Dungeons & Dragons Fourth Edition from 2008 (includes Essentials)
11
votes
2answers
567 views
What are the origins of the Raven Queen?
Could someone tell me what they know of the Raven Queen's origins?
Citing sources is a plus.
Thanks.
11
votes
2answers
459 views
Enemies knocking players unconscious instead of killing them
In D&D 4th Ed., can a monster choose to knock the player he is killing unconscious instead of killing him, thereby not giving him a chance to roll death saving throws to get back on his own and ...
11
votes
1answer
299 views
Does multi-classing into a martial class make you a member of martial class?
A character who has taken a class-specific multiclass feat counts as a member of that class for the purpose of meeting prerequisites for taking other feats and qualifying for paragon paths.
As a ...
11
votes
1answer
181 views
Do two Eladrin both wearing a Circlet of Revelation auto-save on Charm effects?
Eladrin have a +5 racial bonus to saving throws against charm effects.
The Circlet of Revelation head slot item grants the following:
Property: While you have an eladrin ally within 10 squares of ...
11
votes
2answers
912 views
Why is a brutal 3 vorpal scythe called “Death's Scythe”?
The title is essentially my question. I have heard the weapon called that before, but i am curious as to both the why, and as to the origin of this term and the concept of the weapon.
11
votes
3answers
2k views
Does cover also grant concealment?
One of the PC who plays in my Encounters session has a power that lets him make a stealth check to hide if he has "concealment." Last night we was behind a hard corner in a room without any other ...
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 ...
11
votes
3answers
499 views
What are the mechanical implications of Dungeons & Dragons Essentials?
It's my understanding that WOTC is releasing a string of 4e products under a label they're calling "Essentials", that there's substantial revisions/errata attached to this product line, and that the ...
11
votes
5answers
2k views
How can I convert 2nd Edition AD&D to 4th?
I grew up on second edition AD&D. I played some first edition, and frankly found most 1st edition add-ons to be highly compatible with 2nd Edition.
However, I'm a huge fan of Ravenloft, ...
11
votes
1answer
148 views
Does the destination of a Shift have to be declared when the Shift is made?
Situation: An enemy marked by and adjacent to a Fighter uses the Shift move action to get away from her. The fighter hits with the immediate interrupt basic melee attack granted by Combat Challenge ...
11
votes
4answers
363 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
1answer
384 views
Do you lose concealment when you attack?
In D&D4E if you have concealment and make an attack, are you still concealed?
As a specific example, a Warlock gains concealment from his Shadow Walk power, then wishes to make a ranged attack. ...
11
votes
4answers
292 views
Should I get the DMG 2 if I already have the DM Book?
I have the Dungeon Master's Kit, and have just finished my first reading of the DMB it includes. I think it's a good book, though some things are missing, rituals being the one I recall now (besides ...
11
votes
2answers
423 views
What rules govern group skill checks?
A number of published adventures mention rolling a "group stealth check" and other group checks where, theoretically, a proportion of the players try to beat the DC.
Are there formal rules for this, ...
11
votes
1answer
307 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
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
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
2answers
409 views
Is there a saving throw for forced movement over unrevealed pits?
Let me share a story of what happened (it was an epic moment) in one game, which prompted this question.
Our party consisted of a Shardmind Psion (myself), a Halfling Rogue, and a Dragonborn Paladin. ...
11
votes
2answers
125 views
What effects can hit a phasing creature in a nonmagical wall square?
In a recent battle I was Dming, the party was fighting against Wraiths (in the Madness at Gardmore Abbey adventure). Wraiths have phasing and thus can fly into and through walls, so the players and I ...
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
1answer
564 views
Can a Wizard use Magic Missile against an Enemy she cannot see?
If an Enemy is shrouded in total darkness that blocks line-of-sight, but the Enemy is not Hidden, can the Wizard attack that Enemy with Magic Missile?
From the Errata on Magic Missile[PDF]:
...
11
votes
1answer
280 views
What type of action is a knowledge check?
Based on a recent question about knowledge checks, I started wondering what kind of action Knowledge Checks were. The compendium doesn't seem to state it for monster knowledge checks (but, e.g. detect ...
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
117 views
What happens if a Troll Vinespeaker would be reduced to less than 0 hitpoints?
We recently fought a Troll Vinespeaker in our DnD 4e campaign. These was some controvery over whether we could reduce the troll to less than 0 hit points to keep it from getting up the next turn, via ...
11
votes
1answer
790 views
Where can I find rules for firing a Ballista?
More specifically I'm looking for rules for a ship mounted ballista for my players in a 4th Ed. game.
I haven't been able to find anything in any of the books, the closest to anything in print is ...
11
votes
1answer
336 views
How often per Day can the Living Missile Attack power be used?
The Effect line of the Living Missile power card reads:
While the target is immobilized or slowed by this power, you can use the Living Missile Attack power once per round.
The Requirement line ...
11
votes
4answers
4k views
Alternative means of rendering .dnd4e files
Besides the .csl file for DDI Character builder available here, are there any novel ways of creating printable 4e character sheets that are more effective than the default printed sheets? Are there ...
