TRPG General Chat

nitsua60

00:16

@BESW They shook lefty? Is that how everyone knew they were a lich?

BESW

It was rather sinister.

Joshua

Since sinister originally meant left handed ...

nitsua60

00:57

@BESW I often extend... well, in the before-time... would extend my left hand in greeting if a person's right hand were obviously occupied/detained. It always surprised me how disconcerting many found it.

GcL

01:13

@nitsua60 Another entertaining thing to do is go for a fist bump, then open your hand at the last moment, grab the other person's fist like a ball and socket, and give it a quick hand-shake like shake.

Similar to this

nitsua60

@GcL I, rather, start the same way (lull them into a fist bump) then do a squelchy-squeezy thing to their fist with my open hand while saying "mashed potato."

GcL

I like that. Going to try that.

nitsua60

@GcL Are you old enough for sniglets?

@GcL It works best--like making real mashed potatoes--if you take your time. In this case, you've got to say "potato" each time you fist bump for weeks or months, so that the person gets used to it. Then "mashed potato" comes on line =)

GcL

Sufficiently old, but HBO wasn't something I watched.

Or was that a book?

I feel like coming up with definitions of words that aren't words is something I've read, but don't know them as sniglets

nitsua60

@GcL a couple of books, maybe based off of a newspaper column?

The one that I still use frequently is "pepsunami." It's the overflowing wave of mostly-bubble that comes out of the top of a glass where warm soda's poured onto ice.

GcL

01:26

Journicle: An article in a journal

Adeptus

01:40

@nitsua60 A workmate had a couple of variations on this... 1. put your hand below their fist, palm down, wiggle your fingers, say "octopus". 2. put your hand below their fist, palm down, put 2 fingers up behind their fist, say "snail".

(I didn't describe it super well... think like a shadow puppet)

Hot RPG Questions

02:51

8

Q: Can I use the Immovable Object spell to fly?

Immovable Object states: You and the creatures you designate when you cast this spell can move the object normally. This seems to imply that you can choose to move the object or let it remain immovable while you interact with it. Considering each individual boot is less than 10 pounds and I wei...

Bardic Wizard

03:54

I introduced my younger brother to goblin court today. Somehow, when I asked him where he got a lock he used on the door to the kitchen, he said his goblin had gotten it off a safe of apple cutter tools they had. Six years old, and already learning how to fast talk the GM.

BESW

04:33

Oh cool!

How'd it go?

Bardic Wizard

@BESW meh, he seemed to like it. He did decide that there were phones and cameras and machines and (apparently most importantly) cars, but other than that he seemed to like it. Although he did say “I like rolling dice and there aren’t enough of the funny ones” and “I think the dragon shouldn’t eat humans but it can eat salami sandwiches”.

BESW

I like that!

And he's right, it doesn't have enough of the funny dice.

I love that he felt so free to take charge of the worldbuilding.

Bardic Wizard

He’s super imaginative, although it’s kind of directed toward Cars (the movie), tormenting his siblings (all the time), and making things with cardboard and my fabric stash (without asking). Honestly, anything gaming related he gets into is probably good for him rn

BESW

05:25

@AncientSwordRage Current working title, Walkies with Grim.

The Oracle

06:59

0

Q: Establishing robust guidelines for protection/unprotection

The current policies are inadequate After previously working through the protected questions backlog, clearing out any questions that remain protected despite no longer needing to (as per site and stack policy), I discovered that the current policy is quite controversial. SE protection policy: ...

discussion

Ben

I think I've found something worse than getting a song stuck in your head. Getting a song stuck in your head, but only remembering the lyrics and not the tune.

BESW

@Ben I've had songs stuck in my head that weren't songs to begin with, so...

Ben

@BESW Well, with your creativity I'm sure you'd be able to turn them into songs :P

BESW

(There's a lot to be said about Eliot's fashy royalist misogyny, but the guy knew how to write a hook.)

The Oracle

07:23

0

Q: Unprotected locked questions

There are 3 questions that are currently locked. However before they were locked they were protected, causing them to show up in the protected question list. Since users cannot answer locked questions, there is no need for them to be protected. It would be beneficial to unprotect them so they can...

support locked-posts protected-questions

gszavae

@TheOracle nevermind this, fixed already ^^

Adeptus

@Ben Even worse, getting the tune but no lyrics... you can at least google with the lyrics

Ben

@Adeptus true

Adeptus

I had a tune stuck in my head one time. I complained about it online. Someone said, "is it Seven Nation Army?" I said "... now it is"

Miniman

I had a song stuck in my head for about 3 months, couldn't figure out what it was.

