Dungeons & Dragons Fourth Edition from 2008 (includes Essentials)
15
votes
1answer
195 views
Can a creature immune to Immobilized walk away from a creature grabbing it?
Grabbed:
While a creature is grabbed, it is immobilized. Maintaining this condition on the creature occupies whatever appendage, object, or effect the grabber used to initiate the grab. This ...
15
votes
8answers
3k views
Software to make DIY Item Cards
I'm a big fan of Paizo's GameMastery item cards. I also like GoDeckYourself but I'm wondering if anyone knows of any other software or websites that can be used to make your own Item Cards or Power ...
14
votes
4answers
2k views
What does Deep Speech look/sound like?
My character picked up the Deep Sage feat, so he can now speak, read and write Deep Speech. But I haven't been able to find any examples of what it may look like when written or sound like when ...
13
votes
8answers
557 views
Non-magical encounter suggestions
I'm once again turning to the good folks at Stack Exchange for help regarding my non-magical campaign. I've written several encounters in which the PCs fight the main bad guys and their followers ...
13
votes
2answers
608 views
What is the upgrade path for characters generated with the Red Box Starter kit?
After creating a character using the Red Box and convincing my gaming group, all newbies to RPG's, to roll characters using the Red Box, I discovered that the Red Box doesn't seem to have an upgrade ...
11
votes
7answers
615 views
How do you kidnap a PC?
Here's where my group is currently at:
We are reaching the end of a campaign and we are going to be switching GM's.
I have been playing a (secretly) evil Psion who has plans to betray the party ...
11
votes
2answers
1k views
How does __(Dexterity) vs. AC work?
I'm working through the new Red Box, and have ended up with a character with the at-will Bump And Run power.
The attack is listed as
__ (Dexterity) vs. AC
Is this just a straight comparison of ...
10
votes
7answers
440 views
Ending combat: should I “kill” monsters prematurely?
Out of time constraints (my group can generally only meet for 3-4 hours every other week), as a GM I frequently find myself prematurely "killing" off monsters when it seems clear to me that the ...
10
votes
8answers
463 views
What's the maximum number of minions for an encounter?
What is the maximum number of minions that can be pitted against a party 0f 5 characters of equal level without being overwhelming (as defined by the DMG)?
ie: How many Kobold minions can I pit ...
9
votes
1answer
273 views
Does the weapon damage type apply to Effect damage?
This is more general variation of a part of this question.
If an attack power has an Effect that does damage (ex: Bloodbath), and the target is vulnerable to the damage type which the weapons causes ...
9
votes
3answers
15k views
What class does the most damage overall?
I'm new to D&D 4e and I am an illusionist Wizard. We have 3 PCs playing, but one of our players should do a lot of damage.
Which class does the most damage?
9
votes
3answers
303 views
How can I model an army squadron to assist the players through the use of player-controlled minions?
In the chat playtest my players have decided that they are members of an army squadron. What is the best way to present the feel of working in a squad alongside other soldiers?
Nominally, I'd like ...
8
votes
3answers
700 views
How can I successfully run one-on-one adventures in D&D 4E?
It seems clear that 4E really wants the party to have at least four PCs, so that all four roles can be covered. The official rules give tips on what to do when you can only have three PCs, but when ...
8
votes
2answers
478 views
What kind of take-away/offline material does D&D Insider (DDI) give you?
This relates to another question that was just recently asked:
What is DDI (D&D Insider)?
What kinds of materials does DDI give you that you retain access to "offline" (including if you ...
7
votes
2answers
780 views
How does damage resistance work with same typed damage from multiple sources?
A scenario from our game last night.
We are facing monsters with an Aura 2 that causes 5 cold damage and stacks (enter or start turn in aura). These guys also have an attack that immobilizes and ...
7
votes
2answers
862 views
Where do I find boating rules for 4e?
Where do I find boat/ship rules for D&D 4e? Guidance for skill challenges using boats as well as combat on boats greatly appreciated.
6
votes
3answers
2k views
Most effective ritual caster class?
What class is the most effective/cost efficient for casting rituals in D&D 4e?
5
votes
2answers
250 views
Point buy/structured system for cooperative 4e campaign building?
