Questions relating to Dungeons & Dragons as a whole, or to multiple versions of Dungeons & Dragons.
2
votes
1answer
141 views
Mixing Essentials and Core D&D, is it ok? [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
How compatible are D&D 4th Edition and Essentials? Can you use Essentials encounters with 4th edition characters?
Here is my situation, I wanted to get my daughter ...
23
votes
4answers
730 views
How much to bend “the rules” about populating a world?
All right, I have a question about creating a world and populating it with appropriate monsters, etc.
I created a world a little while back, loosely based off of the world found in Michael ...
6
votes
2answers
297 views
Enchant Item Spell
Is Enchant Magic Item (a 6th level AD&D spell) is written up anywhere in the OD&D books, supplements, or Strategic Review? I am researching the difference between OD&D magic item creation ...
19
votes
4answers
1k views
Why can't clerics use sharp weapons?
In many versions of D&D, clerics can't use bladed/edged/pointy weapons, and are instead restricted to things like staves, clubs, maces, etc. Why is this?
Is there some historical reason? Is ...
12
votes
3answers
498 views
Why can't a Cleric use a sling?
So by the book 1st Edition AD&D, clerics can't use a sling.
Other than game balance (it essentially means that other than the odd thrown hammer clerics have no ranged weapon ability which further ...
7
votes
3answers
380 views
What do you see in a mirror when a vampire picks up an object?
When a D&D-vampire picks up an object, what do you see in a mirror? With the vampire having no reflection (and neither his clothing), does the item float? Does it get invisible? Does it depend on ...
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 ...
15
votes
4answers
397 views
What's the origin of the term “gold piece”?
What is the literary or historical origin of the term "gold piece" to mean a gold coin? Was it used before D&D, or did D&D coin the term?
6
votes
4answers
256 views
Is it possible to play with just 1 player book in a group?
I want to start a game with some friends. We never played using any book but now we want to try that out. I got the PLayer, DM and monster book but that's it. As I'll be DMing for the first time I'm ...
14
votes
4answers
2k views
What exactly is a saving throw?
Dungeons and Dragons has had the concept of a "saving throw" for a long time. What exactly is it supposed to represent in the real world? And why is it called a "saving throw"?
12
votes
1answer
272 views
At what point does a trap on a lock spring?
So a thief finds a chest which is trapped and locked (though he knows neither of these things at this point).
He fails his find traps roll and assumes / risks that it's not trapped. At what point ...
3
votes
2answers
392 views
Configurations for D&D dungeon tiles?
I'm looking to pick up some of the D&D dungeon tiles sets. I'm wondering if the sets come with recommended designs for the tiles, or are their sites online where people have provided possible ...
4
votes
1answer
153 views
What temperature can Endure Elements withstand?
The D&D spell Endure Elements can prevent five hit points per round of damage. What temperature range does that correspond to in both directions? That is, how cold an ambient temperature does it ...
1
vote
3answers
121 views
Which book were the Pegataur Ranger rules in?
I remember from many years ago, I had a pegataur ranger in a DnD campaign. I can't remember which version of D&D it was from, or which book it was from. Any ideas?
I do remember that the book had ...
7
votes
4answers
334 views
Could non-lethal damage draw blood?
Can non lethal damage draw blood? Does it leave bruises? Is it possible to knock a character out with non-lethal damage without leaving a mark?
For the purposes of this question, consider a mark to ...
7
votes
3answers
885 views
Can I convert a 4e D&D character to 3.5e?
I have a character in 4e that I've been using for a while, but I recently met a DM who wants me and a friend to play his 3.5e campaign, since he doesn't like 4e or something... but our characters are ...
3
votes
1answer
490 views
Is it possible to start a character with tremorsense? What kind of negative stats would I need to take? [closed]
I'm starting a campaign and I think it'd be cool if I could be a human and have tremorsense. I know it'd be hard, but I'd be willing to take a lot of negative stats to counteract that. If it'd be hard ...
13
votes
7answers
940 views
D&D: How to find out if someone is a spellcaster?