Finally mentioned it to a friend, and they were like "Oh yeah, it's that song."

The feeling of relief I experienced in that moment was incredible.

Ben

07:33

@Miniman Omg yes

Miniman

Of course, now that I'm talking about it, the song is back in my head, and I've forgotten what song it is again.

Adeptus

Is it Seven Nation Army? :P

Ben

Lol

I have the "Abracadabra" lyrics in my head, but I keep trying to match it up to the "It's Magic" tune

Miniman

@Adeptus Sorry, was tracking it down from the bits I remembered - turns out it's "Love Generation".

Given that the top comment on the youtube video is "5 minutes of silence for those who can't find this song !", with 2.6k likes, I'm clearly not the first person to have this problem.

Adeptus

@Ben Makes perfect logical sense

Miniman

07:42

Oof, the comments are full of people who couldn't find it for multiple years.

Ben

Ikr

@Miniman You've found your people XD

Miniman

@Ben Oh, I have no particular attachment to the song. But I kept hearing snatches of whistling that reminded me of it and not being able to place it drove me nuts.

I guess it's a lot like randomly finding out in my 20s that a tune I had known my whole life was from the song Kodachrome.

AncientSwordRage

08:16

Do people not always have at least one song stuck in their head?

I'm almost perpetually listening/watching you tube videos to block it out

doppelgreener

09:38

@Rubiksmoose Pinging you because I raised a meta flag and I am hoping it gets looked at soon.

BESW

@doppelgreener If that flag is anything like what I think it is, I second it.

doppelgreener

@BESW it's "i'm being misrepresented and also this is a terrible way to start this discussion, please step in"

BESW

Mhm. That is not a productive frame for the discussion even if it were factually accurate.

doppelgreener

10:02

@V2Blast Are the diamond moderators working on their own meta Q to start off the discussion of how we want to apply the protection guidelines?

Carcer

fwiw I think it's a genuine failure of reading comprehension that's led to the misapprehension and not deliberate misrepresentation - I can see how someone might misread that and come to that conclusion

other issues aside

BESW

One hopes.

Carcer

hanlon's razor and all that

doppelgreener

At some point hanlon's razor becomes dull.

2

Carcer

10:18

(I think the problem is that they did not understand "accumulating one of our typical spam patterns" to mean "attracting one of our typical spam answers", and the subsequent mention of special keywords led to the conclusion that the "patterns" mentioned were just specific keywords in the question)

BESW

@doppelgreener Yeah, hanlon's razor can't be applied to individual actions, it has to be applied to patterns.

Carcer

place hanlon's razor under a pyramid and send $100 to this gmail account

doppelgreener

Well also at some point hanlon's razor is asking that the third time I get kicked in the shin I just assume the person is an oaf and not out to kick me in the shin.

But realistically I need to consider maybe someone's trying to kick me in the shin.

Carcer

if you have previous experience with this user being apparently malicious I don't mean to gainsay that

doppelgreener

No that's fair, but I mean to highlight that hanlon's razor is not necessarily a truism.

BESW

10:23

Let's just say this is not an occurrance in a vacuum.

doppelgreener

Basically the idea it brings up is a caution against leaping to conclusions, specifically because of the perils of attacking people who were in fact just mistaken or didn't have the facts or who we've misunderstood. But it would be a mistake to apply it always or blindly. Instead it's one of many tools to bring to analyse something that's happened.

And this user's been around with us a long time. They can ask questions. I'm not, myself, interested in trying to figure out the means by which this behaviour might be well-intentioned and merely confused; they can explain on their own.

And personally they'd have to have willingly ignored every single other thing I've said on the topic as well as profoundly misinterpret one of my quotes in order to decide that's what I do

Carcer

yeah, understood. I didn't mean to suggest your response was unreasonable and you've got more context for it than I do

BESW

10:39

Somehow I have Jewel's "Intuition" chorus stuck in my head and I don't really want it there.

doppelgreener

@Carcer that's just fine, i didn't take anything like that from what you said

Carcer

cool

doppelgreener

@BESW part of me went "oh! i want to know what this sounds like" but the other half of me held that half back before it could go hurt itself

@Someone_Evil o/

43 mins ago, by doppelgreener

@V2Blast Are the diamond moderators working on their own meta Q to start off the discussion of how we want to apply the protection guidelines?

