dnd-discussion

[steel moth]

just pop them with a magic longbow from range

[rough basalt]

Ye they don't have range.

[severe fox]

i still need to know how to beat Sul Kentish

[rough basalt]

They're enemies built to be fought only on their terms.

[umbral girder]

Grab her and drag her out of here zone

[rough basalt]

An ambush or even footing they're just kinda done for.

[severe fox]

she can just become a giant

[umbral girder]

Or use an Artifact item or Divine Intervention

[steel moth]

forge cleric on a horse wins

[hoary totem]

Or you can use summon spells

[severe fox]

a scion of storms if you will

[umbral girder]

And?

[severe fox]

she can fly at 80ft now and make everyone blinded

[umbral girder]

Doesn’t help her

Doesn’t stop her from being dragged because she has to do that on her turn

[severe fox]

and unless your a large creature good luck grappling that

[steel moth]

bait out that field spell and gate her to another plane where everyone is prepared to jump her

[severe fox]

her still being able to turn into a giant doesnt help

[umbral girder]

She also is no longer immune to her own anti Magic field too

[severe fox]

she.. didnt get updated so she still is?

[umbral girder]

Because the feature that lets her bypass that is fully replaced by shapechanging removing that feature

As her Shapechange specifies its replaces it

And of course Shapechange is a magical effect too

After all her statistics are completely replaced

[severe fox]

ok now i know your bluffing

[umbral girder]

All she keeps is talking, alignment, mental scores, LRs, hit dice, and proficiencies

Nothing else.

[severe fox]

yeah but being able to become any one of the scions is still crazy

[umbral girder]

And getting immediately knocked out of it. Also has none of their legendaries

Oh yeah she keeps her HP too

[severe fox]

scions dont use legendarys only actions and bonus actions

[umbral girder]

And of course any Artifact can help do the job, or abuse the fact she is a Scion now because she has way less room to maneuver now

Because apiece of her can stick out of the zone if she isn’t careful free for magic foolery

[severe fox]

wdym the storm one can move 80ft

[umbral girder]

And of course Divine Intervention or an Artifact

[umbral girder]

Big token size is why

[hoary totem]

what is y'all's favourite dragon?

[umbral girder]

It’s not about movement speed, it’s size.

[severe fox]

it can also just blind you for a 1 mintune

[umbral girder]

So?

[severe fox]

and also do 4d12 acid damage around

its a lot

Acid Rain. The cloud rains acid. Each creature in the cylinder must succeed on a DC 25 Constitution saving throw or be covered in acid for 1 minute or until a creature uses its action to remove the acid from itself or another creature. A creature covered in the acid takes 26 (4d12) acid damage at the start of each of its turns.

Freezing Storm. Shards of ice pelt down, and freezing wind fills the area. Each creature in the cylinder must succeed on a DC 25 Dexterity saving throw or take 28 (8d6) cold damage and be hindered by ice formations for 1 minute or until it or another creature within reach of it uses an action to break away the ice. A creature hindered by ice has its speed reduced to 0.

Lightning Bolts. Bolts of lightning strike down. Each creature in the cylinder must succeed on DC 25 Dexterity saving throw or take 18 (4d8) lightning damage and have the stunned condition until the end of its next turn.

[umbral girder]

That it?

[severe fox]

the storm last for a min and can be moved

[umbral girder]

Oh no 26 damage that can be absorbed elements

Also heavily obscured means she can’t see you so no disadvantage on attacks

[severe fox]

or should can entomb you

[umbral girder]

Or a gust of wind spell to just undo the effect.

No more cloud.

[severe fox]

gust of wind doesnt undo the effect

where did you get thaa?

[umbral girder]

It’s specifically a cloud.

Gust of wind undoes clouds.

[severe fox]

where does it say that?

[limber trail]

So I’m a little confused. Based on my understanding it sounds like you need to fight Sul Khatesh soon? Are you sure it’s the best idea to break down her stat block step by step? At most tables that’d be metagaming.

[severe fox]

no its mainly just my "how are you suppose to fight this thing realistically"

[umbral girder]

“The gust disperses gas or vapor”
Literally what a cloud is.

[severe fox]

like how are you suppose to beat Niv-Mizzet

[limber trail]

At level 20 usually

[severe fox]

or how to beat a lich

[reef tundra]

I would say just surround them and beat them to death but I forgot they can teleport in 5.5e

[severe fox]

as a LR

also getting close to a lich is the last thing you'd want to do

[umbral girder]

Yep so if you try to surround them they just leave at the end of your turn

[reef tundra]

Make sure to have lesser or greater restoration prepared to counter the paralysing touch

[limber trail]

Liches and other creatures are definitely killable.

[umbral girder]

A ring of free action too

[severe fox]

i dont think lesser/greater would matter since it has muti attac

[umbral girder]

Also yeah I’ve had a lot Liches die to my players of a variety of groups too

In fact I had a party fight two of them at the same time and they still won

[limber trail]

The only reason my players didn’t kill a lich at level 16 is because it ran and ran and ran and then eventually was killed by another creature for a specific purpose

[umbral girder]

Was a mid difficulty encounter for them

[reef tundra]

That wouldn’t affect it much because it doesn’t matter how many times it uses paralysing touch on its turn, because lesser/greater restoration is on your turn

[severe fox]

that 8d12 does matter

[reef tundra]

Paralysing doesn’t stack

[umbral girder]

If it hits

[severe fox]

why would he use parazyling touch more then once?

[limber trail]

The next player

[severe fox]

he would have advatage with a +12 and you have no reactions

[humble cairn]

Ooh I have experience in this! Jallarzi's Storm of Radiance is really nice to have, but you also have to get them to stay in it.

[umbral girder]

Yeah only +12? Easy to miss with that

[severe fox]

with advantage

[umbral girder]

Yeah easy to still miss

[severe fox]

your crazy

[reef tundra]

I just realised I’m still thinking about 2014 Lich damn it

[limber trail]

At high levels yeah a +12 isn’t that good

[humble cairn]

Also know your range. Counterspell is 60ft range, if you cast form outside of that they can't counter you.

[reef tundra]

That’s the only one I fought. Ignore me

[umbral girder]

+12 is sad at the level you fight a Lich.

[limber trail]

May I ask, what’s your experience with high level DnD? Have you played a lot?

[severe fox]

i still hate that locus of the fire mind only locked to a dragon

[severe fox]

close to nothing in 2014/2024

300d6

[umbral girder]

I’ve had level 2 PCs with ACs that make a +12 to hit a coin toss

[severe fox]

i prefer my spells doing 300d6

[limber trail]

So yeah some feedback is that things that don’t seem possible are very possible

[severe fox]

its still not fair this stupid dragon can concentration on two spells and i cant

[umbral girder]

Like Sul Khatesh turning into a giant with 600hp is amusing when that’s like 2 rounds of HP for only the party fighter on my Friday game.

Unless he action surges

[limber trail]

It’s a very high CR creature that’s designed to be the end boss of entire adventures

[humble cairn]

PCs and NPCs are built different, they play by different rules and that's a good thing.

[severe fox]

yeah but how come he can do the reverse grav into prismatic wall all by himself

why can no spell caster do that

what makes him so special

[limber trail]

Remember that characters like Niv Mizzet aren’t meant to be your equal. They’re meant to challenge four+ characters all at the height of their power

[umbral girder]

He needs two turns to do that which is very, very easy to interrupt.

[still plover]

Dragon.

[umbral girder]

Especially with his low 370hp

[severe fox]

+17 to con and legendary resistance

as well as advantage

[umbral girder]

Concentration isn’t the end all to interrupt it

[still plover]

Nobody said it was going to be easy. Well, Nealen did, but their table plays with all the dice from the sound of it.

[severe fox]

when your in the fact of a wall doing 10d6 per layer

[umbral girder]

Yeah I’ve gotten a dozen games in tier 4 so far.

[severe fox]

idk what that means

how is 300 hp considered low in any regard

[still plover]

Their party are heavy hitters, peak power, know what they're doing and how best to reduce a terrifying threat to a notch on their belts in short order.

[umbral girder]

I had a player take a dragon from 500 to 100 in a single turn. A full party can handle that.

[flint ledge]

I don't imagine 300 is a whole lot at tier 4

[umbral girder]

And it’s very much a tier 4 monster at Cr26

[severe fox]

i cant even imagine what that looks like

maybe my brain is too small

[limber trail]

300 is very low for tier 4 boss monsters when you're looking at potentially 800hp just a little higher with the tarrasque, and even monsters around CR 25 sitting at a healthy 550

[umbral girder]

I had a boss with a Time Dragon and Black Greatwyrm and my players handled that at level 19

[severe fox]

i still need to see players fight against some of the cr 30 threats in dnd

mainly the 3P ones

[limber trail]

So dolly, I'll put it this way: High level DnD is not balanced. The things you're describing aren't a lot. The things players are able to achieve at those levels are very high

CR 30 creatures are designed for level 20 adventurers to be able to beat them with some consistency

[reef tundra]

The only way I can remotely balance tier 3 and 4 is throwing whatever the heck I want because I know they can endure it

[severe fox]

everytime i see a party try n fight a cr 30 creature they always get beat up

[knotty pasture]

Part of T4 games is to find ways to break things lol

Either the enemy breaks you or you break the enemy

[reef tundra]

And most likely they’ll destroy it

[limber trail]

The things I did to my adventuring party of level sixteens in one single adventuring day are legitimately horrifying when you put any logic to it. And they all survived and only one of them died. I don't even think any of them rolled a death save.