11
votes
4answers
585 views
How do I Cleave as a Melee Basic Attack?
Numerous powers, and other game actions grant melee basic attacks, or trigger on MBAs. My fighter is going to primarily use Cleave (combined with Deft Hurler and the Warden's First Hunter PP) as his ...
11
votes
1answer
260 views
Where is published errata for Essentials?
Has Wizards of the Coast published errata yet for any of the Essentials books?
I'm pretty sure that I already know the answer to this -- no errata has yet been published for Heroes of the Fallen ...
11
votes
1answer
148 views
What are supported 4e campaign settings?
By "supported" I mean there is at least one book (or similar-level online resource) detailing the setting. Campaign settings I already know about for 4e: Nentir Vale (not well supported), Forgotten ...
11
votes
3answers
219 views
What happens when a creature falls on another creature?
If I successfully teleport a creature 4 square above another creature, and it falls, what happens? Is damage done to one or both?
11
votes
1answer
440 views
Question regarding Sneak of Shadows feat
My question is when you use the multiclass feat Sneak of Shadows for the 1/encounter sneak attack damage, does it increase by tier like the rogue class feature Sneak Attack, Heroic: 2d6, Paragon: 3d6; ...
10
votes
8answers
790 views
How do I deal with these crazy PCs?
I got some of my friends to play a very small game of D&D, with my being DM to see if they will like to play more often. Our quest consisted of PvP, hiding, going to the tavern to get drunk, and ...
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
4answers
2k views
What's with this tier stuff, and how does that translate to levels?
I've seen a few questions mentioning things like "paragon tier" or "epic tier". What are tiers? What game(s) are they used in ? How do they translate to D&D 3.5/Pathfinder Levels?
10
votes
6answers
819 views
Do any powers use the percentile dice anymore?
The "percentile", or "10d10" dice are still found as a standard component of most polyhedral dice sets. But, I've yet to see use of them in my (albeit limited) experience with D&D 4e. Are there ...
10
votes
3answers
2k views
How to be a Centaur PC?
I just started D&D, bought my version 4 manuals and I'm now at my stage in character creation.
The problem:
I was wondering if playing as a centaur would be possible?
What forms of skills and ...
10
votes
3answers
385 views
What will happen with DDI subscriptions and online content for 4e?
With a new edition of D&D releasing next year (5e) what will happen to the online content for 4e?
Will wizards continue to offer subscription services for 4th edition support, make those ...
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 ...
10
votes
6answers
432 views
As a DM is it better to focus fire on defenders or on a weaker target?
As a DM if you wage a fair fight, the defender is something of a spoiler for your monsters. A defender usually has high hitpoints, high defenses, marking abilities, and ally protection abilities, all ...
10
votes
3answers
2k views
How do hit points work?
I'm about to start my first D&D game, and I just noticed that my character sheet has four different hit point values. I assume maximum is how many you have before you're dead, but how do Bloodied, ...
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. ...
10
votes
10answers
2k views
Advantage to normal multiclassing in D&D4?
Is normal (feat-based) multi-classing beneficial in D&D 4e? Is there a better way to achieve the same character design (a character with facets of two classes)?
10
votes
5answers
233 views
Is there any system for translating AD&D type encounters to 4e?
I would very much like to run a party of people through the TPK machine that is the original Tomb of Horrors. However, while I'd like to keep the balance and toughness that made this first entry so ...
10
votes
5answers
386 views
Awarding XP for combat encounters in Dnd 4e
I am a very inexperienced DM. I have here what must be an obvious question, but I can't seem to find any solid clarification.
How is XP rewarded after a combat encounter? Is the total monsters' XP ...
10
votes
2answers
1k views
When a creature is invisible, but not hidden, do the enemies know the location of the creature?
When a creature is invisible but not hidden, one could argue that the players still know it's general location.
If a creature becomes invisible and not hidden does it remain on the battle-mat?
10
votes
2answers
227 views
Does reducing a roll change a critical?
This came up in our game last night.
An enemy attacks and rolls a critical hit. The target uses the Luckbender paragon power "Even the Odds" and reduces the roll by the d6 roll.
Is the result still ...
10
votes
4answers
275 views
Recommend a published encounter for 4e to demo its strengths to newbies!
I'm looking for recommendations for a published (but not necessarily WotC), fun, single encounter to introduce some friends to D&D 4E. We'll be using a virtual tabletop (Roll20 specifically) for ...
10
votes
2answers
183 views
Does “Grit” give temporary hit points for heals that say “as if you had spent a healing surge?”
My question is about the interaction of a feat called Grit and effects like the daily item power on Dwarven Armor.
Grit: When you spend a healing surge to regain hit points, you also gain ...
10
votes
2answers
425 views
If I'm dazed do I forget to attack after charging?
I know if my first action of a turn is Charge, then Daze will not stop the charge.
What happens if Daze is the second action of the turn? Can Daze stop the Charge then ?
Sequence of events:
I do a ...