Forgive me for ambushing you with a question right away, but do you know if that's happening? ^

BESW

Jewel was a lyrical folk singer who made a hard turn into dance pop in 2003 with "Intuition." It... didn't work very well, either as a song or as a career transition, but the chorus has a solid hook that can get into your head if you let it.

Someone_Evil

@doppelgreener Should be imminent (cc @Rubiksmoose)

doppelgreener

10:50

Brilliant

Carcer

yeah, I had the impression rubiks seemed to be working towards that

doppelgreener

I'm sure you've considered it already, but I suspect one of the best ways the diamond team could manage the current situation would be to dupe the question that came up this morning into that one

and if you are considering or planning that then i second it

if you were not then i suggest it lol

Someone_Evil

Well I hadn't, but then I've only just seen it

doppelgreener

gotcha

Carcer

[sigh] well, I guess I better actually do some work or something.

doppelgreener

10:58

alas

linksassin

11:11

@doppelgreener We had been waiting for a clear consensus to be reached on the original meta. Catija's answer is now a clear leader and we are working through the next steps.

doppelgreener

@linksassin Personally I'd been thinking it was a worthwhile discussion to have regardless of the outcome of the original meta

(... I'm not sure if I've voiced that anywhere though, come to think of it)

linksassin

@doppelgreener Oh absolutely agree. But the nature of the discussion would be different depending on the immediate solution we used.

doppelgreener

That makes sense

MikeQ

11:34

I wonder if bugs think humans are weird because we can't walk on the ceiling.

doppelgreener

@MikeQ also because we move, like, soooooooo slow

how do we even manage being alive if we're that slow?

imagine the Ents like Treebeard, except put them in slow motion.

Just. How do you not get eaten moving like that.

MikeQ

Humans must be ambush predators, waiting to strike at an unsuspecting sandwich

Rubiksmoose

@doppelgreener Just FYI: that is indeed the plan. I apologize for not getting the post out earlier. There were several Stack issues that came up over the weekend that drained my Stack time I had allotted to writing this. If I had known it was going to be a race...

Carcer

sometimes humans will even pull or cut the crust off a sandwich before consuming it. And we say cats are sadists...

doppelgreener

@Rubiksmoose that's great to hear

Carcer

11:42

@Rubiksmoose is your time stack lifo or fifo

doppelgreener

understandable too, hindsight is 20/20

BESW

Pretty sure it's yolo.

doppelgreener

@Carcer [scream]

Rubiksmoose

@Carcer XD

@BESW Yes lol

Current meta is closed for now until we get that out BTW.

BESW

Thank you.

Carcer

11:44

now I'll be spending a while trying to come up with a stack i/o semantic that initialises to yolo

doppelgreener

I appreciate that also.

Carcer

while I drive my partner to an appointment awaaaay

Rubiksmoose

I should say "we" for all those. I suspect that the entire mod team will be contributing to any post that goes up. Don't want to take credit :)

doppelgreener

@Rubiksmoose fyi i have left another meta flag in your laps

Rubiksmoose

@doppelgreener oh excellent! I'll add it to the collection ;-)

doppelgreener

11:52

:D

Medix2

If a question asks "Is there a way to do X" and has five answers listing different ways to do it... Should one of them combine all the other answers?

Someone_Evil

@Medix2 Depends. What sort of thing is asked for?

BESW

Probably not, because it's more useful to be able to vote on each solution individually.

Medix2

@Someone_Evil An example

I know I've seen people combine other answers into their own, just never known if that's recommended

Thomas Markov

@Medix2 until today that one only had one asnwer

also

<ITAG> friends!

Medix2

11:59

@ThomasMarkov I'm aware, it's merely one example, but I'm wondering whether, for example, your answer should have listed all the things the others do as well

Someone_Evil

There wouldn't be anything wrong with the original answer being expanded to be complete, but there's no call to force the issue and a new answer which sums all of them adds minimal value. We're perfectly fine with having a bounded list represented as a chain of answers (I think it might even be part of the original SO 'spec' somewhere)

Or at least, I'm perfectly fine with it :)

Thomas Markov

I noticed a certain meta post got gone pretty quick <.< >.>

doppelgreener

@Medix2 "Give me some ways to X" is a classic way to get Bad Subjective happening. Instead of requesting "some ways to X", the question can usually be revised to ask "give me a comprehensive solution to perform X".

