dnd-newcomers

[dapper gulch]

Yup. Warlocks don’t get a lot of slots, but they get them back on a short rest and are always cast at the highest spell level available to the warlock.

[vast sundial]

Interesting, I guess that balances out with the other stuff like invocations and arcane stuff

Thanks

[livid cradle]

im a complete newbie what do i do? i been curious about dnd for a while and finally decided to learn

[exotic remnant]

What is D&D?

• Learn the basics and enjoy a short adventure with our quick introductory demo.

How does it work?

• The Basic Rules are available at no cost and cover everything you need to know to play.
• For bite-sized video explanations, check out Critical Role's Handbooker Helper series.

Where do I start?

• Create a character digitally on D&D Beyond or print a character sheet to fill out by hand.
• Check out #find-a-game to find a group to join.

[turbid ridge]

Have fun and good luck

[placid furnace]

Realy wanting to get into playing dnd except I have no one to play with, or server I haven't yet got the paid version because I don't want to pay the money and not even able to get into a game.. yes I'm a newbie but dnd realy fascinates me so any one willing to get into some of the free games available to play like prisoner 13, stormwreck Isle let me know

[calm sonnet]

okay, first. you dont have to pay to play

You should definetely read the intoduction above and the rules to familiarize yourself with it. Then check out #looking-for-players to find a group

[weary arrow]

i've heard that there's a halloween sale coming to the dndbeyond site, does anybody know when that starts so that i can buy my player's handbook at a cheaper price?

[simple goblet]

Believe it has already started

[weary arrow]

ok great, thanks

[nocturne quail]

id like to one day run a campaign of my own for my own family, but i dont have any figures, can i play without that?

i mean, if it does work out i might make some via 3d print, but other ways?

would paper cutouts work for it? or bottlecaps?

[smoky adder]

The default rules assume you’re not using them at all.

[nocturne quail]

oh? what do you mean by that

[smoky adder]

There are optional rules for playing on a grid.

But since they’re optional, that means they’re not required.

[nocturne quail]

ah okay, so it could all be theatre of mind? or whatever its called

[smoky adder]

Yep!

There’s some good articles here on how to play theater of the mind.
https://www.dndbeyond.com/tag/theater-of-the-mind

But if you do want a map, yeah, bottlecaps or paper figures work just fine.

[nocturne quail]

okay that might work

you prepare stuff before each session right?

like the whole story, but what if the players go too off path and youd want them to have some kind of battle i guess

[smoky adder]

You can prep to whatever level you feel comfortable with, but eventually, your players will do something you never could have anticipated.

That’s part of the fun of group storytelling, though.

[nocturne quail]

yeah but stuff like statblocks, where do you get them

[smoky adder]

But it does mean that you’ll have to improv sooner or later.

[nocturne quail]

i mean yeah

sure ofcourse

[small sphinx]

Hey guys, I’m new to dnd and have a group of 3 people including myself. First of all I don’t know if 2 players and a dm is enough to play. I also wondered what is best to buy to start off with. I’ve been painting minis for 3 years now but haven’t had a group to play dnd with. I also wondered if there’s any online resources that will help me with preparation etc.
thanks in advance.

[echo kelp]

Minis are not necessary (although some people really enjoy it).
2 players and 1 DM is just fine - most official D&D adventure modules are designed for 4-6 players.
As for what to start with - I'd suggest staring with the free basic rules here: https://www.dndbeyond.com/sources/basic-rules
Run an adventure or two and if folks like it well enough, consider buying the Player's Handbook.
And if you really really enjoyed it, consider adding the Monsters of the Multiverse (or the older Monster Manual) and Dungeon Master's Guidebook.

I like using DnDBeyond for digital acess to the books - another nice feature of DnDBeyond is that you can buy bits and pieces from books

[small sphinx]

Ah ok thank you, personally I’ll be using minis as I’m a warhammer player and really enjoy painting. Am I correct in saying I can make my own campaign or 2 people instead of using official ones. I’ll have a look at those rules and see how the basics work. Thank you for your help

[echo kelp]

Yep! That said as a first time D&D player/DM I'd suggest running a premade adventure the first time. That way you can focus on running the game and learning the rules rather than trying to also plan and manage an adventure plot on top of it all.

[small sphinx]

Would that work even if it’s designed for 4-6 players?

[echo kelp]

Yes-ish. You may need to trim some enemies from encounters/situations or weaken them a touch (reduce HP, reduce attack damage).

But having a prebuilt story to run can remove a lot from the DM's plate.

[lyric fjord]

What's the difference between wisdom and intelligence? Like, what would someone with high intelligence and low wisdom look like and vice versa

[cobalt frigate]

Ability Stats With Tomato
Strength is being able to crush a tomato.
Dexterity is being able to dodge a tomato.
Constitution is being able to eat a bad tomato.
Intelligence is knowing a tomato is a fruit.
Wisdom is knowing not to put a tomato in a fruit salad.
Charisma is being able to sell a tomato based fruit salad.

[lyric fjord]

So wisdom is like big intelligence?

[cobalt frigate]

Wisdom is something you would know through experience. You should know better to not touch a hot stove with your hands, for example.

[lyric fjord]

So like book smart vs street smart?

[cobalt frigate]

Wisdom also encompasses willpower. You know that eating junk food is bad for your health so with a high Wis score you have to the willpower to binge eat junk food.

[lyric fjord]

Aside from roleplay, is there a reason to put points in intelligence in a character that doesn't use intelligence? Like, charisma is always useful if you interact with npcs, and i feel that you don't loose anything by dumping intelligence

[cobalt frigate]

A character with a high Wisdom score uses their knowledge.

A character with a high Intelligent score may not know how to use their knowledge.

You can memorize an instruction manual but you may lack to wisdom to know how to put that knowledge to good use to fix/repair something from the instruction manual.

Game mechanics-wise Int doesn't help much if you're a class that doesn't rely on Int modifiers like wizards and artificers.

[lyric fjord]

That's sad

[cobalt frigate]

In 3.5E, Int modifiers were necessary if you wanted more skill points but 5E doesn't have skill points so Int has less use now.

[lyric fjord]

Do wotc plan to alter this in o
One dnd?

[cobalt frigate]

Int is still good for certain ability skills like Arcana, History, and Religion checks.

[cobalt frigate]

Ask in #1026901431132885064 because this isn't the channel ask that.

[lyric fjord]

I feel like these skills are REALLY setting specific, in contrast to charisma based skills

[cobalt frigate]

That's up to you and your character.

[slow hawk]

U can think of wisdom as street smarts and int as book smarts

[plucky ridge]

The key is making those sorts of skills relevant. Like if you see statue, asking to roll History for background or Arcana to see if it's magical.

You need to be proactive on them sometimes

[slow hawk]

Dont feel bound too tightly to the scored; this is a game first and foremost and for fun above all

[cobalt frigate]

But remember that the DM is the one who calls for the ability skill check rolls and which ability to roll for.

[nocturne quail]

if id were an artificer, could i just ask the dm to make something i want without having the specific spell it would cast? do those items have durability?

[fallen surge]

Crafting your own items as an artificer is a very typical part of the character fantasy, but there are little to no official rules for how crafting works. You’d need to ask your DM how they want to handle that.

You do have your ability to create infusions, which is very similar, but that’s more like creating a prototype magic item, rather than a real thing

[nocturne quail]

do you roll anything when making those items?

[smoky adder]

Not for an infusion, no.

[nocturne quail]

and technically what level/skill/feature do you need to make items straight up, not infusions

[smoky adder]

Crafting items is really only covered under the downtime rules.

Which not every DM even uses.

[nocturne quail]

hmmm, so not every dm will allow me to make a microwave?

i guess i could store continual fire in a chest

[smoky adder]

Every DM? No.

Your DM? That’s a conversation you should have with them.

[nocturne quail]

downtime rules are basically those between sessions?

also when do we talk about downtime, before we "get off" or after we get onto the next session?

[smoky adder]

For the points at which your character is not out adventuring.

Which may or may not be between sessions.

[nocturne quail]

hmm, okay

[smoky adder]

Or may not really happen at all.

[fallen surge]

The effect of the spell Continual Flame creates no heat, just FYi

[smoky adder]

Depending on the story.

[nocturne quail]

oh man, may i talk about it with the dm so he does make it create heat?

[left heath]

Hi, I'm new to D&D, and I have no clue where to get started I've never played before, but I really want to get into it since it seems like a lot of fun to me since I love making characters

[smoky adder]

That’s between you and the DM. Our permission is meaningless. 😛

[nocturne quail]

yeah, makes sense

[fallen surge]

That would be changing the rules of the game, which is commonly referred to as “homebrew.” Whether or not that’s allowed is up to your DM, but it’s commonly thought of as a taboo to try to pressure your DM into accepting homebrew rules if they don’t want to. There’s nothing wrong with asking, but don’t try to force them into it

[exotic remnant]

What is D&D?

• Learn the basics and enjoy a short adventure with our quick introductory demo.

How does it work?

• The Basic Rules are available at no cost and cover everything you need to know to play.
• For bite-sized video explanations, check out Critical Role's Handbooker Helper series.

Where do I start?

• Create a character digitally on D&D Beyond or print a character sheet to fill out by hand.
• Check out #find-a-game to find a group to join.

[fallen surge]

The bot post above has some great links for getting started

[left heath]

Thank you I really appreciate it!

[lunar robin]

DND 5e zombie stat block:

Slam: Melee Weapon Attack: +3 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 4 (1d6 + 1) bludgeoning damage.

What does +3 to hit mean?

[fallen surge]

That is their bonus to an attack roll with this attack, to see if it hits.

[ornate kiln]

roll a d20 when they attack. add +3 to the result

[lunar robin]

How should I decide the DC for hits? Or is it fixed and I just missed that

[fallen surge]

You roll a d20, and add +3. If that is equal to or higher then the target’s AC, the slam attack will hit, and you can roll the 1d6+1 to see how much damage it deals.

[lunar robin]

oh my god ac

[ornate kiln]

every creature and even objects have AC

[lunar robin]

i forgot about ac... thanks guys

[echo kelp]

AC and when hits are decided are fairly static.
DC is for when there are skill checks and are up to the DM to decide based on the context of the game.

[nocturne quail]

when we have downtime because of ending session, do we say what happens before ending, or at the start of the next session

[fallen surge]

All downtime rules are up to the DM. Even the rules that are written in the book are merely suggestions for how they could handle it

[nocturne quail]

hmmm, okay

artificer is basically almost no rules

i mean just mostly up to interpretation

[lyric fjord]

Nope, Crafting is.

[nocturne quail]

does having artificer focus mean i like, strike my thiefs tools and purify water by that?

[lyric fjord]

Artificers get infusion which are different and explained in their class.

[nocturne quail]

i mean i did read about that

[fallen surge]

There is a lot more to being an artificer than just crafting. Some artificers don’t craft at all. That’s more of a character thing than a class thing

[nocturne quail]

like if i have purify water, i just hit my tools as a focus and thats how my character purifies water and stuff?

oh also, does experimental elixir roll its use when made or when created?

[fallen surge]

I don’t know that you mean by “hit” your tools, but the flavor of how your magic works is up to you

[nocturne quail]

ah okay then

i kind of dont get those infusions

[fallen surge]

When created.

