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1500 questions
81
votes
17 answers

How can I help my PCs remember clues that they found?

I'm a new DM running my first adventure in D&D 4e. I've heard of the "three clue rule", that there should be at least three independent pointers to any plot element you want the PCs to take note of, in places where it's likely the PCs will find…
Snowbody
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80
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2 answers

What are "tiers", and what tier is each class?

I tend to play Wizards, almost exclusively, though I have branched out and played Clerics, Druids, Sorcerers, and, at some point each other core class. I would like to play something different for my next character, but don't want to be…
SlatzG
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79
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3 answers

What is Player Agency and what is it good for?

Agency, specifically player agency, is a term that frequently comes up as a reason for why a particular rule or GM decision is better than another. How is agency defined in this context and why is it important? (Related: What is railroading and is…
Tim C
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79
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11 answers

Are Trolls immune to all instant death effects?

Part of the Troll's Regeneration feature says: The troll dies only if it starts its turn with 0 hit points and doesn't regenerate. Does this case beat instant kill effects, such as Divine Word or Power Word Kill? Divine Word says: [...] On a…
Deltatheduck
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78
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15 answers

What is the highest possible AC?

Assuming you are level 20, and have access to any magic item, how high can you get AC (permanently or for a set duration)? Constraints: Magic items are those on the tables in the D&D 5th Edition DMG. Spells, skills, feats and abilities available to…
Dalamal
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78
votes
5 answers

What is wrong with the D&D 3.5 FAQ?

I've heard from several places that the D&D 3.5 FAQ is generally a bad place to find information about the rules of the game. I don't really understand this distrust, since it's an official document from the company that makes the game. Why is it…
DuckTapeAl
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78
votes
11 answers

How to ease down the munchkin factor?

I've been playing RPGs since the early eighties and have come to terms with the fact that not everyone enjoys this hobby for the same reasons as myself. I'm into it for the sake of the adventure, the story and the discovery. Other reasons, not so…
thomax
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78
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10 answers

When do I use active vs passive perception?

So, I'm trying to figure out how to run the scene from the beginning of Lost Mine of Phandelver (5e starter set) where the party is ambushed by goblins and I'm really confused as to how Passive Wisdom (Perception) works. The included rulebook…
ctsag
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78
votes
6 answers

Is 4 hours long enough for a long rest for Elves?

The Long Rest rules read: A long rest is a period of extended downtime, at least 8 hours long, during which you sleep or perform light activity: reading, talking, eating, or standing watch for no more than 2 hours of the rest period. If the…
Aaron
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78
votes
14 answers

Is it wrong to ask a player to justify their character's actions?

When a player has their character do something completely outside of the perceived norm for that character, is it okay to ask them for a justification? If they can not give satisfactory justification, would it be appropriate to have them take…
Zach
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78
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7 answers

As a GM, is it bad form to ask for a moment to think when improvising?

As an amateur GM, I, like many other new GMs, often find myself having to improvise in the wake of unexpected player action. In the past, my approach to this has been to rush to think of something on the spot, which often results in a poorly thought…
Mayube
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78
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13 answers

How can I explain to my player that Alchemist's Fire is safe to carry?

The Player's Handbook (p. 148) says that Alchemist's Fire "ignites when exposed to air": Alchemist's Fire. This sticky, adhesive fluid ignites when exposed to air. As an action, you can throw this flask up to 20 feet, shattering it on impact. A…
enkryptor
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77
votes
6 answers

Our DM keeps interrupting our long rests

In the latest campaign, we're still around the third level, but every single night we've spend in the wild so far, we were interrupted by hard combat encounters (as in DMG-worded "hard"), forcing us to use our resources (like HP, spell slots, Ki,…
Olivier Grégoire
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77
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10 answers

My DM insists on rolling a single save for groups affected by AoE save spells. How does this affect my odds of successfully affecting the enemy?

As the title question, my DM rolls a single d20 save for groups affected by my area of effect spells that require a save, in order to save time. I can't help but feel like I'm being ripped off by this as a wizard with primarily AoE save-or-suck…
LegendaryDude
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77
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3 answers

Do I have to allow someone to play at my table in Adventurers League public events?

One player, a couple of months ago, had a problem about a ruling I made in a tier 1 game. It was a minor ruling in which I gave an npc wizard in a carriage a +2 AC bonus for 1/2 cover. She argued with me, I maintained the ruling, she continued to…
Ἄρτεμις
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