All Questions
16
votes
5answers
892 views
My DM's ruled that all spells cast in armor are subject to Arcane Spell Failure. Can you change his mind?
My Fighter wants to multiclass into Bard, and continue wearing heavy armor; I'd just avoid spells with somatic components, since only spells with somatic Components worry about an armor's Arcane Spell ...
14
votes
2answers
223 views
Does the target of a spell know who is casting it?
Lets say a wizard casts a compulsion spell on someone. Is that person aware that a spell was cast on him? Is he aware of where the spell came from?
15
votes
6answers
247 views
How can I mechanistically empower a prophecy or fortune without railroading the plot?
I am interested in the idea of incorporating fate (via prophecy or fortunes told) in my campaign. I would like to come up with a set of rules/mechanics to make a prophecy or fortune teller's ...
2
votes
0answers
63 views
Effect of natural environment on the development of cultures [closed]
Let there be this quantitative question: how do the specifics of a natural environment influence the development of a newborn culture?
Please note: I'm not looking for any deus ex machinas, divine ...
9
votes
1answer
63 views
Does telekinesis do Bashing or Lethal?
I'm trying to figure out what type of damage a direct physical assault with telekinesis would result in. (From NWoD)
From pg. 212 of World of Darkness:
Alternately, the ghost can make a direct ...
5
votes
1answer
137 views
AoO and Touch spells on Allies
We play a mainly pathfinder game (occassional and as time goes on fewer feats from 3.5) and we still keep coming across things that have changed between 3.5 and pathfinder.
Casting a spell triggers ...
5
votes
2answers
239 views
Which class should my “fallen” paladin change to?
My friend and I are playing D&D 3.5 and I want to change from being a Lawful Good Paladin. My DM will allow me to make him fall if I make it look good and choose a new class that's fit for a ...
17
votes
6answers
551 views
Making magic “magical”
When I work with settings that contain magic, whether traditional fantasy or others, I always perceive something of a tension when trying to portray the magic between the following factors:
Magic ...
8
votes
0answers
155 views
How Did the Civil War End?
One of the major differences between the original standalone rpg Deadlands (Deadlands Classic) and the Savage Worlds version of Deadlands (Deadlands Reloaded) is that the Civil War has officially ...
8
votes
1answer
159 views
How would I model a “Grant Superpowers” Miracle?
In Wild Talents 2nd Edition, I've been wondering on how to model a superpower that grants superpowers permanently. Obviously this would be completely overpowered in an unadulterated form, but adding ...
31
votes
2answers
421 views
If someone is “Out of Ammo,” can they still shoot until compelled?
Let's say someone creates the Aspect Out of ammo by running everywhere, making the other character fire all his bullets.
Can this character still fire until someone compels Out of ammo?
Is it the GM ...
6
votes
3answers
110 views
Will a Rogue (Scoundrel) with Sharpshooter Talent and Moonbow Stalker applying the crossbow bonus to her shortbow cause problems?
Inspired by Brian’s question here, which seems to have been answered with a pretty solid No, my follow-up question is whether or not allowing this to happen even though the rules do not would ...
33
votes
3answers
789 views
Running a game of Microscope that isn't totally insane?
I purchased Microscope quite a while ago, and have played countless games that were really awesome. We've created things like superheros with the power to turn any weapon into fish, people marrying ...
4
votes
2answers
132 views
Non-lethal weapon damage - does a magic bonus add?
Is there any place in the manual where the following statement is proven or disproven?
You can't add your weapon's magical bonus if you want to deal nonlethal damage with it.
(My answer would be ...
1
vote
2answers
146 views
Idiot Savant Magic-user [closed]
I had an idea for a character I'd like to play. He's an idiot savant Magic-user. Excellent at anything to do with Magic, but awful at everything else. Yes, I know this sounds like ...
5
votes
1answer
86 views
What happens when two combatants' attack rolls have the same Height and Width?
In Wild Talents, 2nd edition, the widest attack roll goes first, with ties going to the taller roll. I'm confused and haven't been able to find any information on this in the book: if two people roll ...
7
votes
2answers
125 views
Do shield and armor check modifiers stack?
If I wear Hide armor (Check -1) and use a Heavy Shield (Check -2) is my check -2 or -3?
In other words, do the checks stack or do I use the highest negative?
