D&D 5E messy's 5e newbie questions thread

[Paul Farquhar]

but when you can use -5/+10 it get new dimension of use. And perfectly match with idea brutal power warrior. With one swing get down 2 enemies (ok like goblins, or wolfs)... 1d10+10 is dmg you cant ignore. And if you take green flame blade You are 2 target destroyer but it's really situational.

Well yes, if you choose to ignore what the text says it's quite easy to make abilities horribly overpowered. I'll see your GFB and raise you double sneak attack. You only get one sneak attack per turn, but this is only one sneak attack - it just happens to hit two targets....

 

[delph]

Well yes, if you choose to ignore what the text says it's quite easy to make abilities horribly overpowered. I'll see your GFB and raise you double sneak attack. You only get one sneak attack per turn, but this is only one sneak attack - it just happens to hit two targets....

nothing about double use sneak attack, or smites... As @Harzel said you hit second target with "same attack" as first. So when you choose lower attack to get bigger dmg, you should use it for a second target too, because you didn't change this sweep in middle back to "0/0"

 

[Telvin]

50. If a spell is cast as a ready action, what happens to the spell if the trigger does not occur and the caster does not get to expend it?

 

[BluejayJunior]

50. If a spell is cast as a ready action, what happens to the spell if the trigger does not occur and the caster does not get to expend it?

I believe this is answered in the section on readied actions.
But the spell fizzles and the spell slot is lost. The spell has already been cast at that point and is just being held.

 

[Sword of Spirit]

It's not RAW, but it's fairly reasonable to allow a character to continue concentrating and taking the Ready action action to keep the spell readied for additional turns until it comes up.

 

[MarkB]

It's not RAW, but it's fairly reasonable to allow a character to continue concentrating and taking the Ready action action to keep the spell readied for additional turns until it comes up.

Or to use their next action to cast it.

 

[messy]

51. bonus types and stacking seems to not be an issue in 5e (thank goodness). does this mean that one character can benefit from simultaneously holding a shield, casting shield of faith, and casting shield?

52. i'm having some confusion on when to use a skill and when to use a tool. the medicine skill vs the herbalism kit seems pretty straightforward (medicine can be used to stabilize a dying companion or diagnose an illness, whereas an herbalism kit can be used to identify or apply herbs and create antitoxin and potions of healing). but what about performance vs a musical instrument? if a character wants to perform with a musical instrument, does the skill or instrument apply?

53. how many ki points does elemental attunement use? since it doesn't say i'm assuming none, but you know what they say about assuming...

54. why does the srd only contain some of the phb? for example, the section on the barbarian has the path of the berserker but not the path of the totem warrior.

 

[ad_hoc]

51. bonus types and stacking seems to not be an issue in 5e (thank goodness). does this mean that one character can benefit from simultaneously holding a shield, casting shield of faith, and casting shield?

Those are all different things, so yes.

52. i'm having some confusion on when to use a skill and when to use a tool. the medicine skill vs the herbalism kit seems pretty straightforward (medicine can be used to stabilize a dying companion or diagnose an illness, whereas an herbalism kit can be used to identify or apply herbs and create antitoxin and potions of healing). but what about performance vs a musical instrument? if a character wants to perform with a musical instrument, does the skill or instrument apply?

As far as Medicine, it's easier to just use a healer's kit for automatic stabilization (a healing potion is better still).

For performance with an instrument proficiency with the instrument is required. General performance doesn't need a tool though.

53. how many ki points does elemental attunement use? since it doesn't say i'm assuming none, but you know what they say about assuming...

None, it's the 4E Monk's version of a cantrip.

54. why does the srd only contain some of the phb? for example, the section on the barbarian has the path of the berserker but not the path of the totem warrior.

Free vs Paid and Simple vs Complicated

 

[Paul Farquhar]

54. why does the srd only contain some of the phb?

So WotC can make some money. Even game designers have to eat.

if a character wants to perform with a musical instrument, does the skill or instrument apply?

I believe most people rule that in order to use your Perform skill with an instrument you must be proficient with that instrument. I might rule that a bard or character with a music related background could attempt to perform with an unfamiliar instrument with disadvantage.

There are, of course, many types of performance that do not require an instrument: acting, dancing, singing etc.

 

[BluejayJunior]

I believe most people rule that in order to use your Perform skill with an instrument you must be proficient with that instrument. I might rule that a bard or character with a music related background could attempt to perform with an unfamiliar instrument with disadvantage.

There are, of course, many types of performance that do not require an instrument: acting, dancing, singing etc.

There are some rules about this in Xanathar's Guide. For doing things that could fall into two skills/tools that you are proficient in. I believe it's things like getting advantage or improving the reward of a successful check or other bonuses like that.