D&D 5E Would you allow switching shield proficiency for Agonizing Blast as a DM?

[Vaalingrade]

Sometimes the rule is not dumb, the player is.

In this case, however...

 

[Thomas Rainsborough]

In this case, however...

However what? Some player wants rules thrown out because that player wants a more powerful char. It is that simple.

 

[Vaalingrade]

However what? Some player wants rules thrown out because that player wants a more powerful char. It is that simple.

More powerful as in 'not taking penalties for being blind'.

Remember that's where this line of discussion started. Someone wanted to play a blind monk but not take the blindness penalties, ie. the blindness being flavor text.

 

[lingual]

If you roll stats you can easily have a strength warrior who does not wear armor.

A lot of the "problems" people complain about are directly tied to using point buy or standard array for their stats. Rolling certainly has problems of its own, but in terms of developing varied characters it is a lot more effective ESPECIALLY if you do not let players move their stats around.

I can see that. The min maxing and squeezing every last drop out of stuff probably less prevalent.

 

[lingual]

More powerful as in 'not taking penalties for being blind'.

Remember that's where this line of discussion started. Someone wanted to play a blind monk but not take the blindness penalties, ie. the blindness being flavor text.

I suppose then what would be the point of playing a blind character if you won't accept any of the penalties. It should be harder to be blind rather than exactly the same (or even arguably superior since Darkness doesn't affect you in combat, perception checks, etc.).

If someone was actually serious about playing a blind character, I'd work with them (like maybe blind fighting feat for free) and higher perception (but also essentially operating in Darkness all the time). Overall, it should be more difficult though since it supposed to be an extra challenge for the player.

 

[Thomas Rainsborough]

More powerful as in 'not taking penalties for being blind'.

Remember that's where this line of discussion started. Someone wanted to play a blind monk but not take the blindness penalties, ie. the blindness being flavor text.

Actually, that is not true. It started when I used that analogy for a player not happy with the rules and wanting the DM to give them Agonizing Blast because it would make their char more powerful. I have found, through experience, that playing a game by the actual rules when everyone around you is abiding by those rules, no matter what the game, is the mark of a good player.

 

[Immoralkickass]

More powerful as in 'not taking penalties for being blind'.

Remember that's where this line of discussion started. Someone wanted to play a blind monk but not take the blindness penalties, ie. the blindness being flavor text.

What? I thought it started from a hexblade warlock who didn't use shields, so he ask for the proficiency to be swapped with an Invocation.

That's like a blind man asking to swap his his eyeballs for extra guns.

 

[Vaalingrade]

It should be harder to be blind rather than exactly the same (or even arguably superior since Darkness doesn't affect you in combat, perception checks, etc.).

In what media featuring blind monks of blind fighters is it harder for them?

Overall, it should be more difficult though since it supposed to be an extra challenge for the player.

I don't think it's supposed to be extra challenge. The player clearly wants to play someone like Daredevil or the dude from Rogue One. They're not trying to play an actual blind person, but the trope of the blind fighter.

 

[Vaalingrade]

What? I thought it started from a hexblade warlock who didn't use shields, so he ask for the proficiency to be swapped with an Invocation.

That should be allowed too, but that's not what I was quoting when I made my remark.

That's like a blind man asking to swap his his eyeballs for extra guns.

Are you telling me that you wouldn't want that if you were blind?

Or to swap out your useless appendix (yes, I know. I don't want any 'well acktually'-ing here) for an extra liver for maximum drunkness?

 

[Vaalingrade]

Actually, that is not true. It started when I used that analogy for a player not happy with the rules and wanting the DM to give them Agonizing Blast because it would make their char more powerful. I have found, through experience, that playing a game by the actual rules when everyone around you is abiding by those rules, no matter what the game, is the mark of a good player.

The Rules are 'Ask Your DM'. And I think the DM should do it because class features you have but don't use aren't making anything more fun.