[echo kelp]

Artificer is kind of complex class and particularly for new to D&D players.

[small sphinx]

Ah I see thank you, makes sense to do that and make it easier on myself

[fallen surge]

Infusions are prototype magic items. The way I like to think about is by describing it as that a true magic item produces it’s own magic, while an infusion is being powered by the artificer’s magic, and only temporarily

[azure comet]

I am completley new to dnd and do not know what the heck I'm doing

Does anyone know how to genuinley start lol

[lyric fjord]

YouTube, search "crap guide to dnd" is the best tutorial for beginners

[azure comet]

Thanks

[exotic remnant]

What is D&D?

• Learn the basics and enjoy a short adventure with our quick introductory demo.

How does it work?

• The Basic Rules are available at no cost and cover everything you need to know to play.
• For bite-sized video explanations, check out Critical Role's Handbooker Helper series.

Where do I start?

• Create a character digitally on D&D Beyond or print a character sheet to fill out by hand.
• Check out #find-a-game to find a group to join.

[fallen surge]

The bot post above ⬆️ has some very helpful links

[nocturne quail]

do dms always use passive checks, or can they still ask for rolls? seems more fun to roll than just use passive checks

[smoky adder]

Generally DMs will ask for a roll.

Passives would generally make up a pretty small percentage of the game.

[azure comet]

How can I start playing with real people

[nocturne quail]

how do you play with not real people

do the opposite then you can play with the real ones

[nocturne quail]

but honestly, just start by using the find a game channe

[scenic kiln]

In real life? Get a group of friends together

[nocturne quail]

how does range work on stuff like this
Pistol 250 gp 1d10 piercing 3 lb. Ammunition (range 30/90), loading
how do you roll disatvantage on the ammunition

[vast sundial]

For a dual wielding weapon do I also need to roll an attack roll (d20) for the 2nd weapon to see if it hits or is it just 1d20 for both?

[nocturne quail]

nevermind read

[ornate kiln]

you roll for every weapon attack seperately

so for example you wield two shortswords. you use your action to attack -> roll 1d20+bonuses, then you use your bonus action to attack with the other swortsword -> roll d20+bonuses

[nocturne quail]

can i move 5 feet, hit someone, move the other 25 feet?

or is one move action just one singular action and cant be split

is there any difference between simple and martial weapons apart from just being flavor text?

[ornate kiln]

you can split your movement during the attack action

and between actions in general

[shrewd basin]

hey ive only ever played d&d irl in school and i want to get into it online, my friend told me to join a dnd server and idk any. does anyone have any recommendations?

[ornate kiln]

there is no inherent difference between martial and simple weapons, though martial weapons tend to be stronger. They are simply categories to group certain weapon. game features then might interact with those categories. (like some classes get martial weapon proficiency, while others dont)

[echo kelp]

Check out this article: https://www.dndbeyond.com/posts/750-new-players-guide-how-to-play-d-d-online

And then if you're looking for an online group/game to join please read #find-a-game to learn how to use our LFG channels.

[shrewd basin]

thanks a bunch <3

[lilac pond]

in dnd beyond how can i apply an infusion to my thunder gauntlets as an armorer?

[fleet field]

#ddb-support

may not be possible tho, ddb is infamous for bad subclass support

[lilac pond]

lol ty

[pearl parrot]

hello

[echo kelp]

welcome!

[pearl parrot]

im not really sure were to start

[echo kelp]

If you're new to D&D we have some useful resources linked to in the pinned messages here in the channel.

[pearl parrot]

me and a freind are looking to lern

[echo kelp]

I'd start by checking out the free basic rules (which is all you need to start): https://www.dndbeyond.com/sources/basic-rules

You don't have to memorize these rules but becoming familiar with them will help you with playing the game.

[pearl parrot]

would we be able to find a dm here?

[fleet field]

yeah, but i would recommend looking at the basic rules first

[echo kelp]

Yes! We have LFG (Looking for Game) channels here - see #find-a-game to learn how to use them.

Agree with PixelatedCat - get some familiarity with the rules before trying to find a game.

While most groups are fine taking on new-to D&D players, it helps when they don't have to be teaching the players everything all the time.

[pearl parrot]

arnt the rules diffrent every game

[echo kelp]

Well for D&D to be D&D it should be based on the core rules...

The free basic rules are pretty much the core of D&D

Different tables/groups may change things or add on additional rules but they still reference the core rules.

[pearl parrot]

dont they take a while to start i think id feel better knwing i have a game to jion first maybye talking to the dm about the lore

sry multitasking spelling isall over

[echo kelp]

I'll say your chances of finding a game without spending at least a little time reading the game rules is pretty small.
Folks don't want to spend their limited time for playing a game having to teach everything from the ground up.
Whereas if you show up with some basic knowledge and a willingness to continue to learn, your chances increase for finding a group willing to add you to their game.

[cobalt frigate]

Learn about the rules of the game first and worry less about the lore of the DM's campaign setting, especially if you haven't found a DM yet.

[pearl parrot]

im guna look up the rules but like i said dont they take a while set up

[exotic remnant]

What is D&D?

• Learn the basics and enjoy a short adventure with our quick introductory demo.

How does it work?

• The Basic Rules are available at no cost and cover everything you need to know to play.
• For bite-sized video explanations, check out Critical Role's Handbooker Helper series.

Where do I start?

• Create a character digitally on D&D Beyond or print a character sheet to fill out by hand.
• Check out #find-a-game to find a group to join.

[cobalt frigate]

Read the free Basic Rules (at least the first four chapters on character creation).

I highly recommend you check out Critical Role's "Handbook Helper" video tutorial series on Youtube.

Both are linked above.

[pearl parrot]

i made a bizerd the other day in boulders gate is that a thing in d@d XD

brabrain/wizzord

[fleet field]

its a thing, extremely not recommended tho

[cobalt frigate]

Yeah, barbarians want to have high scores in Str, Con, and Dex while wizards high Int. Then barbarians can't cast or maintain concentration while raging.

[fleet field]

its the definition of an anti-synergy

[twin viper]

so I know barely anything about dnd really but I know what character I want to play as, which would be a shapeshifter that is limited with the size of transformation, so do any of you guys know of a race/curse that could to that?

[simple fable]

Hello. I've been hearing a lot of good things about dnd for a very long time now, been playing BG3 since September and I really want to try playing dnd myself but I'm not sure where to get started. Could any of you help me, please?

[cobalt frigate]

The only official playable race that can shapechange are changelings but they're limited to Eberron. You would have to ask your DM if they allow them in their campaign setting.

[twin viper]

Alr!

[exotic remnant]

What is D&D?

• Learn the basics and enjoy a short adventure with our quick introductory demo.

How does it work?

• The Basic Rules are available at no cost and cover everything you need to know to play.
• For bite-sized video explanations, check out Critical Role's Handbooker Helper series.

Where do I start?

• Create a character digitally on D&D Beyond or print a character sheet to fill out by hand.
• Check out #find-a-game to find a group to join.

[cobalt frigate]

Read the free Basic Rules (at least the first four chapters on character creation).

I highly recommend you check out Critical Role's "Handbook Helper" video tutorial series on Youtube.

Both are linked above.

[simple fable]

Thank you!

I'll make sure to do that

[cobalt frigate]

Keep in mind that BG3 is based on D&D rules but isn't D&D. It was a licensed game that tweaked the rules to fit for the needs of the video game.

[simple fable]

How different is it?

[fleet field]

theres a lot of changes, but the basics are the same

dont assume anything tho

[simple fable]

Didn't mean to, I am reading the rules for now

[full current]

Are cr30 monster was the god?

Is there more powerful than cr 30?

Cr40?

[fleet field]

not exactly, and no

[full current]

Demigod?

[fleet field]

the lore is dependent on the individual monster

[sand coral]

Hi

[cobalt frigate]

There are no official 5E monster higher than CR 30.

[full current]

Oh i see, i just saw tiatmt a fiend. idk the spelling but they saying he's a god and a cr30

[cobalt frigate]

Tiamat is a goddess and the CR 30 statblock is for her aspect.

This is moving out of #dnd-newcomers territory if you want to know more about Tier 4 monsters.

[full current]

Tier 4 is level 17-20 right?

[topaz garnet]

Correct

Local Heroes, Heroes of the Realm, Masters of the Realm, Masters of the World, are the four tier "names"

[near plover]

Not sure if this is #dnd-discussion or this channel but I haven't played dnd in a while, but can someone tell me what classes, subclasses, races and subraces are not included in the PBH?

Or what books have these additional races and classes?

[fleet field]

for classes, its just artificer

for subclasses, theres a lot. each class has somewhere from 1/3rd to 1/2 it's subclasses in the phb

for races, theres a ton, maybe 3x as many in other books

[jovial yoke]

144 races outside the PHB, specifically (compared to 24 within)

[fleet field]

for subraces, theres only a few in other books

[near plover]

Wow, I didn't realize it was only that many in the phb

[fleet field]

some classes only have a couple, some like cleric or wizard have like 6-8

wizard only has a few subclasses in other books

TCOE and XGTE are the main books for additional subclasses/classes

MOTM has a ton of the extra races

[dapper gulch]

Xanathar’s and Tasha’s will get you most of the popular subclasses. Mordenkainen will cover the races.

[near plover]

So primal paths for barb are subclasses?

[jovial yoke]

yes

[cobalt frigate]

Probably better to ask in #third-party

[nimble topaz]

hi im new to dnd, how do i play with other people

[exotic remnant]

What is D&D?

• Learn the basics and enjoy a short adventure with our quick introductory demo.

How does it work?

• The Basic Rules are available at no cost and cover everything you need to know to play.
• For bite-sized video explanations, check out Critical Role's Handbooker Helper series.

Where do I start?

• Create a character digitally on D&D Beyond or print a character sheet to fill out by hand.
• Check out #find-a-game to find a group to join.

[nimble topaz]

where do you play dnd, not as in the rules or anything but where do you do it

[cobalt frigate]

You can play in person or online.

Check out #find-a-game

[nimble topaz]

thanks

[slow hawk]

In person
Or
Online

[nimble topaz]

cool

[near plover]

For universal speech, does it allow you to understand the creatures you cast it on? Or is it a one way speaking thing where they know what you're saying but you can't understand what they are saying?

[fleet field]

only says that they can understand you

[near plover]

So I want to eventually dm and I was wondering, for the sake of storytelling just say they figure out a way to communicate back?

[slow hawk]

The Dm is god

U can do anything

[cobalt frigate]

If you have DMing questions head on over to #dm-discussion

[pastel badger]

Hey what is the discord stuff that allows you to play dnd in app called?

[unique orbit]

Hey I could use some help making a character, I'm somewhat new to D&D and just want to make sure I'm doing this right

[errant crown]

y'all got any advice on playing monks?

[smoky adder]

https://avrae.io/

[scenic terrace]

Need myself a Sat game XD

[unique orbit]

T-T

[fleet field]

Anything specific you need help with abt it?

