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1500 questions
46
votes
4 answers
Resources for Complex Puzzle-Traps
I'm looking for resources for designing complex challenges - something that's not quite a puzzle and not quite a trap, but somewhere in between. There are tons of resources for really complex or off-the-wall deathtraps (such as this thread), but,…
thatgirldm
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46
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7 answers
Problems Regarding a Mary-Sue type Player Character
In my game, one of the player's characters is a bit... too much. It's not easy to describe, but I think she's a somewhat more subtle example of the Mary Sue archetype: a character who is perfect, and therefore dis-interesting bordering on…
Schilcote
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46
votes
3 answers
Mechanically speaking, why does level 1 seem so different from level 2?
I find that the survivability and general performance of my party increases massively from levels 1 to 2. At times, level 1 feels like a completely different game from level 2. However, I can't fathom how or why. I think that the availability of…
J. Mini
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46
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5 answers
How does "failure" work in Dungeon World? How does it move the story forward?
I am having trouble understanding the specifics of failure in Dungeon World. According to the rules, a GM should "make a move" against players when they fail, and that's alright, I get that.
What I don't get is how a GM is supposed to advance the…
Undreren
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46
votes
9 answers
How do I handle a player exploring the entire dungeon with his familiar?
My Warlock player has Pact of the Chain and Voice of the Chain Master Invocation, and likes to explore all the dungeon before going inside. The imp turns into an invisible spider and goes through the ceiling to all rooms without hard doors. In…
BlueMoon93
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46
votes
1 answer
Unlisted effects of Incapacitated Condition
In a game I DM'd, a PC had cast a spell with a Concentration requirement and was subsequently Paralyzed. I quickly checked the description of the Paralyzed condition, which said nothing about Concentration but did say that the character was…
Kirt
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46
votes
8 answers
How to deal with a player who says no all the time?
I am a fairly new DM. I am playing with a group I have tried to DM and have played with as a PC. There is one person in that group that plays as a PC that says no, AKA he is the opposite of a murder hobo.
When faced with a decision or a turning…
EmmisTheRed
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46
votes
15 answers
Accidentally let party wander into a high level situation, how do I help them get out without cheesing?
TL;DR - due to poor planning on my part in my sandbox-esque game, a party of four Level 5s (fighter, warlock, non-healer bard, wizard) is about to wander into a high level situation and I'd like them to not die while still letting them accomplish…
user61367
46
votes
10 answers
Should I take a side in an external player conflict, or let my game die?
I'm the DM for a Homebrew campaign that I've been running for about 2 years. Our group is me plus four players and we've been lucky enough to meet fairly consistently on a weekly basis, so I'm loathe to be asking this question at all.
The…
R. Barrett
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46
votes
14 answers
Who actually makes the Magic Books that boost stats?
The Pathfinder game has a series of Tomes and Manuals that, when read, permanently boost a specific ability score. Examples include the Tome of Understanding (Wis) or the Manual of Gainful Exercise (Str).
Looking at the construction requirements,…
Gates VP
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46
votes
6 answers
How high can a PC's initiative bonus get?
Usually, most PCs rely solely on their Dexterity ability score modifier for their initiative; however, there are ways to get bonuses to initiative. How high can this bonus get?
For example, there's the Alert feat (PHB, pg. 165):
Always on the…
NathanS
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46
votes
3 answers
Can multiple Bags of Holding banish Tiamat?
In my campaign, my players were very close to accidentally freeing Tiamat from her prison in the Nine Hells (long story). However, they ended up averting disaster and not summoning her.
However, should they have summoned her, my players had a plan…
Chrygore
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46
votes
2 answers
How do I know which edition of Dungeons and Dragons (D&D) the books I'm looking at are for?
I know there are quite a few editions of Dungeons and Dragons (D&D), each of which has loads of rules, source, and splat books.
But how do I know which edition the books I'm looking at are for?
A lot of the time the ones in hobby stores are wrapped…
Purple Monkey
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46
votes
1 answer
What is the source for defaulting to plain English readings of non-game terms?
In many discussions involving rules interpretations the meaning of words is often called into question. Often, people will claim that if the game doesn't define the term that it defaults to the plain English reading of the word.
Is this stated…
Rubiksmoose
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46
votes
10 answers
How do I deal with players who make friends with goblins?
I want to run a campaign "from the book" for a group of new players (played RPGs before, but stuff much much lighter then D&D, and I've not DMed this edition before. I DMed D&D 4e once: over prepared in some areas, under prepared in others, so the…
Ryan Leach
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