Questions relating to Dungeons & Dragons as a whole, or to multiple versions of Dungeons & Dragons.
5
votes
3answers
381 views
Can the Cavalier use a Holy Avenger?
Can the Cavalier class from the AD&D Unearthed Arcana use a Holy Avenger?
5
votes
2answers
291 views
What class pairs well with a fighter in 4e?
We're getting ever closer to our 4e game and have begun to hash out backgrounds. Much like in Fire Emblem (yes I do pretty much decide all of what I want to do based on video games) I really want my ...
8
votes
3answers
8k views
Is there an official 3E D&D character generator?
Is there a good D&D 3E character generator online or downloadable? Is there an official one somewhere? (Not just a character sheet or tracker.)
If there are no official generators, what are ...
7
votes
3answers
582 views
Are there limitations/cautions to “Vorpal”?
I want to give one of my good characters a vorpal Dwarven Ax. My first thought is about alignment issues. I realize that it's how it's actually wielded that would cause alignment conflicts, but is it ...
8
votes
5answers
2k views
What can make a dragon familiar suitable for a low-level character?
I would like to allow a level ~5 character to have a dragon as a familiar. (My DM style is a little more flexible.) Other than having a "baby dragon," how would you keep that balanced? I'd also ...
15
votes
3answers
2k views
Where can I get ready-to-play characters for D&D 3.5?
The last time I played D&D was about 10 years ago. Now I've decided to show it to my university friends, who have never played it before but are pretty excited. For that first game, nobody would ...
11
votes
4answers
1k views
How do you rule halfling tossing as a combat action?
The party I am GMing has three characters over 6' tall with 20+ strength as well as a halfling and a kobold, both small and about 3' tall.
A couple of times, they have wanted the big characters to ...
16
votes
10answers
723 views
What are the core tropes or assumptions of D&D?
After an interesting discussion with my local GM, I was left wondering
What are the core tropes and assumptions that players bring to a game of D&D?
Specifically the ones that are different from ...
11
votes
8answers
602 views
Inter-planar Merchants of D&D
What race best fills this role? I'm mostly looking for someone who does this in a Planescape-style setting. Neogi kinda do this, but they're a little too specialized for what I'm looking for. Ditto ...
5
votes
4answers
313 views
Where can I find/buy/get a detailed output NPC generator tool (digital or paper)?
As a part of my on-going quest to be a better GM, I am looking for a tool, paper based or digital, that can generate solid NPCs rapidly. These could be used as one shots but I am looking primarily ...
13
votes
5answers
1k views
How to reduce minis dependence in d20-based games?
In Pathfinder and similar versions of D&D, there is a lot more miniatures/tactical map dependence than in earlier versions (and in most other RPGs). I am interested in reducing the dependence on ...
8
votes
5answers
448 views
If I'm invisible do I get a bonus to my saving throws?
In any D&D or AD&D game...
Once my character has become invisible, do I get a bonus to any/all saving throws to which I am entitled?
Does this vary by edition?
Feel free to specify for any ...
3
votes
6answers
1k views
Which D&D spells are most likely to encourage creative role-playing?
Beyond the Cantrip/Wish spells, which are fairly open ended, which other spells are most likely to encourage creative role-playing in a D&D session?
6
votes
4answers
567 views
Can AD&D Thieves Wear Studded Leather Armour?
AD&D (1e) states that thieves can only wear leather armour.
Does this include studded leather? I've always played not as I can't think of any instances where studded leather is expressly ...
8
votes
9answers
924 views
House Rules for AD&D Character Generation (1e+)
Looking at starting an AD&D game for a bunch of players who haven't played for a while and have never played together so there are no common house rules.
To maximise playing time we want ...
12
votes
7answers
1k views
In early D&D, why would chainmail ever be preferred over plate armor?
In early D&D, both chainmail and plate armor were considered metal armor, and to slow the wearer to 60' per turn. Chainmail cost 40gp, and plate armor 60gp. Their encumbrance was 400 or 500 coins ...
8
votes
2answers
309 views
Resources containing practical, yet non-combat, non-adventuring D&D spells
Continuing the train of thoughts emerging from the discussion of this previous question (about magocracies and theocracies in DnD), I'd like to know if there are any good official or unofficial ...
13
votes
14answers
521 views
Magocracies and theocracies in Dnd?
Anyone has (links to) well thought-out, logical explanations for why magocracies and theocracies are not the dominant governmental forms of DnD worlds? I'd also be really interested in similarly deep ...
8
votes
4answers
1k views
Fantasy adventure modules with naval adventuring
At the Recess mini-convention this weekend, someone was telling me about a classic D&D module that involved seafaring and presented rules for falling overboard in armor, etc. I'm wondering if ...
5
votes
4answers
877 views
Glossary of Common Dungeons & Dragons Terminology [closed]
This is a Community Wiki containing a list of terms specific to the D&D game with which outsiders looking to enter may not be familiar.
Dungeons and Dragons may share some terminology with the ...
2
votes
0answers
620 views
What's the youngest age to play D&D? [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
When and how should I introduce my kids to RPGs?
Hi there,
I have four kids aged 11-6. I used to play D&D when in my teams and loved it, and would like to introduce ...
33
votes
11answers
2k views
Is it practical to run a weekly lunch-hour game of D&D with my coworkers?
I'm looking to get some of my coworkers together and start a lunch time, casual, D&D game. Has anyone done this - is there a practical way to do this?
Our lunch breaks run for about 1 hour, but I ...
11
votes
5answers
432 views
Is there any popular contemporary “classic” D&D material?
I've played the gamut of D&D editions from 2e, 3e, 4e, and the classic BECMI system, and after a year long hiatus from 4th edition, I'm considering running some "classic" D&D again.
I'm aware ...
7
votes
3answers
311 views
As a GM, how do you deal with or manage Stirges?
As a GM, how do you deal with or manage Stirges? Equally, how do you make use of them? For them to be a relevant threat, do they have to be in such numbers that they become unmanageable?
18
votes
6answers
2k views
Is it possible to actually kill a Tarrasque?
I've seen a good bit of conflicting information on this creature. Is it possible to actually kill it? Permanently?
Is the answer to this something that varies from edition to edition of D&D?
2
votes
2answers
376 views
The first sold copy of D&D was to Chaosium's founder: were Chaosium's games influential on early D&D? [closed]
Alexander Dotor once interviewed Greg Stafford, during which Greg Stafford stated the following:
Greg Stafford: I knew about D&D. I had a friend in Lake Geneva who was
picking up abelt ...
20
votes
5answers
625 views
As a GM, how do I keep Dungeons & Dragons more interesting for young players?
Currently, my group of players is my children, ages 7+ through 14+ (and several in between). They all are really excited about playing, but I am having great difficulty keeping them all interested ...
10
votes
2answers
392 views
Need a good “Katrina Horror” scenario/resources for my Pathfinder campaign
AVAST! THAR BE SPOILERS AHEAD!
In my current Pathfinder campaign, set in Golarion, I'm mashing up the Second Darkness Adventure Path, initially set in the seedy pirate-infested town of Riddleport, ...
4
votes
1answer
84 views
Do any editions of DnD have race/monster stats for Moggs?
I always liked including a variety of sub races or demographics for the major nations and races in my games.
I'd always wanted more variety to goblins; not goblin-oids (Bugbears/Hobgoblins) but plain ...
19
votes
4answers
976 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 ...
7
votes
3answers
266 views
Old school dungeon with undead toads
I remember reading a dungeon that involved either undead or vampiric toads as the final encounter. Now I can't find it again. Does anyone know what it was?
I know it was from one of the OSR-type ...
7
votes
5answers
3k views
Written language alphabets
To add more flavor, I want to create documents written in the actual script.
I remember awhile back seeing examples of the Common/Elven/Dwarven alphabets for instance, but can not recall where I can ...
