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1500 questions
74
votes
13 answers
What happens when you run out of movement while jumping?
According to the PHB (p 182) after a 10 foot movement the player is able to make a long jump whose length is equal to their strength score. Each foot jumped costs 1 foot of movement.
I have a character with a speed of 25 who can jump 30 (due to the…
briddums
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74
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12 answers
What's a good mechanic for rewarding players for keeping their characters happy?
In a lot of setting and systems, such as D&D, the aim of the game tends to be to explore and kill things. Money is spent on useful items and hirelings. However, a real adventurer would probably want to get drunk, carouse, and generally have some fun…
Dakeyras
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74
votes
1 answer
What is the Stormwind Fallacy?
In the context of another Question here, the Stormwind Fallacy was brought up. What exactly is the Stormwind Fallacy and how is connected to optimization?
KRyan
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74
votes
11 answers
How can I run an open-world game with vast power differences, without resulting in constant TPKs?
I would like to run a game with an open world, where the party can explore unconstrained. I would like to do it in D&D 5E, but the power differences are very stark between levels. How can I make the world realistic, without scaling everything up as…
gruszczy
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74
votes
5 answers
How can I get people to remember my character's gender?
I really enjoy playing male characters and I'm currently playing a really fun Tabaxi lad! Unfortunately, a lot of my party members (in character) still refer to my character as she/her often. I have a high pitched voice and can't make it super deep-…
slug_meat
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74
votes
20 answers
I'm creating an original setting for D&D—where do I start?
Creating a new fantasy setting for D&D is daunting but I don't want to use one of the published settings. I have a blank piece of paper in front of me and a whole world to create. My friends want to play as soon as possible. Where's the best place…
Adam Dray
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74
votes
7 answers
Is it possible to fail an ability check on purpose?
Here are the general guidelines regarding ability checks:
The GM calls for an ability check when a character or monster attempts an action (other than an attack) that has a chance of failure. When the outcome is uncertain, the dice determine the…
Thorkil Holm-Jacobsen
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73
votes
3 answers
What is the probability of surviving my death saves?
If my character drops to 0HP but is not killed instantly by massive damage, what is the probability that I will stabilize via death saves unassisted/unhindered?
As a refresher, here are some of the rules on death saves:
Death Saving Throws.…
nitsua60
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73
votes
10 answers
It seems like every skill check should always be made with advantage due to the 'Working Together' rules. Is this accurate?
My group just started playing 5th last night, and we immediately ran into issues with the 'Working Together'/'Skill Assist'/'Skill Help' rules. By the rules it seems like nearly every single skill roll should be made with advantage, but logically…
Percival
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73
votes
6 answers
Is the old "Linear Fighters Quadratic Wizards" problem still around in 5e Basic?
(This question is a comparison to 3.x, though things might have been different in 4e)
In 3.5e there is a large power and capability gap between fighters and wizards that fighters couldn't hope to close, even in their nominal area of excellence. Is…
Mourdos
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73
votes
4 answers
What is the origin of the phrase ‘orc and pie’?
I'd like to know where this unique phrase came from. “Orc and pie” has become shorthand for a style of simple dungeon design, but where did it originate?
Marlond
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73
votes
15 answers
How can metagaming retries on poor skill checks be prevented?
I'm sure every DM has had this happen: one PC is trying to find something cool on a dead monster's body. The player rolls poorly, and instead of accepting the paltry 2 copper pieces, the PC calls all the party members over to also try looting the…
Alex
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73
votes
6 answers
What's the deal with alignment languages?
In early D&D, there was the concept of an "alignment language."
The original "little brown book" D&D says only:
Law, Chaos and Neutrality also have common languages spoken by each respectively.
The Holmes basic rules, which come between "brown…
rjbs
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72
votes
18 answers
What dice mechanic gives a bell curve distribution that narrows and increases mean as skill increases?
I'm looking for a dice mechanic that produces a bell curve at all skill levels. I also want it to increase accuracy and precision as a character's skill increases — this basically means better average and smaller standard deviation. The simpler the…
oconnor0
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72
votes
7 answers
Is starting a group with 5 newbies (DM included) possible?
Some friends and I want to start playing D&D (5e), but none of us, DM included (not me) have played before to any great extent. The DM and I have some cursory experience with 4e, but have never been able to play to any great extent. Is this…
jernaumorat
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