Hey, in Volo’s Guide to Monsters, do the mind flayer psion’s spells replace the normal mind flayer’s innate spells? The wording is confusing. It is indeed presented a little strangely, but I think it's supposed to be in addition to their standard innate spells.
They're gaining abilities, and that fits with the Mind Flayer Arcanist sidebar in the MM.
— Dan Dillon 👥 (@Dan_Dillon_1) December 18, 2019
Thank you so much for answering. This is great to know. Can I ask if Volo knows that his parents were murdered and for what reason? No. He SUSPECTS, but only recently, because they died at different times and the fatal accidents were so well-crafted. You see, it's only recently that he learned of his mother's sideline business (which was FAR more profitable than the everyday work his parents did).#Realmslore
— Ed Greenwood (@TheEdVerse) December 6, 2019
Thank you again. I have too many questions. Thank you for answering these ones. My girlfriend is freaking out from appreciation and because she really likes Volo. Volo has become a big part of our current game so it’s extra exciting. You're very welcome!
BTW, Volo's father was Narandor Geddarm, his mother was Regaele Geddarm, and they ran a weaving and carpet import (from Chessenta, and beyond) and resale business, but dabbled in many things, from glassblowing to selling bulk herbs.#Realmslore— Ed Greenwood (@TheEdVerse) December 6, 2019
And don't be shy about asking Realms questions. I may take some time to answer, because of the heavy volume and the vicissitudes of life, but I'm always happy to talk Realmslore. :}
— Ed Greenwood (@TheEdVerse) December 6, 2019
Hello and thank you again. I did think of a few follow up questions. What age was Volo when his parents were murdered? Are the people behind it trying to off him too? Volo was four when his mother died, and eight when his father died (having just apprenticed him to a wizard, after Volo showed evidence he could wield the Art). No one's after Volo, because the slayers and their hirers thought he was just another 'client child.'#Realmslore
— Ed Greenwood (@TheEdVerse) December 6, 2019
So, Volo is (half-)Calishite? Who was the father, btw? By place of birth only. Volo's true father was a (still secret! NDA!!) Waterdhavian noble, who needed a blood heir but had a barren wife he loved and didn't want to set aside. He traveled to that city for the er, breeding.#Realmslore
— Ed Greenwood (@TheEdVerse) December 6, 2019
How recently?
Are we talking soon enough that the killers, and the people who sent them, are likely still alive?
Or 5e “recently”, and the killers children, and possibly their grandchildren, have probably died of old age? The latter. As extant Realmslore records, Volo was one of those who survived the Spellplague and Sundering via magical means.#Realmslore— Ed Greenwood (@TheEdVerse) December 6, 2019
So very interesting! Where was Volo’s mother from originally? Born Regaele Nornilstar, she's from Riatavin in eastern Tethyr. As a child, she was an accomplished mimic, actor, cancer, singer, and painter. Her parents were curio importers and dealers, so she did a lot of backroom cleaning and touch-up work as a child.#Realmslore
— Ed Greenwood (@TheEdVerse) December 6, 2019
@ChrisPerkinsDnD @DnDTweets If aurochs is the singlular, what's the plural? Aurochses?
— 🇨🇦 Rob Davis (@SwampRob) August 17, 2018
It’s a real (albeit extinct) animal. The plural is aurochs—same as the singular. #wotcstaff https://t.co/H3CnHWXtr9
— Christopher Perkins (@ChrisPerkinsDnD) August 17, 2018
How long can a Kenku remember particular sounds/sequences for? Could a Kenku bard reproduce performances by others years later? What about combining the sounds of multiple instruments/voice? Multiple noises would be hard – would recommend a Intelligence (Perform) check to get it right. IIRC a kenku has near perfect recall of noises, so can dreg up stuff from decades ago if needed.
— Mike Mearls (@mikemearls) August 18, 2018
I think it does a good job of expanding the monster options, plus based on feedback I think we hit the mark by giving lore and races that inspire some fun story idea. #wotcstaff
— Mike Mearls (@mikemearls) March 29, 2018
If you specifically need higher challenge monsters to throw at a level 10+ group, might want to wait for Mordenkainen's Tome of Foes to. Releases in May. #wotcstaff
— Mike Mearls (@mikemearls) March 29, 2018
Are lizardfolk bites able to be finesse weapons or are they intended to be strength only?The bite is not a finesse weapon. If it was, its description would let you know.
— Jeremy Crawford (@JeremyECrawford) February 27, 2018
I mean, it says weapon right in the description. In addition in a previous question Mike said that if he remembered correctly, claws and bites are treated as weapons.
— MISANDR (@LORD_ENNUI) February 27, 2018
Claws, bites, and the like are natural weapons—not to be confused with simple and martial weapons. Unless a rule says otherwise, natural weapons have no weapon properties, such as finesse, versatile, and thrown. #DnD https://t.co/ropFlWIpwi
— Jeremy Crawford (@JeremyECrawford) February 27, 2018
Lizardfolk, that's another one. Tell me you wouldn't love seeing a Lizardfolk tailwhipping and biting all over the place.
— NihilismMeansNothing (@InkBlotQ) February 27, 2018
A creature of any type can make unarmed strikes. See page 195 in the Player’s Handbook, “Melee Attacks.” #DnD https://t.co/xXBHLPFn9e
— Jeremy Crawford (@JeremyECrawford) February 27, 2018
@JeremyECrawford Can you settle a heated discussion, please? A firbolg PC casts booming blade then uses hidden step to go invisible. The creature that is hit with booming blade moves away and thus takes damage. Does hidden step deactivate?
— Nathaniel Mosher (@RubiksMoose) February 1, 2018
So it doesn’t matter if a spell/effect is initiated by you before hidden step was activated? As long as you make a creature do a saving throw or attack or roll damage for any reason then hidden step ends? That’s correct.
— Jeremy Crawford (@JeremyECrawford) February 1, 2018
@JeremyECrawford I looked through with no luck on this, would a level 3 kenku warlock who heard someone cast a spell like blur (V only) be able to use him mimicry and cast it as well, provided he has a spell slot not used for the appropriate level?
— Alan Johnson (@JohnsonAlan36) January 4, 2018
A kenku's Mimicry trait doesn't confer the ability to learn new spells. #DnD https://t.co/IlnhHlFF5X
— Jeremy Crawford (@JeremyECrawford) January 5, 2018