I know that one can use the spell "Detect magic" to find out whether any spells are being cast or active. But is it also possible, using some spell, feat or whatever, to find out whether a person is ...
22
votes
4answers
469 views
Why do characters with a high prime requisite gain bonus XP?
In earlier versions of Dungeons & Dragons, a character with a high ability score in their class' prime requisite receives a bonus to all experience he earns. For example, the 1983 Frank Mentzer ...
7
votes
1answer
801 views
Are there any rules or guidelines for creating original magic items and rituals?
I am running a D&D 4E campaign, and I particular enjoy that a lot of the 'man-made' spells that the PCs encounter--when for example, raiding wizards' hideouts--can be described as "you can get a ...
7
votes
1answer
517 views
How do the rules that govern a Cleric's Turn Undead ability vary among D&D editions?
I would like to know how the rules for the Cleric's Turn Undead ability have changed between D&D editions. I don't own or have access to all the rule books for the various editions, so I'm curious ...
17
votes
8answers
830 views
How can I make low levels of a high-level build more bearable?
In Dungeons and Dragons or Pathfinder, often you might design or plan a character for what he can do at high level. For example, I might want to play a Mystic Theurge or some other prestige class, or ...
5
votes
1answer
126 views
Updating a couple of old Arduin magic items
So here a couple of magic items from the old Arduin books that I'd like to use in more recent D&D. How would you update (or stat) these?
Stasis Bag - a sort of super bag of holding. It's size ...
7
votes
4answers
837 views
Adjusting Modules for More Players (D&D 3.5)
I am planning on running a D&D 3.5 campaign soon. I underestimated how many of my friends would be interested, and my group of 4 has quickly turned into a group of 6. I have seen various ...
8
votes
3answers
395 views
Can a Psion become a Thrallherd, then drop Diplomacy with Psychic Reformation?
I have a Psion(Egoist)/Thrallherd with Psychic Reformation. I'm wondering whether I can use Psychic Reformation to drop the points in Diplomacy and the Inquisitor feat, and reassign the points to ...
8
votes
1answer
151 views
Aganazzar's Scorcher: Rules for 'path' Spells
Agnazzar's Scorcher, a spell from the Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting, reads as follows:
A jet of roaring flame bursts from your outstretched hand, scorching any creature in a 5-foot-wide path ...
11
votes
1answer
426 views
Feat prerequisites
Related to this question: Skill rank feat prerequisites, and specifically this rule text:
Some feats have prerequisites. Your character must have the indicated
ability score, class feature, ...
14
votes
9answers
877 views
Randomly-generating weather for a sandbox campaign
I'm running a sandbox campaign and I've been looking for a method of randomly determining the weather for the day.
Features I'm looking for:
Low-to-medium handling time during play. Big tables are ...
5
votes
1answer
605 views
Resisted energy types and immunity
I would like to know the distribution of energy resistances and immunities in 3.5 monsters, and especially the four basic types fire, cold, electricity and acid.
It is often said that fire is most ...
4
votes
1answer
276 views
Ways to add the [Good] Descriptor to Spells for Arcane Spellcaster
The 'Consecrate Spell' feat from Book of Exalted Deeds adds the [Good] descriptor to spells cast. Is there another way to achieve this for arcane spellcasters, e.g. as a prestige class feature?
The ...
6
votes
2answers
1k views
Does snipe allow for multiple successive ranged sneak attacks?
If I have a rogue who fires a ranged weapon as a sneak attack, then passes his stealth-20 check to snipe, can he then make a second ranged sneak attack on the next round? If so (or if not), what is ...
12
votes
3answers
450 views
Limits and rules for Silent/Minor/Major Image spells
What are the limits of Image spells?
An example in the 'All about Illusions' articles on wizards.com (1, 2, 3, 4) is an illusionary guard: Can I make the guard (keeping concentration) dissolve into ...
5
votes
3answers
313 views
Is there a (semi-canon) concordance between the peoples of the Forgotten Realms and their “real-world” equivalents?
I think there's no official stance on this, but I wonder if there's an accepted, semi-canon list of the peoples of the Forgotten Realms and their real world counterparts (that most likely inspired the ...
6
votes
1answer
277 views
Skill rank feat prerequisites
The feat Practiced Spellcaster (Complete Arcane) has a prerequisite of four skill ranks in Spellcraft.
Can I take this feat on the first level if I use my skill points to get Spellcraft to four ...
5
votes
1answer
164 views
Does Elemental Spellcasting stack with Draconic Power?
The 'Elemental Spellcasting' feat (Planar Handbook, p39) raises the Caster Level for specific elemental spells (fire, cold, etc). by +1.
The 'Draconic Power' feat (Races of the Dragon, p104) raises ...
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 ...
17
votes
5answers
659 views
Does anyone know of specific types of room lists for different kinds of (fantasy) buildings?
Here's a problem I encounter when creating buildings for D&D: I quickly run out of specific room types. For instance, when I create a temple, I can think of the main worship area, chambers for the ...
14
votes
3answers
201 views
What happens when a grabbed target of Avalanche Stomp is teleported
Avalanche Stomp is a power of the Stone Titan (all quotes are from the DDI Compendium):
Close burst 3; +21 vs Fortitude; 3d10+7 damage, and the target is grabbed by earth and stone. The stone ...
6
votes
3answers
429 views
What is the best way to compose/express a resurrection wish in D&D?
In the name of Greater Good, my Lawful Good character sacrificed an Avoral Guardinal. This happened in Occipitus (layer 507 of the Abyss), which he now controls as its Demon Lord. My character has ...
9
votes
2answers
196 views
Pitfalls in using Feats as a Reward System
I'm planning a fairly non-traditional campaign, in a completely custom setting (still high-fantasy, but slightly more modern).
While in this campaign, I have certain events that I've planned to ...
7
votes
1answer
429 views
How can I attain eternal youth through alchemy?
Back in the second edition of AD&D, potions of Youth and Longevity were valuable, both to GMs as plot devices, and as a useful way for players to compensate for the variety of supernatural effects ...
28
votes
3answers
7k views
What are the big differences between the D&D editions?
I've been out of the loop for a while, and I used to play AD&D 2nd ed, but today I find there are a lot of different versions that have fairly different gameplay.
Can anyone summarize the really ...
1
vote
0answers
58 views
Running a business in a D&D 4e game? [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
Are there any games that include a good rule system for running a business?
My group is looking to set up a trading post in our game where we can sell our loot through, ...
9
votes
3answers
300 views
Chances of rolling up characters for classes in first edition Dungeons and Dragons
I recently read a blog post about the probabilities of rolling up a character that would meet the requirements for all of the different classes in first edition Dungeons and Dragons. I'd love to read ...
7
votes
1answer
165 views
Does the +1 DC from Tattoo Focus stack with the +1 from Spell Focus?
Tattoo Focus, a Forgotten Realms regional feat, gives +1 DC to specialization school. Does this stack with the +1 from the feat Spell Focus?
Why?
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? ...
8
votes
2answers
229 views
How could you adapt the Vitality and Wound Points system from Unearthed Arcana to the 4th ed rules?
Inspired by this answer to a question:
How could you adapt the Vitality and Wound Points system from Unearthed Arcana to the 4th ed rules.
What major changes would you need to make?
5
votes
1answer
691 views
Regarding resting and spell meditation for casters
My group recently started a game in D&D 3.5. Even though we are all rather familiar with the ruleset, there are certain details that we have trouble discerning from the official documentation, ...
6
votes
3answers
195 views
Can Druid in Shifted Form Speak Normal Languages?
In 1st Edition AD&D if a druid shape shifts form into an animal can they speak their normal languages? I am assuming they can not, but wanted some clarification.
18
votes
8answers
551 views
Would the alignment of a character with multiple personality disorder change?
A character has a certain alignment that in general defines how he acts. With multiple personality disorder or other similar disorders (maybe bipolar disorder with severe depression/severe mania), ...