I hit them with a meteor swarm and a colossus's divine beam back to back and did not knock any of them unconscious

[reef tundra]

Dayum

[severe fox]

i still wanna ask if the Algorithm is beatable

[reef tundra]

Ah I was wondering if an instant death thing was used.

[severe fox]

but its looking more and more likely if you have the right players

[limber trail]

It took my third divine beam to kill them yeah

[reef tundra]

If it has a stat block, it can be killed 🪓

[severe fox]

||but it has 1500 hp||

[limber trail]

It's basically a newbie DM experience learning that players are much stronger than you think

[umbral girder]

The way my entire party succeeded in’s DC 26 Dex save was amusing. Especially since two of them dumped Dexterity

[limber trail]

That's a very achievable amount of HP

[umbral girder]

And?

[grizzled lance]

ooo we talking about how to beat 3rd party monsters?

[limber trail]

moreso that third party monsters can be beat

I don't love the design of this guy and I thought he was a little too tanky but I threw a boss at my players with four hundred hitpoints. At level 5.

[grizzled lance]

thats the one that has wish once a year yeah?

[severe fox]

yeah

[grizzled lance]

it has a mini portent as well too right?

[severe fox]

thats the one

[pliant sapphire]

Paladin

[umbral girder]

My Friday groups have around a dozen Legendary Magic items each I think. (Each as in groups not each as in players)

[grizzled lance]

Predictive Analytics
Predictive Analytics. At the end of each of the Algorithm's turns, it rolls 1d20 for each player character fighting it. The Algorithm can replace any d20 Test made by it or a creature it can see with one of these predictive rolls. It must choose to do so before the roll, and it can replace a roll in this way only once per turn.

Each predictive roll can be used only once. Any unused predictive rolls are lost at the start of the Algorithm's next turn.

[limber trail]

I was gonna say a dozen legendary magic items for each player is a lot

[umbral girder]

Yep also fighter’s indomitable in 2024

[grizzled lance]

still one of the cloest abilites ive ever seen for 2024

[pliant sapphire]

Aura of protection is the best class feature

[limber trail]

In more fun news I finally got my first legendary magic item given to me as a player today! It's sad that most DMs don't use them, or they only give them out in one shots.

[grizzled lance]

i should get off my ass and run
Monsters of Drakkenheim

[reef tundra]

Paladins, my babies

[umbral girder]

My motto on magic items are “the Dice and DMG said so!”

[grizzled lance]

one of the monster has an ability called touch of death that does a flat 200 flat poison damage

[severe rampart]

Cloak of Billowing

[limber trail]

love paladins

[reef tundra]

I love them too <3

[flint ledge]

I mean you realistically only give them out at the later tiers

[grizzled lance]

this is another really funny ability from that book

[reef tundra]

I have played this game for over five years and very rare is the rarest I’ve gotten 😭

[rough basalt]

Screw it.
My next game I'm giving the Paladin a holy avenger at level 1

[grizzled lance]

Rapid Adaptation. Trigger: The Apex takes damage that isn't Necrotic or Psychic. Response: The Apex gains Immunity to that damage type until it is reduced to 0 Hit Points or finishes a Short or Long Rest.

[flint ledge]

Drakenheim is... A place certainly wouldn't want to live there for sure

[umbral girder]

My favorite thing my players learned how dirt cheap Rings of Damage resistance are. A cheap 4,000gp.

[grizzled lance]

oh not at all

[umbral girder]

They are making a third of a million gold per session

[grizzled lance]

this place is terrible '

[limber trail]

I don't fully agree with this mentality. I think there can be some great reasons to give them out early on. First of all it's just a lot of fun. There are also some great story reasons to give them out, namely, you might want a magic item to drive the plot for all of a campaign. Giving that item early and making is strong keeps it memorable.

[reef tundra]

I would absolutely avoid a place called “The home of dragons”

[umbral girder]

4,000gp a ring is nothing

Especially since the rings are not attunement in 2024

[rough basalt]

Reminds me.
The Holy Avenger in my world is on an npc that my Monday party will be meeting soon.

[flint ledge]

Okay yes it definitely depends and they make for great story elements

[grizzled lance]

xecutioner has a 5% chance to instantly kill a character, or otherwise deal damage equal to half their maximum hit points.

[umbral girder]

Silvery Barbs that 5% away

[flint ledge]

Drakenheim has some interesting monsters

[rough basalt]

None of them are paladins so they probably won't get any ideas

Not that it'd be a good idea

||attacking an Empress in her own palace||

[grizzled lance]

it does

[umbral girder]

The Holy Avenger is so fun

Turned Liches at my games into minions basically

Until they pull out their PWKs

[rough basalt]

One thing I wanna do someday is throw my Judge homebrew boss at some players

The boss fight is just an elaborate trial.

[umbral girder]

“Let’s see that 34 AC parry a few Power Word Kills!”

[rough basalt]

Once he stacks up enough charges against a PC he can PWK them at any hp

His weakness: a PC using 9th level defense spell: "your honor, my client said on God!"

[umbral girder]

My Friday game is notably crazy strong is because they started at level 1

And they progressed to level 20

[still plover]

I was thinking about some kind of personal binding, that works.

[umbral girder]

So they got sooo much Loot piled up

[rough basalt]

Makes me wonder if '24 Fighter can indomitable the saving throw on murder charges

I'm looking forward to the growing magic items

I've seen them in HB before and like the idea of them.

I have some for my world.
They're these tattoos that fill in based on trials you've completed with a God that gave you them.

Basically the tattoo outline appears on you and for each of the three trials it fills a part in.

[limber trail]

That's awesome

[rough basalt]

The trials kinda follow a case of easy to difficult depending on how you interpret them.

Like trials of the Goddess of War ask you to win a war of your own.

That can be an actual war. Or more of a mental war like conquering your trauma or something.

My favorite is for the Goddess of Magic where she tells you to build a place that signifies your might in magic.

[still plover]

Bud, you know better than to be bound by the writ, especially when it comes to NPCSs.

Are the paladins all of the same martial order, NPC and PC?

[shadow merlin]

Oath breaker best palan

[humble cairn]

pfffttt

[shadow merlin]

Tts

Best 🤣

[paper portal]

erm actually watchers is the best paladin subclass because their channel divinity uhh doodoo fart

[shadow merlin]

Naw oath breaker into litch

[rough basalt]

Actually it's Devotion cause my mom said so.

[shadow merlin]

Good morning

[flint ledge]

Good morning

[severe rampart]

Hopelessly devoted to you🎶

[flint ledge]

Speaking of oathbreakers I don't quite grasp how they even get their powers, I mean Paladins sure, true dedication alongside a powerful binding oath but oathbreakers?

[rough basalt]

By making a deal knowingly or unknowingly with a dark entity, defined or vague.

Gives you power and a new motto
"Kill the non-combatants first"

Give the PCs a quest to hunt them down basically

[severe fox]

dont holy avenger only effect undead and fiends

[idle oar]

See https://www.dndbeyond.com/sources/dnd/br-2024/magic-items-a-z#HolyAvenger for more details (Holy Avenger is in the free D&D rules)

[rough basalt]

I hide a lot of legendaries behind NPCs in my world.

Or named monsters

[timber turtle]

So kill every npc for loot you say

[rough basalt]

You can certainly try

I wouldn't advise attacking cr20+ archmages of a council of archmages that run a country for their Robe of the Archmagi. Unless you plan on taking their place.

Or the woman who has the vorpal sword

She doesn't use it, but you're not getting to it

[still plover]

I would.

[rough basalt]

Then there's some Legendaries that are in the hands of random people and they don't know what it is.

Notably one atm.

Depending on which campaign you're in

[still plover]

Which is to say, Slane would. She'd have that thing in a lead-lined casket to remind her of her cunning plan and awesome victory.

[rough basalt]

Since Wednesday takes place earlier in the year than my Monday game.

Least atm. Depending on how much they utilize downtime, they might catch up

It'd be hilarious if Wednesday found the Deck of Many More Things and someone got Donjon'd

Then both parties meet in passing in the Underworld doing the same quest cause time in the Underworld is different.

[obtuse stratus]

Donjon is pretty similar to what I did with one of my OCs. Randomly awoken clone that was hidden underground.

[paper portal]

hi oxy

[stiff rock]

i had no idea how many prepared spells full spellcasters can get 🙏 my warlock has like 19

[obtuse stratus]

Morning meowmeow

[lofty tide]

Hi! I got a quick question for everyone who would like to answer it-

Where do you guys find character art?
I used to use picrew a lot, but that was more when I was doing written rp.
I started using bg3 (with mods sometimes) to make characters recently, but I was curious as to how people usually find character art (other than outright commissioning artists).

