

Never bring a melee dog to a ranged dog fight

Yuuki

@GreySage Well yeah, he's a good boy. Of course he wouldn't hurt anybody with the lightsaber.

David Coffron

18:48

@Kevin Never bring a ranged dog to a real dog fight

goodguy5

It's a work day, where are all the votes to close when you need them?

GreySage

@NautArch Either

Kevin

Nothing to do at that point except call in an orbital bombardment from Laika, the most extreme ranged dog

GreySage

@Kevin Alright, that one was pretty cool

Rubiksmoose

Can someone please throw the last close vote on this? rpg.stackexchange.com/questions/121910/…

David Coffron

18:52

@Rubiksmoose I thought you had super-close power?

GreySage

@DavidCoffron It's untagged

Which is why we're closing in the first place

Rubiksmoose

@DavidCoffron and only for dupes

Only diamond mods get super close powers for any of the close reasons.

David Coffron

What about ruby mods. Rubies are just as valuable as diamonds

Rubiksmoose

Probably moreso actually since diamonds are actually not that rare.

David Coffron

@Rubiksmoose (I meant in D&D, I was making a joke bout the over-simplfication of gem values in the game)

Rubiksmoose

18:56

@DavidCoffron ohhhhhhhhhhh. Well don't I look silly eh?

@DavidCoffron But everyone knows that money is useless in 5e anyways lol

David Coffron

@Rubiksmoose Not entirely useless. Think of how many caltrops you could buy with one diamond's worth of gold

Rubiksmoose

@DavidCoffron So many lol.

Caltrop all the things

NautArch

Isn't this called The Holy Grail?

goodguy5

does anyone remember to use caltrops? because I don't

GreySage

@goodguy5 How often do you run away from stuff, seriously?

Rubiksmoose

18:59

@goodguy5 Who uses things? I just buy stuff to fill my portable hole

NautArch

@goodguy5 you...drop them.

goodguy5

one of my saltiest moments in D&D....

I had, for some reason, bought a portable hole and filled it with holy water.

Several sessions later, the DM presented a vampire.

So, I threw my portable hole on the ceiling above it and emptied the 170 cubic feet of water onto the fiend.

The DM was like uh... "it does 10d4, I guess"

I was so annoyed. like "come on. I beat your thing. just give me the win here"

Yuuki

@DavidCoffron They're all debating about whether Ruby on Rails questions need the ruby tag.

Rubiksmoose

@goodguy5 That stings! (for you, not the vampire)

Mike Q

@goodguy5 To play devil's advocate here - Would you let your players use a storage item to 1-hit-KO an encounter?

Rubiksmoose

19:04

@MikeQ Depends. In this case, probably actually.

goodguy5

@MikeQ If they planned and outsmarted me? yes. They had to tell me they were getting the item. If I wanted to be a jerk, I just would never have them find another undead. problem solved.

OR just have two vampires.

Rubiksmoose

@goodguy5 And then his twin comes out from behind the curtain!

Yuuki

@goodguy5 He was being generous, improvised weapons deal 1d4.

goodguy5

@Rubiksmoose probably not that. it would feel cheap as well, though maybe. Double the XP

Mike Q

@goodguy5 Ah I see. You filled the hole with holy water just in case of undead?

Rubiksmoose

19:06

@goodguy5 Oh I know. It was tongue-in-cheek.

goodguy5

@Yuuki You've mentioned that several times today. Are you annoyed with someone's ruling on improvised weapons?

@MikeQ yes

Rubiksmoose

So much xp.

Yuuki

@goodguy5 Actually, that was the first time I mentioned it, although it was in reference to a previous discussion.

Mike Q

@goodguy5 Hm. I guess they probably should have at least made an attempt to see if your plan worked. How big is a standard vial of holy water, and how much damage does it do to undead?

goodguy5

@Yuuki oh, my bad. I thought you were the one earlier.

But, if I was DMing and the players instantly defeat my encounter. I would either move on. They did it. Good job.

Or I would basically run the encounter as planned and give the xp for "both" encounters.