7
votes
2answers
167 views
Armor as DR alternate rules: Do untyped AC bonuses apply to Defense or DR?
I'm starting a Pathfinder Campaign with the alternate rule for armor as damage reduction. I'm just wondering what gets changed to damage reduction and what stays defense. For example, a shield's AC ...
8
votes
2answers
176 views
What happens to aquatic creatures when they're pulled onto land?
A dire piranha swarm, for obvious reasons, has only a swim speed and no other available movement modes.
The warden in our party, while standing next to a lake, used Warden's Lure, which pulled all ...
8
votes
2answers
172 views
Can circumstances change a skill's key ability score?
Can you use a different key ability for a skill check when it would make more sense for the situation? I think that I've read of this being done. I know there are feats and other abilities that let ...
17
votes
3answers
139 views
Should long Aspects be split?
In Fate games I sometime come up with Aspects that are relatively long and could well be two separate Aspects. Are such Aspects good in terms of gameplay, or would it be better to split them?
An ...
13
votes
2answers
291 views
Why Does Dresden Files Have Such a Large Page Count?
I sat in a quick Dresden Files demo (about 30 minutes) at a convention last summer and was told the basics about the game. The mechanics seemed simple: you roll a few dice with either a +, blank, or – ...
9
votes
2answers
118 views
Does a creature have to make a saving throw after being knocked prone?
We know that you -can- willingly go prone as a minor action, but we're unsure as to the mechanics of recovering from it. Does it matter if you are knocked prone or willingly make yourself prone? And ...
24
votes
12answers
2k views
How does a DM correct the balance after accidentally giving the players too much gold?
Inspired by some of the answers to Pitfalls of using the optional 'XP for Gold' rule in a Basic D&D Retro Clone game?
As DM/GM, you slipped up and ended up giving the PCs significantly ...
2
votes
1answer
84 views
What is a Corruption Test?
The introductory adventure for The One Ring: Adventures Over the Edge of the Wild (in the back of the Loremaster's book) says on page 130 that players must pass a Corruption Test for every day that ...
2
votes
3answers
87 views
What affects the Druid beast form attack bonus?
I have a Lv1 Razorclaw Shifter, Predator Druid with +5 WIS mod.
If I'm in beast form and I attack with Grasping Claws, is it really just +5 vs Reflex?
I don't have a bonus from any implements and ...
10
votes
2answers
87 views
How do you use investigation skills in Gumshoe?
I picked up Esoterrorists for a quick off-the-cuff one shot and it was a nice change for everyone from the usual boot-door-kill-monster-grab-treasure thing we usually play.
What confused me, however, ...
4
votes
2answers
100 views
Does Binder's Pact Augmentation DR/— stack with DR/— Gained From a Vestige?
I am wondering if the damage reduction/— granted by a Binder's Pact Augmentation class feature stacks with the Vestige's Arete damage reduction/—.
Arete
Damage Reduction: Your body becomes ...
5
votes
2answers
79 views
Can You Create Your Own Cosms in Torg?
Torg has a number of really cool cosms described in the books: the Cyberpapacy, Aysle, Nippon Tech, Orrorsh, etc. These are rather detailed and are said to each inhabit a certain part of the Earth. In ...
8
votes
3answers
309 views
How would you mechanically model the effect of spraying a CO₂ fire extinguisher in someones face?
I have a scenario where it is likely that one of the PCs will be using a CO2 fire extinguisher as an offensive weapon. I need to come up with how this would work mechanically using Savage Worlds.
...
11
votes
1answer
156 views
Shadowrun Road Trip
So I've been in a Shadowrun campaign and my group has fallen afoul of both Aztechnology and some powerful Seattle organized crime people. I've been scouring all the books I can think of, but I can't ...
4
votes
2answers
140 views
Are clauses in Changeling contracts cumulative?
When I created my Changeling: The Lost character, I purchased the individual clauses of my contracts separately. For example, I purchased Darkness • and Darkness •• with three dots of contracts. My ...
7
votes
3answers
285 views
Pitfalls of using the optional 'XP for Gold' rule in a Basic D&D Retro Clone game?
Basic Fantasy (a Baisc D&D Retro Clone) has the "XP for Gold" optional rule: 1GP of coin or treasure returned to a "safe place" rewards the party with 1 XP. This is in addition to normal XP ...