Someone_Evil

@ThomasMarkov Questions with a low score (-4 for main, -8 for meta) aren't shown on the home page, but are under /questions

doppelgreener

How that's worded exactly varies based on the situation, but at its simplest it's literally an edit from "What are some ways to X?" to "How can I X?"

Thomas Markov

12:02

@Someone_Evil ah, I see

doppelgreener

Simply put, "what are some ways to X?" indicates it's always correct to suggest an answer with an additional way that has not been covered yet (leading to an undifferentiated list of answers, none of them better or worse than any other), but "How can I X?" or things in the direction of "Give me a comprehensive solution to X" simply prompt people to try to provide comprehensive solutions and are less prone to indicate that merely chucking in one more thing is OK.

I don't know this case, so I can't make that reword, but maybe you'll be able to, @Medix2. If not, maybe someone else familiar with that area can.

Medix2

@doppelgreener Interesting, I kinda always assumed people would want comprehensive lists even if their wording was open to singleton answers. So that was informative to read/learn, thank you

doppelgreener

Right, it's the psychology of the prompt.

Rubiksmoose

Gotta use that headology.

FYI:

Moderator team note: With a score of 23/-1 (making it a clear leader) we are taking direction for the next step from this answer and are writing a meta to discuss that next step currently. — Rubiksmoose ♦ 12 mins ago

doppelgreener

@Medix2 Mainly, people can leave singleton answers to either, but the "any ways?" question makes singleton answers look as valid as more comprehensive answers (because it answering with another trick), but the answer shows clearly that one-off answers are lesser and not as good as comprehensive solutions.

Questions get what they ask for, so questions asking for just brainstorming of a bunch of ways to do something get exactly that :D

Medix2

12:10

@Someone_Evil Things like this answer which incorporated previously existing answers into itself

Someone_Evil

@Medix2 No, the answers were written at the same time and mine was posted 6 minutes later because I included more options

Unless I'm misunderstanding you

Thomas Markov

@Medix2 This answer might be a better example.

Medix2

@Someone_Evil Ah and you just happened to cover all the things, got it (not sarcastic)

Thomas Markov

@Medix2 lol it was a good answer :)

Rubiksmoose

We also have a Q&A where we got two great answers. Then they decided that it would be best to include both answers in one, but couldn't decide who should do it. So we ended up with two complete, but redundant answers XD

I don't remember which one it is though...

Thomas Markov

12:17

@Rubiksmoose Im certain there's nothing wrong with that

Rubiksmoose

@ThomasMarkov Nope! Not really anyways. Would certainly rather have that "issue" than many others.

Thomas Markov

Right, if thats a problem its a great problem to have.

Medix2

Still talking about combining answers, there's qurstions like this where I'm seeing how using "any" vs "all" can lead to differing answer types

Rubiksmoose

I want to say @Miniman was one of the answerers in the one I'm thinking of...

Miniman

@Rubiksmoose That sounds like a nitsua/miniman thing I vaguely remember.

MikeQ

12:27

What's the policy on starting a partial answer to a mainsite question, with the declared intent that the community can fill it in over time? i.e., the question asks about a very large scope, but I only have expertise on a subset of that scope.

Someone_Evil

I kinda want to say to not think about that in terms of policy, but more in terms of practice. What is the question in (hah) question?

BESW

Yeah, part of the whole protected-question kerfuffle is people want rules for things that are better addressed with broad principles applied to specific cases.

4

MikeQ

@Someone_Evil This one: Does Pathfinder 2e fix the “linear fighters, quadratic wizards” problem?

I've only played Pathfinder 2e at low levels, and have only seen some classes in action. I've also played & GMed PF1 at both low and high levels. So I could contribute an analysis based on what I've seen so far, but it wouldn't address the full scope of what's being asked here.

Someone_Evil

I'm having a hard time seeing how that can be addressed without a holistic (right word?) expertise on the system, which I'm not sure anyone has yet

Medix2

@Someone_Evil Probably like how this one was?

BESW

12:37

This is the situation the wiki status was invented for. And then kinda dropped because it doesn't work as intended.

Someone_Evil

Isn't the quadratic wizards particularly a problem at higher-levels?

Medix2

@BESW Oooh I've never heard of wiki status!

BESW

[rummages for links]

954

Q: What are "Community Wiki" posts?

