Dungeons & Dragons Fourth Edition from 2008 (includes Essentials)
41
votes
12answers
1k views
How do I make skill checks more than just sequences of die chucking?
I think I don't get skill challenges.
As I understand it at some point I break the narrative by proclaiming:
"This is a skill challenge. You need 5 victories before you reach 3 failures. Go"
And then ...
41
votes
11answers
4k views
3d6 vs a d20: What is the effect of a different probability curve?
What is the effect on game play of replacing d20 rolls with 3d6 rolls in a D&D 4e campaign?
I started thinking about this after reading this question where the example was given of playing a d20 ...
36
votes
9answers
3k 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. ...
35
votes
13answers
2k views
Playing 4th Ed D&D for the first time, what should I read to avoid holding everyone back?
I've been invited to join a new game of D&D 4th edition this weekend, but haven't played proper D&D before. Are there any resources I ought to read or get before I turn up, so that I'm not a ...
33
votes
7answers
2k views
What do you do when a player intimidates your campaign boss to surrender?
So my players recently fought a big bad campaign boss. The (custom made) boss was a kind of solo beserker king, and the encounter difficulty was designed to be fairly moderate until the boss became ...
30
votes
9answers
1k views
How to deal with a Batman PC as a DM?
I'm running one of the D&D Encounters tables at the local game shop. In Chapter 3 the players can create their own characters.
Everyone had normal characters with the exception of one player who ...
27
votes
7answers
5k views
Is my DM a killjoy, or am I just a whining player?
I've been playing D&D 4E with a group of colleagues from work for about a year or so now. Whilst some of us were seasoned role players, and others had never played before at all - none of us had ...
26
votes
8answers
1k views
What are the most important differences for a 1st Edition AD&D Dungeon Master learning to run D&D 4E?
I'm a campaign designer and DM with 20+ years of AD&D 1st edition experience. I've been "retired" from the game for over a decade, assume I don't know anything about 2nd, 3rd, or 3.5.
Now I'm ...
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 ...
25
votes
11answers
1k views
Can D&D Fourth Edition be played effectively in a non-gamist manner?
I'd like to ask a question that's been brewing for a while. A lot of the answers and comments on this site seem to be from people who play 4e and are insistent that the right way/only way/best way to ...
25
votes
9answers
5k views
What set of books makes a complete game?
I've asked several questions about 4th Edition D&D because I may be able to start a game. However, I'd need to purchase (some) materials. I am aware of the 4 book set (core) and the expected ...
24
votes
15answers
2k views
In D&D, A PC became king. How do I keep him in check?
I'm running a D&D 4e campaign. There, a player has worked very hard and somehow tricked me into becoming a king of an evil kingdom. Good for him; he deserves it. However, how do I keep him from:
...
24
votes
4answers
2k views
Why do Sorcerers use Charisma?
Sorcerers use Charisma as their primary Ability Score for spell-casting in Dungeons and Dragons. Wizards use Intelligence to cast, and Clerics use Wisdom. Intelligence and Wisdom make sense for the ...
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 ...
23
votes
1answer
755 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?
22
votes
14answers
3k views
How to keep track of statuses and conditions?
Every round someone is getting dazed, marked, bloodied, quarried, cursed, blinded, slowed, penalized, buffed, stunned, or taking ongoing damage... the list goes on.
At paragon tier with a six-player ...
22
votes
2answers
494 views
Does bringing a minion to 0 hit points count as bloodying it?
Does killing a minion trigger abilities and feats that work when someone bloodies a creature?
Example:
Markings of the PredatorDDI
Prerequisite: Goliath, any primal class
Benefit: When you ...
22
votes
3answers
18k views
What are the differences between D&D 3.5 and D&D 4th edition?
I have a small group of players who don't play often and we've been playing D&D 3.5.
I wanted to know if there are any significant differences between D&D 3.5 and D&D 4e? Do they use a ...
22
votes
3answers
577 views
How to implement a stealth based instant-kill system
I've been playing 4e for a few months now and I'm really interested in creating a dungeon crawl in which the PCs can choose to stealthily kill off certain monsters before they are able to alert other ...
22
votes
4answers
911 views
Monster Manual 1 - Is it balanced? Should I balance it?
I've been DM'ing a little lately 4 edition D&D and of course I'm confused again:
My first adventure was a big question mark, I didn't use the exact guidelines for creating an encounter and ...
21
votes
7answers
2k views
How do I use Passive Perception to have some characters notice parts of the environment?
I'm new to DM'ing and have an issue I'm not sure how to deal with. The situation is this: It's pitch black outside and the PC is walking, with a lantern in hand, toward a building. A bird is ...
21
votes
9answers
2k views
Traps specifically for Smart characters
Does anyone have examples or suggestions on creating traps that are harder for Smart (High INT/WIS) characters?
Example: My NPC necromancer has set up his lair. In his arrogance he believes that ...
21
votes
7answers
3k views
How do I get started playing Dungeons and Dragons by myself?
