When you attack the bandit captain with your longsword, you can just say “I attack the bandit captain.”

July 18, 2019Zoltar Leave a comment

Here's today's D&D opinion:

When you attack the bandit captain with your longsword, you can just say "I attack the bandit captain." You can add flourishes, but no one quizzes you on your stance, makes you show them how you'd hold a sword, or act it out.

And this is good, right?

— Alexandra Erin (@AlexandraErin) June 6, 2019

I agree! My only reservation on this point is that D&D has never codified its social mechanics in a sufficiently predictable and game-ish way to make this style of play enjoyable, IMO. There's no "social AC" or "argument hit points" to make the number-counting game fun here.

— James 🔥 Haeck (@jamesjhaeck) June 7, 2019

Isn’t it just contested by an insight/charisma/etc Roll? The Player's Handbook never explicitly codifies this. Some adventures do this. But even if this were an explicit rule, it's tremendously shallow compared to the D&D's combat system. Contested rolls can be part of a fun system, but IMO they aren't a fun system on their own.

— James 🔥 Haeck (@jamesjhaeck) June 8, 2019

Social Interaction in the DMG gives the breakdown of using Charisma checks to influence people.

Joey is absolutely right that it's a drop in the bucket compared to combat mechanics and options.

— Dan Dillon (@Dan_Dillon_1) June 8, 2019

But, the Social Interaction bits have a lot of potential to go as simple or complex as you like with interim roleplay, various ways to influence an NPCs attitude (which affects Cha check DCs) which can interact with the NPC's personality traits, ideal, bond, and flaw.

— Dan Dillon (@Dan_Dillon_1) June 8, 2019

And despite all my naysaying about contested rolls etc. not being fun on its own, I really like the way D&D handles social interaction. I enjoy it being straight-up roleplay, but it doesn’t work for everyone. IMO, having a more robust social variant wouldn’t be a bad thing. It isn’t straight-up roleplay, though.

— Dan Dillon (@Dan_Dillon_1) June 8, 2019

I think it’s really interesting that the Friendly/Indifferent/Hostile structure in the DMG never appears in any adventures. At least, as far as I’ve noticed! We see lots of mentions of hostile creatures, but I can’t recall any instance of indifferent creatures. Direct references to the social interaction rules would definitely go a long way

— Dan Dillon (@Dan_Dillon_1) June 8, 2019

Does nitro still help with heart problemsin Forgotten Realms?

July 18, 2019Zoltar Leave a comment

They don't know about that yet, in the Realms. Healing spells still the best "fix" for blood pressure, circulation, stroke, and heart matters.#Realmslore

— Ed Greenwood (@TheEdVerse) May 31, 2019

They DO know about monk's hood/foxglove/digitalis, which goes by various names across the Realms, including "vaelis" and "sauvor."#Realmslore

— Ed Greenwood (@TheEdVerse) May 31, 2019

Sketches for the included rules of the D&D Essentials Kit

July 18, 2019Zoltar Leave a comment

The #dnd essentials kit is out! @WhittersRichard and I did a pile of b/w sketches for the included rules. I'll be posting some that are in the book and some that we ran out of room for as well. Here is a couple to get started. #WOTCstaff pic.twitter.com/PmGMqGiRLN

— Shawn G. Wood (@thesgw) June 24, 2019

“Wolf, I always think of you and ‘infection’ together.”

July 18, 2019Zoltar Leave a comment

1)
[crashing and thrashing erupts, in that part of the Farlblades Forest Palonder headed into, followed by a pain-wracked, “UNNH!” …And then Palonder reappears, staggering, with a crossbow quarrel sticking out of his shoulder]#epic fantasy

— Ed Greenwood (@TheEdVerse) June 15, 2019

3)
“Wolf, I always think of you and ‘infection’ together.”
2)
“Only one? We’re going to need more than that.”
“It’s all I could manage, Lord. Perhaps if a more experienced courtier lord had gone in my stead…”
“Gods, he’s starting to sound like you, Wolf!”
“Greatness IS infectious.”#epic fantasy “Thank you, Lady. Your observations are always welcome, no matter how catty. How are you at shoulder surgery?”
“I know not. Perhaps if I…#epic fantasy

— Ed Greenwood (@TheEdVerse) June 15, 2019

4)
…practised jaw surgery on a handy courtier lord first…”
“Your King finds this suggestion WORTHY. And if at the same time you could make his hands thrice the size, so they’d not slide into the royal purse so easily…”#epic fantasy

— Ed Greenwood (@TheEdVerse) June 15, 2019

Do Candlekeep require donations on every visit?