[fleet field]

Have a look in #looking-for-players

[scenic terrace]

Looked, most over for today. Dunno how to sign up too

[fleet field]

You won’t be able to find same day games generally

[unique orbit]

Mostly the character sheet, as I'm getting very confused as different websites say different things

[fleet field]

It’s more a game for joining one group and playing with them long term

[scenic terrace]

Yeah

[fleet field]

Use either dnd beyond, or the offical pdf on dnd beyond

[fleet field]

To apply for a game, use the thread under the post

[scenic terrace]

Kk

[unique orbit]

We're supposed to start at Level Six, do you have an places for that?

[fleet field]

You can use any sheet for that

I would make it level by level

[scenic terrace]

Jeez, lvl 6? Beyond is nice. What class/race you makin?

[unique orbit]

Human Sorcerer

[fleet field]

nice

if you want a simpler experience, use dnd beyond. if you want something that lets you learn the rules better yourself, use a pdf

[unique orbit]

Thank you

[slow hawk]

Probably want to go to #character-discussion for specific stuff like that

[fleet field]

if you need any more help just dm me

[slow hawk]

You can ask specific questions here but the base should be the basic rules themselves and not random websites

[errant crown]

they sent me back here

[unique orbit]

Okay, thank you

[scenic terrace]

wb then

[errant crown]

yea fr

[slow hawk]

I saw, its fine just ask your question here. What about monk do u have a question about

[near plover]

If you have proficiencies from race, can you add again to that proficiency or are you only allowed to have proficiency once per skill?

[errant crown]

well first of all, are monks just M.A students? and if so could i have them use the M.A i do irl or does dnd have special martial arts?

[slow hawk]

Let’s step back a bit

[fleet field]

Proficiency is an on/off. You can’t be proficient in something twice

[slow hawk]

From a role playing stand point, you can flavor your monk however you like

If u want your character to be a kung fu master, so be it

[errant crown]

so i CAN or CAN'T use my irl form of M.A?

[fleet field]

You can flavour the monk as using whatever martial arts you want

[slow hawk]

You can use any thing you want

[cobalt frigate]

However you want to describe the unarmed strikes is up to you.

[errant crown]

noice

[cobalt frigate]

Flavour is free.

[errant crown]

got it

[slow hawk]

Look at it this way:
A class is just a collection of features and stats and such

This is a role playing game based on your imagination. How stuff looks or sounds is up to you

[errant crown]

aren't monks able to predict attacks?

[fleet field]

They don’t have a feature that gives them that ability, so no

[slow hawk]

lets go back to the above:
A class is a collection of features and stats and such. Therefore what a monk can do is described in the rules

[cobalt frigate]

Sure if that's how you want to describe their Unarmoued Defense AC bonus from their Wis modifier.

[slow hawk]

I recommend reading the monk features directly in the basic rules which are free

[cobalt frigate]

Game mechanics =/= narrative flavour.

The monk class:
https://www.dndbeyond.com/sources/basic-rules/classes#Monk

[errant crown]

thanks alot y'all

[limber hazel]

You know what i like about DnD? I can finallly play a wizard, the way, i always wanted to. I feel like most often, media portrays wizard as dps dealers and nothing more, even tho they can have many more uses as someone who can literally alter reality, yk? Im still a noobie to DnD and am currently reading thru rules and stuff, but im looking forward to playing it some day maybe

[limber hazel]

Oh cool, you guys gave me a role. Huh, thanks👍🏼

[jade nova]

youre right! wizards can be very versatile, only lacking in a couple areas, and can be very fun characters to play, if you know how to avoid the weaknesses of the class

[limber hazel]

What's their weakness? Combat, i imagine? Browsing through the stats, they seem squishy

[jade nova]

the biggest problem wizards have is the lowest hp stat in the game, and very little access to healing

[fleet field]

Combat is where they’re the strongest

[rigid dove]

i've always had a mild interest in dnd but playing it for the first time today really made it crazy

[zenith ether]

Hey everyone! Very new. Havent had a session, or created a character but I've really been wanting to get into it. I've looked up a bunch of stuff but it's not quite helping me out. Would anyone be willing to answer the many questions I have?

[fleet field]

Have you looked at the basic rules yet?

[rigid dove]

like, my first session was six hours long when it was supposed to be one

and it was fun the entire time

[limber hazel]

Omg really? You're my inspiration. I wanted to play this in forever, but hard to get into. In my case, i'd have to play with strangers, and i wanna learn what DnD IS before i go in, yk? How was it? Did you play with strangers?

[rigid dove]

i played solo with a friend, though they basically ended up being a player when they started the person to just serve as an npc

[zenith ether]

I haven't. I wanted to ask around about the basic rules for sure. I've seen there are different rules, and different ways to play. What rule guide would I look at for that?

[rigid dove]

it was some premade scenario, i can try finding the name of it online but the quest was supposed to be getting an antidote for the mayor's daughter from a creepy guy who turned them into a troll

[limber hazel]

Okay, that's so cool! So your friend was the DM then? I plan to do this exact thing with my friend and wanted to ask exactly that. Can DnD be played in 2?

[rigid dove]

dnd can definitely be played with just two people, though i've heard it can be better with more people, at least from my experience

[limber hazel]

@zenith ether Try this 🙂

[fleet field]

There’s only one basic ruleset, not sure what the other stuff you’re seeing is. Have a look at the offical basic rules linked in the pinned messages

[rigid dove]

but with just me and him it was really good anyways

[limber hazel]

Yeah, i always imagined it to be a game of 3 atleast. 2 players, 1 Dm. I think it depends on how you approach it.

[fleet field]

It’s designed for 4 players, 1 dm

[rigid dove]

yeah, he definitely took over as a second player once it started to get going

[fleet field]

Anywhere from 2 players 1 dm to 6 players 1 dm can work decently tho

[fleet field]

So who was dming?

[rigid dove]

also the second player
he kinda like tried playing as both

[fleet field]

Ah

[rigid dove]

since it was just me and him

[fleet field]

DMPCs like that generally don’t work very well

[rigid dove]

i imagine it would definitely be a problem later down the road

for a very first session it was good though

but the supposedly one hour scenario definitely got sidetracked and he switched it up nearer to the end

the paper he was looking at which kinda outlined everything was a single one sided page

the outline made it sound pretty simple, cause he showed me after it was done what it was

party gets recruited by a town's mayor to break into an alchemist's house, who supposedly turned the mayor's daughter into a troll before a wedding, and the party is tasked to find the antidote

party breaks into house, looks around, fights two animated scarecrows in a greenhouse as well as an animated carpet

party realizes there's no living spaces in said house and investigate under the carpet, has a trapdoor which leads to a massive basement

party goes into dark basement and looks around as some traps are set up, leading to a room where they fight two animated suits of armor

three doors are in the room, the one in front leads to a dead end, the other two loop around to eachother and include some black goo monster? (don't know the name) in the middle, with a flesh golem on each side leading to it

left is a pantry that leads to a kitchen which goes to a golem section and has a secret passageway to a shrine of the daughter

right leads to a golem and the goo monster, then also goes to the shrine

from the shrine you find another hidden passageway to a room with the alchemist guy who has the antidote who gives it to you, where you then leave and presumably give to the mayor to get your reward

anyways, it got sidetracked because it become a moral dilemma after it turned out the daughter didn't want to go to the wedding as they loved the alchemist, or supposedly, anyways (the alchemist could've written the note stating it to throw people off)

session ended with us lying and telling the mayor the alchemist wasn't the one who turned their daughter and that we found nothing

basically, we didn't get paid, town's daughter didn't marry into a noble, daughter and alchemist are given a chance to run away together (left vague if they succeeded or not)
and apparently my friend who was the dm knew if the not was faked or not and left it vague intentionally at the end as i never find out

still a lot of fighting though

[limber hazel]

Yeah

I don't know why, but im imagining it to be really claustrophobic because you said no living space, so i was surprised by how much fighting you were doing lol

Sounds like, you couldn't walk into another room without fighting 😂

[rigid dove]

i mean the aboveground part was basically a shop rather than a house, even when it was supposedly where the alchemist lived

the underground part had the real living areas (even though there was a bunch of traps??)

but yeah there was a lotta fighting

originally there wasn't an enemy with the alchemist once you found them and they would just hand over the antidote, but he added in a clay golem with its hp nerfed and has it try to fight us

i manage to basically hold the alchemist hostage and they say the daughter has the antidote so i leave, with my friend's player still trying to disguise himself as the alchemist to take control of the golem

i go out thinking he left too since i shouted we should but he kept playing into trying to be the alchemist so i have to go back and find out which is which

i knew he didn't actually but the disguise was a nat 20 so there was no way to tell who was who from looks

[scenic terrace]

Wall

[rigid dove]

find out using past experiences and we leave through a sewer since the the animated carpet knocked over the basement ladder as we only pinned it and forgot to actually destroy it

anyways, already said the rest

[rigid dove]

also you are very true

[near plover]

Do lances get an attack roll bonus?

[novel jetty]

not normal lances

[near plover]

How so? No proficiency bonus or str modifier?

My brother is trying to argue with me to add 5 for attack rolls

[novel jetty]

oh, thats what you meant. All weapons use STR (or dex if they're ranged or finesse weapons) + your prof bonus

magical bonuses only go up to +3 naturally

[fleet field]

you only add your proficiency bonus if youre proficient in it tho

[novel jetty]

yeap

[fleet field]

at level 1, if youre proficient in it and have 16 str, it is a +5, yes

[near plover]

Since its a martial weapon yes?

[fleet field]

well if you have martial weapon proficiency, then yes youre proficient with it

[near plover]

Also my brother is arguing STR mod gets added to damage roll, please tell him he's wrong

[fleet field]

hes right

maybe read the rules on attacking

[near plover]

What?

No, he means the 1d12 for the damage the lance deals

[fleet field]

yes, you add str mod to that

[near plover]

Really?

[fleet field]

...yes

[near plover]

So for attack it's +5 and damage it's 1d12+3?

[fleet field]

the attack roll in this case is 1d20+5, and the damage roll is 1d12+3

[near plover]

How does one determine what stat mod is used for which weapon?

[fleet field]

by default its str

if its a ranged weapon its dex

[novel jetty]

All melee weapons use STR (unless they have the finesse trait)

^

[fleet field]

if its a finesse weapon, you can use str or dex

[near plover]

So that also applies for minus mods?

[fleet field]

if its a melee weapon that can be thrown, its still str when you throw it

[fleet field]

yep

some class features change the modifier

[drifting cloud]

I have a question

Do characters that multi-class and characters that don't level up the same way?

My DM want's me to skip leveling up because I am multi-classing and that I have a "advantage" over other characters that aren't

[novel jetty]

Thats a lie

[drifting cloud]

So I get to level up the same way right?

[novel jetty]

Multiclasses characters level up in the same way as any other class (You just combine the two classes for the sum level)

With the additional ruling in the PHB

[novel jetty]

yeap

[topaz garnet]

you still have as many levels as your other party members, you've just split those levels between two or more classes

if the party is level 8, you have 8 levels, whether it's 8 in one, 7 and 1, 4 and 4, or whatever.

[novel jetty]

14/6 mutliclass is still lvl 20, etc.