I've been wanting to start playing D&D for some time, and I was wondering how I could get started by myself with relative ease. I own the first two player handbooks, and a set of dice.
21
votes
5answers
3k views
In D&D 4E, can a changeling change its biological sex?
Simply put, can a Changeling change its sex... physically?
Specifically, I had an incident where a female PC tried to change into a male but I told her that a Changeling can't change 'reproductive ...
21
votes
6answers
666 views
What GM tasks can be delegated to players to speed up encounters?
My party's encounters (D&D4e - 13th level) take on average 3-4 hours. We chit chat a lot and are pretty easily distracted, and it's not a huge deal because we're all having fun. But lately we've ...
21
votes
5answers
782 views
Uses for a 4e Portable Hole?
I was slightly shocked to read the 4e version of a portable hole:
Power (At-Will): Standard Action. Place a portable hole on a wall, a floor, or a ceiling. (The surface must be flat for the item ...
20
votes
6answers
665 views
How can I make monster knowledge checks fun?
By now most players know, or should know, that a monster knowledge check can make all the difference when you’re fighting a monster for the very first time. But how can we make them both fun and not ...
19
votes
7answers
2k views
Are there any benefits to being a small character?
Small characters face a number of disadvantages. They can't use two-handed weapons, and have to use two hands to wield a versatile weapon DDI.
Further disadvantages include:
The inability to Grab ...
19
votes
8answers
7k views
What is the real difference between D&D 4th Edition and Essentials?
I've played mostly 2nd Ed. and some 3/3.5. I have a lot invested in those materials. I am intrigued by 4E an Essentials, but am looking for the best way to approach the new editions. Keep in mind I ...
19
votes
6answers
3k views
Does sneak attack damage do max damage on a critical hit?
I have been trying to find an official ruling on this. In our campaign currently the DM says that one of the sneak attack die will do max damage, and I roll for the other one.
19
votes
2answers
678 views
How do I use minions effectively?
I'm a newbie DM. It seems that minions in an encounter benefit the PCs more than they benefit me:
The Barbarian can kill them for free THP and a Swift Charge (I thought they were supposed to slow ...
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, ...
18
votes
9answers
914 views
How do I kidnap my characters without bending the rules?
I'm about to start a new arc with my characters and I'd really like it to begin by having them be kidnapped. It would be easy for me to just do this by fiat and say that "You are knocked unconscious ...
18
votes
8answers
1k views
How much damage is caused by a thrown coin?
If someone was to use their coins as thrown weapons, no sling just out of hand, how would you roll the attack and damage rolls? Is there a damage chart for something like this?
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 ...
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.
18
votes
13answers
2k views
How do current D&D 4e DMs deal with loot? [closed]
I've been playing since the system was released. I've been a fan of the design changes, except the loot. I loved random loot that allowed my players to be surprised by something awesome, and then ...
18
votes
4answers
973 views
What about character death should be included in a social contract?
For a D&D (4e, primarily) game what about player-character death should be included in a group's social contract? What are some options for best reaching consensus about the possibility of death ...
18
votes
4answers
719 views
What do “Shadowfell” and “Underdark” mean?
English is not my primary language, as such I have some difficult trying to understand the actual meaning of some place names.
Shadowfell is the place where "shadows (noun) fell (verb)", or is a ...
18
votes
5answers
359 views
How do I run a game for a larger group?
I am currently running a Dungeons and Dragons 4 campaign for a group of 9 players. Whittling the group down to a more manageable size is not really an option since they are all family. When we do ...
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
2answers
385 views
Is teleporting a creature considered forced movement of said creature?
Is teleporting a creature considered to be forced movement of said creature?
18
votes
2answers
739 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
2answers
252 views
Can a blast hit targets vertically above the caster?
Can a blast hit targets vertically above the caster?
... trying to draw the situations in text mode ...
Assuming we have a map like so ...
A | B | C
D | E | F
G | H | I
and the caster is in ...
17
votes
2answers
764 views
GM attacking a recently stabilized ally: is this allowed?
The title pretty much sums up my question.
I was playing the Scales of War campaign with a group of friends, and my character was getting absolutely destroyed in an encounter.
I had failed two death ...
17
votes
6answers
730 views
How to encourage a player's creativity without breaking the game?
I've just started a new D&D 4e campaign with a new group of players. One of my players came straight from 2nd edition, and has never played 4e before. She doesn't seem to grasp the layer of ...
17
votes
9answers
411 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 ...
17
votes
10answers
1k 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 ...
17
votes
4answers
4k views
What happened to the D&D power cards?
I am running a party of 5 (+ me, the DM) and have found the power cards included in the Starter Box to be really helpful to players without an iPad or something similar at hand. The power cards I ...
17
votes
7answers
1k views
How can I encourage my D&D Encounters group to do more role playing?
I'm a new player to D&D 4e. I've been participating in D&D Encounters since Season 1 and have even run a couple of sessions in Season 3 when the regular DM couldn't attend. I don't play in ...
