All Questions
9
votes
2answers
196 views
How does the disease recovery mechanic work?
Currently DMing a campaign - I set up an easy encounter with a twist: a creature that could infect the players with the Abyssal plague. I was planning for the 4th level characters to struggle to deal ...
9
votes
5answers
2k views
Is a Fighter/Wizard/Thief viable in Pathfinder?
I'm looking for a decent build for a Fighter/Wizard/Thief in Pathfinder. The goal is to have a "jack of all trades" PC.
I'd like to enhance these aspect if possible:
Fighter: melee dps
Wizard: ...
9
votes
1answer
2k views
What is the best first adventure to run in D&D 4e?
I am very new to Dungeons and Dragons 4e. I recently picked all the necessary books and surprisingly low priced pound of dice from eBay. I have also coaxed my friends into giving it a shot while I ...
9
votes
6answers
786 views
Systems with a dice mechanic that handles very easy and very difficult tasks
I'm looking for a system that has a dice mechanic that supports a particular type of realistic feel. In particular, I'd like to find a system where any task could potentially be rolled for without ...
8
votes
2answers
206 views
How to make rituals a part of everyday life
I would like to know how to make it clear that little, non-magical rituals such as a blessing before eating, drawing water, harvesting grain, starting a fire and the like are a part of everyday life, ...
8
votes
1answer
409 views
After Essentials, what material do I need?
On launch, I bought all the D&D 4E Essentials books (except the Starter set). I'm currently very happy with the content, but I'm noticing more and more frequently stuff that I don't have:
More ...
8
votes
5answers
314 views
How do you involve all players in a skill challenge?
I really liked some of the answers given to the question about enhancing skill challenges particularly the ones related to making it more role-playing based.
So, now the question is, when you get to ...
7
votes
3answers
833 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 ...
7
votes
3answers
324 views
What is the expected average damage for an area of effect power?
I have spent quite a bit of time coming up with an average damage document for my party and for several other characters. However, the one thing I have not been able to represent well is the average ...
6
votes
1answer
300 views
What are the historical and literary backgrounds of Dungeons & Dragons Languages?
Is there a source for the nature of the fantasy languages in D&D? An official source would be best, but I'd also be interested in other players' interpretations of the languages.
If the D&D ...
5
votes
3answers
873 views
How to roll perception checks for characters who aren't actively looking?
This applies to all d20 systems, but with an example from the from the Pathfinder PRD (emphasis mine):
Stonecunning: Dwarves receive a +2 bonus on Perception checks to potentially notice unusual ...
5
votes
3answers
266 views
Is there any good place on the internet that hosts monster playtests?
I've been a DM for a while for 3.5. I've run many NPC characters, however only a small fraction of monsters out of the books (comparatively). Also, I like to use templates liberally as well as advance ...
5
votes
2answers
349 views
What happens when a character's feeding stress track is maxed out?
I've got a player playing as a White court Vampire, and with the template they have a feeding dependency. Let's assume that he ends up going for a while and not feeding and his stress track goes over ...
5
votes
4answers
644 views
What RPGs emphasize immersion in character? [closed]
What roleplaying games (either in-print or out-of-print) explicitly put the focus on the immersion into a character, relegating other activities (such as combat) to lesser status in the system? Of ...
4
votes
5answers
588 views
How do I use passive insight checks?
On page 26 of the DMG, it describes a passive insight check and gives an example of using it in a social encounter. Could you help me with it and how to use it? Step by step would be appreciated
4
votes
3answers
300 views
Mitigating conflict in a 'mixed' nWoD game
The last (and only) time I ran a mixed game (containing Changeling, Mage and Vampire characters) for nWoD. I explained at length that nWoD started with a clean sheet and no one 'instinctively' hated ...
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.
18
votes
2answers
737 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
5answers
2k views
What are the major differences between D&D 3.0 and D&D 3.5
I found a bunch of D&D books at a used bookshop, but am now realizing half are 3.0 and half are 3.5... How compatible are these with each other? What are the major rule changes I'll need to watch ...
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.
17
votes
5answers
620 views
Does an intelligent undead have a soul?
This is a question that arose when an evil cleric PC cast Create Undead on someone (who was dead at the time and was never an undead before) and then commanded (as in, he used his Command Undead class ...
17
votes
7answers
1k views
Can a vampire survive sunlight exposure?
In Vampire: The Masquerade is there a reliable way for a vampire to avoid being damaged / killed by exposure to sunlight? Anything would go, be it a Discipline power, a technology device or anything ...
17
votes
5answers
609 views
Can magic items that deal fire damage function underwater?
From the DMG p93:
Spells or spell-like effects with the fire descriptor
are ineffective underwater unless the caster makes a
Spellcraft check (DC 20 + spell level). If the check succeeds, the
...
16
votes
6answers
792 views
What role-playing games should I pick for an absolute beginner group?
I've always wanted to play Dungeons and Dragons, but where I live it's more of an underground thing, so it was difficult to find other players. After recently moving to a new school, I made a few ...
16
votes
4answers
3k views
Why does shifting in D&D 4 not provoke Opportunity Attacks?
My gaming group is brand new. We had our first session tonight. I had a few questions for this SE... the first is this one.
Why does shifting in D&D 4 not provoke Opportunity Attacks? Or am I ...
15
votes
2answers
2k views
What does AEDU mean?
I have seen the acronym "AEDU" (or perhaps ADEU) used on the community boards at wizards.com, but haven't stumbled on the definition, and a google search goes nowhere (I doubt they're suddenly ...
15
votes
10answers
505 views
Strategies for dealing with turtle or roach players?