[topaz garnet]

^

[drifting cloud]

Thanks 👍

[naive ivy]

erm does anyone have experience on how to use the exp system in dnd beyond?

i feel that a bit confusing

[novel jetty]

No. usually run Milestone

[topaz garnet]

It's just an XP tracker. When the bar is full and it indicates you can level up, apply your level up.

[drifting cloud]

Aka if the DM says we level up then we level up?

[novel jetty]

yea

personally, makes the game feel more like a RP game, and not a video game

[drifting cloud]

There problem solved no need to go down the path of confusing exp

[naive ivy]

but if i am at level 1 with 2 subclass dndbeyond shows be an arrow down though

[topaz garnet]

because you don't have enough XP to be that level

[full current]

I saw a memes when a level 16 ask for cr30 monster. Do the player can really just direct ask for that on dm.

[drifting cloud]

Err so that means? We are level 1 instead of level 2

[topaz garnet]

a player can ask their DM what their character knows

[drifting cloud]

So having two classes makes me a level 2 character??

[novel jetty]

yea

if both are just level 1

[topaz garnet]

You have a certain amount of XP.
If you have 299 or less XP, you are level 1.
If you have 300 to 899 XP, you are level 2.

[topaz garnet]

You have two levels, ergo, are 2nd level.

one level in, say, rogue
and one level in fighter
is two levels.

[novel jetty]

to get your character level, just combine all your levels in any class

[naive ivy]

hmm alright i sort of know what is going on now

[topaz garnet]

Whenever you gain a level, you choose what level that is in. A 5th level character is just that - whether it's 5 levels in a single class, or 2 levels in two classes and 1 level in a third.

[full current]

Is that mean if you level both into 20 then you are 40?

[novel jetty]

you cant go more than 20 levels

[topaz garnet]

You can't level to 40 - you have a maximum of 20 levels.

[novel jetty]

no matter what miz of classes you take

but, potentiall, yes

[full current]

Then the max of two classes was 10?

[topaz garnet]

You can go 20 levels in one class, 10 levels in two, 5 levels in four, 17 in one and 3 in a second, 15 and 5, 11 and 9, and so on. Max total levels = 20.

[full current]

I see i see

[topaz garnet]

Then you reach 20th level and thus are maximum level, and cannot increase your level anymore, unable to advance either class's levels.

[novel jetty]

I would reccomend watching videos or reading the PHB

[full current]

Basically you can be jack of all trade but never master of one

[topaz garnet]

or, be master of one, but not anything else.

[naive ivy]

wait does that mean if someone start with multiclass, they are directly stronger than one who start with a single class?

[novel jetty]

Thats how mutliclassing works

depends on the classes and subclasses they chose

[topaz garnet]

you can't start with more than 1 level, at 1st level.

[novel jetty]

some classes do not mesh at all, and some pop off hard

[naive ivy]

but at dndbeyond you can choose to have 2 classes at start though despite being a "level 1"

[topaz garnet]

If you're 1st level, you only have a single level in a single class.
When you reach 2nd level, you can choose to advance the initial class to 2nd, or become 1st level in a different class, becoming a 1/1 multiclass split.

[topaz garnet]

No, you'd be 2nd level. You have 2 levels.

[novel jetty]

no, your technically level 2 then

[topaz garnet]

You cannot be a 1st level rogue and a 1st level fighter, without being (at least) 2nd level.

[drifting cloud]

So here's where the confusion happened..we started with a multi-class from the very beginning of making our character

[topaz garnet]

You have 2 levels, ergo, are 2nd level.

[full current]

Then can you just choose classes to level like focus on assasin paladin into 15 level and 5 on cleric

[novel jetty]

You add all your class levels to get your actual level, and cap out at a cumulative 20

[drifting cloud]

Which I believe we aren't supposed to do

[topaz garnet]

Correct

[drifting cloud]

Yep ok got it

[novel jetty]

Sounds like Gestalt rules

[drifting cloud]

We are stupid xD

[novel jetty]

Ots not that you're stupid, its just that multiclassing is complicated Multiclassing isnt reccomended for beginners

[topaz garnet]

If you started at, say, 3rd or 5th level, you'd have that many levels. You could then distribute them, such as 2 rogue 1 fighter being a 3rd level character. Because 2 + 1 = 3.

[drifting cloud]

The more you know

[topaz garnet]

But if you only start at 1st, you only have the single level to put somewhere - can't be half a level.

[drifting cloud]

Thanks everyone 🙏

[novel jetty]

np

[naive ivy]

also er, when i was playing with someone i heard something called an opportunist attack, how does that work? he says that if we left an attack range of enemy, they get to attack for free

[topaz garnet]

https://www.dndbeyond.com/sources/basic-rules/combat#OpportunityAttacks

So

You have a Reaction.
Once you use a reaction, you can't use another until the start of your next turn. So I'll colloquially refer to this as the "round around your turn"
(since 1 per round could potentially be twice between your turn, and once per turn is per every turn including other players and monsters)

You can spend your Reaction, when an enemy you can see moves out of your reach - you've got a longsword, they're within 5 feet, they move to a space 10 feet away, they provoke an opportunity attack. You use your reaction to make one melee attack against them, and this happens right before they actually transition from within reach to outside of reach.

Opportunity attacks are not triggered via teleportation, being hurtled by explosions, gravity, or otherwise being moved without the use of movement, action, or reaction - if a creature does spend any of those to move, it does provoke opportunity attacks.
Of course, all unless something explicitly says otherwise.

[topaz garnet]

This should suffice for explaining opportunity attacks. It's not a free attack, it costs a reaction, which may be spent on other things potentially.

[naive ivy]

so lets say, if i attacked already, and the enemy moved out of my attack range, i cant do an opportunist attack right?

[cobalt frigate]

As long as you have a reaction you can do an opportunity attack regardless if you have already attacked on your turn.

[topaz garnet]

If they move out of your reach (because reach and range are different terms - reach is specifically for how far one can reach, such as with melee attacks) then they provoke an opportunity attack, regardless of what you did.

If they're a hostile creature, if you can see them, if they leave your reach, and if there's nothing saying they don't provoke opportunity attacks, then you can choose to use your reaction to make an opportunity attack, to attack them just before they actually do leave your reach.

[naive ivy]

thanks i understand it now, sorry if i ask a lot of questions

[topaz garnet]

It's fine, that's what this and #dnd-rules are for, asking questions. This is for basic game concepts, like explaining what that OA rule means
And rules is for specific interactions or how things function.

But just to satiate my want to ensure - I'd like you to explain how OA's work this time, I wanna know if I explained poorly or too verbose

[cobalt frigate]

Don't apologize. We're here to help new players out on this channel.

[naive ivy]

if someone moves out of your reach (your attack range with your weapon) you can perform an opportunity attack

[topaz garnet]

It's a little more nuanced than that

[drifting cloud]

Err does that apply to range weapons? ( Bow and crossbow )

[topaz garnet]

No, not range, only a Melee attack.

your reach and a melee attack, nothing about a range and a ranged attack. It's one of the things in the game to improve melee, since range can be amazing - 150 foot range for 1d8 damage that far away, when mr longsword and shield is right next to the monster and also does 1d8 damage.

[drifting cloud]

So spell materials..like the stuff we need to cast spells where/how do we get those?

[topaz garnet]

Material components that are not consumed and do not have a stated cost are assumed to be free and in your component pouch, and can be replaced with a focus as specified in your class's spellcasting feature.

If it does have a cost or says it is consumed, you need to provide it for each casting, and cannot replace it with a focus. It has to be that, or something that says it can stand in for that (such as a specific legendary item from fizban's treasury of dragons, don't hedge your bets on having something like that)

[drifting cloud]

Err I meant components..

[topaz garnet]

Yes, the V/S/M

[drifting cloud]

Like to cast the spell darkness

Yeah

[topaz garnet]

If you're using a component pouch, you're assumed to have bat fur and a drop of pitch or a piece of coal as your total M component.
If you're using a focus, you use that for M.

Darkness's material component doesn't state a cost or consumption, ergo as long as you have a component pouch or appropriate focus, you can provide M for the spell

[drifting cloud]

Hmm where do I check focus? Or know how much/if I have any

[topaz garnet]

You only need to track components that have a cost or are consumed.

You're assumed to automatically have noncostly nonconsumed components, for free, having 'gotten them behind the scenes' - or you simply provide a focus in place of noncostly nonconsumed material components.

[drifting cloud]

Give an example of a spell that consumes a component

[topaz garnet]

Some spells require a wizard to provide bat guano and sulfur, or waggle and point their wand. Some don't, and only require magical intonations and/or gestures.

[drifting cloud]

So Ik what to look for

[topaz garnet]

Revivify requires diamonds worth at least 300 gp - you can't replace that, or be assumed to have it for free.

similarly raise dead, resurrection, true resurrection

Also, Continual Flame, Glyph of Warding and Symbol, Arcane Lock, Astral Projection, Augury, Awaken, Chromatic Orb

well, not consumes, but costly

Continual Flame, Awaken, Glyph of Warding, and Arcane Lock, do consume the material component.

[drifting cloud]

Annd how do I know it's consumed..you can't sit here and sate evey spell that consumes

[topaz garnet]

It'll say so

[drifting cloud]

I wanted to know the exact wording that is used..

[cobalt frigate]

It's in the spells' descriptions.

[topaz garnet]

https://www.dndbeyond.com/spells/arcane-lock
COMPONENTS
V, S, M *
(description)
* - (gold dust worth at least 25 gp, which the spell consumes)

[drifting cloud]

Got it o7

[karmic token]

hey there!! the "ability scores and modifiers table" isnt really getting across to me that well (what im talking about can be found in basic rules chp. 7, using ability scores, ability scores and modifiers) could i get some kind of summary or other explanation? thank you!!

[cobalt frigate]

Watch Critical Role's "Handbooker Helper" tutorial video series. This episode is on ability scores:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WoV5iM7peOg&list=PL1tiwbzkOjQyr6-gqJ8r29j_rJkR49uDN&index=4

[topaz garnet]

Your ability score determines that appropriate ability modifier.
The base score is 10, for a +0 modifier.
"Every even up" (12, 14, 16) is a +1 to the modifier (12 is +1, 14 is +2, 16 is +3)
"Every odd down" (9, 7, 5) is a -1 to the modiifer (9 is -1, 7 is -2, 5 is -3)

So 14 dex, 16 con, and 18 int, is +2 dex mod, +3 con mod, +4 int mod.

As such, a 15 dex does nothing noticeably different than a 14 dex, both providing a +2 modifier, as does 16 and 17 providing +3, and so on.

These aren't additive or stacking, they're derived. A certain score means it's a certain modifier.

[karmic token]

Oooh, okay! Thank you both for the help!

[topaz garnet]

Wanna do a brief showcase so we're sure we're on the same page?

[shrewd meadow]

Hello

[topaz garnet]

Welcome, any questions?

[karmic token]

Oh, sure!

[topaz garnet]

Alright then
15 str, 18 dex, 17 con

[shrewd meadow]

No not yet I most likely will tho

[full current]

Do ranger have assasin subclass

[topaz garnet]

Gloomstalker is your closest bet

[karmic token]

(sorry trying to math haha)

[cobalt frigate]

The assassin is a rogue sub-class.

[karmic token]

okay so i think it would be +2 str, +3 dex and +3 con?