July 17, 2019Zoltar Leave a comment

Candlekeep requires a "worthy" book that isn't yet in their library (or a more complete copy of one already in their library), and an accepted donation grants access for life.#Realmslore

— Ed Greenwood (@TheEdVerse) June 20, 2019

Oh thank Ao, I was worried they’d need a new book every time you show up, the details I found weren’t that clear. How exactly do they know it’s the real visitor, though, and not someone impersonating them through magic? The monk at the gate tells them their old room is waiting for them. If they don't then head in the right direction, a senior monk secretly works a little thought-reading magic on them. (Monks who worked with them before may converse with them about past studies, too.)#Realmslore

— Ed Greenwood (@TheEdVerse) June 21, 2019

So the only way to completely trick them is if you had the visitor’s face and copied at least some of their memories. Careful with that word "completely." There are some surprises among the ranks of the monks. ;}#Realmslore

— Ed Greenwood (@TheEdVerse) June 21, 2019

Why Elminster is not “operating” in Waterdeep?

July 17, 2019Zoltar Leave a comment

Nice! That explains a lot, and gives me some resources to work with on a "Realms conquest" campaign later. I might have to find a reason Elminster et all don't take them down as soon as they set foot in Waterdeep though.

— Jon Forel (@Jon_4L) June 8, 2019

2)
Oh, that’s easy. Elminster runs the secret service for Laeral, and Mirt is one of her James Bond-style roving-the-world dirty-tricks agents. They have SO many problems to deal with that they’re always overworked and super-busy. Keeping the Xanathar from doing… …"Waterdeep conquest" for one, and there are literally scores of other villains and wannabe-villains busily at work. So give Elminster et al a major crisis to keep them occupied or even offstage, and your PCs can shine/do all the adventuring work, in-campaign.#Realmslore

— Ed Greenwood (@TheEdVerse) June 8, 2019

Makes sense. I’ve started to think about the consequences of fame, which as we all know is that everyone wants your help, has a grudge, or wants a piece of you. It makes sense, with the tiers of play as a sort of guide on adventuring life, to see why some change names, use magic/ Or costumes to change appearances, and would definitely want a potion of longevity or the life-expanding assistance of Mystra.

— Jon Forel (@Jon_4L) June 8, 2019

Yes! Add this level of "life-planning"/far-thinking to all rulers, villains, elder nobles, and merchant kingpins as well as PC adventurers, and any campaign changes instantly. For the better.

— Ed Greenwood (@TheEdVerse) June 8, 2019

I don’t like the established lore about Mind Flayers, should I:

July 17, 2019Zoltar Leave a comment

Suppose I, DM, don't like the established lore about Mind Flayers. (I do, but suppose I didn't.) Should I:#dnd

— jmatonak (@jmatonak) June 8, 2019

Lore isn’t a set of rules, it’s a set of suggestions. That’s how I think about it, anyway Change anything and everything you want to suit your games. No one’s going to kick down your door and make you stop.

— Dan Dillon (@Dan_Dillon_1) June 8, 2019

Even when the rulebooks tried to take a “YOU MUST FOLLOW EVERY DETAIL” stance, it just made me feel contrary and I made a point of changing things, lol. That’s psychological reactance in action, friends.

— Dan Dillon (@Dan_Dillon_1) June 8, 2019

Sage Advice D&D

Questions on Dungeons & Dragons answered by designers

Widgets

When you attack the bandit captain with your longsword, you can just say “I attack the bandit captain.”

Does nitro still help with heart problemsin Forgotten Realms?

Sketches for the included rules of the D&D Essentials Kit

“Wolf, I always think of you and ‘infection’ together.”

Do Candlekeep require donations on every visit?

Why Elminster is not “operating” in Waterdeep?

I don’t like the established lore about Mind Flayers, should I:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this: