D&D 5E Common rules mistakes

[mach1.9pants]

* If your character has multiple ways of calculating base AC, you only get to use one. Usually you use the best, but sometimes the existence of one method (usually wearing armor) precludes using other methods. So a monk/barbarian could either calculate AC as 10 + Dex + Con or 10 + Dex + Wis, but not 10 + Dex + Con + Wis. If he puts on a suit of studded leather, he can't use either class ability anymore, and instead gets 12 + Dex.

Not quite. A Barbarian that multiclasses into Mok does not get the Unamored Defence quality again. So they don;t get to choose just stick with their first class.

]f you already have the Unarmored Defense feature, you can't gain it again from another class.

Most mistakes I or my fellow players have done have to do with carry-over thinking from previous editions:

The only action that provokes attacks of opportunity is moving out of hostile reach of a nearby enemy. (PHB, Pg. 195) Casting a spell in melee does not, using a ranged weapon in melee does not, standing up from prone does not.

Also if you take the disengage action ALL your movement that turn does not provoke AOO. So it is not just the enemies you are initially disengaging from but you negate all AAOs that turn. This came up for us with a Rogue's bonus Dash action.

You (and monsters) can break up movement however you wish during your turn. (PHB Pg.190) Move-attack-move is fair game.

Also, you can split it up move-action-move-bonus action-move, e.g. a level 5 Ftr can move-attack-move-attack-move.

That I didn't realize. I don't have my PHB handy...Can you provide the page number so I can look it up later? Thanks.

Well it is every class write up. If one of the races traits is subrace, that is a trait of all that race. Subrace is listed in the same way as darkvision or age or alignment.

Some races have subraces. Members of a subrace have the traits of the parent race in addition to the traits specified for lheir subrace.

 

[Mouseferatu]

Likewise if you ready an action to attack, and you have multiple attacks, you're readied action on triggers one attack.

Can you point to a source for this? I can't find this stated anywhere.

 

[Jinashi]

Can you point to a source for this? I can't find this stated anywhere.

http://www.sageadvice.eu/2015/01/24/extra-attack-ready/

 

[Mouseferatu]

http://www.sageadvice.eu/2015/01/24/extra-attack-ready/

Well, how about that?

 

[Paraxis]

Very interesting I did not notice that about readied attack actions before. It is weird that as a spell a warlock could ready eldritch blast and get all the attacks but an archer could not, because there is no wording in eldritch blast that limits it to "on your turn". This just made me think, I need to look for exploits that could let me eldritch blast multiple times in a round.

 

[DaveDash]

Well, how about that?

Yeah. It's buried obscurely in the wording of the Extra Attack action.

"Whenever you take the attack action on your turn".

I have made that mistake myself and had it pointed out to me on the forums.

Another couple:
No reactions during surprise round if you're surprised (so no popping Shield if you're surprised).
Surprise grants movement, an action, and a bonus action (unlike previous editions).

 

[ExploderWizard]

Not quite. A Barbarian that multiclasses into Mok does not get the Unamored Defence quality again. So they don;t get to choose just stick with their first class.

WHAT!! You can multiclass into Mok? You mean I can play Ookla in 5E? WHEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[BoldItalic]

No reactions during surprise round if you're surprised (so no popping Shield if you're surprised).
Surprise grants movement, an action, and a bonus action (unlike previous editions).

That's another common misconception, because in 5e there is no such thing as a surprise round.

No-one gains actions from surprise, but some may lose out by being surprised.

Being surprised merely prevents a creature doing anything during its move/action turn in the first round. It can affect some, all or none or the creatures present regardless of which side they are on. It's not that one side gets an extra round, it's that some creatures must do nothing on their first turn.

Also, you can take reactions in the first round even if you are surprised, but not until after the end of your do-nothing turn.

PHB, p.189

 

[Redthistle]

WHAT!! You can multiclass into Mok? You mean I can play Ookla in 5E? WHEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!!!

Let me get this straight: You mock mach1 for the typo "Mok" (s/b "Monk") and then apply it to bring in a class (or race?) from a different rpg?

I suspect, ExploderWizard, that the Fiendish Old One is seeking to subvert you over to the Warlock-y side of magic.

Whatever the case, I admire your twisted meta-gaming AOO way of thinking, and may your sense of humor keep your table in laughter and "pun"-ishing groans.

 

[Gecko85]

I don't see how can there be confusion on this issue? It clearly says you choose a subrace, what other way would this work? Did people think High Elves don't have darkvision and a +2 to Dex? Of Course they do they are elves.

Now human variant isn't a subrace just to be clear, but yeah every dwarf is either hill or mountain and they all get darkvision and a bonus to Con.

Makes sense. I'm not playing a subrace so haven't really looked at them. Sounded like there was some confusion, so was wanting to know where in the PHB that might be coming from.