Our group is currently building a campaign world (one nation per player) for the Pillars of the State campaign (as suggested in the DMG2 somewhere around page 170).
Today we encountered the "problem" ...
5
votes
4answers
1k views
Is this charge-based build legal?
In my campaign we have two, almost identical, charge-based builds tuned to be a duo. These characters totally imbalance the party to the point where encounters four levels higher than the party's ...
4
votes
2answers
254 views
How do I turn a daily into an encounter?
I'm looking for something that shifts a daily power into an encounter power. I want to take the Demigod Epic Path so I can use Blade Cascade whenever I want. Ideas?
4
votes
3answers
2k views
How do I fill the DnD 4E Essentials Character Sheets? - clarifications
I'm exercising to start as a DM, and one of the things I'm doing is know how to fill the 4E (especially Essentials) character sheets. I'm not sure what I should fill
What are the "Modifier", "Misc" ...
1
vote
1answer
177 views
What options are available for a Sentinel Druids Animal Companions item slot?
I read in an answer to Druid (Sentinel) Animal Companion Armor that there was at least one item (Companion's Defender) which could be given to a Sentinel Druids Animal Companion, but as I am not a DDI ...
23
votes
1answer
805 views
What is the difference between “No Action” and “Free Action”?
What is the difference between No Action, e.g. the Monk's Centered Flurry of Blows [ddi], and the more common Free Action?
18
votes
2answers
389 views
Is teleporting a creature considered forced movement of said creature?
Is teleporting a creature considered to be forced movement of said creature?
17
votes
9answers
417 views
What ways are there to convey loneliness and betrayal in an encounter?
A little background: I am designing a campaign that largely takes place in the mind of a twisted wizard. The wizard was shunned and exiled from his home due to a physical disfigurement, and after a ...
16
votes
2answers
1k views
What happens when making a dying, surgeless character use her second wind?
Last session happened that our Barbarian fell unconscious, with 0 healing surges, and before she could spend her second wind.
The Avenger then made a Heal check to force her spending her second wind.
...
16
votes
3answers
3k views
In D&D 4e What does a letter inside of brackets mean for a hit effect of an attack power?
For example, the Clerics level 1 power "brand of the sun" says the following:
Hit: 1[W] + Wisdom modifier radiant
damage.
What does that mean? Does that mean 1xWeapon Damage + Wisdom modifier? ...
15
votes
6answers
614 views
How do I represent a warlock with a background in thievery?
I'm developing a Dwarven Warlock (Hrafnhildur "Fin" Arnarsdottir) for the next 4E campaign I get the chance to join. She left home to join a gang in a city, and after reading a book they were going to ...
15
votes
4answers
461 views
How can I make combat more challenging without making it too frustrating?
My fellow DMs and I have come across a problem. It feels like the party has been doing a good job of dispatching our monsters with relative ease. We are not upset about this part, our party has done ...
14
votes
2answers
430 views
Attack with two keywords versus resistance with one of them
I had the following situation last night. A creature attacked with a Fire and Poison attack. My character has resist 5 Poison. does the resistance apply or do I need to resist 5 fire as well?
14
votes
5answers
776 views
Firearms for DnD
My DM would like to run a DnD adventure set in 1930s-tech era, replacing technology with magic-punk stuff. He's pulling a lot from Eberron.
Guns will exist, however, and he's just "renaming" bows ...
14
votes
8answers
566 views
How do I adjudicate the natural tendency for hikers to spread in D&D 4e?
This question inspired by this rather grognardian post over on the Tao of D&D.
Functionally, the post asserts:
But suggest to a party that they're too far apart to hear one another as they ...
14
votes
3answers
414 views
Does a character have to successfully hide from all opponents to be hidden?
Specific example - If a rogue successfully hides from one opponent can he then sneak attack that opponent? Or can the opponents allies use a free action to yell out, "Hey, the annoying guy with the ...
14
votes
2answers
484 views
Sustaining a power and readied actions: what happens?
This came up today at our gaming session. I was sustaining a Wall of Fire with my minor actions. The enemy was out of sight and I readied an action to Thunderwave them into the Wall of Fire if they ...