[topaz garnet]

Which is why they ask if Ranger has a similar subclass to fill the same, or a similar, role, that the assassin subclass to the rogue does.

[karmic token]

oops

[cobalt frigate]

I make no assumptions what they're asking.

[topaz garnet]

Gloomstalker is as "assassin"-ey as Ranger gets

[topaz garnet]

+2 str, +4 dex, +3 con.

12 (+1), 14 (+2), 16 (+3), 18 (+4)

[karmic token]

thanks for the correction, i understand where i went wrong! thanks again for the help

[topaz garnet]

10-11. 12-13, 14-15, and so on, are the same for their modifiers (0, 1, 2)

[shrewd meadow]

Homebrew allows enemies to right

[topaz garnet]

Can I have more context?

[shrewd meadow]

1s

[cobalt frigate]

Enemies to what?

[topaz garnet]

"1s" one second to type

colloquial second but ey

[shrewd meadow]

Nvm

[topaz garnet]

now this question is going to eat at me
what does it mean

[shrewd meadow]

It won't let me type it

My phone is being annoying

[fleet field]

If your question is can you homebrew enemies, then yes

You can homebrew anything. Homebrew, by nature of what it is, does not have rules

[shrewd meadow]

Ty

[topaz garnet]

There's actually a guide for making your own monsters in chapter 9 of the DMG

[cobalt frigate]

Homebrewing is something we don't discuss here because this channel is to help out new players. Talking about homebrewing would confuse them when they're trying to learn the game's rules.

[fleet field]

Yeah

[full current]

Hi hi again, i have something i curious

In dnd is there's a war fight

Like really involve many

[fleet field]

Most dnd campaigns do involve combat, yes

[full current]

So is they're single sheets?

Like a group of 50 goblin

Will be just one sheet

[bronze cape]

man idk if anyone doing a game that i could join because im new

[topaz garnet]

A DM will often use the one goblin statblock for the multitude of goblins in the battle, yes

[fleet field]

Have you read the basic rules?

[bronze cape]

one second

[viral scaffold]

Hello! Basically brand new to DnD. Played a homebrew Star Wars varient for a few months back in college, but never official stuff. Do you have any YouTube recommendations that explain 5E in language easy for a newbie like me to digest?

[fleet field]

There’s the handbook helper series, but generally it’s best to use it alongside reading the basic rules to clarify things

The basic rules are linked in the pinned messages btw

[ornate kiln]

D&D doesnt do well with such high numbers of combatants. There are some rules in the Dungeon Master's Guide for mass combat that make things easier but 50 goblins attacking will take a long time to resolve no matter what. If the players are in a warzone, its usually better to focus on small but important parts of the battlefield and have everything else be just "fog of war" so to speak

[storm spindle]

Hi brand new to DnD. I made a character, did a back story and now I’m like 🤷‍♂️ I’m going to read a basic rule book and look at some beginner guides. Is there any literature I should focus on additionally?

[topaz garnet]

DND combat is more representative of 12 to 24 (average time range) seconds of probably no more than something like 15 combatants at the extreme population end

[topaz garnet]

Typically rules come before creation

[storm spindle]

That’s why I selected chaotic neutral, just to mix things up a bit

[naive ivy]

erm for multiclassing, there is requirements for that right? like wisdom or strength that stuff
cause for dndbeyond, i am able to multiclass without having any requirements

[solemn light]

There are, yep! Usually you need a 13 in the main stat of your current class, and a 13 in a main stat of the class you're multiclassing into.

https://www.dndbeyond.com/sources/basic-rules/customization-options#Prerequisites

[drifting cloud]

Err seemly we can bypass this by adding our multi-class BEFORE adding our ability scores..

Unless I am going wrong somewhere..

[ornate kiln]

D&D beyond lets you bypass this, yes, but that doesnt make it a legal character in your game

[topaz garnet]

You don't do multiple class levels (2 or higher) before determining ability scores

I think the most base process is level 1 and the 5 things (race class scores backstory equipment), and then any further levels

[drifting cloud]

It makes it legal if the DM doesn't know..don't we still get the benefits regardless of legal or not? IF the DM doesn't know

[ornate kiln]

trying to decieve your DM is generally not a great look, you know

[drifting cloud]

NO NO

It's just that it shouldn't be possible from the very beginning

The website should force you to add ability scores after choosing your first class

[ornate kiln]

D&D beyond is not a perfect tool. it has a number if spots where it allows you break the rules

[drifting cloud]

Ok we just simply wanted to confirm if we are cheating or not accidentally

Nothing about fooling the DM

[ornate kiln]

good to hear.

for the future, its always good to double check with the rules if DDB does them accurately. it gets them right most of time but you already stumbled on an example where it doesnt

[drifting cloud]

Ok the problem was found..we accidentally turned of multi-class requirements in the home section

The website indeed does not allow to bypass

Unless you have that turned off

[ornate kiln]

(it actually does if you dont have stats yet)

[drifting cloud]

WHA-

[drifting cloud]

Thank you for confirming 💀

[drifting cloud]

Shouldn't people mass report this to get it fixed?

[ornate kiln]

nah, its been like this forever. The Devs know. its probably just a limitation with the way the website works

[grand forum]

Hello! I finally played my first game of D & D yesterday! Any tips for where to go to find campaigns to join that are beginner friendly in the UK/Remotely?

[crude musk]

This is not a bug and so does not require reporting to the devs. You are simply not building a character correctly. As pointed out;

1. multiclassing is something only possible at level 2. You cannot be level 2 without being first level 1 and you can't be level 1 without having completed building your chracter, ability scores and all
2. multiclassing has ability score requirements, which means to multiclass you must know your ability scores to check if you meet those requires
   Before multiclassing, you should finish building your level 1 character
   For future reference:
   Multiclassing is more a topic for #character-discussion
   Issues with D&D Beyond is more a topic for #ddb-support

[fresh fable]

Search to see if there is a geek retreat near you, they usually have some dnd on once a week or could point you in the right direction for IRL games

[nocturne quail]

How do dms track health and stuff for enemies? Do they have their own paper where they record that or have a stat block for every single foe that the just change?

[velvet jetty]

I usually have a google doc that i track it on

[nocturne quail]

What about in person playing, you use a hidden paper with all that info?

[velvet jetty]

Usually on an index card behind the dm screen

[nocturne quail]

And have one index card for each enemy?

[grand forum]

Yeah, I've got one near my town that I'm going to soon 🙂

[velvet jetty]

That's the idea... But i get disorganized and usually do em all on one card

[nocturne quail]

Even repeating ones like we have a fight with 5 goblins so 5 goblin vards?

[velvet jetty]

I haven't played much offline in ages though so i don't know much about the modern way of doing things

[nocturne quail]

You have your monster manual near you right? Also if i modified an enemy how do i balance that then, how can i record the information on the index card

[velvet jetty]

Nah. Table space is limited and dndbeyond is a god send for monster stats

I usually draw squares flr every five hp on the index card and fill em in as they take damage

[nocturne quail]

Okay, that makes sense, what about modifing them though

[velvet jetty]

Write it down on their card, usually.

Lol you have no idea how bad status changes got back in the 4e or 3.5 days. You kinda just get a feeling for tracking them eventually

[lost bone]

Hello, I was trying out BG3 cause it looked like fun and wow…this is fun. So I bought the DnD Starterkit and what can I say: what the hell have I played the last 22 years in my board gaming career?!🤣

[nocturne quail]

Oh right, do you record status changes on pcs on their sheets? Or how?

[velvet jetty]

We used colored rubber bands around their mini to denote status effects

But usually you can just write it down on their sheet

[nocturne quail]

But where

[fresh fable]

Anywhere you like or make some colours cards with status written on them that you can hand to the player

[nocturne quail]

Okay, what about counting time in the game? For status effects, and things like that

Lenght of spells

Also how do backpacks work exactly? Like do i somehow write that i hold something in my backpack?

[fresh fable]

They work like in real life, just imagine that you’ve got all your useful stuff on your belt and everything else is in your backpack

If you want to put (b) next to the items that you are storing in there to denote it

[nocturne quail]

What if i hold more than a backpack should be able to work

Is there a difference between having it or not?

Does it add the 30 lbs to my usual lbs?

[velvet jetty]

Doesn't usually make a difference

[nocturne quail]

Can we just assume i "hold stuff" in a backpack, and when it gets stolen i can roll for what was stolen exactly?

Is it kind of like schrodingers cat

Like some of my stuff is on the belt and backpack and it only matters when i take it out?

[fresh fable]

Yeah pretty much, your DM will prob have his own ruling on this stuff

[nocturne quail]

Hmm, okay

[loud grove]

hey there! I just found this server existed and have never played dnd. I have watched/listened to it and heard many good things.

[velvet jetty]

Welcome to the hobby

[loud grove]

thx

[nocturne quail]

Still wondering, just kind of, writing it all up?

[fresh fable]

About time?

[wild onyx]

Time passes at different rates depending on what's going on.

If you're in combat, each round is considered to last six seconds during which each participant may take actions in a turn-based fashion.

If you're not, you might have a ten minute conversation that lasts ten minutes, describe in seconds how you fix a broken cart and get told, "that takes you the rest of the day," or go on a sea journey that takes months in-game but is described as "a long and boring voyage later, you arrive."

Keep note of what's important to you, your character and the scenario.

[nocturne quail]

How is xp distributed exactly?

Split evenly between party members?

[wild onyx]

Typically awarded to the party as a whole. I believe most DMs use the milestone method these days. Levels are granted once the characters have achieved certain narrative goals - defend a village, defeat an evil, uncover a big secret, etc.

[hasty glen]

yo guys im new to dnd but my timezone is very bad, and there are almost no games in my timezone, any suggestions on what I should do ?

[solemn light]

It is still possible to find games with wildly differing timezones, but you need to look more. Roll20 let's you filter by what time you can play, to see what games are available, and otherwise it's just keeping an eye out for games that match your schedule. So focus less on 'this isn't my timezone' and more 'is this in a slot I can play?'

Checking what times you can play in the more commonly posted timezones (American ones) can help speed it up.

[wild onyx]

Without stating your location, what timezone are you in?

[hasty glen]

IST

[hasty glen]

alright ty

[nocturne quail]

Wgere do you write feats on a physical character sheet?

In additional features and traits?

[jovial yoke]

That's where I usually put it

Some sheets have additional space on the back for it

[nocturne quail]

Or just features and traits?

Oh okay

[jovial yoke]

The additional features and traits space is just for when you have so many features and traits you run out of space

D&D characters can end up with lots of traits

[nocturne quail]

Can you recommend any simple dnd free campaigns i could do to see how playing dm goes and for teachong friends the basics?

[velvet jetty]

Lost mine of Phandelver is free and it's a good one

[fresh fable]

It’s not free anymore

[velvet jetty]

Ah

[wild onyx]

What about the one in the Essentials kit, something something Stormwrack Isle?

[nocturne quail]

I dont have that

[fresh fable]

https://www.dndbeyond.com/sources/itsi/intro-to-stormwreck-isle

[ornate kiln]

https://winghornpress.com/adventures/

those two are decent beginner adventures

[nocturne quail]

Can i use treasure on my character sheet for storing my more permament items like shields and weapons?