Some questions and answers are marked Community Wiki and are owned by a community wiki user: (in fact, this very question is one of them) Why have Community Wiki posts? How do Community Wiki posts work? How does a post become a Community Wiki post? How can the Community Wiki status be remove...

support faq community-wiki

Medix2

Oh wait, I have! The community Wiki things

Someone_Evil

So unless your analysis can show that it becomes a problem already at lower levels, I'm not sure it would answer the question (in a useful capacity)

MikeQ

12:40

I was thinking I could point out the relevant rules, and maybe some example experiences from play, and compare to how they were in PF1. But yeah, I have no idea if PF2 runs into emergent problems at high levels.

BESW

@MikeQ I suuuper appreciate that you make that distinction and don't try to just armchair an answer.

Medix2

Should this have edition-comparison and dnd-5e tags?

BESW

Probably not, I don't think you need to be an expert in anything except PF2 to know if it's got that problem?

Medix2

The question just states "How does it compare to DnD 5e in this regard?" Which made me think it should have those tags

@MikeQ Great comment, now to just hope people read it XD

MikeQ

No problem. Maybe it's ok to speculate based on incomplete playtesting at paizo, but I figured that RPG.SE has higher standards.

Thomas Markov

12:49

I'm not sure "how does it compare to dnd-5e in this regard" is really even answerable.

At least, the answer is going to be exceedingly complex and largely a matter of opinion in how one thoroughly familiar with both systems evaluates each.

NautArch

Io/

Thomas Markov

I also love how that question beetlejuices for our user Quadratic Wizard

NautArch

I personally doesn't see a need to bring 5e into it. THe question can be answered at face value.

Hot RPG Questions

5

Q: Can movement spells that don't specify they are teleportation bypass Forcecage?

Forcecage states: A creature inside the cage can't leave it by nonmagical means. If the creature tries to use teleportation or interplanar travel to leave the cage, it must first make a Charisma saving throw. Despite external opinions about how the spell should work, is it correct to read the R...

dnd-5e spells

Someone_Evil

I'd say it establishes what the querents frame of reference is for the general problem, and that their interest is in how it fares up against that as opposed to against the 3.5/PF version of it

We have questions on lin-fighters, quad-wizards in 5e don't we?

BESW

12:54

It's getting me thinking, is there an actionable version of the question?

Thomas Markov

@Someone_Evil There is this question

MikeQ

Agreed, that definitely complicates the scope a bit. An answer would need to compare PF2 vs D&D5 vs (PF1 and/or D&D 3.5).

BESW

Like "I have access to 5e and PF2 and want to play with the least linear/quadratic problems; how do I do that?"

Someone_Evil

That sounds like a very good and profoundly difficult question

Thomas Markov

@BESW From my understanding of 5e, most people who have articulated a "linear fighter quadratic wizard" problem in 5e really just thought the wizards tier 4 stuff was cooler than the fighters, rather than mechanically superior.

But to be clear, that is definitely my armchair evaluation of reading the internet.

NautArch

12:59

ANd more importantly, if someone is having fun with their 20th level fighter, then I see no problem.

Medix2

Here are several questions: How are Fighters Linear but Wizards Quadratic (PF1, D&D3.5) Does Pathfinder have the character imbalance problem that D&D 3.X has? (PF1, D&D3.X) Weapon attacks compared with damaging cantrips? (D&D5) Is the old "Linear Fighters Quadratic Wizards" problem still around in 5e Basic? (D&D5)

MikeQ

These questions are not "actionable" in the sense of addressing one person's active game, but they can still be useful as a sort of reference, containing the analyses of other people who have played the system. They could help prospective players/GMs anticipate future problems.

Medix2

@ThomasMarkov To be fair the top two answers to that first question I linked talk about linear/quadratic in terms of available options moreso than damage output. Actually most if the answers talk about versatility, flexibility, and sheer number of options available to spellcasters vs martials

NautArch

Does it seem to anyone else that querents aren't picking answers as much? I feel like I'm not seeing as many greens and I'm noticing it on many of my recent answers, too (not that I"m not getting picked, but that no answer is.)

Medix2

13:15

@NautArch There's gotta be a way to statistics-ify that, right?

NautArch

@Medix2 beyond my skillset :P

Medix2

Site Analytics should work, I just won't post what it says publicly

BESW

@NautArch [sends up the @Miniman signal]

doppelgreener

@Someone_Evil many folks in the charop community have pointed out quadratic wizards is already a problem at low levels too :D

NautArch

@BESW What does that look like?

doppelgreener

13:18

i.e. they get more power faster over time in addition to already starting out more powerful at the beginning

BESW

doppelgreener

... also I really appreciate that we have an active community member named Quadratic Wizard. That's great.