NautArch

19:09

@goodguy5 so you had...hole-y water?

goodguy5

^ yes

I think Pathfinder flasks are a pint? and there are 8 pints in a gallon. 170 gallons is 1360 pints. and a flask of holy water deals 1d4 damage to undead (iirc)

so 1360 d4 which is ~ 3400 damage

Mike Q

@goodguy5 I'd probably let the vamp make a save for half damage. Only 1700.

goodguy5

@MikeQ deal

does it have disadvantage for "running water"?

Mike Q

But generally I am averse to letting players reliably trivialize any challenge I throw at them

goodguy5

@MikeQ I'm a big fan of "that will definitely work the first time you try it."

Mike Q

19:18

That seems fair enough

goodguy5

basically any time a player comes up with an idea that's new to them/the table, it'll mostly work.

NautArch

@goodguy5 same here. Points for cleverness. No points for trying to do it again :)

anyone ordered dice from dieharddice?

goodguy5

The ranger at my table wanted to run forward with her two shortswords crossed, scissor-style and decapitate a goblin.

Goblins don't have a ton of hitpoints anyway, so I told her to go for it (with disadvantage, unless she spent her inspiration).

@NautArch no, but those are pretty

NautArch

@goodguy5 thinking about getting the golem and stardust sets

goodguy5

I liked the thumbnail for stardust, but when I zoomed in, I found them appalling.

Kevin

19:21

"You have cleverly defeated the Ogre in one blow... And another, identical Ogre rears up out of the treeline!" would probably make me feel a little sour as a player

NautArch

@goodguy5 no likey the speckles?

Mike Q

@Kevin Well how do you think the ogre feels

goodguy5

@NautArch I do not. I wanted to like the marbled ones, but they're 'meh'

Maximillian

"An Ogre appears." "Oh this won't be too hard." "No, it's a Steve Jackson Games OGRE Tank." "Um. What?" "Yeah, it's got several nuclear missiles bearing down on you."

Mike Q

Also, ogres can't be defeated in one blow. You would just take off the first layer, and there is more underneath. The fight isn't ogre yet.

Kevin

19:24

You have cleverly, not so much "defeated" as "catapulted very far away where it will be someone else's problem", the ogre

goodguy5

"You defeat the Ogre. It lets out a mighty death wail (sp?) and slowly falls backwards. After what seems like an eternity for gravity to take its course, the semi-giant finally connects with the ground, a cacophonous rumble shakes through the clearing.

After a moment, you hear a shrill, but deep voice bellow. "Grug?! What noise?! GRUG! Answer wife."

NautArch

@goodguy5 I might just do the golum set and then a single group of the stardust.

goodguy5

@NautArch I like the golem ones a lot. If I didn't have so many danged dice, I'd probably grab 'em. Good price too.

Though, it's bugging me the photographer bothered to put all the d4s in the center, but paid no attention to the layout of the rest of the dice.

It's a bit offensive, tbh (as a nerdy gamer)

Maximillian

20:03

When it comes to golems, nothing beats Neutronium Golem. (I'd link you, but I can't see any of the sites he's on due to work filter.)

In 3E terms they punch for about a quarter million hp

Yuuki

20:22

@Maximillian Everyone wants a golem but sometimes Lem just doesn't feel up to it. A guy needs a break every now and then, you know?

BESW

20:42

- One-half level: +5
- Magic item bonus: +2 or +3
- Ability bonus: between +3 and +6
- Class bonus: not greater than +1 (not all classes get a bonus to attack)
- Expertise feat bonus: not greater than +1 (+2 at 11, +3 at 21)
- Weapon proficiency: not greater than +3 (wpn prof balances weapon-based classes' tendency to target the highest defenses; casters don't get this because they target lower defenses)
- Superior Implement feat: not greater than +1 (this is the closest casters can get to weapon proficiency)

Chances are good you can get an extra +2 from combat advantage regularly if you try, but that's situational.

So that's between +10 (+11 for weapon attacks) if you're totally not taking choices for attacks at all, and +17 (+19 for weapon attacks) if you're pushing for hitting as much as possible.

For context, a level 10 monster is expected (in the post-MM3 environment) to have defenses between 20 and 26.

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