I know some people use pinterest, but from what i've seen recently it's plagued with AI art everywhere- and I'd rather avoid that outcome-

[obtuse stratus]

Which is worse, modern prepped spells, or filling each individual slot with an individual spell casting, lol. Prep 19 spells or prep 42 slots

[obtuse stratus]

I enter search terms in google and hope like hell. Or just use AI and then alter it with GIMP. It's been a while but I had used Midjourney until it couldn't understand "tanned strawberry blonde hair" and would give me dark haired middle eastern girls, or pale people with red hair on one side and blonde hair on the other

[stiff rock]

I use a mix of pinterest and also just looking at characters from games that i like. baldur's gate 3 is good for outfits or facial features. if you click "not interested" on enough AI posts, pinterest eventually stops showing you them. once i've got enough pictures on a mood board i use photoshop or firealpaca to draw it

[still plover]

Found? Online. Add a filter like before 2017 to crop out most of the new gunk. Concept art, book art. Video game character makers (Dragon Age qunari make fine tieflings, Elder Scrolls Argonians make reasonable dragonborn). If you can't get a full look, focus on the face, frame it, add a mood board.

[paper portal]

rn me and my friends are using our own terrible ms paint art lol

[lofty tide]

I see I see-
Didn't know about pinterest "not interested" thing, i'll definitely do that next time i go there x)

I was asking because I'm currently working on a character for a new campaign, but so far I only got the class, subclass, and a slight backstory idea- but I have no idea as to the race or appearance yet-

thanks for all the answers!

[inner silo]

How viable is shillelaugh on a druid in a low optimisation game?

[inner silo]

As a main damaging cantrip in the second tier of play

[glass granite]

Quite, especially with spores

[inner silo]

What about with sea?

I wanted to reflavour shillelaugh as turning my staff into a coral trident

[glass granite]

I’m less familiar with sea, so I can’t say. I don’t play Druids much anyhow

But if it’s low optimisation I see no reason why, especially since you can always just not use it

Try it out! Sounds fun

[limber trail]

It can be a solid option. I would still sprinkle in spells every now and then but it's a solid cantrip

[inner silo]

Their main thing is their water emination which at the cost of a wildshape, as a bonus action throughout 10 minutes lets you force an enemy to make a con save or take d6 es of cold damage equal to wisdom and push an enemy 15 ft. Emenation is 5/10 ft around you

[glass granite]

That…sounds pretty dang good with Shillelagh for Druids standards

[inner silo]

I thought of making a spike growth and then hitting my enemies with a staff and throwing them 15 ft back into it with sea emination

[lost ice]

Sea Druid wants to be melee/close so shillelagh is probably the best damaging cantrip for them

[inner silo]

Alrighty

Just need to try and get it off before combat stats so it doesn't fight with your wrath of the sea

[lost ice]

In my experience activating 1 minute buff before combat is impossible but some tables allow it

[glass granite]

You could constantly cast it I guess?

If it’s a cantrip

[lost ice]

They mean it takes a precious BA

[glass granite]

I mean outside of combat

[lost ice]

Then it alerts the enemies and they cone for you
People forget casting V spells is loud and obvious

[inner silo]

Yeah, it'll probably be tuff, though could be doable for the campaign I'm planning this for

[inner silo]

Definitely not doing that cheese

[glass granite]

That’s fair

[inner silo]

We have certain party members (my former character included, R.I.P.) who would see trouble and still run into it

[glass granite]

Leave the dying to the dead! BONK

[lost ice]

Trouble is the goal of dnd

[raw sonnet]

I'd bet i can use Shocking Grasp as an AED

[inner silo]

What's AED?

[severe rampart]

my player is so powerful, and he's cursed with Lycanthropy, what's funny is, he's stronger in his human form (stats-wise) rather than his Lycanthrope form

[inner silo]

It got them killed last session but it was also our warlocks fault partially

[severe rampart]

Stat spread of
19, 14, 19, 12, 17, 13

[raw sonnet]

Automatic External Defibrillator, basically the thing used to restart person's heart with an electric shock

[dapper cloud]

5e Lycanthropy has almost no downsides, lmao.

[paper portal]

nooo nothing is ever the warlocks fault 😇

[inner silo]

Ah, cool

[severe rampart]

RAW, yeah, but I'm the DM, the effects are as I desire

[crimson gulch]

Lycanthropy is charicter death

[glass granite]

I was about to say, lycanthropy retires your character no?

At least partially

[lost ice]

What is death if not a beginning of a troublesome adventure in the underworld

[severe rampart]

They only turn once a month, also ||Strahd has taken quite a liking to them, and so have I||

[inner silo]

They saw Umberle, heard me warning them that dabbling with her can be dangerous and went right after her deep down into a cave

[lost ice]

Years ago I made a weteraven lineage for my player similar to van richten's lineages

[inner silo]

The character is a wild magic sorcerer so if need be i could ask my dm if maybe their magic surging could save them but I'm already too invested in making a sea druid drow

[still plover]

Oorah!

[lost ice]

A soul of a wild sorc could split and wander to all sorts of places, a great quest across planes for the rest of the group

[severe rampart]

For me, I'm looking for a way to cure them, story-wise, because... well CoS spoilers

[inner silo]

What do you think of tidal wave?

[reef tundra]

I love Umberlee

[inner silo]

The queen of beaches

[reef tundra]

I can relate 😎 💅

[inner silo]

She's collaborating with spider riding drow in our campaign though so my arachnophobic self can't get along with her

[inner silo]

Beaches really are great. So much sand to put in your pockets for later throwing

Swashbuckler is the best

[reef tundra]

Swashbuckler rogue the goat

I pray eternally for its return

[inner silo]

They'll come back with op bonus action sand tosa

[viral kraken]

it's weird to me that rogue got an ability to help it draw aggro, and that our swashbuckler who has it never uses it, so idk why they took it lol

[inner silo]

The playstyle isn't for everybody

[dapper cloud]

Swashbuckler’s main feature is a bit less effective now Rogues can just give themselves advantage whenever they want.

[inner silo]

Some people just want their allies to get hit

[still plover]

"They deserve it!"

[dapper cloud]

Still, it was my first class, I have a lot of fondness for it

[drowsy scaffold]

well when the rogue makes me, a ranger, have to be the actual stealth of the party, maybe the rogue should get hit

[inner silo]

Is the rogue a swashbuckler?

[drowsy scaffold]

Yes, as it was played by my twin, who is obsessed with swashbuckler rogue

[inner silo]

Then their job isn't to sneak, their job is to talk shit and throw sand in your enemies eyes. Also ranger is as good a sneak as a rogue

[tough lynx]

With pass without trace it’s arguably better

[drowsy scaffold]

fair fair

[tough lynx]

+10 to party stealth moment

What we talking about here 2014 or 2024

[inner silo]

So unless the ranger mains wisdom or strength they're at least as good as rogues

[marble lion]

ranger gets expertise?

[vestal mesa]

Can a druid be a scout

[inner silo]

Yup

[tough lynx]

Dex is a stronger ability than str

[marble lion]

is that a 24 thing?

[inner silo]

With tasha and 2024

[tough lynx]

Yes it can

Though technically

Your familiar should scout

[wispy vector]

Optional Tashas rule in 2014

[stiff rock]

a druid can be whatever you want it to be, but their primary focus is turning into animals

[inner silo]

Yup, but some people like strength weapons

[marble lion]

id say reliable talent is still quite important for being reliable at sneaking, as it guarantees a 23 or whatever

even expertise doesnt cancel out really really low rolls

[paper portal]

their primary focus is their casting, wild shape isnt hugely relevant outside of moon druids although it does have the obvious rp applications

[inner silo]

It can be made up for with pass without trace which isn't way too expensive by level when you get reliable

[vestal mesa]

Do i have to use my wild shape to scout

I have only played one campaign as a rogue

[tough lynx]

Most monsters don’t have a passive perception higher than pwt and proficiency even with 8 dex

[vestal mesa]

N i wanna play a druid

[tough lynx]

No you don’t

[stiff rock]

imho a druid is just a ranger that can wildshape - most druid subclasses gain additional uses for wildshape as it's the flagship ability

[vestal mesa]

How many wildshape slots do i get at lvl 2 n lvl 3

How many times can i change

[tough lynx]

You have 2 per short rest

[paper portal]

we just gonna ignore the fact that their spells are more than twice as good lol

also druids are ZAD and rangers arent

[stiff rock]

i've played a ranger and DM'ed for a druid and they're relatively similar from my experience of them but yeah i could be wrong

[vestal mesa]

So turning into a spider to go under a door before combat is a pure waste

[tough lynx]

Do you want me to help you build a Druid or do you want to do it yourself? Both answers are chill

[buoyant oar]

Why would that be a complete waste?

[paper portal]

nah wild shape in combat is pretty useless nothing wrong with that

[buoyant oar]

I would not say it's completely useless. It's very effective of keeping the druid alive

[vestal mesa]

Yeah i love tha @tough lynx

[paper portal]

true

[vestal mesa]

I thought i was using wild shapes to fight things

[buoyant oar]

You can use class features both in and out of combat

[paper portal]

i did a oneshot not too long ago where i took more than 100 points of damage as a level 3 character with no healing lol

[buoyant oar]

The thing is is that you don't regain all of your uses just because combat starts

[paper portal]

nah your spells are gonna do a lot more in combat

[burnt valley]

Can't cast spells and ur wildshape options are heavily limited

[tough lynx]

Nope it wouldn’t be a waste

[tough lynx]

Not unless you are a moon Druid

[buoyant oar]

Just because it's not optimal does not mean that it's useless

[tough lynx]

What version of the game are you playing?