[fresh fable]

Sure it’s your character sheet no one is going to stop you writing stuff anywhere you like

[nocturne quail]

How do you mark expertise on rogue proficiencies?

[fresh fable]

Write an E next to the skill

[nocturne quail]

Okay okay

Does poisoning via a vial make an enemy take 1d4 per turn for the whole minute?

[fresh fable]

Should say on the item how long it lasts

[nocturne quail]

It lasts a minute, but i dont get whether its just 1d4 one time and then just poisoned debuff or 1d4 poison every turn

[fresh fable]

Which item?

[wild onyx]

It does 1d4 damage on the failed save when you hit an opponent, and only then. However, the poison remains on the weapon it was applied to for one minute after application. It does not apply the poisoned condition.

https://www.dndbeyond.com/equipment/poison-basic-vial

So you smear it on your sword, it stays usable for a minute (10 rounds) and every time you hit someone they have to make a CON save or take 1d4 extra damage.

[nocturne quail]

Ah okay, i read it wrong then

[wild onyx]

Whuf, and that's meant to cost 100gp? Total rip-off.

[nocturne quail]

Is there some kind of poison like damage over time poison?

[nocturne quail]

In downtime you can make it thankfully

Wyvern poison is absurdly powerful though

From what i read

[wild onyx]

Burnt othur fumes, whatever they are, but they're inhaled. If there's something else I can't see it in SRD content.

[nocturne quail]

This poison must be harvested from a dead or incapacitated wyvern. A creature subjected to this poison must make a DC 15 Constitution saving throw, taking 24 (7d6) poison damage on a failed save, or half as much damage on a successful one.

Thiz is single wound right? Not one minute?

[sturdy plover]

heya

[topaz garnet]

It does what it says.

[wild onyx]

It does what it says. Wyvern poison, let me look at the text...

"Injury: Injury poison can be applied to weapons, ammunition, trap components, and other objects that deal piercing or slashing damage and remains potent until delivered through a wound or washed off."

So one use per dose.

[topaz garnet]

Look at Pale Tincture.

[wild onyx]

Ingested, though.

[topaz garnet]

and is per 24 hours

[wild onyx]

1d6 damage.

[twin viper]

Is standard array just the less customized version of the other methods?

of the generation methods*

[ornate kiln]

you can replicate standard array with point buy, yes

not sure how to compare it to rolling for stats though. thats random after all

[wild onyx]

I'm pretty sure, yes. It's a way of organising your numbers so you've got a decent core ability, a couple that aren't bad, some average and a weak spot.

[twin viper]

Alr thanks!

[nocturne quail]

Are there moments when enemies cant fly? Why would a wyvern walk when it has 80 feet flying

Do non caster classes have spell slots for magic items?

[edgy onyx]

If they have the chance to fly, there's very little chance it wouldn't

Though the DM can decide based on circumstances, like maybe the creature is too tired or wounded to fly, or maybe its smart enough to see the party has ways to deal with flying, for example

But by itself, flying has very few disadvantages to using when possible. Probably the biggest one being the potential to fall and take falling damage

[nocturne quail]

If i have a spell storing item, does the amount of uses depend on the active users int mod or how does that work

[edgy onyx]

Magic items dont require spellslots (though some may require the user to be a spellcaster, but the item will specify)

[nocturne quail]

I wanted to make my own one, thus im not sure how to do that

[edgy onyx]

#homebrew could help you with that

[nocturne quail]

i might check it out later, but mmm im not sure about all that stuff and ideas

i want to get the whole artificer spell storing thing

also do artificers have their own spell list apart from the one from their subclass

[smoky adder]

Yes

[tardy knot]

I'd really like to play, am disabled and haven't been able to work for 3 years

[smoky adder]

Welcome!

[exotic remnant]

What is D&D?

• Learn the basics and enjoy a short adventure with our quick introductory demo.

How does it work?

• The Basic Rules are available at no cost and cover everything you need to know to play.
• For bite-sized video explanations, check out Critical Role's Handbooker Helper series.

Where do I start?

• Create a character digitally on D&D Beyond or print a character sheet to fill out by hand.
• Check out #find-a-game to find a group to join.

[fallen surge]

Whether or not Homebrew is allowed, and what homebrew content you can use is up to your DM.

If you haven’t joined a campaign yet, and don’t have a DM, it’s usually best practice to assume that homebrew will not be allowed, but no one can give you a definitive answer on that

All that being said, it is highly recommended that newcomers should avoid homebrew while they are still learning how to play the game and how the rules work. The whole point of homebrew is to change the rules of the game, so that makes it a lot harder to learn what the actual rules are and how the game should normally work.

[mild lantern]

Hi everyon!

very new here in the world of DnD!

[lusty minnow]

Same

[exotic remnant]

What is D&D?

• Learn the basics and enjoy a short adventure with our quick introductory demo.

How does it work?

• The Basic Rules are available at no cost and cover everything you need to know to play.
• For bite-sized video explanations, check out Critical Role's Handbooker Helper series.

Where do I start?

• Create a character digitally on D&D Beyond or print a character sheet to fill out by hand.
• Check out #find-a-game to find a group to join.

[wild onyx]

Welcome! We have useful links and helpful people.

[buoyant prawn]

how do i play my first dnd game? i don't know where do i play and how. also i don't even know if my character works or i missed something.

[cobalt frigate]

Do you want to play in person or online?

[buoyant prawn]

i want to play my first game online, but after i want to play in person because i want to play with my friends that already play dnd

[cobalt frigate]

Check out #find-a-game

As for in person check out your local game shops, school/university for a D&D club, Meetup, and Facebook D&D groups.

[buoyant prawn]

ok thanks

[wild onyx]

Share your character sheet over in #character-discussion , and we can see if it's missing anything for you.

[buoyant prawn]

ok thanks

[lime karma]

Good afternoon, everyone.

[nocturne quail]

Create a typical meal 10
Duplicate a meal 10
Spot poison or impurities in food 15
Create a gourmet meal 15
What does gourmet food do, and does duplicate meal mean i just make a copy without any cost?

And when we have skill descriptions like this
History. Your knowledge of cooking techniques allows you to assess the social patterns involved in a culture's eating habits.
Medicine. When administering treatment, you can transform medicine that is bitter or sour into a pleasing concoction.
Survival. When foraging for food, you can make do with ingredients you scavenge that others would be unable to transform into nourishing meals.
What do those mean, is there any roll to those things?

[cobalt frigate]

What is this that you're referring to?

Context helps.

The numbers would be the DC.

[wild onyx]

Looks like using skills in conjunction with the cooking proficiency/ feat, to me. As said, the numbers are the DC, target to equal or beat with a d20 plus your modifiers. Everything listed there are examples and options.

[cobalt frigate]

Is this from an adventure and you're the DM? If so, this is more of a question for #dm-discussion

[fallow stream]

good afternoon im new and im not sure where to begin

[exotic remnant]

What is D&D?

• Learn the basics and enjoy a short adventure with our quick introductory demo.

How does it work?

• The Basic Rules are available at no cost and cover everything you need to know to play.
• For bite-sized video explanations, check out Critical Role's Handbooker Helper series.

Where do I start?

• Create a character digitally on D&D Beyond or print a character sheet to fill out by hand.
• Check out #find-a-game to find a group to join.

[cobalt frigate]

Read the free Basic Rules (at least the first four chapters on character creation).

I highly recommend you check out Critical Role's "Handbook Helper" video tutorial series on Youtube.

Both are linked above.

[nocturne quail]

Cooks utensils description, what is gourmet food?

And i get how dc works

But the use is too vague, what does it mean to have gourmet food instead of something else

[cobalt frigate]

Where is this cooks utensils description?

[wild onyx]

It's well prepared, to a higher standard than normal fare. Tastier, more refined.

[cobalt frigate]

Gourmet food is what you would find at a Michelin-star restaurant and not at McDonald's.

[nocturne quail]

Phb 154

Any gameplay difference?

[lime karma]

I'm new to the game as well so I'm still figuring out where to start.

[nocturne quail]

Or does it have non and is just for flavor

[wild onyx]

Hah, flavour, nice one!

[exotic remnant]

What is D&D?

• Learn the basics and enjoy a short adventure with our quick introductory demo.

How does it work?

• The Basic Rules are available at no cost and cover everything you need to know to play.
• For bite-sized video explanations, check out Critical Role's Handbooker Helper series.

Where do I start?

• Create a character digitally on D&D Beyond or print a character sheet to fill out by hand.
• Check out #find-a-game to find a group to join.

[harsh fjord]

⬆️ See the links above for getting started!

[cobalt frigate]

I don't see any lists of DC.
https://www.dndbeyond.com/equipment/cooks-utensils

These special tools include the items needed to pursue a craft or trade. Proficiency with a set of artisan's tools lets you add your proficiency bonus to any ability checks you make using the tools in your craft. Each type of artisan's tools requires a separate proficiency.

[nocturne quail]

Is it truly just, nothing but "tasty", which is nothing?

[cobalt frigate]

I think you're overthinking about this.

[nocturne quail]

Ah yeah, look into the page 80 of xanthar

[nocturne quail]

Like, i want to get this stuff

If it just is for lulz

Then its okay but its too vague for me

[cobalt frigate]

It's meant to be vague. It's up to the DM to deal with the specifics which the tool could be used.

You're overthinking this.

The rulebooks cannot give out every possible situation that could arise at a table. That's what the DM is for the judicate the rules and deem what should happen based on their interpretation of the rules.

[echo kelp]

Not everything in this game needs mechanics - a lot of this game is group make-believe within a framework of rules which really, at the most fundamental level, boil down to the DM deciding the context and what rules are in play and then asking for dice rolls when it makes sense.

[nocturne quail]

So its not really anything unless dm decides it is

[cobalt frigate]

The DM decides if anything needs a roll or not.

[visual junco]

so im pretty new to dnd and i want to DM but its seems very complacated and i dont where were to start to learn how to DM

[wild onyx]

Read the rules, play a couple of games, see how it goes.

[cobalt frigate]

Head on over to #dm-discussion to ask for advice.

[visual junco]

ty

[harsh fjord]

This is a handy guide (https://howtogm.guide/) though knowing the rules is pretty essential.

[visual junco]

thank you so much ^^

[nocturne quail]

That does not answer my problem, does gourmet food do anything special

[harsh fjord]

Rules as Written, no.

[cobalt frigate]

It's flavour.
A PC with cook untensil want to cook an elborate dinner for whatever situation. The DM decides they need to roll a DC 15 to pull it off. The rules for the untensils is just providing a baseline of what the DC could be.

Again, you're overthinking this.

If the description doesn't provide a game mechanics benefit then there's no game mechanics beneift.

[nocturne quail]

Okay then

Do clerics have to do what their gods want? What if they dont

[harsh fjord]

Not all clerics follow a god, and how a given god reacts to a cleric's behavior isn't something the rules state, so that'd be very much a DM call.

[cobalt frigate]

PCs have player agency.

Deities don't bother micromanaging their clergy. They are too busy with deity stuff.

It would be up to the DM if a PC cleric goes against their deities tenets.

[nocturne quail]

Okay

[untold dove]

Bonsoir. Y a-t-il des joueurs français ?