MikeQ

But we don't have a Linear Fighter?

NautArch

@doppelgreener I've been pretty appreciative of Ifusaso.

Thomas Markov

@NautArch my personal list of questions without a green check is at 5 right now after i just accepted 3

Medix2

13:20

@NautArch Days like this I realize I've been reading names wrong the entire time

doppelgreener

@NautArch it has never clicked until just now that this might be a joke name

NautArch

I realized it earlier this year for the first time.

Thomas Markov

my life is a lie

doppelgreener

@MikeQ on the one hand, alas, we have a missing spot! on the other hand, i would not ask anyone to fill it

Medix2

I did math, can I be a nonlinear fighter?

Thomas Markov

13:21

I was reading it "ee - foo - sa - so"

doppelgreener

@ThomasMarkov it's okay! it's not that bad! your life is not a lie. just most of the things in it are.

Medix2

I was reading it as... Well... Luh-Foo-Ah-So (I missed a letter and thought it was an L)

Thomas Markov

@Medix2 Linear algebra is so flexible you can probably represent the wizard in terms of linear transofrmations.

AncientSwordRage

@ThomasMarkov What other way is there?

KorvinStarmast

@nitsua60 Originally, in my very old memory files, sniglets were by a comedian named Rich Hall who was on SCTV or SNL, I forget which. (I think it was the former). not sure if they started as a newspaper column or he moved it there from TV...

Thomas Markov

13:22

@AncientSwordRage "If you say so"

Medix2

@ThomasMarkov But all my nonlinear dynamics knowledge!

AncientSwordRage

@ThomasMarkov ah, not 'if you sa so'?

@ThomasMarkov First Order Taylor's Expansion Gish

NautArch

@KorvinStarmast Sniglets!

Thomas Markov

@Medix2 You never used Jordan forms in nonlinear dynamics?

MikeQ

What level spell is Fourier Transformation?

KorvinStarmast

13:24

@BardicWizard I am not sure that it's an either or proposition (I mean, who doesn't like a salami sandwich?) but I love where you son went with that 👍

Rubiksmoose

@MikeQ What about hyperbolic bard? Elliptical Ranger? Derivative NPC?

AncientSwordRage

@MikeQ Warding Glyph

Rubiksmoose

Jul 16 at 20:22, by Rubiksmoose

@Axoren Would it be an FFT if a Sorc/Wizard named Fourier cast a quickened polymorph?

Medix2

@ThomasMarkov We did, but eventually things get more fun/terrifying

NautArch

Don't make me banish y'all to the elemental plane of math :P

Medix2

13:25

@Rubiksmoose Give me my Catenary Cleric!

AncientSwordRage

It transforms a spell of finite time that you can cast infinite times (with rests) to a spell of infinite time (someone check the duration) that only occurs once

Rubiksmoose

@Medix2 Excellent one! Love the alliteration.

Medix2

Now I want to invent/discover/describe/whatever a new shape... :(

Thomas Markov

@Medix2 If you can describe an integrable complex structure on the 6 sphere you can make a lot of money.

Rubiksmoose

@Medix2 I name this one Catranary: vignette.wikia.nocookie.net/shera-and-the-princesses-of-power/…

KorvinStarmast

13:33

@Rubiksmoose My bards all use hyperbole, and my Clerics are all seminal - well, they went to a seminary; my Monks tend to be circular - wax on, wax off

Thomas Markov

If you recall my question about the homebrew spell find greatest steed, Im going to make a new question, making it a magic item instead. I've never made a homebrew magic item post here, is there any meta guidance specific to homebrew items I can read?

Medix2

I'll basically always link to Q&A's explaining that rarity is kinda meaningless in 5e, or at least I'd a broad/vague notion of power level that only sometimes works

Someone_Evil

@NautArch Looking at the rate of accept votes (diamond analytics), mar-april-may was a bit of a dip (avg about 50 a week), but it's climbed back up to an (rough two year-)average of about 75-80 accepts a week

NautArch

@ThomasMarkov Generally the same as other homebrew. You should write the reason you are making it, the specifics of the item, and include your own assessment of whether you think it is balanced and what areas you are concerned about.

Medix2

@Someone_Evil Diamonds get different analytics?

NautArch

13:35

@Someone_Evil Hmm, could very well just be my style is changing and querent's aren't as into it.