[vestal mesa]

2024

I wanna be a moon druid tho

I was thinkin about it

[tough lynx]

Okay! I don’t know too much about 2024 but I hope to still help

[paper portal]

i should learn 24 better so i can put "only plays the good version" in my name and pick whichever one people around me like less at any given moment

[dapper cloud]

I think 2024 wildshape is the same as 2014 other than that you get charges back on a short rest.

[paper portal]

nacho apparently made a bunch of 24 character guides cus he was tired of having to help people with it lol

idk where to find them tho

[tough lynx]

Oh nice

I’ll have a look at his website

Or whatever it is

[vestal mesa]

@tough lynx Every little helps

[paper portal]

disliking 2024 so much you make guides so people stop talking to you about it is iconic behaviour

[dapper cloud]

Generally, Wild Shape tends to lean towards utility: turning into small animals to hide, giving yourself climbing and swimming speeds, turning into a horse to run away, stuff like that.

[paper portal]

yeah pretty much

moon druids can do some cool stuff at low levels and with certain multiclasses

[inner silo]

Is 2024 conjure animals great for meleeing?

[tough lynx]

If you are going into melee it’s good but it’s not good to melee

[halcyon forum]

No, it’s better on a ranged character imo

[burnt valley]

Its in a google doc

[dapper cloud]

Honestly, my main tools for melee Druid were Flame Blade and Barkskin, lmao.

[inner silo]

What spells would you suggest to use in melee?

[burnt valley]

Im looking forward to his guide on Shapechange

[halcyon forum]

Conjure woodland beings

[inner silo]

Why barkskin?

[inner silo]

What about level 3 spells?

[vestal mesa]

i think i need to be a scout but my dm is sayin not to go a rogue (just pllayed it and he says its not great) so he suggest a ranger but im not feelin that

[dapper cloud]

Gives a pretty good AC and isn’t concentration.

[halcyon forum]

As Druid?

[dapper cloud]

2024 Druid can just get medium armour now though.

[vestal mesa]

but turnin into a lion a paw people face off

[tough lynx]

https://docs.google.com/document/d/15dmvLJLON2VsPP4FlwmzlDvHmyBzXvXyWuEqQdhRKvk/edit?usp=drivesdk

this was made by someone better than me at 2024. It has the basics and I can help you change whatever you feel best. It’s a land Druid build but we can make it moon Druid okay?

[vestal mesa]

sounds cool

[inner silo]

Maybe it's a 2024 thing but i could get a higher ac without it

[inner silo]

Yas

[vestal mesa]

@tough lynx yeah man thanks

[dapper cloud]

Rogue’s fun.

[paper portal]

the sidebar of just
level 2: druid
level 3: druid
level 4: druid
...
level 20: druid
is cracking me up

[vestal mesa]

@dapper cloudyeah i loved it

[paper portal]

would be better with a couple warlock levels imo imo

[tough lynx]

No problem

[tough lynx]

Lock is peak

[paper portal]

everything is better with warlock levels

[tough lynx]

Yeah

[dapper cloud]

Your local Eldritch horror wants YOU to multiclass into Warlock.

[inner silo]

Are all classes better when multiclassing?

[dapper cloud]

Not really.

[tough lynx]

Awww I’m an eldrich horror!!!

[tough lynx]

Yes

[paper portal]

yes but you gotta know how to do it right or else you'll end up just worse off lol

[charred mortar]

Yello

[paper portal]

real same :3

[inner silo]

What would you multiclass monk with?

[feral fulcrum]

Generally delaying progression in a class is a strict downgrade up to a point

[severe rampart]

Nothing because it's perfect

[tough lynx]

So much stuff

[paper portal]

depends on the build tbh, generally fighter is the easy pick for precision attack

[halcyon forum]

Nothing really stands out to me

[dapper cloud]

I’ve never thought about multiclassing monk before.

[severe rampart]

Played a pure Warrior of The Elements monk, oh was it so liberating

[paper portal]

much less so for martials but yeah you gotta think a lot about opportunity cost and such

[inner silo]

What about elemental weapon?

[tough lynx]

I don’t know much about monk meta other than gun monk

[vestal mesa]

when eatin a goodberry is it one berry one action

[paper portal]

shadow cbe is better but you stop after monk 6 with that

[tough lynx]

Yes it is

[halcyon forum]

Monk scales very well into tier 3 and 4 imo in ways other martials often don’t.

[tough lynx]

Yeah gun monk is more resources but more damage

[paper portal]

shadow is just diet flag ranger lol you pwt bot and do not much else

[tough lynx]

Yeah pretty much

[vestal mesa]

@tough lynxso instead of attack or doing a spell im eating one of them for a 1hp up

is that good ?

[tough lynx]

You don’t eat them during combat

[paper portal]

no, you should save goodberries for out of combat healing

[vestal mesa]

when is a good time to

awww i see

[tough lynx]

You eat after combat

[vestal mesa]

nice thanks

[tough lynx]

Berry is the most resource efficient heal in the game

[paper portal]

preferably with life but thats its own thing

[vestal mesa]

can tell im pure noob

[tough lynx]

IIRC that was nuked in 2024

[severe rampart]

Also with life cleric yeah

[paper portal]

nothing wrong with that, we all have to start somewhere

[tough lynx]

That’s okay we all start somewhere

[paper portal]

oh yeah i forgot 😭

[tough lynx]

Even without

[paper portal]

twinning lol

[severe rampart]

Guess you guys... Echo'd each other's words

[vestal mesa]

soz are u all ok be asking non stop questions

[tough lynx]

I didn’t know you were a sorc

[tough lynx]

Ask away

[paper portal]

hey im the echo knight guy/girl/thing stop stealing my job

[paper portal]

we like talking about this game :3 go ahead

[halcyon forum]

Lifeberry is dead but cure wounds is worth casting now

[tough lynx]

Take what I say about 2024 with a grain of salt though

[minor cargo]

Yup, ask what you need! If things start to get a little "crowded" here, there's also #dnd-rules or #dnd-newcomers. But yeah, drop what you need. ✌️

[tough lynx]

You can still rest cast berry so it’s still good

[vestal mesa]

if im a druid what should i be doing with my action if im going to wild shape with my bonus

[paper portal]

pretty much all the same principles apply so even without knowing the actual changes you're probably better than most lol

[vestal mesa]

plus now i dont know if i should be turning into a bear to hit someone now???

[tough lynx]

You either cast spell with action then wild shape or wild shape then attack

[severe rampart]

I am Echo, I've wanted to play Echo Knight for so long... yet, I've never been able to, I settle for Mirror Image

[still plover]

Hit someone with the bear.

[halcyon forum]

Moon:

attack or use your circle spells

[paper portal]

casting a concentration spell you can keep up to help your party while in wild shape

[paper portal]

echo knight is awesome!!! just dont think too hard about the RAW

[severe rampart]

Yes indeed, it is pretty awesome

[tough lynx]

Wings is the echo knight master made tones of tech for it

[vestal mesa]

@tough lynxaww i can use my bonus action first then attakc action

[paper portal]

im kinda washed now to be fair but ty :3

[tough lynx]

Yes you can

[tough lynx]

Bro is washed

[paper portal]

yeah i took a bath like 15 minutes ago lol

[tough lynx]

Bonus action even though it sounds like it takes place after your action it doesn’t have to

[severe rampart]

Ever considered being a bard?

[vestal mesa]

and while in wild shape i can cast moon spells right

[paper portal]

nope :3 i have an agenda against bards i really dont like them teehee

[tough lynx]

I believe so

[tough lynx]

I’m currently enjoying sorcs

[severe rampart]

To each their own, I like all spellcasters

[halcyon forum]

Though you have to use the beasts proficiency bonus

[paper portal]

bards are my least favourite class followed some distance behind by rogues

[tough lynx]

Bards are good but they struggle hard early

No web

[severe rampart]

Artificers are my least favorite class

[paper portal]

their whole gimmick is being bad until they can pretend to be wizards

[halcyon forum]

I love Artificer

[tough lynx]

I dislike any class that makes me melee

[paper portal]

i like them but yeah i get it tbh thats valid

[vestal mesa]

if i turn into a gaint wolf spider my proficiency bonus would be plus 2

[paper portal]

even giant barb?

[severe rampart]

Pretty sure I had a tier list...

[tough lynx]

Giant Barb doesn’t make you melee

[paper portal]

it kiiinda does

[tough lynx]

I have my class teir list

Granted it’s 2014

[paper portal]

at some point ill make a subclass tierlist but i think i need to get better at the game first tbh

[tough lynx]

I mean yeah. Throwing is funny though

[severe rampart]

Bard
Sorcerer
Warlock
Monk
Wizard
Rogue
Ranger
Artificer, some classes I haven't played as yet

[obtuse stratus]

Better as a prestige class

[tough lynx]

Techo knight your beloved

[paper portal]

i love oversized weapons

[severe rampart]

Thank you for reminding me about my fighter idea!

