D&D 5E Common rules mistakes

[guachi]

The Archery fighting style doesn't just work with bows or crossbows; it works with every ranged weapon. So it works with nets,darts, slings, and blowguns.
The duelist fighting style really does work when wielding a shield. It also works with thrown melee weapons. Similarly, two-weapon fighting also works with thrown weapons.

 

[Nebulous]

I imagine you can't do that. Even the Player's Handbook makes that clear:

"When the trigger occurs, you can either take your reaction right after the trigger finishes or ignore the trigger." (PHB, pg.193)

It's pretty clear that you have to wait until after the spell is cast. Only certain reactions have the ability to interrupt the action (like Opportunity Attacks), and it is usually spelled out in the description.

We've been doing this completely wrong then. Old mindset i guess. So readying also does not change your initiative at all. You just use a reaction?

 

[ProphetSword]

We've been doing this completely wrong then. Old mindset i guess. So readying also does not change your initiative at all. You just use a reaction?

As far as I know, there is no way to change your initiative in 5E at all. You can't delay anymore.

You can ready an action, which uses your reaction based upon a trigger. When the trigger completes, the reaction can either happen or be ignored.

And yeah, you're not the only one who started out doing this wrong. I did too. Don't feel too bad about it.

 

[FormerlyHemlock]

I don't agree with that statement though. Extra attacks do not say anything about having to be on your turn. They just say whenever you make an attack action you may do another attack. If you are readying an attack action , you should get every attack. Otherwise there is no incentive for fighters to ever Ready an attack.

Yes they do say "on your turn." Or at least, the monk entry does. I didn't check them all for consistency.

Edit: sorry, thought I was on the last page of the thread.

 

[I'm A Banana]

I don't really get why that's a good thing... I mean I get that initiative changes add complexity, but not allowing them makes things a bit... bizarre.

It is a party based game, what is wrong with the players trying to act as a team? If the whole of the party wants to act after the cleric or wizard, why is that so wrong?

Mostly, bunching up turns distorts the game and the fiction. It allows the party to act without fear of reprisal, without the enemy being able to react. It treats the initiative order, rounds, and turns, as things the characters experience, rather than a simplifying abstraction for the players to be able to play through the combat with. A character getting a turn has an opening to act -- either they do, or the opening closes. They can use that opening to plan out a later action, but they can't choose when that opening occurs. That's up to how fast they are -- their Initiative score.

 

[Nebulous]

Mostly, bunching up turns distorts the game and the fiction. It allows the party to act without fear of reprisal, without the enemy being able to react. It treats the initiative order, rounds, and turns, as things the characters experience, rather than a simplifying abstraction for the players to be able to play through the combat with. A character getting a turn has an opening to act -- either they do, or the opening closes. They can use that opening to plan out a later action, but they can't choose when that opening occurs. That's up to how fast they are -- their Initiative score.

I think we're going to try Initiative-less combat next session. I talked to one player about it, and as long as he still gets to use his Alertness feat he's fine with trying. If we don't like we'll just go back to how we've always done it. Which, frankly, I'm rather bored of.

 

[Nebulous]

So does this sound accurate to tell my players to clarify the issue with all of us?


So, for example, orcs are charging through a door. The orcs have Initiative. Players go next. Elgweth's trigger is: "When an orc comes through the door, I fire an arrow." It is an action to Ready, and it triggers your "reaction", which you only get one per round (usually)

So the orc enters, and Elgweth fires after the trigger, then the orc finishes its move if still alive. Player's turn: well, Elgweth has already used his action and reaction for that round, but he has a move left if he wants to relocate.

Readying an Action in 5th edition does not change your Initiative order.

 

[Roger]

Scrolls

• -To use a spell scroll, the spell must be on (one of) your class's spell list. Example: a bard can use a first-level dissonant whispers scroll but a cleric cannot. (DMG pgs 200-201)

• -You can try casting a spell that is too high-level for you, but it might not work. Example: A first-level cleric can try using a fifth-level raise dead scroll; he needs to make a Wisdom check against DC 15. (DMG pgs 200-201)

• -Anyone can use a non-spell scroll, such as a Scroll of Protection. (DMG pg 199)

• -Scrolls themselves are not inherently class-based, nor are they arcane or divine. Example: If a cleric creates a detect magic scroll, a wizard can use it to copy the spell into his spellbook. (DMG pgs 200-201)

Cheers,
Roger

 

[ProphetSword]

So does this sound accurate to tell my players to clarify the issue with all of us?


So, for example, orcs are charging through a door. The orcs have Initiative. Players go next. Elgweth's trigger is: "When an orc comes through the door, I fire an arrow." It is an action to Ready, and it triggers your "reaction", which you only get one per round (usually)

So the orc enters, and Elgweth fires after the trigger, then the orc finishes its move if still alive. Player's turn: well, Elgweth has already used his action and reaction for that round, but he has a move left if he wants to relocate.

Readying an Action in 5th edition does not change your Initiative order.

This won't work. You can't use the "Ready" action until you have the opportunity to actually take an action, which would not be until your turn begins. If the orcs have initiative, no characters can take actions before the orcs complete their actions during the first round of combat.

 

[Jaelommiss]

So does this sound accurate to tell my players to clarify the issue with all of us?


So, for example, orcs are charging through a door. The orcs have Initiative. Players go next. Elgweth's trigger is: "When an orc comes through the door, I fire an arrow." It is an action to Ready, and it triggers your "reaction", which you only get one per round (usually)

So the orc enters, and Elgweth fires after the trigger, then the orc finishes its move if still alive. Player's turn: well, Elgweth has already used his action and reaction for that round, but he has a move left if he wants to relocate.

Readying an Action in 5th edition does not change your Initiative order.

In this situation Elgweth must have had a turn in the previous round in order to ready an action. You are correct that there is no change to initiative order.

Round 1: Orcs run towards door, but do not get to it. Elgweth uses action to ready an attack.

Round 2: Orcs open door, Elgweth uses reaction to attack, orcs finish their turns. Elgweth acts as normal. Additionally, he may now use a reaction again because he has started his turn*.

*Reactions reset when you start a turn, not at the start of a round. "When you take a reaction, you can't take another one until the start of your next turn." -- PHB 190