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1500 questions
70
votes
11 answers
My player wants to watch the world burn
Several times I've had experiences where I was running a fairly standard campaign, and I got a player who wanted to, essentially, watch the world burn.
I had a character who offered up his life force to a dark god in
order to release the god and…
Dan B
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69
votes
17 answers
How do I manage a player who is handling traps by metagaming?
I have a high-hitpoint character who barges down hallways without regard to traps because that's what His Guy would do. In reality, he's metagaming: doing this because he knows he has the HPs to soak up the damage.
I call it metagaming because he's…
Jason
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69
votes
4 answers
Is there “flavor text” in D&D 5e spells?
Is there any evidence, in the rules or from developer comments, that parts of the description of a D&D 5e spell is “only flavor text” and should be ignored for determining what happens in-game?
Is there evidence to the contrary?
Yakk
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69
votes
8 answers
How are Fighters Linear but Wizards Quadratic?
The phrase "Linear Fighters, Quadratic Wizards" gets bandied about a lot, but I've found I don't have a good way to explain it to newer players.
The tier system post has some examples of how wizards are better than fighters in specific situations,…
Dan B
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69
votes
3 answers
Shoe-themed race or class features
My character is really into shoes and I'm planning on taking Leadership next level. I want my cohort to be devoted to the old norse god of shoes and vengance, Víðarr. While there is a retribution cleric domain, I'd like to see how far I can go with…
Dan
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69
votes
6 answers
Does Burning Hands really require touching thumbs?
The D&D 5E spell Burning Hands has verbal and somatic components, and is described like this:
As you hold your hands with thumbs touching and fingers spread, a thin sheet of flames shoots forth from your outstretched fingertips. [...]
The rule for…
mattdm
- 29,882
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69
votes
1 answer
Why do Warlocks only have spells up to 5th level? What's the correct progression for their slots?
Instead of a “Spell Slots for Spell Level” table, the warlock just has two columns: one for number of slots and one for slot level, because all of their slots are the same level.
However, the table on PHB p. 106 only goes up to the 5th slot level.…
Bradd Szonye
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69
votes
2 answers
What is the "whiskey flask" problem with Paradox?
So, I've just read @Jadasc's eye-opening (+1) answer to @Flamma's question Where does the Transform Vampires/Werewolves into lawn furniture rote come from? (+1). At the end of his answer, Jadasc mentions an obscure reference to the "whiskey flask"…
OpaCitiZen
- 39,269
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69
votes
13 answers
How to communicate to the players that an encounter can be solved also through diplomacy?
When you play D&D, you are not supposed to chat with the enemy during encounters. The system is made for fighting. However, in some circumstances, it would be nice to make the players conscious that an encounter can be solved also by diplomacy…
Stefano Borini
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69
votes
8 answers
What are the differences between Holmes, Moldvay, and Mentzer D&D?
What are the differences between Holmes, Moldvay, and Mentzer D&D? Also, which one came first?
Ry St
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69
votes
13 answers
What are the rules for PC-PC seduction attempts?
Last session we came to a very weird situation. Now, its outcome was meaningless and we argued friendly and politely, having fun and settling the matter with ease, but it's likely it will happen again under more important circumstances.
One of the…
Andrea Bocco
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69
votes
6 answers
I think my DM is consistently faking dice rolls for saves against a specific spell; how do I call my DM out?
I've been watching one of our players repeatedly cast toll the dead (Xanathar's Guide to Everything, p. 169), across seven sessions, and a dozen different combat encounters, and the DM has never once allowed her to do any damage with the cantrip.…
AshRandom
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69
votes
13 answers
Dealing with PC that constantly lies to NPCs
I have a player playing a rogue in her first RPG, and she is constantly lying to NPCs. She says it is one of her character flaws and I like that she is playing the character to the fullest, but she also almost always succeeds on deception and…
aitchpat
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68
votes
1 answer
Why is mayo in the alchemy jug?
The 5e Alchemy Jug (on page 150 of the Dungeon Master's Guide) has several uses. Some are common and useful, like water, poison, acid. Some are natural ingredients and liquids, like honey, vinegar, oil. Some are alcoholic beverages, like wine or…
BlueMoon93
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68
votes
11 answers
As a girl how can I roleplay a male character better?
I am one who wants to play both female and male characters. Up until now I have played two male characters but only for small quests (5 sessions max). At the moment we are playing "Shackled City" and it seems that this will go on for a long time.…
Isumi
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