[paper portal]

its going in D tier im rating it based on RAI for obvious reasons lol

[vestal mesa]

gaint wolf spider has Hit Points 11 (2d8 + 2) what does this 2d8+2 mean if it says 11 hp soz

[severe rampart]

Tiefling Eldritch Knight that uses Enlarge/Reduce on their weapons(mostly for flavor)

[minor cargo]

This is 2024, right? If so, check under the Wild Shape feature. It says this:

Game Statistics. Your game statistics are replaced by the Beast’s stat block, but you retain your creature type; Hit Points; Hit Point Dice; Intelligence, Wisdom, and Charisma scores; class features; languages; and feats. You also retain your skill and saving throw proficiencies and use your Proficiency Bonus for them, in addition to gaining the proficiencies of the creature. If a skill or saving throw modifier in the Beast’s stat block is higher than yours, use the one in the stat block.
(emphasis mine)

[paper portal]

oversized weapons are an actual mechanic (granted not one intended for players but theres nothing that stops you)

[tough lynx]

Wizard
Warlock
Druid/ sorc
Sorc/ Druid
Bard
Cleric
Ranger
Arti
Pally
Fighter
Monk
Rogue
Barb

[severe rampart]

I've been meaning to play a Cleric for quite a lot of time

[vestal mesa]

@minor cargoso use my stats unless the beast is better

[paper portal]

i like clerics!! theyre one of my top 3 classes id say

[severe rampart]

Ooo, pretty valid, full casters what up!

[tough lynx]

It’s my ranking of the best (imo)

Strongest to weakest

[minor cargo]

2d8+2 is there to show you how the HP could be rolled manually.

The 11 is actually the "average" of that role. The average roll of a d8 die is 4.5, so 2d8+2 averaged is (4.5 + 4.5) + 2 = 11.

[severe rampart]

I got an Aasimar War Cleric just waiting for a one-shot...

[tough lynx]

Obv everyone has their own opinions

[minor cargo]

Yeah, you got it!

[vestal mesa]

@minor cargoso when i turn into a beast i have to roll its hp every time?

[paper portal]

warlock
druid
cleric
wizard
artificer
ranger
barbarian
fighter
sorc
monk
paladin
rogue
bard

[fast latch]

Most people just use the average listed in the stat block

[paper portal]

wdyt wizard do i have good taste

[minor cargo]

Not quite. Here's that same blurb. Different emphasis, though:

Game Statistics. Your game statistics are replaced by the Beast’s stat block, but you retain your creature type; Hit Points; Hit Point Dice; Intelligence, Wisdom, and Charisma scores; class features; languages; and feats. You also retain your skill and saving throw proficiencies and use your Proficiency Bonus for them, in addition to gaining the proficiencies of the creature. If a skill or saving throw modifier in the Beast’s stat block is higher than yours, use the one in the stat block.

[tough lynx]

Lock is peak bro

[severe rampart]

Dealt 5d10 + 25 force damage to me

[fast latch]

Wait, is ymb playing ‘14 or ‘24?

[tough lynx]

24

[paper portal]

5 beam eldritch blast is crazy 😭

[vestal mesa]

24

[fast latch]

Yeah, in that case you don’t roll HP, you use your own

[vestal mesa]

@minor cargoi dont get what its mean?? when i turn into a beast i get its hp as temp hp bonus ? and if it gets killed do i then turn into back into 'human' form with my orignal hp??

awww so the beast doesnt have hp

[frank rampart]

Character idea. A young sorcerer that is incompetent about their skills because when his father pushed him into his craft of magic the young sorcerer was drawn more towards alchemy. Eventually when theyre older and their father passes they finally realize how special they are to naturally have the talent of magic. He now struggles to learn because his mentor (his father) is dead.

[severe rampart]

Sent me back 50ft, off of a cliff, dealing 50d6 fall damage as well

[paper portal]

deserved for liking bard /silly

[severe rampart]

... This is just my Sorlock's backstory but a little tweaked around

[inner silo]

Is elemental weapon a good spell?

[severe rampart]

Well, except in the campaign they're still a child... hopefully nothing bad happens to them in the war

[tough lynx]

I don’t think so

[inner silo]

Oki, thanks!

[paper portal]

1d4 damage for a 3rd level slot 😭

and concentration too

[inner silo]

Ok, in retrospective it does sound silly

[tough lynx]

Average martial buff spell

[fast latch]

Damn that sucks ass

Its Concentration?!

[paper portal]

eh honestly dnd is kinda esoteric you never know until you know but yeah its pretty bad

[inner silo]

Then 100% taking conjure animals. Will be swinging with a shillelagh while swarmed by piranhas

[severe rampart]

I might be using find familiar wrong, my owl has been more of a burden😭

[paper portal]

can confirm the familiar is meant to help you actually

[fast latch]

Those only work if you have water

[vestal mesa]

as a druid what happens when in wild shape i loss all my hp do i turn back and ko'd?

[safe raptor]

Hello everyone im relatively new to dnd, I just want to ask if anyone has some build suggestions for a level 5 oath of conquest? I’m a bit stumped on my race and other stuff Beaucuase of the options

[paper portal]

you just turn back to human you're fine otherwise

[inner silo]

It'll create a spectral water aura so it doesn't look funny

[paper portal]

what version are you playing? 5e or 5.5

[safe raptor]

5.5

[vestal mesa]

@paper portalwhat so i turn back to human with full hp

[paper portal]

best race then would be human but honestly pick whatever seems the most interesting to you

[tough lynx]

If your temporary hp runs out you turn back into a person

[halcyon forum]

In 2024. you just add an amount of temp HP in wildshape based on your level. You lose wildshape if you get incapacitated

[safe raptor]

Alright thanks

[inner silo]

Human and goliath are both great

[severe rampart]

I gotta replace this thing with an imp or a giant fly or something...

[tough lynx]

Giant fly is great early

[fast latch]

Anything with wings

Owlin, Winged Tiefling, Aarakocra, one subrace of Aasimar

[inner silo]

Is octopus cr0?

[severe rampart]

Yes, just gotta get an exotic saddle

[halcyon forum]

Also of questionable legality

[safe raptor]

But why would I want wings? Is it the point of a paladin to tank?

[fast latch]

Flight is just always good

[tough lynx]

Idk if that’s necessary I am probably wrong since I don’t know 5.5

[vestal mesa]

@halcyon forumso i turn into a gaint wolf spider at level 3 does that mean i have my hp plus 3 as temp hp

[paper portal]

perfect!

[safe raptor]

Uh ok

[paper portal]

tanks dont really exist in dnd cus theres no way to actually make enemies hit you

[vestal mesa]

is there anywhere do watch like combat tutorials of classes

[fast latch]

Or the Aasimar with Radiant Consumption is good for Paladin

[tough lynx]

“Tanking” isn’t really something you can do in 5e you can ask your dm about it and you can work something out but it doesn’t exist really

[fast latch]

A Crap Guide To DnD

[halcyon forum]

As 2024 moon Druid, you add 3 x your Druid level in temp HP to your current HP

[paper portal]

pack tactics comes to mind but thats maybe a bit advanced for you

[safe raptor]

Alright thanks

[safe raptor]

Will check it out

[unreal mantle]

I was theorycrafting and wondered if the new Harper Teamwork feat synergizes well with Ranger Beastmaster. If your beast companion uses the Help action via your bonus action command, does Withering Wordplay proc and cause disadvantage?

[vestal mesa]

i@halcyon forumaww 3 x ur druid level so 9temp hp and when that temp hp is gone im back to human

[halcyon forum]

No

[vestal mesa]

aww soz

[halcyon forum]

You can stay in wildshape until your real HP drops to zero

[minor cargo]

Yeah, it's a bit complicated. It might be worth going over the feature again but let me try to help guide your reading:

KO'd:

You stay in that form for a number of hours equal to half your Druid level or until you use Wild Shape again, have the Incapacitated condition, or die. You can also leave the form early as a Bonus Action.
So if you get KO'd (0 HP) while wild shaped, you lose your shape and are down.

Temporary HP:

Temporary Hit Points. When you assume a Wild Shape form, you gain a number of Temporary Hit Points equal to your Druid level.
So just keep in mind you lose temp HP first. Sometimes I explain to people it's like a "shield" of HP you have.

[crimson gulch]

no thats just when you take the help action, not your beast

[vestal mesa]

awww i see nice one

[severe rampart]

It is, unfortunately

[unreal mantle]

Bullocks

[severe rampart]

Gonna flavor it as my Sorcerer being so inexperienced they accidentally summon a giant fly instead of a cute animal

[minor cargo]

Ah, sorry, I didn't realize you were also a Circle of the Moon druid! Omegon's above is correct. You're special and your temp HP is also triple.

[vestal mesa]

@halcyon forumthats just an extra lil boost so i get 3 x my level + my hp

[crimson gulch]

the combo is, Hobgoblin

[vestal mesa]

i hope thats right of am feekd

is the dire wolf any good

[halcyon forum]

Sure

[fast latch]

Yeah it’s good

It knocks enemies Prone if I remember right, so that’s nice

[vestal mesa]

but lion has multi attack

so should i just be takin that

[fast latch]

Holy crap, there’s no save!

[vestal mesa]

on the prone n

[fast latch]

The lion deals more damage, but the wolf is better for supporting your team

Prone is great for wailing on a creature

It’ll make your melee allies deal more damage

[vestal mesa]

i think most of my party is gonna be spellcasters

[fast latch]

Then lion’s better

[vestal mesa]

nice

do moon druid get to wild shape into cr1/4, 1/2, 1 at differnt levels than the other subclasses

lvl 2 4 8

my druid lvl divided by 3

[jovial bloom]

Y'all I'm so happy

[obtuse stratus]

I dunno what it is about moon druid but I just don't like it thematically. Perhaps it's the whole sword in the stone wizard change shape but it never sat well with me despite being a cool concept.