[cobalt frigate]

This is an English-only server.

[nimble topaz]

is anyone else new to dnd

[plucky ridge]

Lots of people. This channel is for people who are new to the game and are looking for advice or have questions.

[nimble topaz]

quick question

how many races are there

[plucky ridge]

Off the top of my head I can't give an exact number but there are a lot. Easily over 20 now.

[cobalt frigate]

There are about 55 official playable races but they may not be available depending on what your DM allows in their campaign setting.

[nimble topaz]

why would a dm not allow some races

[cobalt frigate]

Because some are setting specific while others the DM don't have in their world.

[plucky ridge]

They may not fit with the setting or could have abilities they don't want to manage in their game. It depends on the DM.

[cobalt frigate]

There are no orcs in the Dragonlance setting for example.

Changelings and warforged are exclusive to the Eberron setting

[nimble topaz]

what settings are there,

[cobalt frigate]

There are many official ones: Forgotten Realms, Dragonlance, Eberron, Spelljammer, Planescape, Theros, Ravinica. Plus homebrew worlds unique to individual DMs.

Again, the DM has final say what is in their campaign setting.

[nimble topaz]

allright

[hidden stratus]

Do the languages in DND mimic irl languages, or are they all their own structure?

[echo kelp]

Languages is just a flavor construct with very little mechanical impact except where one creature doesn't speak the language of another.
Remember this is just a game.

[old flame]

i haven't played dnd yet but i am looking to start playing

[smoky adder]

Welcome! There’s some good links here to get you started:

[exotic remnant]

What is D&D?

• Learn the basics and enjoy a short adventure with our quick introductory demo.

How does it work?

• The Basic Rules are available at no cost and cover everything you need to know to play.
• For bite-sized video explanations, check out Critical Role's Handbooker Helper series.

Where do I start?

• Create a character digitally on D&D Beyond or print a character sheet to fill out by hand.
• Check out #find-a-game to find a group to join.

[smoky adder]

But if you have any specific questions, you’re in the right place!

[hidden stratus]

So then if I chose a language, and spoke another to represent it, that’d be fine then? Like speaking Swedish to represent just a random language

[wild onyx]

If your fellow players are cool with it, it could add a bit of flavour, sure.

[hidden stratus]

Alright, thanks mate

[molten galleon]

I don't have anyone to play with and just wanna ask where can I find people for online sessions and if anyone needs a fighter cuz i already made a character

[plucky ridge]

You can make a post for yourself in #750812887697588356, you can also check out DMs looking for players in #looking-for-players. Outside of the server, you can check out the Roll20 or D&D Beyond Looking for Game forums.

[remote bluff]

Do a Druid in animal form benefits from +AC items or "set constitution to 19" kind of items?

[smoky adder]

If the druid decides to continue wearing their equipment and the DM agrees the new form is capable of wearing it, yes.

[lyric fjord]

I now next to nothing about d&d but I won't to learn and play can someone help show me the ropes

[echo kelp]

Check out the pinned messages here in this channel - there’s some useful resources to help get you started

[nocturne quail]

Is there a spell or a way to lower an enemies constitution modifier during a fight?

[echo kelp]

Not specifically constitution but bane reduces a target’s rolls by a d4

[nocturne quail]

Yeah i see

No way to learn it as a druid apart from multiclass?

[echo kelp]

Yeah that context wasn’t provided so… nope, druids don’t have that. But possibly someone in the party has that spell.

[deft sigil]

The cantrip Mind Sliver will also give a creature 1d4 off a saving throw if it lands

so not constitution directly, but helpful

[tight zephyr]

hi

[limber hazel]

hi

[tight zephyr]

im new

idk wat to say lol

[novel jetty]

welcome, to DnD, have a look around

[limber hazel]

lol Yeah me too. Have you played DnD before? (i haven't yet)

[tight zephyr]

My first time playing was Sunday I watch some YouTube about it that's all a friend made me a character sheet but that's all the knowledge I have

@limber hazel

[limber hazel]

Okay, cool, how was it? I still have to find ppl to play with. + english isn't my first language, so im a bit anxious, yk?

Btw. just so you know, there's ALOT of links and so on in here that can teach you everything you wanna know about DnD

[limber hazel]

I don't know how others do it, but you can summon @exotic remnant

[tight zephyr]

It was real fun to play and I wanted to find more people to play with

[smoky adder]

Type ?new

[exotic remnant]

What is D&D?

• Learn the basics and enjoy a short adventure with our quick introductory demo.

How does it work?

• The Basic Rules are available at no cost and cover everything you need to know to play.
• For bite-sized video explanations, check out Critical Role's Handbooker Helper series.

Where do I start?

• Create a character digitally on D&D Beyond or print a character sheet to fill out by hand.
• Check out #find-a-game to find a group to join.

[limber hazel]

Ah cool, thanks!

[tight zephyr]

I'm confused

[smoky adder]

By?

[tight zephyr]

I don't feel Discord really so I'm confused about everything

Be on Discord

[limber hazel]

I mean.... depends on what you're looking for? You wanna talk to ppl? Do you wanna find ppl to play with? Do you have questions about rules?

If you're new to Discord or something, it's just a tool for ppl to find each other and communicate. This is the Official DnD server and you can use different tools/channels to find ppl or talk about whatever it is you wanna talk about with other members of this server @tight zephyr

For instance, check out https://discord.com/channels/516367331358801950/1132102050788941944

Or https://discord.com/channels/516367331358801950/1070720656917938227

[tight zephyr]

Thanks again

[limber hazel]

np mate

[orchid sinew]

Hello I am new in this and want to try DND but I do not know how or where to start. Anyone wanna play with a total noob_

[fleet field]

have a look at the basic rules linked in the pinned messages

[orchid sinew]

Thank you I will read it.

[limber hazel]

We should group up and find a DM lol 😂 He's gonna have a heck of a time dming for 2 total noobs

[coarse rock]

get me to

3 noobs

[echo kelp]

?looking

[exotic remnant]

Ready to play Dungeons & Dragons?

Visit #find-a-game for everything you need to start your search, including:

• Instructions for finding a game here on the server (including how to post in our #looking-for channels).
• Suggestions for finding a game outside of this server.
• Basic advice to help you in your hunt.

[neat gazelle]

Fairly new to dnd, only stared a week or two ago, and I'm obsessed

[coarse rock]

i didnt even started

dont even know anything

[limber hazel]

😂 😂 Yo, is ur DM up for taking us 3 in ? @coarse rock @orchid sinew

[limber hazel]

Same man, at the moment im really just reading a whole bunch of stuff about it

[neat gazelle]

All I know is it's obsessively fun

[twilit wyvern]

I joined here because I like to help new players

[coarse rock]

when do we start?

[tight zephyr]

yea im up to it @limber hazel

[coarse rock]

less get it less get it

[novel jetty]

ah, DnD really does bring people together lol

[tight zephyr]

lol

[coarse rock]

we gone make him have an headach

[limber hazel]

😂 😂

[coarse rock]

"NO YOU CANT JUST BACKFLIP INTO THE HORDE OF GOBLINS"

[twilit wyvern]

yes you can its just ill advised

[novel jetty]

Roll me a Acrobatics CHECK!

[neat gazelle]

So how would someone find a group to play with irl

[coarse rock]

so when do we start???

[twilit wyvern]

depends on were you live the local game stores are a good start

[glass summit]

I would suggest googling for local D&D facebook pages and Meetup.com events
You should also check with local gamestores and libraries for boardgame groups

[limber hazel]

I'll pm you

[coarse rock]

aight

[limber hazel]

"Roll me a Dexterity Check with a DC of 15" - idk, that's what i kinda assume to happen

[coarse rock]

how long does a dnd game lasts?

[tight zephyr]

can i join

[twilit wyvern]

as long as the group is willing to keep playing together

[coarse rock]

so like... infinite?

[twilit wyvern]

3 hours is about average for a game session.

[coarse rock]

aight i see

[limber hazel]

Yeah

[twilit wyvern]

My main group have been playing once a week for over 2 years

[glass summit]

Between the few groups I play with they usually go for 5 hours

[limber hazel]

Whoah, that's insane. Same campaign or do you play different ones every now and then? And i have 2 questions:

1. How do you deal with death
2. How do you deal with Inventory and EXP management?

I haven't played myself yet, so idk how DND beyond works digitally or how you take notes on your character sheet.

Do you just add your exp up at the end of a session and write it on your list? Does DnD beyond do it on it's own? And how do you manage a full inventory of stuff? In online games it's easy peazy, but i have no idea how to actually properly keep note of things in a DnD game

[twilit wyvern]

we have been lucky in that none of the party has died not for the lack of trying on the DM's part but we have several expirianced players most of us Have DM'd before and can bring a fallen charater back up before they die. inventory you have what you can carry and drop what you don't need and pick up what you do along the way.

kill count, XP treasure is up to the DM to figure out and hand out either during or the end of a game session. some don't us XP, you level up one you reach benchmarks in the game they have prepared. both have advantages and drawbacks.

dealing with death if you loose your character if the other party members don't raise yours back up then you make a new character, in some games that means starting at Level 1 in others the DM will have you make one close to the level you are playing so as not to have a low level charracter running around with high level ones and being killed off every other round

[topaz garnet]

DDB has the things accessible and search-able, you just have to keep on top of adding them. It's easy to just add +X gp when you find money, it automatically does some math for you (but not currency conversion)

[twilit wyvern]

sometimes creating the backstory for who your character is and why they are adventuring will make it easier to come up with not only the class you want to play but lends to the atitude you character has.

[fleet smelt]

Hey guys I am a noob to DnD and want to be a DM and plan on playing with my family bc none of my friends want to play TTRPG. Anybody have tips on how I can become a good DM, how I can keep my players entertained and what books I should buy to start out well and understand the rules.

[smoky adder]

As far as the rules go, there’s some handy links here to get you started:

[exotic remnant]

What is D&D?

• Learn the basics and enjoy a short adventure with our quick introductory demo.

How does it work?

• The Basic Rules are available at no cost and cover everything you need to know to play.
• For bite-sized video explanations, check out Critical Role's Handbooker Helper series.

Where do I start?

• Create a character digitally on D&D Beyond or print a character sheet to fill out by hand.
• Check out #find-a-game to find a group to join.

[smoky adder]

And some good DM advice here:

?dmtips

[exotic remnant]

D&D Starter Set: Dragons of Stormwreck Isle

Dungeon Master Tips

The most important part of being a good DM is facilitating the fun of everyone at the table. Keep these tips in mind to help things go smoothly:

Embrace the shared story.

D&D is about telling a story as a group, so let the players contribute to the outcome through the words and deeds of their characters. If some players are reluctant to speak up, ask them what their characters are doing.

It’s not a competition.

The DM isn’t competing against the player characters. Your job is to referee the rules, run monsters, and keep the story moving.

Be fair and flexible.

Treat your players in a fair, impartial manner. The rules help you do this, but you can make your own rulings to ensure everyone is having fun.

Modify the adventure to suit your tastes.

Adventures have no prescribed outcome. You can alter any encounter to make it more interesting and fun for your players.

Don’t worry about mistakes.

