D&D (2024) Rules that annoy you

[mellored]

Druids should be able to use spell slots to fuel wild shape

They can now.

At level 5.

 

[bedir than]

They can now.

I missed that! Thank you

 

[Weiley31]

The Perception skill.

And now I am subject to cabbage and tomatoes thrown in my general direction. Woe and wailings!

Im bringing out the EXTRA SHARP POINTY carrots for this one.

 

[Quickleaf]

Im bringing out the EXTRA SHARP POINTY carrots for this one.

My secret weakness! I didn't see that coming... ...

....

 

[TiQuinn]

What rules annoy you (either mechanically or conceptually)? What, if anything, do you like to do about them?

A clear path to the target is a requirement for a spell to work meaning that anything from a window to a curtain is enough to prevent many spells from working, and I find that to be a piece of game mechanics that breaks suspension of disbelief and demystifies the magic.

 

[Tonguez]

The whole HP mechanic and death rules annoy me, the fact that you can take ongoing damage and be perfectly fine until you reach 0 is dumb so why not have 6 second first aid or Healing salves acting as liquid bandages? - you're spending time staunching the blood loss that targets been happily accumulating during combat.

Indeed I thing that Medicine skill should be a required component of Healing spells

 

[pukunui]

A clear path to the target is a requirement for a spell to work meaning that anything from a window to a curtain is enough to prevent many spells from working, and I find that to be a piece of game mechanics that breaks suspension of disbelief and demystifies the magic.

I'm fine with things like rays not going through solid objects like curtains and glass windows. Since most magic requires line of sight, then curtains will always get in the way, but you can, for instance, misty step through a window even if there's a pane of glass in it.

Would you care to explain why that breaks your suspension of disbelief?

The whole HP mechanic ...

Oooh, let's not open that can of worms again! I just started writing a lengthy diatribe about the disconnect between abstract hit points and damage types and also the various attacks that logically ought not to work if there's no physical wound ... but then I thought better of it. I'll just leave it at that for now.

 

[Hussar]

Natural language in spell descriptions that do not actually specify things. Today's culprit was Guardian of Faith. Here's the spell description in it's entirety:

A Large spectral guardian appears and hovers for the duration in an unoccupied space of your choice that you can see within range. The guardian occupies that space and is indistinct except for a gleaming sword and shield emblazoned with the symbol of your deity.


Any creature hostile to you that moves to a space within 10 feet of the guardian for the first time on a turn must succeed on a Dexterity saving throw. The creature takes 20 radiant damage on a failed save, or half as much damage on a successful one. The guardian vanishes when it has dealt a total of 60 damage.

Now, does that take up space or not? Can someone move through the Guardian's space or is it considered a creature/object. It's "spectral" but it "occupies that space". Can I use this to completely block off a 10 foot wide corridor? Creating an invincible wall that you can't pass through until somebody eats the 60 damage and discharges the spell?

A fantastic question to come up in the middle of a combat in the middle of a session when I've got fifteen other things to deal with.

 

[Lakesidefantasy]

I, personally, have come to accept that there needs to be a balance between reality and movie logic; which means there will be movie logic in the balance. Maybe more than I would like, maybe less.

I am annoyed by the ability to drink a healing portion as a bonus action in combat. I am challenged to envision Conan the Barbarian, in mortal combat with Thorgrim's giant Snake, quaffing a drink like a drunken master.

I can however envision players (including dungeon masters) wishing we had a way to get something like the fighters second wind ability for our characters.

 

[TiQuinn]

I'm fine with things like rays not going through solid objects like curtains and glass windows. Since most magic requires line of sight, then curtains will always get in the way, but you can, for instance, misty step through a window even if there's a pane of glass in it.

Would you care to explain why that breaks your suspension of disbelief?

Magic missile, for example, does force damage and if I can see the target through the window, then why can’t the missile break the window? Why wouldn’t scorching ray melt it? Witch bolt?

Even the description of area effect spells are fairly vague around how to treat objects unless they’re flammable though easier to make rulings on. I just find the game to treat the environment a little bit too unrealistic.