Someone_Evil

@Medix2 Yup. I even understand some of them :)

Thomas Markov

@NautArch I got from the last question that the effect isnt gamebreaking, I guess the question is "what is the rarity of it", something I have no idea how to evaluate lol

Medix2

@Someone_Evil Cuz I can see accept votes and calculate their rate, so I was a bit confused why/how that was Diamond only

NautArch

@ThomasMarkov Rarity is a really hard valuation and doesn't really have a consistent system.

YOu can ask for it, and we can give it, but it might not actually be useful.

Someone_Evil

@NautArch It's totally acceptable (at least to me) to point the feature out to new users (no idea how much the system pushes it atm). Or to users who have a lot of recent unaccepted questions. It's a feature that is easy to forget about

Thomas Markov

13:38

@Someone_Evil It would probably be helpful to filter out questions from users who have only posted one question, drive by questions, so to speak

Someone_Evil

@Medix2 Oh, it's in the 25k ones too. Neat!

@ThomasMarkov Then you need someone with SEDE proficiency

Medix2

@ThomasMarkov "How is the power of a magic item measured according to the rules?" and "Is item rarity really tied to how powerful it is?" in particular I'd add that rarity is meaningless if you're only using it in your own campaign. It doesn't actually do anything unless you want it to mean something to other people and potentially roughly inform them about when the item should enter into play

Thomas Markov

@Someone_Evil I think users posting a single question and never returning beyond reading the answers once is a distinct problem from users who stick around and continue participating without accepting.

Medix2

@ThomasMarkov There's probably a way to SEDE "user acceptance rate" if somebody hasn't already invented one

Thomas Markov

@Medix2 I think the rarity still matters if its just for my campaign - it gives an idea of when it is appropriate to introduce the item into play

NautArch

13:41

I should probably review my unaccepted questions

Thomas Markov

@NautArch scrambles to answer as many of naut archs unaccepted question as possible

NautArch

@ThomasMarkov Ah, but you can ask "when it's appropriate for your table", but you'll need to give us more information on what items you've given out to them so far so we understand the what you are currently doing.

MikeQ

@ThomasMarkov Homebrew eval should include a design methodology, especially for the features you want evaluated. e.g. if a homebrew effect has 5 widgets, why 5 and not 6? It should also have some sort of criteria that you want evaluated. e.g. Asking if it's balanced for a given character level or tier, that's usually ok

Asking "hey guys do you like my cool idea" is not a good criteria for homebrew review.

Thomas Markov

@MikeQ Good tips, thanks MikeQ

Medix2

Good tips, thanks ,tips good FTFY

Bardic Wizard

13:47

@KorvinStarmast sibling not son, but yeah. Although it’s a little less fun for me bc I’m vegetarian and he’s not.

Miniman

@BESW Nice. But also, midnight. I might try and hack together a query tomorrow, but for now, it's time to sleep.

BESW

I should go to bed too... [pokes game revision one last time]

AncientSwordRage

14:03

@BESW when it pokes back you know you've been up to late

something something abyss

BESW

The tagline of this game is not "The most heartwarming game about a dead dog you'll ever play," but it could be.

AncientSwordRage

@BESW Just to be clear, you mean heartwarming, not heartworming?

BESW

Why not both?

AncientSwordRage

@ThomasMarkov when you're done I might make your answer a template for a homebrew item question of my own, Boots of Knock

@BESW exactly

NautArch

@AncientSwordRage not to be worn by the stealthy rogue

MikeQ

14:10

@AncientSwordRage Are the Boots of Knock used for kicking down doors?

Thomas Markov

@AncientSwordRage ha, im a ways away from posting. Ive got a lot to think about first.

AncientSwordRage

@MikeQ yes

and booting open chests

BESW

@MikeQ I assume Boots of Knock are for parents when their arms are full of child.

doppelgreener

@BESW I'd take that as a challenge and I hope others would too

BESW

@doppelgreener Love Your Dead Dog Jam?

Thomas Markov

14:13

@MikeQ Something like "These boots allow you cast knock using only somatic components which consist of kicking"

doppelgreener

@BESW That just sounds heartbreaking but also maybe

AncientSwordRage

@ThomasMarkov I initially wrote it (along with a tonne of other magical items, prestige classes and monsters) when I was a teenager

I've not looked into how it would work in 5E

NautArch

@AncientSwordRage "these boots were made for knocking, and that's just what they'll do..."