13
votes
5answers
571 views
How does disarming a monster affect its statistics?
The disarm maneuver has almost totally disappeared from D&D 4th edition. However, at least one Fighter power - Exorcism of Steel - allows it.
Exorcism of Steel - Fighter Attack 17
You make a ...
12
votes
1answer
215 views
Does Resist All stack with Resist [specific]?
Case: A Warden has Resist 5 All Damage from some Warden feature/power.
He also has Resist 10 Necrotic from his armor.
He is hit by 30 Necrotic damage from a single attack.
Does he take 15 damage, ...
12
votes
1answer
696 views
Does an aura extend vertically?
For D&D 4e, auras read as such:
An aura is a continuous effect that emanates from a creature. Unless otherwise noted, an aura uses the following rules.
Fills an Area: The aura fills the ...
12
votes
3answers
446 views
Whither the Warlord?
I got the 4e core books when they first came out. On browsing through them, I thought that a Dragonborn Warlord would be a fun combo to play. But D&D is not a game my group wants to play, so the ...
12
votes
1answer
815 views
How are some Essentials classes non AEDU classes?
I've just received my Essentials books. Perusing the Heroes of the Adjective Noun books, the classes have and receive at-wills, encounter, daily and utility powers as they start and level.
On the ...
12
votes
1answer
829 views
Can a Dungeons and Dragons 4e character take D&D Essentials class powers?
Either by retraining or gaining a level, can a old-school D&D 4e character take the daily, encounter, utility, or at-will powers listed in the Essentials materials?
For example, the Essentials' ...
12
votes
4answers
501 views
Can forced movement be used to dismount a rider?
Are a rider and mount considered different targets so I could push or pull one but not the other with a power?
If I can push the rider off of the mount, would the "Catching yourself"(PHB p284) clause ...
12
votes
8answers
367 views
How do I use the same type of creature as characters level up without using more of them?
Is there a good formula/strategy for making monsters harder as characters level up without just throwing more of them? My kids, for example, love Kobolds but I just don't want combats of 30 of them.
11
votes
1answer
1k views
D&D 4e Required Forced Movement
I just started getting into forced movement in D&D 4e, and I have a couple of questions:
Is forced movement required to take place? IE As the attacker can you opt not to enact the forced ...
11
votes
1answer
306 views
Does the Tarrasque cause flying creatures to plummet to their death?
As mentioned in this answer:
The Tarrasque's Earthbinding aura ... prevents creatures to fly beyond 4 squares above the ground
My question was, if the creature was ~30 squares in the air, and ...
11
votes
3answers
229 views
Does blade barrier have to be anchored to the ground?
If I cast blade barrier, does it have to be anchored to the ground? Or can I have it float anywhere I want that it could occupy, such as cast it above me as a sort of roof of blades?
11
votes
7answers
2k views
What striker builds let you play a secondary defender role?
I'm going to play D&D 4e on the PC side of the screen for the first time soon, and it looks like the best way to fill the party's needs is by taking up a striker that can also defend a bit. ...
10
votes
2answers
180 views
Can a knowledge check be used to identify the powers of a unique named enemy?
In Encounter 29: Arena of Kord in Madness at Gardmore Abbey the players face an enemy leader called:
Leralix, Minotaur Magus (L) Level 9 Controller (Leader)
Because Leralix is a unique named ...
10
votes
2answers
615 views
Druid (Sentinel) Animal Companion Armor
I am new to D&D and I am looking to start. I would like to start a Druid(Sentinel) from Heroes of the Forgotten Kingdoms whose animal companion is a bear.
My Druid would dislike his animal ...
10
votes
2answers
385 views
When does marking occur
This is from memory, so if someone wants to edit the question, feel free.
When a fighter attacks a creature, that creature is marked. When does the marking happen in the sequence of events? If the ...
10
votes
5answers
386 views
What are the Players and the DM supposed to be permitted to know in regards to rolls/defenses during combat?
What are the Players and the DM supposed to be permitted to know in regards to rolls/defenses during combat?
I've only played 4th Ed. D&D, so I don't know how it's handled in other editions. ...
