Dungeons & Dragons Fourth Edition from 2008 (includes Essentials)
18
votes
2answers
772 views
Can an unconscious character use a healing surge?
Can an unconscious character use an action (like second wind or a healing power) to spend a healing surge?
Can an unconscious character spend a healing surge due to some external effect?
18
votes
9answers
1k views
How to keep track of abilities for D&D 4e?
What are some effective ways to keep track of my character's various abilities? I would prefer cheap or free tools.
16
votes
4answers
3k views
Why does shifting in D&D 4 not provoke Opportunity Attacks?
My gaming group is brand new. We had our first session tonight. I had a few questions for this SE... the first is this one.
Why does shifting in D&D 4 not provoke Opportunity Attacks? Or am I ...
15
votes
2answers
2k views
What does AEDU mean?
I have seen the acronym "AEDU" (or perhaps ADEU) used on the community boards at wizards.com, but haven't stumbled on the definition, and a google search goes nowhere (I doubt they're suddenly ...
14
votes
5answers
2k views
What is a “mark” actually supposed to be?
This is probably way too simple of a question, but I just haven't been able to figure it out.
In D&D 4th edition, there's the concept of a mark on an enemy creature; a player character in combat ...
13
votes
3answers
1k views
How far does one travel when falling for one round?
How far would you fall in one round assuming you started falling this round, and were high enough that you did not hit anything? Would this follow the math, or is there a rule written somewhere I'm ...
12
votes
2answers
416 views
When a Stinking Cloud is moved onto a creature, does the creature take damage immediately?
In a recent session of D&D 4e, a Stinking Cloud was moved onto a creature who was outside of it.
Stinking Cloud Effect:
...Creatures that enter the zone or
start their turns there take ...
12
votes
2answers
587 views
With Arcane Reach, can you Thunderwave yourself?
Arcane Reach allows you to target a close burst or blast starting 2 squares away from you.
Thunderwave pushes each target in a close blast 3.
The wizard chose his origin square and wanted the ...
11
votes
3answers
286 views
Do I reset XP to zero on a new level?
In the D&D group I play with one of the players insists that when you reach a new level you have to zero your experience. However when I checked the PHB1 there is no reference to this. PHB1 uses ...
11
votes
4answers
365 views
Would flying monsters ever land during combat?
Spooney asked this question in one of his podcasts, and I've started wondering about it myself.
In a D&D 4.0 encounter, why would an at least moderately intelligent creature (including, but not ...
11
votes
3answers
493 views
Are characters aware of monster abilities' effects?
Is a character aware of the consequences of a monster power or trait?
For example, does the party leader know that healing an ally within a KlurichirDDI's Malign Influence is useless? Or does he ...
10
votes
2answers
1k views
Does the half-level modifier contribute to damage?
Taking a random spell, I find Flames of Phlegethos. Its hit is 3d10 + Constitution modifier fire damage. Let's say the caster has a constitution score of 16, and he is level 2. This means his ...
10
votes
3answers
531 views
Close burst from a large creature — one square origin or all of them
If a large or larger creature uses a close burst, does the burst have to emanate from a single square of the large creature's space, or does it act as if the creature is the source (all squares)?
The ...
10
votes
2answers
1k views
Forced movement into danger: is there a saving throw?
Is there a saving throw to stop forced movement (a push, pull, or slide) from forcing you into a square that will damage you?
My wizard's tactic lately has been to try to Thunderwave enemies into the ...
9
votes
1answer
1k views
Does Flurry of Blows count as an attack?
This handbook suggests that Flurry of Blows is an attack when recommending the otherwise extremely underwhelming malec-keth janissary:
Malec-Keth Janissary (Swordmage-MoP)- Add extra damage to all ...
8
votes
1answer
895 views
Is it possible to get Battle Cleric's Lore through Divine Healer multiclass?
Due to a recent dragon magazine, the Cleric/Templar has a semi-questionable issue. In Dragon Magazine 400, there is an article for Battle Cleric's (Those with DDI can check here: Battle Cleric ...
8
votes
3answers
642 views
Which 4e books are made obsolete by Essentials releases?
