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I would agree, except that you're having to roll vs Fortitude every time to see if you bypass. Against undead of even level 4, that +6 bonus is only a 50-50 chance of working, but the oil is expended in the attempt. Going to all the trouble of having your oil ready and using it and then...

What's up with this ghoststrike oil? Am I reading this right - it works for only a single hit? What the heck? Alchemical silver has a similar effect -- overcoming a rare but annoying defense -- but Silver works for a whole fight, not just one hit! Would it be totally broken to have GS Oil...

Sure, see, that's something they definitely could have pulled off. I probably should have asked for the insight check and all that, but that's why I asked the question, to see what I could've done. My mental calculation, as DM, is to say "Okay, three skill successes, that's worth three minions...

I just disagree here. The roll does tell us something; it tells us if you were successful or not. What form that success takes, what consequences it has, that is not determined by die roll -- but if you're my DM, you better not ever tell me that rolling a 23 against a DC of 22 is a failure...

It does seem like kind of a jerk move to basically tell your guys, "Hey, you know that power you took? Sometimes I randomly decide it doesn't work!" (or doesn't work as well, but still) Well, okay, fine -- but here you aren't describing a mechanical difference. You would probably be getting...

I agree, but I want to add that in D&D terms, working "smarter not harder" often means playing to your strengths rather than coming up with a solution that actually requires fewer successful rolls. A rogue who wants to stealth past the patrol is working smarter by relying on his strong stealth...

I don't think I understand what you mean. If we have on one hand a Warlock using his power to gain a +5 on an intimidate check through magical means, and on the other a Warlord using his power to gain a +5 on an intimidate check through non-magical means, attempting to accomplish the same task...

It's really not that at all. Or at least mostly not. I admit I hadn't considered trying to talk past the guards, but more generally, it's hobgoblins (who are very good soldiers), guarding a locked gate in a chokepoint where they can't be snuck around or ambushed. The gate is designed...

There's a flavor text difference, but there shouldn't be a different mechanical effect based on power source. I mean, obviously I'd describe it differently, but I would never allow a spell to do something that a martial ability with the same rules text couldn't do. That would just be kicking...

None whatsoever. +5 is +5, and whether that came from arcane magic, divine inspiration, or just being really good at convincing people, it's just what it says it is. That's the question, yes. How can I make his action useful without trashing the encounter? As mentioned, it would be...

Sometimes you can't just have the enemies attack. Like for example, a bunch of guards on a gate and the PCs are staying outside range. Sometimes things just come up during play that you didn't expect, and I'm trying to figure out how to handle them on the fly. It's not a railroad to say that...

I had them kind of acting like schoolyard bullies at that point, who thought it was hilarious when the PCs stepped into the trapped area, so they were responding with, "Yeah, yeah! We're friends now! C'mon over here! <snicker snicker>" I probably will just have to spend more time in OOC...

Oh, he has no real aversion to killing. He's the most evil-curious player (and yes, I mean player) in the group! The running gag is, if we find slaves, he'll free them... from life! He just happens to also love manipulating people, thus the high bluff and diplomacy checks. Well, YEAH! If it...

Doctor, it hurts when I do this... Right, that's why I said all that about giving some sort of combat benefit approximately equivalent to one good sword hit. In general that's good advice, and what I would do, but as I said in the original post, my main issue is when I want them to go ahead and...

So, I have this big encounter set up. It's got everything; there's monsters and traps and a big set-piece battle to bust into an enemy fortress! The players are all ready to go, and then the warlock says those dreaded words.... "I'm gonna use Diplomacy." Oh god. He's level five, and he...

When you're at epic levels, wizards have a ton of enemy-only attacks with huge areas, plus other epic feats that let you avoid ally hits... or hey, hit your ally. You might crit him and then get to redirect it onto an enemy. And think about it: If you're a wizard hitting an average of two...

I think if there's one problem with Stalker's system, it's just that it's fairly complex. Not at complicated as combat, I admit, but it does put a certain set of limitations on skill challenges that you have to follow. That said, the DC lists are definitely more appropriate IMO. I may not use...

What? Who'd want to tell time with a bloody monk ape?

Ryuujin's got it right; it's an improvised weapon. Improvised weapons are really an area of DM fiat. I would rule that hitting somebody with a ranged weapon (or ammo) in melee is similar to throwing a weapon that lacks the thrown keyword. I wouldn't restrict you from using shuriken or arrows...

Primarily, because none of them have it, even the ones where it would make sense, like the hand crossbow and shuriken. What the rules are is unclear and nonsensical; so at that point you have to start considering the intent of the rules. The devs themselves have said repeatedly that they don't...