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1500 questions
63
votes
4 answers
Would forcing armour on a wizard using an illusion spell and Illusory Reality 'harm' them?
A wizard wearing armour that they are not proficient in is unable to cast spells. Would it be possible to force a wizard into armour using a combination of Illusion and Illusory Reality? For example, by casting an illusion of armour over an enemy…
BradenA8
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How does D&D Vancian magic make sense in-game?
One thing that bugs me about Vancian Magic in D&D as I understand it is the following: How is "fire and forget" remotely believable when I can slot and ready more than one "copy" of a spell?
Say I have Fireball readied twice. This means I studied…
Adriano Varoli Piazza
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63
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2 answers
How do I know if an ability is magical?
Often confusion arises when the Antimagic Field spell is used, an Armor of Invulnerability is worn, or the Beholder's anti-magic ray is employed, whether a given character's ability will still function.
The spell does give you some guidelines on…
keithcurtis
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63
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3 answers
Death by leveling? The effects of 0 max HP and leveling with negative CON
Since per Jeremy Crawford's twitter and Is there a floor for maximum HP? you can get into a situation where your max HP is zero due to leveling up… what happens next?
What happens when your max HP is 0 because you leveled up with a negative…
Rubiksmoose
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63
votes
6 answers
What RPG concepts does "rules as written" encompass?
The term "rules as written" (or RAW) gets thrown about fairly often in RPG circles, especially around D&D. But what does it actually mean?
Is RAW an analysis technique? A playstyle? An entire parallel game system? What key aspects or attributes…
fectin
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62
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3 answers
What does the abbreviation “RAW” mean?
I have seen the abbreviation RAW several times now, what does it stand for?
David Allan Finch
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62
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8 answers
How can I make my game more "noir" as a GM?
I ran a couple of Shadowrun games at Dexcon, my first time GMing at a con. It's not my first time running Shadowrun; I based the games off of a couple jobs my players did in a then-ongoing campaign. The players at the con had a good time; but, I…
RMorrisey
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62
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5 answers
Does casting a spell from an item allow you to apply class abilities that are used when casting a spell?
This question is updated to request additional answers and details in light of information now available in the Dungeon Master's Guide.
In the released DM basic rules, Lost Mine of Phandelver, Hoard of the Dragon Queen, and the DMG teaser there are…
Orvir
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62
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6 answers
How much damage does Great Weapon Fighting add on average?
The Great Weapon Fighting fighting style states the following:
When you roll a 1 or 2 on a damage die for an attack you make with a melee weapon that you are wielding with two hands, you can reroll the die and must use the new roll, even if the new…
AceCalhoon
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62
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6 answers
Can the arcane/druidic focus staff double as quarterstaff?
Does the staff version of an arcane or druidic focus also work as a quarterstaff?
At least at character creation can you say that for example your druids quarterstaff and druid focus staff is one and the same?
Logically you'd think so, after all a…
Chryckan
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62
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2 answers
Can wizards really cast spells in armor?
I've just read the D&D 5e basic rules, and I'm not sure I'm up to speed regarding casting spells while clad in armor. The only mention I can find about this (page 79):
Because of the mental focus and precise gestures required for
spellcasting, you…
thomax
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62
votes
9 answers
How can I roleplay a character more manipulative than myself?
In a game of Maids RP (don't laugh) right now, I'm playing a character significantly more 'cunning' than me.
I don't have a problem playing intelligent characters - I consider myself fairly smart, and this question fully covers ways to play…
Zibbobz
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62
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5 answers
Can someone explain what the "Proficiency Bonus" is in D&D 5e/Next exactly?
I am reading the 5e rules, and I keep seeing how you can add proficiency bonus to attack rolls checks with weapons you are proficient in and skill checks in skills you are proficient in, but I can't find anything on what this bonus actually is. How…
Bubbleforhire
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6 answers
How to get my Paranoia players to stop cooperating and start killing each other?
I've read some of the questions and answers on paranoia here, but I seem to be missing some kind of key element to play. I ran Robot IMANA-665-C and I didn't seem to be able to get the players to start turning on each other and begin the betrayals.…
QuestionMarcs
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9 answers
How do I handle a group that does not understand the 'assumption rule'?
1st rule of D&D (as of 3rd edition/pathfinder): The GM is the final arbiter on all rules.
I understand this, completely, and do not disagree. That said, I'm having trouble with a group that doesn't seem to understand what I call the 'assumption…
Zach
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