Carcer

I assume the joke about knocking boots is intentional

doppelgreener

@ThomasMarkov In an antimagic field these boots are of course dead silent whenever you try to kick something

I mean, the thing might make a noise from getting broken, but other than that

AncientSwordRage

14:24

@Carcer it's more that knock = brute forcing a door, and kicking doors down = brute forcing a door

I just googled that phrase... That was not intentional

Hot RPG Questions

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Q: How dangerous is exhaustion?

I'm interested in adding exhaustion effects to monsters. I might homebrew changes to the exhaustion mechanic, but for now, I'm interested in assessing how dangerous it is if monsters can cause RAW exhaustion. Related questions: There is this question about causing exhaustion: Are there any ways t...

dnd-5e balance conditions cr-calculation monster-design

AncientSwordRage

14:40

@doppelgreener I can see upgrades for silent boots of knocking, or destructive boots of knocking

Thomas Markov

theres a joke here somewhere about boots of boot knocking

Carcer

14:53

@AncientSwordRage well, now you know!

You could have boots of knocking and knocking boots as separate magical items

but the idea of boots that allow you to kick open locks is great

I'mma steal that

NautArch

@Carcer The latter is clearly for the bards.

@Medix2 having a hard time coming up with rules support other than the obvious.

for your question on readying.

Medix2

@NautArch There's the Cavalier Fighter who sorta maybe explicitly is an exception, maybe

At the very least they can make an opportunity attack without stopping Readying something, or at least, I hope they can

NautArch

@Medix2 Which mechanic does that?

Medix2

Vigilant Defender (link goes to a Q&A)

NautArch

oh. So with that, they can make a special reaction for an 'extra' OA, but not in the same turn.

So I guess a multiclassed Fighter 18/caster X, could hold their ready in that case.

Medix2

15:03

@NautArch Yeah it's weird, but they are making an opportunity attack and presumably not losing their Readied action like in the SAC

NautArch

because they are still holding that ready, but in general, if you use a reaction, you aren olonger readying. It's not a really a rule around it, just common sense.

AncientSwordRage

@Carcer This is the first time I've gotten any positive feedback on the idea, so thank you

NautArch

@Medix2 So you could use that as the "exception that proves the rule", but you don't really need to.

It's simply, you lost your ready, spell is gone.

AncientSwordRage

@ThomasMarkov Why am I now imagining a 3.5esque half-boots character template?

Thomas Markov

15:39

@Medix2 thats a fantastic question imo

kviiri

15:59

@Carcer Ye olde NetHack strategy!

except there it requires no special boots

KorvinStarmast

16:27

@ThomasMarkov bingo, see the DMG for the rough guidelines on that.

@MikeQ there goes my "review the Rod of Seven parts" question I was going to post. 8^p (By the way, trying to make that old artifact fit into D&D 5e is proving to be a bit trickier than I had anticipated .. )

I think I'll send out a few review requests via email ...

@BardicWizard Oh, sorry, I did the old "read too fast not grok the whole comment" thing again. I blame my coffee: I think someone hit our coffee pot with decaf this morning. (I'll hunt them down ... once I get enough energy to do so...)

2

@Carcer I got that joke. 👍

nitsua60

16:49

@Rubiksmoose do you mean this one:

5

Q: How does a wizard or bard learn new spells?

I can't find anything in the D&D 5e books about learning spells as an arcane spellcaster. I have a question: As, say, a Wizard levels up and gets new spell slots, does he need to go to a library and find the spell somewhere? Could he learn a spell he saw someone else cast?

dnd-5e spellcasting

Rubiksmoose

@nitsua60 That's it!

nitsua60

@MikeQ ooh... I might need to retire this account and start over with new creds. Probably going to go slower than my Logistic Sheep, though.

@KorvinStarmast TIL there was a tv sketch based on them, before the books! (Print is where I'd only encountered them.)

NautArch

@KorvinStarmast Even with "sage advice" being official rulings, I'm still not a fan (mostly because of the divine smite thing.)

nitsua60

@AncientSwordRage Wait a minute... wouldn't a zeroth order Taylor gish just be a rock?

I mean, it could be a big rock, depending on that zeroth term, but it's still just a rock, right?

AncientSwordRage

@nitsua60 is it zeroth or first that is still linear?

It's been to long since I actually physicsed

nitsua60

16:59

@Medix2 That's a really good point, in that basically every magic item I've ever handed out has been unique (within its campaign). But I've never run something really magic-high, where +1 blah-blahs are available down at the bazaar. I should, someday....

@AncientSwordRage first'll be linear. think x^0 vs. x^1.

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