The reason I equipped my son with most of the Essentials line is because the core books were getting a reputation for being entirely superseded by the Essentials books. In particular, the ...
8
votes
1answer
2k views
Can a creature use an immediate interrupt power and an opportunity attack in the same round?
Can one creature or character use both an immediate interrupt and an opportunity attack in the same round, or are they mutually exclusive actions?
6
votes
1answer
1k views
Making a Party of Warlocks
I have recently gained access to DDI for a short while and wanted to try an experiment with some friends of mine. That is, I actually want to play with these characters for a few sessions to see if a ...
6
votes
4answers
749 views
Does movement continue after an Opportunity Attack?
If a character moves away from a square adjacent to a monster, the monster gets an OA. Good. What happens after the attack is resolved? Can the character continue moving?
So far, I've houseruled ...
5
votes
3answers
4k views
Optimizing a rogue as an assassin
I'm in the process of building a character who works as a hired assassin of the ranged flavor.
My idea of the perfect assassin is one that can be undetected and unload a massive amount of damage ...
5
votes
2answers
253 views
Can shifting trigger immediate actions?
The primary benefit of using shift instead of move, is this:
No Opportunity Attacks: Your movement doesn’t provoke opportunity attacks.
Despite the above, can shifting still trigger immediate ...
4
votes
3answers
121 views
Can Pursuit of the Hunter be used to move away from the triggering enemy?
Pursuit of the Hunter's Effect line includes this:
Effect: You shift 3 squares...
There are no stipulations in the rule itself as to which direction you must shift. However, the flavor text of ...
2
votes
1answer
110 views
How does multi-type damage work?
The attack "Storm Hammer" says hit:1d8+_(wisdom modifier)lighting and thunder damage... how do I tell how much damage to inflict?
25
votes
6answers
1k views
In an even fight, how many rounds does a typical monster need to drop a PC?
Inspired by the closed question: DnD Next Hitpoint Inflation,
There have been claims of HP inflation in dnd-next, and there certainly were increased in the absolute value of HP in 4e. In order to ...
18
votes
11answers
2k views
What is a good combat tracker for D&D 4th Edition?
As my players go up levels there are more and more variables in combat. I need help. What solutions exist out there and what makes them good?
18
votes
4answers
4k views
Is 'Charge' broken?
I was awestruck when I saw a PC take his movement action; then perform a charge.
Growing up in D&D3.5 I assumed that he was wrong. In D&D3.5, the rules states clearly that you cannot perform ...
15
votes
3answers
4k views
What are the major differences between Pathfinder and D&D 4e?
I'm really only familiar with D&D 4e. Could someone give me a rundown of the major things that would be different if I were to DM Pathfinder? (I gather it is more similar to 3.5e, but I only know ...
13
votes
7answers
2k views
Starting the first game tips?
I was wondering if anyone had any tips on how to start our very first session. Everyone, counting the DM, has yet to play the game and we are not exactly sure were to start. Our PCs are:
Drow ...
12
votes
1answer
146 views
Are there guidelines for creating & customising MM3-style monsters?
I've heard that Monster Manual 3 came with an improved design philosophy for monsters (particularly solos), and there are questions about updating pre-MM3 monsters for MM3.
I want to create and ...
10
votes
9answers
583 views
How to make combat deadlier?
I was thinking of reducing all hit points by 1/2 (pc, npc and monster) to make combat deadlier and less Hp crunching. Is this a good approach or is there a better way to do this or would it be better ...
8
votes
2answers
564 views
How do I run a single player 4e essentials game? Drow Hunter
I am trying to create a set of encounters for my wife. She will be playing a Drow Hunter (controller) from the Essentials line of DnD 4e.
I'm looking for advice on how to make encounters (2 levels ...
6
votes
5answers
747 views
Designing my own D&D Adventure
Currently I am part of a my first campaign of D&D(4E) as a player and been having fun.
Sometime in the near future I would like to host my own game of D&D with my own adventure. So far I ...
17
votes
1answer
2k views
What changed in Eberron between 3.5e and 4e?
Both in terms of setting fluff and game mechanics, what are the differences between the original D&D 3.5 version of Eberron and its D&D 4th edition version?
