D&D 5E Command Words

[TrueBagelMan]

So I want to make a list of words that can be used for Command and if your DMs have allowed them.

List of Command Words
Grovel
Drop
Flee
Wear (Throw them Manacles.) Now they can’t do anything unless they succeed on a DC 20 STR or DEX check, or 15 Thieves Tools.
Vomit (swallowed characters)
Sleep (discount blindness)
Spin (discount dizziness)
Backflip (just funny)
Burp (social challenge)
Betrayal (sometimes really interesting)
Distract (break concentration)
Sing (also funny)
Break (something fragile)
Eat (small but important)
Kill (random murder.)
Sit
Stay
Fetch (throw something)
Freeze
Kneel
Clap (if target is carrying something you'd rather it drop)
Disrobe
Drink (toss target a vial of some unpleasant liquid if none already nearby)
Swim (if on a boat or near water)
Breathe (rare: if target is for some reason trying to hold its breath)

 

[ccs]

All of these & more.

Although if you issued "Surrender" & threw them manacles don't be surprised when they don't don them as that's not required to fulfill the command.
NowifyouwereaGnome&everythingyousaidwasoneword.....CW:"Bindyourself" ....mightbeconsideredavalidcommand.)

 

[Seramus]

Vomit (swallowed characters)
Sleep (discount blindness)
Spin (discount dizziness)
Backflip (just funny)
Burp (social challenge)
Betrayal (sometimes really interesting)
Distract (break concentration)
Sing (also funny)
Break (something fragile)
Eat (small but important)

 

[WayOfTheFourElements]

I had players command "kill" in order to cause mayhem. They didn't care much who the target tried to kill, only to get him in trouble with the authorities.

 

[Benjamin Olson]

Not everyone can just vomit on command. If I could I would have stayed home sick a lot more in middle school.

 

[DND_Reborn]

Some of these yes, many of them maybe depending on the encounter situation, some no.

 

[Enevhar Aldarion]

I so wish breakdancing were a thing for a pseudo-medieval setting. It would be so hilarious to Command Breakdance on someone in full plate armor. lol

But some of those I would not allow because they are either too vague or require a qualifier to carry out.

Also, Sleep is iffy if they are standing up, since falling to the floor will likely wake they right up again. I prefer Faint because that is more what you see in movies and TV when a person passes out and falls down. Hitting the floor generally does not revive a fainted person, the way it can wake up a sleeping person.

 

[Seramus]

.
Also, Sleep is iffy if they are standing up, since falling to the floor will likely wake they right up again.

I don't make them actually fall asleep, but they usually lie down and close their eyes. Which is great for melee and neutral for ranged. Or just close their eyes if they sleep standing up. Hence the discount blindness.

 

[Oofta]

I don't know. A DM once commanded my fighter in armor to "jump" while on a ship. He also ruled that if you were in armor you sank like a rock - immediately straight to the bottom*.

In any case I jumped - to the middle of the boat because that was satisfying the command while not doing something stupid. He said "you know what I mean" and told me I had to jump off the boat. I made light of it but it actually pissed me off. Fortunately the ship was docked so I could "walk" to shore. Because like I said armor = PC made of solid stone for him.

So that's the problem I have with some of the commands. Kill? Kill what? A fly? Time? That half finished ale? The caster?

So I stick with the standard stuff - because what's good for the goose is good for the gander and I don't ever want an NPC commanding a PC to jump while they're next to a cliff that has a 1500 ft drop.

*Why is it that some DMs seem to hate PCs in heavy armor and go out of their way to screw them over? This is a trend I've seen in public games.

 

[aco175]

Some of those sound open to interpretation. We used to have Die, which would make you pass out, kind of like a sleep spell.