[jovial bloom]

I finally found a 2e Monster Manual I'm okay with buying

[obtuse stratus]

Have you seen The Monster Overhaul?

[jovial bloom]

Yep saw it on eBay.

[obtuse stratus]

I have it, it's quite nice. Up there with the Tome of Adventure Design

[torpid hound]

Why 2e?

[obtuse stratus]

But I shall cease before I anger the gods. If you like Oldschool, though, OSE is fun

[obtuse stratus]

2e is quite amazing. Especially the spell collections. I mine it for ideas as it almost puts 3.5 to shame

[jovial bloom]

Because I collect the older editions

[torpid hound]

I believe any dump stat can be funny, not just Intelligence.

[paper portal]

con is the only stat you should never ever dump

generally you shouldnt dump dex or wis either but some characters can afford to

[burnt valley]

Based

[severe rampart]

Dexterity is also up there

[torpid hound]

I wasn't talking mechanics wise

[paper portal]

pallies can get away without it and probably like uhh something else idk

[tough lynx]

Nope

[severe rampart]

Ooh, can't relate, I mostly use Dexadin

Shield, Rapier, Duelist

[proven nacelle]

just trying to confirm is dndbeyond gonna have maintence today? i never got a banner for some reason? does anyone know?

[paper portal]

i would but multiclass requirements kinda force you into str its stupid af

[wicked creek]

Anyone else having an issue with available classes&races when making a character in DnD beyond??

[severe rampart]

Unfortunate

[tough lynx]

Unless Polymorph level up tech but I was shouted at for mentioning that

Lul

[burnt valley]

If i were a DM, i will focus fire the magic items of characters that relies on it cuz they dumped their main stat

[severe rampart]

a Battlemaster of mine is so strong that he can multiclass into any class

[paper portal]

yeah idk why they didnt just make it dex or str like fighters

[paper portal]

issue is that means straightclassing pallie for 7 levels which sure is an experience

[burnt valley]

Rolled stats?

[torpid hound]

I said any dump stat can be FUNNY, not OPTIMAL.

[vestal mesa]

if im making a druid scout should i pick criminal background

[severe rampart]

Yeah

[burnt valley]

That explains it

[tough lynx]

2 lock 1 dss is the best dips for them to take

[torpid hound]

My Fighter can do that too

[tough lynx]

Flagship commoner moment

[severe rampart]

Don't tell 'em that, I wanna keep fights challenging

[vestal mesa]

do i need to have good stealth or do i use a animal to scout

[tough lynx]

Take proficiency because as a moon Druid your wildeshapes should be used in combat

[vestal mesa]

@tough lynx im soz i dont know what that mean or how i go about takin that lolol

[tough lynx]

Also everyone should have stealth prof

[vestal mesa]

soz

[stoic haven]

Mornin everyone

[torpid hound]

I did a test on Roll20 and found out you can get a 13 on every ability with point buy

[torpid hound]

Wait I have 12 Con

Oh nvm background bonus

[tough lynx]

Don’t worry. So proficiency is something you can add to your skills. If you want your character to be good at something you usually put proficiency in that. Stealth is a really good skill to have proficiency in because if you cast pass without a trace your minimum roll becomes 1+ 2 (your dexterity) + 2 (your proficiency) + 10 pass without a trace) = 15

[stoic haven]

Pop question: How many of yall play Custom lineage for the feat, and how many use Custom Lineage for a non-official species or hybrid race?

[tawdry sentinel]

The cleric in my game had 12 or 14 in everything. Not an odd number on the character sheet.

It was aesthetically pleasing.

[vestal mesa]

@tough lynx soz can i pick ur brain for a bit

[tough lynx]

I do it for the feat

[vestal mesa]

im on dnd beyond makin a character can u help me out

[tough lynx]

But I’m a filthy power gamer (joke)

[tough lynx]

Yeah what do you need help with?

[torpid hound]

I hate odd numbers, they don't even give ability score bonuses but stupid multiclass and heavy armor/weapon rules force you to have them anyway

[stoic haven]

ew, filthy power gamer spotted /J

[tough lynx]

Lul

[vestal mesa]

@tough lynx everything but core druid traits what should i be pickin

[stoic haven]

depends on when you get the odd number, I love them to start off with, because makes it so much easier to get half feats and a +1 to a stat on ASI's

[vestal mesa]

perceptiojn

[torpid hound]

Two wrongs don't make a right

[safe raptor]

Does oath of conquest’s aura stop them from attacking if they are frightened?

[stoic haven]

if you are max level or got past your last ASI of the campaign, yea, no odds

If I only have 1 odd number and I want to increase it, why not take a half feat to get it up and get more features, the second +1 won't do anything

[tough lynx]

I personally would pick human, for background pick one that gives you good stats (ie wisdom bump and a con bump)

[torpid hound]

So Sage?

[stoic haven]

no, but they have disadvantage as long as they can see you, and can't move closer to you

[vestal mesa]

@tough lynx primal order should i go with warder

[tough lynx]

What does sage give for feat?

[torpid hound]

Magic Initiate (Wizard)

[tough lynx]

Definitely that one

Shield, ray of frost and something else is peak

[torpid hound]

Prestidigitation?

[tough lynx]

Idk about presti in 2024

[stoic haven]

I got berated by a friend who is wanting to run a Dark Heresy Warhammer game (he's a fellow player in a dnd campaign), and he said no power gaming at all, which to him included Optimization, Meta gaming (big nono for me), and just building a strong character that is specialized.

[tough lynx]

In 2014 it was absolutely broken

[tough lynx]

Yes go for warden the ac is great

[torpid hound]

It can do a lot of things, including creating a trinket with no GP value

[tough lynx]

In 2014 it was godly

Like summon a ring of three wishes level of power

Obv I wouldn’t allow it but like you know

[paper portal]

they should make a ring of three riddles, idk what it would do but it sounds funny

[vestal mesa]

@tough lynx if im playin druid scout do i scout infront of my party as a human i dont understand the game plan

[torpid hound]

A Wizard, a Bard and a Barbarian walk into a tavern. What is incorrect in this sentence?

[vestal mesa]

summon i companion n get them to do it/

[severe rampart]

the bar should be called a tavern

[torpid hound]

Not what I was going for...

[paper portal]

the word "incorrect"?

[severe rampart]

if genies can be magical lawyers, calling out on the wording of a contract, then damn it I too can be one

[tough lynx]

Okay so if you are going to scout you cast pass without a trace. Sneak up ahead, and then come back and report to your friends. You then all sneak up together and surprise the enemy which gives you an advantage in combat

[torpid hound]

Nope
The mistake was that the Barbarian didn't go first

[vestal mesa]

are wild shapes attacks unarmed attack

[tough lynx]

A wizard wouldn’t associate with a barbarian

[paper portal]

no lol its kinda silly

[tall forge]

Wizard casted hold person, clearly

[vestal mesa]

is passwithout a trace a cantrip

[tall forge]

No

[paper portal]

2nd level spell

[tough lynx]

Pass without trace is an amazing second level spell

[tall forge]

Would be pretty insane if it was

[vestal mesa]

aww

[severe rampart]

The barbarian rolled a nat 1, leave him alone

[paper portal]

well in 24 its not nearly as good but yeah

[tall forge]

Spells tell their levels in their descriptions

[tough lynx]

It allows you to have advantage on initiative rolls

[tough lynx]

It’s still great

[knotty pasture]

I wish it was

[tough lynx]

Better than not casting it

[vestal mesa]

if im level 2/3 im not doin that

[tough lynx]

Fish it

[knotty pasture]

Bears are fish

[stoic haven]

love it

[tall forge]

For 2014 its useful for dodging encounters

[tough lynx]

That’s fair

[paper portal]

true but its the difference between like a good option and the best spell in the game

[tall forge]

Tbf you couldnt cast it at level 2

[vestal mesa]

druid background???

[paper portal]

5e pwt is monstrous

[tall forge]

You dont have 2nd level spell slots

[severe rampart]

if Silvery Barbs was a cantrip

[tough lynx]

Barbs is good but not broken

[torpid hound]

I'm brainy irl playing as brawny characters in D&D

[vestal mesa]

@tall forgeyeah thats what i was sayin i cant do that setup

[paper portal]

nature clerics get aborb elements as a cantrip thats close enough

[tall forge]

Huh?

[severe rampart]

I mean, it's still good, basically a free disadvantage on opponents without any spell slots expended (if it was a cantrip)

[tall forge]

You can cast it at level 3 just fine

[tough lynx]

Yeah I guess

[paper portal]

barbs shield aborb are the big 3 spells

[tough lynx]

Shield is amazing

[vestal mesa]

aww

[tough lynx]

Shield is better early

[severe rampart]

I got a cursed ring for my PC that can cast shield once a day, oh boy will he reap the curse later...

[tall forge]

I actually like true strike…: 2014 edition

[paper portal]

yeah barbs is definitely the worst of the three but its nice to stop crits and force fails on important saves

[tough lynx]

AE is amazing later

[paper portal]

your loss

[severe rampart]

... why

[paper portal]

thats why nature cleric is op they essentially get unlimited casts (surely cleric is a good class right right)

[tall forge]

:)

[torpid hound]

My condolences

[vestal mesa]

do i want dex as a druid

[tall forge]

Tbf it has (1) use

[severe rampart]

You want dex as every class

[halcyon forum]

Around 14

[tall forge]

Not entirely true

But its good to have

[tough lynx]

14 dex

[torpid hound]

Not Paladin or strength Fighter

[uncut zenith]

Pretty much every class benefits from having a good DEX since Initiative is based off of it. Unless you don’t mind having a low initiative.