8
votes
5answers
752 views
What is the relationship between Yuan-Ti and Nagas?
Yuan-ti are snake humanoids. Nagas are snake humanoids. What are the differences? What different roles do they serve? Is there in-game history about this?
15
votes
4answers
3k views
Is there a good searchable database of D&D adventures?
I have shelves and shelves of RPG books, and a lot of it's D&D. I have every Dungeon magazine from #1 on. But for some reason I can never find the right adventure for what I need.
What I'm ...
2
votes
1answer
396 views
How can I download the Dungeon and Dragon pdfs?
Several answers to What kind of take-away/offline material does D&D Insider (DDI) give you? mention PDFs of Dungeon and Dragon.
Where can I find the link to download the pdfs?
12
votes
3answers
267 views
Character development suggestions for a low Dexterity character?
I read in some book (forget which) that players should use a low ability score as an opportunity for character development; for example, a low Con character could have insecurities and be very ...
29
votes
7answers
780 views
How can DMs effectively telegraph specific dangers in D&D?
There are some play-styles of D&D in which the spectre of player-character death is considered a feature of the game rather than a bug. For my own reasons (which aren't the point of the question), ...
8
votes
2answers
181 views
Looking for good advice and links on mapping a MegaDungeon
Partly thanks to the wonderful blogs of Tony Dowler and Dyson Logos, I've found myself obsessed recently with the idea of building that epically classic D&D adventuring environment: the dangerous ...
3
votes
5answers
687 views
What materials create the highest quality items? [closed]
I'm wondering what materials would be considered the best for creating top-quality items?
For example, in real life, things like diamonds or titanium alloys are considered hard/strong.
In role ...
14
votes
3answers
423 views
What are the “Dark Powers”?
What are the dark powers in Ravenloft?
I'm not asking for a list, but rather a description of these entities.
4
votes
6answers
264 views
Effective use of many close combat characters?
In systems with a square grid, it seems that melee/close combat characters are limited by their numbers. In one of my games we currently have more than five melee characters, and are now being ...
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 ...
7
votes
3answers
685 views
Cavalier, Acrobat, Barbarian
What's the name of the AD&D book (1st Edition) that has the other character classes that were popularized in the Saturday morning cartoon?
I'm talking about the Cavalier, Acrobat, Barbarian, ...
10
votes
5answers
949 views
Are fantasy RPG races racial/cultural analogues to reality?
Prior to a recent game, our group had a great discussion on culture/race and it's relation to RPG races. While it is fairly established that Tolkien based some of the iconic aspects of his fantasy ...
12
votes
6answers
1k views
Relationship Mechanics for D&D/Pathfinder?
My Pathfinder/D&D games tend to involve relationships - romantic, friendly, etc. - between PCs and NPCs alike. 3.x only has the Diplomacy mechanic for any kind of relationship mechanic. I'm ...
15
votes
5answers
891 views
Where does the D&D concept of a dwarf come from?
Where does the modern D&D of a dwarf come from? I've noticed it's fairly far from the old Germanic concept of a dwarf. Where did Gary Gygax and company get the idea for the current long bearded, ...
3
votes
4answers
711 views
What makes a creature Aberrant?
Aberrant creatures are native to or corrupted by the Far Realm. But what other than origin makes something thematically of the Far Realm?
5
votes
3answers
862 views
Where do you find Dark Sun Minis?
Apart from picking up the old 2ed Dark Sun miniatures off ebay, does anyone have any suggestions for a line of mini's that work well thematically for Dark Sun?
Perhaps a line of primitive or aztec ...
36
votes
13answers
758 views
How to communicate to the players that an encounter can be solved also through diplomacy?
When you play D&D, you are not supposed to chat with the enemy during encounters. The system is made for fighting. However, in some circumstances, it would be nice to make the players conscious ...
15
votes
2answers
822 views
Were Illithids inspired by Cthulhu?
Mind Flayers seem to look a whole lot like Cthulhu. Is there any relationship/inspiration between the two?
