D&D (2024) I just got a 2024 PHB From Gen Con. AMA!

[MarkB]

Sort of. The initial grapple attempt (an Unarmed Strike) has a DC that the opponent must make Str or Dex save against. Trying to escape a grapple on subsequent actions is Athletics or Acrobatics (against the same DC).

I dislike this "initial check sets the DC for all subsequent opposed checks" bit, in this and other similar rules. Aside from the bookkeeping of having to scribble down a DC, it means that just one lucky roll from the attacker may set a DC that's impossible to beat.

 

[mellored]

I dislike this "initial check sets the DC for all subsequent opposed checks" bit, in this and other similar rules. Aside from the bookkeeping of having to scribble down a DC, it means that just one lucky roll from the attacker may set a DC that's impossible to beat.

DC doesn't change.
It's 8 + Str + proficiency for all checks. (Dex for monks).

So are you making them roll a save as an action? Because that's the reason for the difference. I get that you don't like it, but I can easily understand why they chose to do it as they did. The entangle (now grapple) comes at you, and you get to roll a save. You fail. Now it's your turn and you need to fight your way out. That's an ability check.

You're free not to like it, but I'm not sure why you think that it doesn't make sense.

Sounds more like a justification than the original intention.

But it works.

 

[pukunui]

Thank you DavyGreenwind for taking the time. I can see differences indeed but cannot read that darkness is opaque, which is what the Reddit was saying.

The description of Darkness just states that it's a heavily obscured area. A heavily obscured area imposes the Blinded condition. It would seem that the rules are saying that people without darkvision are effectively blind outside at night, even on "most moonlit nights". That's a bit heavy-handed.

 

[MarkB]

DC doesn't change.
It's 8 + Str + proficiency for all checks. (Dex for monks).

Ah, I misunderstood. I was thinking the initial check set the DC, the same way that the Hide action's initial Stealth check sets the DC for subsequent Perception checks.

So when grappling an opponent, the attacker doesn't roll at all?

 

[pukunui]

So when grappling an opponent, the attacker doesn't roll at all?

That appears to be the case for PCs, yes. Monsters with tentacles and such still auto-grapple on a successful attack roll.

Advantage on any saving throw you make to end the grappled condition. To me, this is probably a straight-up error in the Goliath entry. Ending the grappled condition is a check, not a saving throw, in the new rule (which is good for folks with proficiency in athletics or acrobatics).

Agreed. This is clearly an error and is going to need immediate errata, either to replace "saving throw" with "ability check" or "end" with "avoid" (or both).

 

[FitzTheRuke]

Sounds more like a justification than the original intention.

How so?

 

[Azzy]

I dislike this "initial check sets the DC for all subsequent opposed checks" bit, in this and other similar rules. Aside from the bookkeeping of having to scribble down a DC, it means that just one lucky roll from the attacker may set a DC that's impossible to beat.

I dunno. If grappling is something that a player regularly attempts, then it should follow that they'd write down their DC on their character sheet. Something like... Grapple (DC 15)

 

[Sir Brennen]

So when grappling an opponent, the attacker doesn't roll at all?

Sounds a bit like the DC represents a passive score for the attacker.

Less dice rolling in round, especially for Grapple, feels like a win to me.

 

[Remathilis]

The description of Darkness just states that it's a heavily obscured area. A heavily obscured area imposes the Blinded condition. It would seem that the rules are saying that people without darkvision are effectively blind outside at night, even on "most moonlit nights". That's a bit heavy-handed.

The thing that is sticking out more and more is that conditions like blindness, charmed, invisible, and poisoned don't actually do what they say on the tin.

 

[Epic Meepo]

The thing that is sticking out more and more is that conditions like blindness, charmed, invisible, and poisoned don't actually do what they say on the tin.

I worried this would be the case as soon as we discovered that the Wayfarer Background is defined as something completely unrelated to being a traveler.

The designers seem to be redefining a fair number of English-language words to mean whatever vaguely-related things they want them to mean.

I'm okay with having to learn new game mechanics to play a new game. I'm less okay having to learn entirely new, non-common-sense definitions of words I use in conversational English.