[severe rampart]

high AC, + dodge tanking, shield reaction

[tall forge]

Having heavy armor is nice

[vestal mesa]

wayfarer a good bg for druid ?

[severe rampart]

Dexadins exist

[vestal mesa]

moon druid

[tough lynx]

Sage is probably best imo

[tall forge]

Tho strength is the worse stat tbh

[severe rampart]

also "Strength Fighter"?, even if you have high strength, wont matter if you just get hit by everything

[torpid hound]

A regular Paladin doesn't use dex

[torpid hound]

It doesn't matter getting hit if the attack doesn't go through your Chainmail

[severe rampart]

I'm not saying that "Dex" is the best stat for every class, I'm just saying, you regularly want it on your character, less you be a pin cushion

[loud tendon]

maybe not directly.. but it contributes to your Dex saves, AC and Initiative, so it's pretty important.

[paper portal]

its so not worth it for how much worse str is than dex though 😭

[tame kelp]

Why I feel like Warlock is easy and braindead to play?

It just need to keep spamming Eldritch Blast

[tough lynx]

Dex Wis and con are the big 3

[tame kelp]

Idk how to fight as a Warlock with more ideas.

[severe rampart]

Oof...

[inner silo]

Str weapons are more fun

[uncut zenith]

Warlocks have more in their toolkit than EB

[vestal mesa]

@tough lynx +2 wis +1 cons what spells should i take

[still plover]

Armour proficiency makes up for lower Dexterity, but area attacks often target Dex so it's not a perfect compromise.

[severe rampart]

Pact of the Chain, get a nice familiar

[crimson gulch]

thats what the heavy armor is for

[inner silo]

Don't forget to set up a con spell

[tough lynx]

Ray of frost, firebolt, shield

[tame kelp]

con spell???

[tall forge]

I wish strength was cool…

[tame kelp]

also I play The Fiend

[inner silo]

Concentration

[uncut zenith]

Eldritch Blast is a great cantrip but imo, if all you’re doing when you play a Warlock is spam EB, you’re doing yourself a disservice

[tall forge]

Concentration

[severe rampart]

Fair point, but still, dex as a dump stat?

[vestal mesa]

@tough lynxthasnks

[inner silo]

Strength is cool in non high optimisation in 2024

[tall forge]

While eldritch blast warlock builds are one of the highest DPS in the game

[tough lynx]

No problem

[tall forge]

Havent played 2024 yet unfort

[tough lynx]

Based

[inner silo]

They get unique masteries which can be very strong and fun

[crimson gulch]

i seeit on occasion for clerics and Fighters, they still do great

[paper portal]

dpr is so unimportant though (this is why wotc should double the scaling of all cantrips)

[stoic haven]

2024 is really fun, used to be against it (because I mained Shepherd Druid and didn't like UA Hexblade)

[inner silo]

Tbh weapons should scale like cantrips

[tough lynx]

Honestly based

[crimson gulch]

i dont even read UA anymore

[buoyant oar]

WotC should in the Season of Champions provide new options and subclasses for full casters. They just don't have enough utility.

[tough lynx]

Though oversized weapons exist

[paper portal]

true i wanna get 4 extra attacks from one level in fighter, multiclassing is the main advantage martials have so letting them get real mileage out of it would be awesome

[tame kelp]

The Fiend Warlock is easy to play

I picked Pack of the tome

[tough lynx]

The highest damage weapon you can get is like 16d8 I think

I could be wrong

[crimson gulch]

not for players

[severe rampart]

Which weapon is that?

[crimson gulch]

those are the rules for monster creation

[vestal mesa]

@tough lynxhuman druid what versatile origin feat should i pick

[inner silo]

Martials should get better late game features

[paper portal]

8d6 i thought but i might also be wrong lol

[tough lynx]

It’s an oversized antimatter rifle

[crimson gulch]

Martials carry in my games

[tough lynx]

It’s way more

[torpid hound]

You already have Magic Initiate, right?

[paper portal]

ohh i was thinking of a maul lol

[tough lynx]

Alert

Init is so cool

[torpid hound]

That's what I was gonna say

[buoyant oar]

For me UA is a neat thing but I don't even consider it for play.

There are too many amazing third party options that are more balanced than 90% of UA out there.

WotC should know they keep hiring people who started third party. Which is good

[paper portal]

also armarouge mentioned!! hi hi

[torpid hound]

Me?

[paper portal]

yep :3

[vestal mesa]

im just worried coz i dont think our party will be able to pick locks etc rogue stuff

[buoyant oar]

Rogues aren't the only ones who can pick locks.

[torpid hound]

Tell the party to create a Criminal background character

[vestal mesa]

they have made their characters

[torpid hound]

Then you're cooked

[vestal mesa]

should i change mine to criminal

lololol

[tough lynx]

What feat does crim get?

[torpid hound]

Alert

[tough lynx]

Oh yeah do that then

[torpid hound]

Make sure to have an in universe explanation for your criminal background

[tough lynx]

And take wizard caster feat as your human one

I’m so bad with names lul

[torpid hound]

Magic Initiate, Class: Wizard, Spellcasting Ability: Wisdom

[vestal mesa]

huh like what?

[tough lynx]

Thank you!!!!

[vestal mesa]

what spells the same ones again

[paper portal]

my name is wings :3 hewwo

[torpid hound]

Prestidigitation Ray of Frost and Shield

[vestal mesa]

@tough lynx said firebolt

[tough lynx]

Ray of frost (for the move speed debuff.), a utility cantrip like prestidigitation or minor illusion, and shield (for defence)

[tough lynx]

That is my personal preference

[torpid hound]

Same

Fire > Ice

[tough lynx]

I like it because not all spells can destroy objects but firebolt can

[torpid hound]

You can tell by my pfp

[tough lynx]

So if you find a particularly tricky door you can destroy it

[tough lynx]

Heheheh hewwoo

[vestal mesa]

what spell id that

what would i use prestidigitation for

[tough lynx]

Firebolt. It just depends on if you want a utility cantrip or the ability to destroy objects

Ray of frost deals slightly less damage but it’s better in combat due to the ability to walk backwards in combat

[vestal mesa]

so do i bin prestidigitation n take fire bolt

[tough lynx]

It’s up to you

[inner silo]

Would you let the damage from elemental fury: potent spellcasting be added to shillelagh attacks?

[severe rampart]

prestidigitation can be very cool at times

[still plover]

Stackexchange says no. The spell upgrades the weapon's damage die but does no damage by itself.

[pseudo plinth]

my sorcerer friend used it to make a really bad odor under my characters nose for an hour

[inner silo]

I see, thanks for explaining!

[pseudo plinth]

Why? Because he wanted to.

[severe rampart]

My warlock used it to recreate the sounds of a baby crying in order to emotionally manipulate a specter

[pseudo plinth]

He rolled poorly on stealth while trying to do it next to us so the entire party saw him do it

[inner silo]

What class were you?

[pseudo plinth]

I was a fighter

[pseudo plinth]

That's nasty lmao

[pseudo plinth]

Wym walk backwards?

[tough lynx]

Kiting

[pseudo plinth]

Ah okay I just never heard it being called walking backwards

[gusty stone]

What's the best "one time use", "supernova" type of move or build for a player character?

[pseudo plinth]

I thought it's some sort of a thing you can walk while casting so I was confused lol

[pseudo plinth]

As in the character dies after using it?

[knotty pasture]

Action Surge is the nova move

[pseudo plinth]

I'd say gale's netherese orb

[still plover]

I bet #optimization has some ideas.

[gusty stone]

Well, preferably not but I'm open to ideas

[pseudo plinth]

Is it 2014? #optimization would do great there

[gusty stone]

I'll check it out. Thanks!

[vestal mesa]

can i dm someone my druid build incase its poop

[tough lynx]

Yeah message me

[loud tendon]

you can just share a link to it in #character-discussion

[proper kestrel]

As we all know, there are kinds of topics in DnD that people are comfortable with, and others that they are uncomfortable with. Is there anyone who knows about philosophical or psychological literature on what exactly makes certain topics uncomfortable for people, or who has thoughts on this? And on why certain topics are uncomfortable for some, but not for others? I imagine it's got something to do with where the boundaries between the real and the imaginary start breaking down, but am not managing to pinpoint it by myself

[still plover]

Try expanding your search to media in general: film, stage and literature.

[crimson gulch]

everyone has different personal preferences and limits for things. thats why we have different genres

thats like asking why are there difference between people, there is such a great diversity among us, were not just clones

[halcyon forum]

Like, some people like horror films

Others can’t watch them

[deep raptor]

Hello everyone

Hru?

[severe rampart]

Very fine

[empty thicket]

Craving some DnD combat, last session we didnt had any but we had lots of RP

[deep raptor]

That's nice

[deep raptor]

Funnily enough? I due to my newness? I don't feel confident in my DND combat skills-

[severe rampart]

Oh me too! I crave combat

[minor cargo]

Obviously not D&D related, but I've gotten a lot of value out of Haidt's "moral foundations theory" - which basically says there's a couple of pillars that make up how people react to situations.

