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1500 questions
37
votes
13 answers

How to DM unlikely strength checks

A question for all DMs out there. So, part of the fun of D&D derives from the randomness of the dice, and to interpret their results in a sensible way -even within the broad boundaries of a make-believe world- is the DM's main job. The party's…
OmniVictor
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4 answers

How do I handle questions about in-game things that I'm not prepared for?

I DM for my brother’s four kids. Their ages are 14, 13, 12, and 10. I made everything up in the world, so it’s not an official campaign. They’re asking questions that I didn’t even think that they’d ask. What am I supposed to do in this situation? I…
Devils_Spawn
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14 answers

My players have a habit of always torturing enemies they capture for information, how can I make our adventure less macabre?

So I'm running the lost mines of Phandelver as a new DM and we're about 5 sessions in. I've noticed a pattern that seems to repeat itself: the players defeat and capture an evil NPC character that knows some information, that character is tied up…
notAlex
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5 answers

How do I engage someone who is playing his character poorly?

I am DMing a game where one player has never quite seemed happy. He regularly questions rulings and gets quite hurt when he tries to do things with his character and they don't succeed. He is playing an Elf Rogue / Hexblade Warlock, but consistently…
BprDM
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7 answers

How can I get better at identifying the "right time" to use my spell slots?

I've played a bunch of DnD 5e, but my current campaign is my first time playing a Warlock outside of a one-shot; right now I'm almost to level 5. I'm playing more of a face/roleplay-focused role, so my invocations (Aspect of the Moon and Devil's…
Lux
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9 answers

My players want extra effects from their attacks. What should I do?

I'm DMing for a group of 4 players, that are currently at level 3. Two of them have played a fair bit of 5e before, and two of them are new. I'm also new to DMing, though generally familiar with the rules of 5e. One of the new players is playing a…
DJMcMayhem
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6 answers

Can a Monk "turn off" the Tongue of the Sun and Moon feature?

The description of the monk's Tongue of the Sun and Moon feature states: Starting at 13th level, you learn to touch the ki of other minds so that you understand all spoken languages. Moreover, any creature that can understand a language can…
Joshua
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3 answers

What is the history behind the "single-use spell scroll"?

The concept of a spell being stored on a scroll, which can be used once and then vanishes, shows up in numerous tabletop and video game RPGs. From a game design perspective, the idea of a one-use spell is sensible. But considering that the whole…
IndigoFenix
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10 answers

How do I prevent my players from abusing long rests?

I am a DM for a D&D 4e game. My players (especially the wizard) like to take an extended rest after every single encounter, because he resorts to using his daily powers in every single encounter (additionally, the players like to take a long rest to…
mprogrammer
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9 answers

Can Alter Self be used to enter an enemy's body and destroy it from the inside?

I’m a new DM, so I’m using a starter pack with a storyline, although I have adapted it a fair amount. Earlier today one of my players decided that he can use Alter Self to create a tentacle which he can use to enter his opponents through their…
Zabikai
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37
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1 answer

Can elves trance in armor without any downsides?

The optional rule on sleeping in armor from Xanathar's Guide to Everything (p. 77-78) states Sleeping in light armor has no adverse effect on the wearer, but sleeping in medium or heavy armor makes it difficult to recover fully during a long…
Shay
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37
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3 answers

What happens to matryoshka Mordenkainen's Magnificent Mansions?

The following situation happened towards the end of our last session(I am the DM): A player cast Mordenkainen's Magnificent Mansion, so they could take a break to heal up their comrades and rest a bit. Then, that player cast the Mansion again (after…
Alexander Wolters
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1 answer

Can two creatures, each with a Staff of the Magi, charge them up for free?

A Staff of the Magi has the Spell Absorption trait (emphasis mine): While holding the staff, you have advantage on saving throws against spells. In addition, you can use your reaction when another creature casts a spell that targets only you. If…
Red Orca
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4 answers

Why do characters with a high prime requisite gain bonus XP?

In earlier versions of Dungeons & Dragons, a character with a high ability score in their class' prime requisite receives a bonus to all experience he earns. For example, the 1983 Frank Mentzer edition included this chart: Prime Requisite…
Joe Dovahkiin
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2 answers

Can the Witch Sight warlock invocation see through the Mirror Image spell?

I came across a bizarre instance where a Pact Blade Warlock with the Witch Sight invocation ended up fighting several lower-level mages, a few of which cast Mirror Image. The Warlock claimed that Witch Sight saw through these false images so that he…
TheCentaur
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