How should GMs deal with players who turtle or roach?
By turtle I am referring to players who obviously wanted to play because they joined the game, but when they're actually at the table they keep ...
14
votes
4answers
2k views
What is a “mark” actually supposed to be?
This is probably way too simple of a question, but I just haven't been able to figure it out.
In D&D 4th edition, there's the concept of a mark on an enemy creature; a player character in combat ...
14
votes
6answers
420 views
What fantasy systems center on evil characters and specifically the consequences of being evil?
I am looking to run a campaign of evil characters, but I want them to have consequences for being evil. The more evil power you gain the more it changes your physical body, mental state and ability to ...
13
votes
3answers
1k views
How far does one travel when falling for one round?
How far would you fall in one round assuming you started falling this round, and were high enough that you did not hit anything? Would this follow the math, or is there a rule written somewhere I'm ...
12
votes
0answers
263 views
As a GM, how can I create and role-play diverse NPCs better? [duplicate]
I am new to GMing (and role-playing in general, for that matter) and I am having a somewhat difficult time making plausible and interesting NPCs. This is especially true with NPCs who are not "typical ...
12
votes
2answers
406 views
When a Stinking Cloud is moved onto a creature, does the creature take damage immediately?
In a recent session of D&D 4e, a Stinking Cloud was moved onto a creature who was outside of it.
Stinking Cloud Effect:
...Creatures that enter the zone or
start their turns there take ...
12
votes
2answers
567 views
With Arcane Reach, can you Thunderwave yourself?
Arcane Reach allows you to target a close burst or blast starting 2 squares away from you.
Thunderwave pushes each target in a close blast 3.
The wizard chose his origin square and wanted the ...
11
votes
4answers
498 views
Does Wealth By Level allow for “free” potions?
The principle behind the wealth by level table in the DMG is to summarize the amount of magical gear that a character will have access to at each level.
It's clear that the potions, scrolls and other ...
11
votes
4answers
338 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
3answers
483 views
Are characters aware of monster abilities' effects?
Is a character aware of the consequences of a monster power or trait?
For example, does the party leader know that healing an ally within a KlurichirDDI's Malign Influence is useless? Or does he ...
10
votes
2answers
1k views
Does the half-level modifier contribute to damage?
Taking a random spell, I find Flames of Phlegethos. Its hit is 3d10 + Constitution modifier fire damage. Let's say the caster has a constitution score of 16, and he is level 2. This means his ...
10
votes
1answer
245 views
Do special abilities require an action every round they are active?
Extraordinary ability is a free action to use. Is it a free action to turn on, and then no action afterwards. For instance, if someone is using hide in plain sight, and then becomes unconscious, is ...
10
votes
3answers
512 views
Close burst from a large creature — one square origin or all of them
If a large or larger creature uses a close burst, does the burst have to emanate from a single square of the large creature's space, or does it act as if the creature is the source (all squares)?
The ...
10
votes
2answers
1k views
Forced movement into danger: is there a saving throw?
Is there a saving throw to stop forced movement (a push, pull, or slide) from forcing you into a square that will damage you?
My wizard's tactic lately has been to try to Thunderwave enemies into the ...
9
votes
2answers
602 views
Creatively targeting summoning spells
Me and my party have a plan in our upcoming session, that will need some clarifications on how summoning spells can be used.
Its all about creative targeting with the Summon Monster I spell, let me ...
9
votes
1answer
1k views
Does Flurry of Blows count as an attack?
This handbook suggests that Flurry of Blows is an attack when recommending the otherwise extremely underwhelming malec-keth janissary:
Malec-Keth Janissary (Swordmage-MoP)- Add extra damage to all ...
8
votes
4answers
461 views
What are the most effective ways to protect a character against critical hits?
My DM has some evil dice. These dice seem to roll a much higher than average number of 20s, resulting in a much higher than average critical hit rate against the party. What are some ways a character ...
8
votes
1answer
851 views
Is it possible to get Battle Cleric's Lore through Divine Healer multiclass?
Due to a recent dragon magazine, the Cleric/Templar has a semi-questionable issue. In Dragon Magazine 400, there is an article for Battle Cleric's (Those with DDI can check here: Battle Cleric ...
8
votes
3answers
592 views
Which 4e books are made obsolete by Essentials releases?
The reason I equipped my son with most of the Essentials line is because the core books were getting a reputation for being entirely superseded by the Essentials books. In particular, the ...
8
votes
6answers
2k views
What diceless tabletop RPG techniques are there?
I am interested in using a diceless resolution system for my roleplaying, but am not sure what my options are in that vein. I can think of basically two categories of diceless tabletop role-playing ...
8
votes
1answer
2k views
Can a creature use an immediate interrupt power and an opportunity attack in the same round?
Can one creature or character use both an immediate interrupt and an opportunity attack in the same round, or are they mutually exclusive actions?
7
votes
1answer
337 views
Is it possible to use rules from OGL or GSL in a computer game?
I'm experimenting with making an RPG game for mobile phones, and I could save some time if I used an established system for stats and combat etc. From a quick read of the licenses I'm not sure whether ...
6
votes
1answer
1k views
Making a Party of Warlocks
I have recently gained access to DDI for a short while and wanted to try an experiment with some friends of mine. That is, I actually want to play with these characters for a few sessions to see if a ...
6
votes
4answers
700 views
Does movement continue after an Opportunity Attack?
If a character moves away from a square adjacent to a monster, the monster gets an OA. Good. What happens after the attack is resolved? Can the character continue moving?
So far, I've houseruled ...