4
votes
1answer
88 views
Opportunity Knocks and opportunity attacks
This is a question about timing. If a rogue character has the Opportunity Knocks feat:
Whenever you hit with an opportunity attack ... the enemy you hit ... grants combat advantage to you until ...
2
votes
2answers
167 views
How far can I throw a small object?
How far can a character throw an object? Looking at the PHB a long ranged basic attack can be made 10 squares away (with a -2 to the attack roll) with a random object weighing about 1 pound.
But what ...
29
votes
4answers
341 views
Resources for Complex Puzzle-Traps
I'm looking for resources for designing complex challenges - something that's not quite a puzzle and not quite a trap, but somewhere in between. There are tons of resources for really complex or ...
10
votes
3answers
241 views
How much does it cost to build or rent a building?
A player playing a Paladin in my current D&D campaign has asked how much it would cost to build or rent a building to house his followers from the Leadership feat. It would only be a small ...
5
votes
2answers
121 views
How is character development realised in Mongoose Traveller?
I've just read through Mongoose Traveller, and as I understand it the lack of conventional character development (perceived as the increased value of numeral signifiers) isn't a bug but a feature - ...
9
votes
3answers
389 views
What is a “trad game”?
Having come across this term here for the first time, I wonder what it actually decribes. Is it a (pejorative) umbrella term for "conventional" rpgs as opposed to "storytelling"/"narrative-driven" ...
2
votes
5answers
345 views
Any advice on a good Respawn system for pathfinder
I am searching for a good respawn rules set that I can apply to the next Pathfinder game I have in mind. I believe someone already had this idea, but I can't find anything on the subject. So here is ...
29
votes
8answers
802 views
What are the essential features of a successful evil campaign?
Until this point, I have demanded that my players not build characters with evil alignments, as I am familiar with how to design campaigns and adventures around "good" or "redemption" themes. ...
5
votes
1answer
74 views
Earthdawn: What are Barsaive's jungles like?
I used to GM Earthdawn (1st edition) a lot, quite a while ago. However, I'm still rather doubtful about what Barsaive's jungles are like (and, for this reason, all my stories took place in non-jungle ...
1
vote
3answers
180 views
What CR adjustment should I make for Divine Rank 0
How do I calculate the the CR adjustment when adding Divine Rank 0?
Note: Yes, I know that not everyone agrees with the CR but it is a useful overall guide. So, with that being said I need to make ...
5
votes
1answer
68 views
How Long does Unnerving Shove cause the target to grant Combat Advantage?
The level 3 Ardent power Unnerving Shove's Augment 2 states the following:
Hit: 2[W] + Charisma modifier damage, and you push the target a number of squares equal to 1 + your Constitution ...
9
votes
3answers
393 views
Can a sleeping character Hide?
Hiding requires an opposed roll.
Can a sleeping character hide at all? If they do so, do they roll Hide when they go to sleep (for hiding their sleeping spot, etc.), or do they make an opposed roll ...
2
votes
2answers
95 views
What resources should I use to create a mod for d20 Modern?
This is a tangent off of my question about Looking for a Space marine RPG similar to Starship Troopers (the Novel) where there were some good suggestions about systems to use or modify to meet my ...
20
votes
3answers
730 views
What is the history and significance of the “dire” prefix to creatures?
Some animals in Pathfinder bestiaries are prefixed with "dire".
Does this come from the wolf species Canis dirus, an early edition monster/template or something else?
Where does this come from and ...
3
votes
1answer
63 views
Earthdawn: Barsaive Name Giver and adept population
How large is the population of the various Name Giver races of Barsaive?
...and how is this population distributed in the province?
What percentage of the population are adepts?
...and what's ...
0
votes
0answers
114 views
Damage roll with a psion character [closed]
My character is a shardmind psion and he has an arcane orb as a weapon. I am level 1 and his Intelligence score is 18. (I don´t have any items or feats that give me bonuses.)
I´m new to the game, so ...
8
votes
1answer
279 views
Constitution drain, energy drain, dominating gaze - but incapable of crossing running water?
I'm interested in when this constraint from vampire lore was first integrated into Dungeons and Dragons mechanics: has it been there since the first D&D vampire?
Vampires are... unable to ...