For example, one topic that consistently makes some people uncomfortable is paid DMing. For a lot of folks, even though they can logically work through some of the friction points, it remains a tough subject. In Haidt's world, this would probably lie on the "sanctity/degradation" pillar (i.e. some people just feel disgusted by the idea). That's not to say they're wrong, but just providing a framework for what's going on.

[flint ledge]

I wouldn't sweat it, in my experience most combat is going to be about positioning and hoping

[still plover]

What's your class and subclass (if any)?

[empty thicket]

im a fighter, so i have few options while it and is more positioning//controlling the pace of some enemies.
Im trying to do some little damage with the H.Crossbow for now and then if the distances close going forward without Fear.

[empty thicket]

I have a new greataxe and all the stuff and i want to test it out to see if i can with 1 turn literally obliterate in pieces any enemy!!! RAAHH!!

[deep raptor]

Fey Warlock, I'm at break at work rn so I ain't got my character sheet on me rn.

I love misty step.

[flint ledge]

Fey warlock is control focused if I'm not wrong right?

[deep raptor]

Here's the thing, I'm new and I barely know how to use it and My DM got arrested 2 days ago so I gotta deal with online shit now to get more experience with this.

Glad I joined this server a while back-

[deep raptor]

Hoping.

[kind bramble]

Is it common for some dms when adding days players can vote for next session to be, to pick days they know a player has a regularly weekly scheduled dnd thats been going on before the other dnd started?

Essentially we started strahd in the summer, I have weekly dnd on Tuesdays and Thursdays, when summer ended we agreed to do it as a weekend thing. Then sometime after winter dm now regularly adds choices for monday, Tuesday and Thursdays too

[deep raptor]

Heh. Anyways- Imma be lurking around to try to find a new group.

[glad arch]

Goodluck

[deep raptor]

Thanks!

[tawdry sentinel]

I do feel it's mostly just threat assessment and managing action economy.

Like if you're a fighter with a big sword and there's 6 zombies 50ft away from the party, you beat them all in initiative, and every fibre of your being is saying they're too far to hit this turn so dash at them for next.

If you dash you're now in mauling range of 6 zombies that weren't in range of you either, just in time for their turn.

The other common thing I see DMing is 5 players facing 5 enemies who each have 30hp, then going up against them 1:1 and doing 25 damage to each enemy, rather than focus firing targets down. So they've done well over 100 damage by the time the first enemy hits the floor.

[stuck shuttle]

I don’t think so, if only because a typical group schedules when/how often a session happens before or during session 0.

Any changes should’ve been discussed with all players, which sounds somewhat like what the DM is doing by opening it up for a vote. Giving them the benefit of the doubt, they may have just forgotten, so I’d bring it up with them that you can’t make Tuesdays and Thursdays.

[deep raptor]

I? I have played masterpieces like Dragon age Origins, Awakening And inquisition. I do know that part at least. That one must focus on killing the frail things first. But? Thank you for the tips, those are always welcome.

[still plover]

Moderation action can be clarified by asking to speak to a mod in #moderator-support.

[nova umbra]

Its fine.

[kind bramble]

I did write this weekend when another player asked when the next session would be that im advocating weekends because I have other dnd those days

[crimson gulch]

yeah you need to nail down your session time before you start a campaign, Day time and frequency

[flint ledge]

Yeah definitely, my biggest mistake at first was accepting to DM for a bunch of people before knowing the times

[crimson gulch]

step one is I make time, step 2 is i prepare a game, step 3 is find players that fit my time and my game

[kind bramble]

It started as a summer campaign and after summer we verbally agreed to make it a weekend campaign

[burnt valley]

It's all about resource management, ideally you should be expending one slot bare minimum for each encounter

[turbid vessel]

I've always felt better putting step 3 before step 2. I feel much more confident writing a campaign when I have the players and their tastes/preferences/narrative ideas to work with

[obtuse stratus]

It also helps ideas flow and to avoid lines of ideas that won't be great

[torpid hound]

Are orcs carnivores?

[crimson gulch]

after seing so many folks find people, and then not be able to find the time with those people i honestly feel like Time should come first.

preparing a campaign with the players can be fine too, but you have GOT to get the time sorted first.

[loud tendon]

Omnivores most likely..

[obtuse stratus]

I prefer omnivorous fungal bodies

[kind bramble]

Back when we started planning the campaign i was initially in charge of scheduling and when current dm said "you really think wed finish vefore summer ends" I straight up said "if not we'll either find a set date or just make it a weekend campaign." We made it a weekend campaign. Then with no input the dm now I clouded weekdays where I never can. (And I tend to be ignored when I type something in discord) im also the founder of our dnd club

[turbid vessel]

I played a flash game a while back and now I'm hooked on the idea of a carnivorous quartz crystal growth

[woven flint]

Reminds me of an SCP

[uncut zenith]

No more than humans, elves, dwarves, or any other species

[obtuse stratus]

Oooo I like it. I went for Rune Magic Dwarves, fungal goblinoids and Orcus (historical deity) Orcs

[woven flint]

For whatever reason, I remember hearing a common misconception about Wood Elves being Herbivores, and I think it stems from them being the "Nature Elves" but they're also the Elves with the most Avid hunters 💀

[uncut zenith]

Yeah there’s nothing in 5E afaik that specifies whether or not any one species is a “carnivore”, “herbivore” or “omnivore”.

[humble cairn]

Half of the Forest Gnomes that I play are vegetarian. When you can talk to animals your whole life it can sometimes make it hard to eat them.

[obtuse stratus]

Or at least more terrifying for the animals 🙃

[crimson gulch]

yeah thats a shame when that happens

[humble cairn]

The other half is friends with carnivores and so isn't super bothered.

[uncut zenith]

Individual people make up their own minds as to whether they want to be vegetarian, vegan, pescatarian, etc, so that applies to orcs too.

[crimson gulch]

i never played dnd till i was an adult with kids and an adult shedudal, so i never got the exepreince of a "summer" game like that. I find the time and i have never Changed the Time for any of my games, that is set in stone.

[woven flint]

Minotaurs are definetly most likely carnivorous by nature seeing as where they typically live has a very "Kill or be killed" mindset

[uncut zenith]

Idk if that argument holds a lot of water. Especially now with the post-MotM rules where Minotaurs are just… people

[woven flint]

Thri-Kreen are also most definitely carnivores because well..
That's just stated

[obtuse stratus]

All those videos of cows eating birds are actually just disguised Minotuars

[shadow merlin]

Ha

[woven flint]

Most Herbivores aren't completely herbivorous anyway, most will eat meat to survive if they have to.

[uncut zenith]

The “Minotaurs of Baphomet” in the 2024 MM are definitely more bloodthirsty, but that’s not all Minotaurs.

[small sand]

Horrible horrible dnd campaign idea:

A cataclysm has melded our world and a fantasy world (maybe an established setting like Faerûn?) together.

Maybe it takes place a generation or two after this cataclysm, so the players can still be fantasy races but adjusted to the world if they wish (like, you know, a South Carolinian Half-elf.)

"Okay, so, you've made it out of the enchanted forest. Now get ready for Philly."

(I was also thinking an almost post-apocalyptic vibe? Like, maybe now that magic exists/the Weave exists in our world, our technology largely no longer works, many cities are all overgrown, etc- like the cataclysm truly was a cataclysm)

[obtuse stratus]

But I guess the more interesting question is, will you eat the minotuar?
I befriended all the wolves in the beginning of LMoP and then used all the goblins to leave the wolvesba bunch of smoked meat when we left the hideout

[kind bramble]

Im just stuck in a spot i don't know what to do... say something and possibly be vilified for "trying to prioritize me, not the group" or not say something and risk every session being without me because now people are gonna vote the days that was supposed to ne excluded to protect other club members who might have things going on weekdays

[crimson gulch]

assuming they are not being jerks about it, all you can do is honestly share your avalability

and if they are being jerks about it, thats not a place to be

[woven flint]

Probably not
Minotaurs aren't specifically Half-Human in D&D, but I'd feel weird about it as an Avid Minotaur kover

They have sapience and sentience like people as well, so, that'd be strange

[obtuse stratus]

Fair enough

[umbral girder]

D&D tomorrow, interesting.

[woven flint]

I think anything that can think like a person naturally is too people to eat lol

[humble cairn]

This gives me an existential crisis about octopus.

[flint ledge]

I mean would you count a dragon?

[uncut zenith]

Yeah, if it’s a person, you shouldn’t eat it

[woven flint]

Yes.
They're more intelligent than most people

[obtuse stratus]

I hate intelligent dragons as a default

[woven flint]

I don't, I think it makes them more interesting and less like beasts

[humble cairn]

It's been that way in D&D for a loooong time.

[flint ledge]

I mean if a dragon collects something they're ought to be intelligent

[uncut zenith]

It’s been that way in general fantasy for a long time too

[woven flint]

Some dragons are intelligent but irrevocably evil, so I don't really see moral dilemma as an issue

[obtuse stratus]

Yeah but I want dragon riders, I want cunnung beasts and I want centuries old talking dragons, so thats what I did

[uncut zenith]

That’s what wyverns are for

They’re the more “animalistic” dragon types that you train, raise, and use as a mount or a steed

[woven flint]

A Dragon let's you ride them as a mount when and if they allow it