17
votes
10answers
2k views
Is it possible to run Dungeons & Dragons 4th edition without a battlemap?
The push, pull, and slide mechanics immediately come to mind as being difficult to track accurately without a battlemap. Auras are another.
Has anyone come up with a simple solution to narrating ...
16
votes
7answers
2k views
What is an effective 3-character 'Core' party?
I (may) have a party with 3 core players and some people that occasionally chime in. While I'm not expecting too many socialisation / synchronisation problems (see this thread about changing ...
14
votes
2answers
277 views
How can I make diseases non-trivial?
As noted here, diseases in 4e seem more trivial than I think they were intended: they rarely last more than one increment!
What rules can I make/break, or what actions can I take, so that contracting ...
14
votes
4answers
264 views
I have read the D&D PHB but am still having trouble grasping some of the basics, how can I learn more?
With credit to one of the more experienced members on the site, mxyzplk, I thought I'd ask where noobs like me should ask or find answers to basic questions about Dungeons & Dragons mechanics if ...
13
votes
5answers
820 views
How much experience should a PC be worth?
Long story short, I'm about to betray my party (by trying to kill them). I'm playing this betrayer on behalf of the GM. Assuming they defeat me, how much experience should they get? I am a level 14 ...
13
votes
1answer
920 views
Are there any guides for hacking DND4E files?
The offline Character Builder had some houseruling support, but it was somewhat limited and the new online Character Builder has even less. Even if you have a fully legal character, some powers, ...
11
votes
3answers
540 views
Guide to convert a 3.5e DM to a 4e DM
I have never played fourth ed, I have read most of the new books, but it is so different as to be quite foreign to my play style. Is there a primer or guide out to help 3.5 DMs switch to 4th smoothly? ...
11
votes
3answers
6k views
What is a good first heroic campaign for D&D 4e, levels 1-5?
I'm a very experienced AD&D GM, and have run levels 1-5 in 4e: Red Box + Reavers of Harkenwold.
I want to start a new mixed-experience group (some 4e, some 3.5/Pathfinder, and no experience at ...
11
votes
2answers
200 views
What's the easiest way to adjust a module intended for 5 players so that it can accommodate 6 players?
I'm playing with a 6 character group in the H series of modules, Keep on the Shadowfell and Thunderspire labyrinth, which are both intended for 5 players.
Frankly the combats are usually too easy, ...
11
votes
2answers
1k views
What is DDI (D&D Insider)?
I have seen this referenced in several questions. I've actually seen people use links into the DDI website in their answers that I can't get to since I don't have a subscription. I know its an online ...
10
votes
5answers
314 views
How to go from a humorous campaign to a more serious one?
I am currently running a D&D 4E game. The game started off kind of goofy (we have a thrikreen rogue with glowing blonde hair, an ale-obsessed dwarf battlemind, a ditzy human wizard, and a dwarf ...
9
votes
2answers
926 views
How many magic items or magic item equivalents should I give out alongside inherent bonuses in D&D 4e?
When providing players with inherent bonuses (they count as having +1 weapons, neck slot, and armor from levels 2-5 ,+2 from 6-10, and so on.) how often should players receive actual magic items, and ...
8
votes
2answers
2k views
Can a necromancer be made in 4E?
A player wanted to build a necromancer in 4E, but as far as I know there isn't a way to do it. Is there a way to model a necromancer in 4E?
By Necromancer I basically mean "somebody who raises ...
36
votes
9answers
4k views
How should I respond to a DM who unfairly plays the “rules-lawyer” card?
My question: How would you, experienced role-player, deal with this situation?
I was recently invited to join a 4e startup goup. I've RP'd a fair bit in my day, but not in decades, and never D&D. ...
23
votes
3answers
1k views
Is there a core campaign setting for DnD 4e?
I'm completely new to RPGs in general, so I apologize in advance if this is an odd question. There's such an overwhelming abundance of lore on all the different campaign settings for DnD that I've ...
18
votes
5answers
1k views
Can you place something living in a bag of holding?
I don't have any rule books to read and the last rule book I had was dnd 2e, but this question came up at lunch today at work. Is it possible to place live objects in a bag of holding. For instance, ...
