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What is the reason to use the Heal skill assuming that other means of healing are not prohibited?

Reading the description of the Heal skill in Pathfinder and comparing its outcomes to other ways of healing, such as wands, channel positive energy, etc., I have found that skill useless. The relatively low-to-non-existent cost per use and unlimited…
R.I.P.30.12.21Baskakov_Dmitriy
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How to encourage players to state approach and goal, rather than asking for skill checks?

Or, to phrase the question as a negative, "How do I stop players asking to make rolls?" An example, from a couple of weeks ago. Me: You see a pile of bodies at the end of the field. Player: I roll Medicine. Me: Why? What's are you trying to…
Greenstone Walker
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Is it just me, or is Guiding Bolt horrifically overpowered?

Guiding Bolt is a 1st level cleric spell. Per the PHB it deals a whopping 4d6 damage if it hits, and the next attack roll made against the target has advantage. For a 1st level spell, this thing seems grossly overpowered to me. Even the other…
Mike Hofer
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Does advantage negate disadvantage (for things such as the rogue's Sneak Attack)?

In a recent question - Does sneak attack work against an invisible enemy? - it was pointed out that you couldn't Sneak Attack an invisible opponent because the rules specifically state that you cannot use Sneak Attack if you have disadvantage on the…
Dungarth
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Do you get to use the additional attack from the Extra Attack feature as well when you Ready an Attack action?

Do you get to use the additional attack from the Extra Attack feature as well when you Ready an Attack action? One of my players, a monk, decided to Ready an action as an earth elemental was about to attack. The trigger was the elemental moving…
Feldragoon
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Is a 1st-level spell cast using a 4th-level slot a 1st-level spell, or a 4th-level spell?

As the title says: Is a 1st-level spell cast using a 4th-level slot a 1st-level spell, or a 4th-level spell?
Dale M
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Can a Legendary monster ignore a Divination wizard's Portent feature and choose to pass the save anyway?

If a School of Divination wizard uses the Portent feature on a legendary monster to assign it a failing saving throw, can the legendary monster use their legendary resistance to choose to pass the saving throw anyway?
dragonspell
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How do I get better at narrating/storytelling as a GM?

Personally, I've always had difficulty telling coherent stories, even from my own experiences. My wife has even coined a term (jokingly) for the type of story I tell, one that either makes no sense, is lacking important details, or ends abruptly or…
dpatchery
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Does ki count as magic for the purpose of an antimagic field, or is it only fluff?

I was verifying whether my fighter's Sun Blade would in fact be a useless hilt in an antimagic field (AMF) and came across this question on a few other sites, and it piqued my interest. My first instinct is that "no, monks can still use ki effects…
Doug
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As a GM, how to react to players challenging contradictions in your narration?

As with any position of power, responsibility is bestowed onto a GM when running a game. Because good GMing has a lot of impact on overall enjoyment, the GM carries a certain amount of weight behind his rulings and decisions, both mechanical and…
eimyr
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For the purpose of magic immunity, does Counterspell target the caster or the spell?

In the MM it states that the rakshasa is immune to magic of 6th level or lower. Does this include the counterspell spell or does counterspell target the spell and not the creature?
Apexwolf312
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What advantages does hiding have?

It is possible to use the stealth skill to "hide" in D&D 5e. But are there any mechanical benefits to doing so? In combat, you gain advantage on an attack if your target can't see you, and confer disadvantage on their attack. Since you must be…
detly
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Why are elves immune to a ghoul's paralyzing touch?

I was reading Are Half-Elves immune to the paralyzing property of a Ghoul's Claw action? and it struck me that I have no idea as to why elves would be immune to the paralyzing touch of a ghoul, but it has nonetheless been part of D&D lore since…
Sean Duggan
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Can a PC use a mirror or other sight enhancer to use sacred flame at a target around a corner?

We have a PC that is getting very sneaky with his Sacred Flame application. Its fun outside-the-box play but if he carries a hand mirror or uses scrying spells its going to become far easier. Can a mirror allow use of Sacred Flame around a…
OutRideACrisis
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Why is the soft level-cap set at level 20, specifically?

I've been wondering lately if there is any sort of precedence or context for the soft level-cap of level 20 in various D20 style tabletop games. I say soft cap because I'd like to, for the purposes of this question, ignore epic-level, mythic-level,…
Jason_c_o
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