Dungeon Masters are fallible, just like everyone else, and even experienced DMs make mistakes. If you overlook, forget, or misrepresent something, correct yourself and move on. No one expects you to memorize every part of this adventure and all the rules in the Basic Rules. As long as your players are having fun, everything will be just fine.

[fleet smelt]

Ohhh ok thank you. Should I buy books physically or on DnD Beyond. And if I do on Dnd Beyond how does it work? I just have a "pdf" version of the book in my library>

[smoky adder]

Different people have different preferences on that one.

I prefer using D&D Beyond.

But if you check out the Basic Rules linked above, that should give you a good idea of how the other books work there, too.

[fleet smelt]

Ok thank you so much for the help!

[west ruin]

so question where and how do i join dnd games?

[topaz garnet]

You can do local games in your area, or you can use #find-a-game to find online games

[west ruin]

oh i see

[twilit wyvern]

I have several hardbacks and most of whats offered on DDB. the key is what is right for you and your players. so you need to ask yourself a few questions 1 are you playing in person or on line? 2 do the others have books?

if you are going to run an online game and the others don't have books you can share your DDB books with the members of your game. that way they can make characters ect... and only one person has to lay out the $ for the books

also if you find a player that already has the books they can share them as well

for example I will share a link to a campaing that allows players to make characters granted after a few days I will need to take it down but it will show you what you can do if one of the group has books and maybe the rest just gives money so the DM can buy more books as time goes on...

https://www.dndbeyond.com/campaigns/join/35412673069490409

[candid thorn]

Is a cave system with enemies in it considered a dungeon?

[twilit wyvern]

I would say yes

[cobalt frigate]

In D&D parlance a "dungeon" is basically an interior that the PCs explore.

This derives from the early days of D&D where PCs explore tombs, sewers, and dungeons. Hence, the term "dungeon crawl."

[limber hazel]

When creating a Wizard on DnDB, can i just choose to learn all spells available on there or is there like a limitation in place? I imagine, you're not supposed to know every lvl 1 spell ?

[novel jetty]

You know a nummber of spells depending on your level

You start off with 6, and get two new spells every level. The only reason why there's no cap to what you nknow if because wizards can copy spells down into their books

[limber hazel]

Ooh, so im supposed to have 6 known spells, right? And 1 of them, i can have prepared and i have 3 cantrips?

[smoky adder]

Yeah, 6 known and 3 cantrips.

But for the spells you prepare:

choose a number of wizard spells from your spellbook equal to your Intelligence modifier + your wizard level (minimum of one spell).

[topaz garnet]

as a 1st level wizard, you begin with cantrips ingrained in your knowledge, and a spellbook containing 6 spells of 1st level. You can then prepare a selection of spells from your spellbook.

[smoky adder]

(If you’re a wizard with +0 intelligence, you’re gonna have a hard time.)

[limber hazel]

ooh um... i think, i must've messed something up then

[topaz garnet]

A class focusing on a certain stat will want that stat to be high, yes.

[smoky adder]

FWIW, the wizard Quick Start guide says this:

First, Intelligence should be your highest ability score, followed by Constitution or Dexterity.
https://www.dndbeyond.com/classes/wizard#CreatingaWizard

Not that you have to follow that, but it’s generally good advice.

But wizards are all about spells, and INT effects how many spells you can use and how strong those spells are.

Then DEX and CON are both going to help keep you alive, by improving your AC and HP respectively.

[limber hazel]

Where do i post my character?

[limber hazel]

I do have Int at my highest, im just not sure how it affects how many lvl 1 spells, i can have prepared, because atm it's just one, but according tho this, it should be 4 in my case?

[smoky adder]

If you have +3 INT, then yes.

[topaz garnet]

the DDB menu may be confusing, there's your known spells and prepared spells

[smoky adder]

And you can share it in #character-discussion if you like.

[limber hazel]

ok, yeah idk what happened before, but editing it in hindsight, it allows me 4 spells in fact

What does it mean when there is a Material requirement for a spell?

[topaz garnet]

it's a material component, just like verbal being the magic intonations, and the somatic being the gestures

For most, you can ignore them if you have a Component Pouch in your inventory, or if you have a Focus as appropriate for your class (like a wand, orb, staff - for bards, an instrument - for clerics, a holy symbol). Stuff like a piece of wool, an eggshell, salt and pepper, soot, silver wire, etc. Anything that doesn't state a cost or consumption.

For when things do say they need to cost at least X money, or that they are consumed by the spell (usually also costly if it is consumed), you need to provide that component each casting, no focus replacement or component pouch freebie.

[limber hazel]

Ooooh okay, i think, i kinda get it now. I should have read through the spellcasting tutorial first, but i was eager to finally make my character haha

[topaz garnet]

For example, Chromatic Orb simply requires a diamond worth at least 50 GP to be presented each time you cast it, you can use the same, singular diamond, for infinite casts of Chromatic Orb (as long as you have the slots to cast it too)

While Arcane Lock requires gold dust worth at least 25 GP which is consumed by the spell
So you need the 25gp worth of gold dust each time you cast Arcane Lock.

https://www.dndbeyond.com/sources/basic-rules/spellcasting#WhatIsaSpell

[limber hazel]

Yeah that

I'll have to read that and more over the week.

[cobalt frigate]

Material components with gold value are a gameplay mechanic that essentially is there to limit how often they can be cast.

[topaz garnet]

But yeah, Chromatic Orb needs a single diamond of 50gp for your ticket to be allowed to cast it, it's never consumed

Whereas Arcane Lock needs you to pay out 25gp of gold dust every time - so if you plan on casting it four times, stock up on 100gp worth of gold dust.

[limber hazel]

So it doesn't matter, wether i choose arcane focus or pouch, right?

[topaz garnet]

only a minute difference that matters if you need to get real specific on hands and what you're holding and if your DM gets nitpicky over the juggling act of what you hold in a battle

so mostly... not an issue.

[limber hazel]

So, if i take wand, i would be handling a wand in my hand basically

[topaz garnet]

It's nice flavour either way - you provide myriads of components and cast using those, such as thematically pulling the wool over their eyes by using the material component of minor illusion, or just using a wand to throw your bolts of elemental destruction

[topaz garnet]

And it'd be what you need for any spell with M that doesn't state a monetary cost or a component consumption

some spells don't require M at all - as long as you can provide the V or the S or both, you can use the slot to cast it

[limber hazel]

but if i take arcane focus..... and then arcane focus? Again, i don't really know what it is. I would use that for spells that require M and would have my hands free or what?

[limber hazel]

So if my hands are tied, i can't provide S, basically? Or if im swimming for instance?

[topaz garnet]

For the most part it's just flavor as to your focus

the exception is a staff also being a quarterstaff

[limber hazel]

Okay, cool. Thanks.

[limber hazel]

So, i can take a Dagger and then a staff aswell?

[topaz garnet]

no rule prohibits you from providing S unless something specifically and explicitly says so, so off the top of my surface encyclopedia head, nope.

[topaz garnet]

?

[limber hazel]

Oh okay, thx

[topaz garnet]

For example, the only rule I can think of that prevents providing V components, is the Silence spell.

[limber hazel]

Yeah

[limber hazel]

I'd send you a pic, but i can't to explain what i mean

[topaz garnet]

Also, remember, the casting and the effect are different - your magic intonations and noises when casting the Suggestion spell are not the same thing as the suggestion you say as part of Suggestion's effect

[limber hazel]

Wizard Starting Equipment:
Dagger or Quarterstaff
I choose Dagger
Component or Arcane focus
I choose 2nd. If i now choose staff, do i have a quarterstaff in inventory?

[spark harness]

Hey I'm pretty bew to both the server and dnd

New

[novel jetty]

welcome

[topaz garnet]

This is finding our way to a spaghetti portion of the rules. Just read through how your starting equipment works, how arcane focus works, and remember things simply do as they say.

[obsidian karma]

Im trying to use the looking for dm and it says to send a message in chat but I cant

[topaz garnet]

use #find-a-game as directed

it says visit find-a-game for directions on how to post

[limber hazel]

Thank you! 🙂

If i choose the Sage background and add investigation and perception among my race's own skill proficiencies. Do i have too many skills?

[topaz garnet]

What do you mean too many?

[cobalt frigate]

Which race did you choose?

[topaz garnet]

Sage gives those, you get any from your race, you get choices from your class, there's your skill proficiencies

[cobalt frigate]

(There's never too many)

[novel jetty]

theres no such thing as too many skills

[topaz garnet]

There can be too many - more than what you're actually being given proficiency in.

Other than that, it's usually better to be proficient in more things than few things.

[cobalt frigate]

Well, yeah...

[topaz garnet]

So while it's nice to be proficient in a bazillion things, it usually means you might have given up something else - like your race just giving profs (human) and no features like how a Half-Orc can make themselves drop to 1hp instead of 0hp once a day

[limber hazel]

Oh okay, cool. I just thought, maybe that somehow, picking a Background is overkill? But im glad, this is cool. So.....i can also have up to 5 languages from the get-go?

[topaz garnet]

background is a core part of a character

[limber hazel]

Basic, Elvis, Dwarvish and then i pick another two as a Sage?

[novel jetty]

it isnt overkill

[limber hazel]

I skipped it first time i went through 😂 😭

[topaz garnet]

whatever your combos give, yes

[topaz garnet]

it's one of the 5 parts of creating a character in the builder tool

[limber hazel]

Stupid question, but which would you recommend?

[novel jetty]

Undercommon or Draconic

[limber hazel]

i know... i know..

[topaz garnet]

my faves include undercommon, deep speech, primordial, and draconic

[limber hazel]

I have no idea what these are

What's undercommon? And also... deep speech sounds cool?

[novel jetty]

undercommon is what drow and other subterrainean races speak.

[twilit wyvern]

if you are playing a skill based game over a combat based one start rogue and multiclass to bard

[novel jetty]

Deep speech is abberation (outsider or alien) speech

[topaz garnet]

undercommon is like, drow, the underdark
deep speech is aberrations, lovecraftian aliens
primordial is elemental - fire, earth, water, air
draconic is dragon

[limber hazel]

oooh cool

[topaz garnet]

if you've ever heard of big alien gods going "WOAOAOAAARHRHGG" that's deep speech

[limber hazel]

yeah hahah cthulu style

Man, now i kinda wanna change the first language, that you get as an elf-half and change it from dwarvish to draconic

So i can have Deep Speech, Undercommon and Draconic

[novel jetty]

THe first two are situational

[limber hazel]

But i also wanna talk to dwarfs. But then again, you have teammates, right?

[novel jetty]

your usually not fighting eldritch beings, or going down in the underdark

[topaz garnet]

most peoples will also speak common

[limber hazel]

True

[limber hazel]

Also true.

[novel jetty]

depends on your campaign, really

[topaz garnet]

a DM might rule that speaking someone's native language might make them a bit more amenable to talking to the strange group of misfits in the first place, for example - no hard and fast rule

[limber hazel]

Yeah, and i've never played DnD and will probably play a low-lvl simple campaign

[limber hazel]

That sounds nice

[twilit wyvern]

if you want more languages use the variant human take linguist feat and the anthropologist background

[topaz garnet]

of course, literally no guarantee that'd even be relevant

[novel jetty]

^