Recent content by Cap'n Kobold

Are you dead-set on them being a Ranger and getting Ranger spells? You could cover a lot of this with the Thief or Scout Rogue, using their Expertise to boost the important skills, and a couple of the other abilities on that list are covered by feats.

What were the actual mechanical effects of these character-crippling conditions that you are so fond of? While the 1e items were listed as more concrete, the actual effects don't appear to be as self-contained as the 5e ones. I would assume that many of the limb-loss effects would be rather...

Hang on. - You have repeatedly said that bias and favouritism are beneficial and correct, even though WotC don't explicitly state that casters are designed to be superior and more interesting to play in general compared to martial classes. You encourage favouring certain PCs. That you have an...

First; define your Ninja. If you want ninja to be able to run the gamut of the historical espionage agents, hollywood's "monks, but in black!", or naruto-style spellcasters, then a background, or even just membership in a faction is all that should be required. These are all quite well covered...

Sounds like bad writing to me. Why does this person commit such a mix of acts? If they were driven to do good, then why would they also commit evil acts? Do they feel it is "justified" to commit evil acts against specific people? Are they not aware of what they are doing? Likewise someone who...

Never assume that a low-level PC will make any save. Never assume that a PC will be at full health. Anything able to deal 10 or more points of damage in a single go can outright kill a PC, and there are no options to bring them back at this level. Creatures that rely on multiple attacks are...

I think that the reason that modern D&D doesn't tend to get into the above example is less about combat-as-war being less popular (although it is), and more about gaming-as-war being less popular. People are playing more heroic characters, and adventures have become more about achieving a...

Cinematic combat isn't just Marvel cinematic universe-like depictions. There are other styles of combat: cinematic often just means narrative and dynamic: people are fighting for a reason, in a challenging and changing scenario. Maybe, but one example I quoted had someone changing their action...

Sounds like the DM is too caught up in the rules to think about what is actually happening. The party sees "blazing orbs of fire plummeting to the ground". That sounds like something people could react to. Firstly, there is only a need to roll if there is uncertainty in the resolution of an...

Arrows are not firearms or lasers. A bow makes an audible sound and requires shifting position, and even after it is fired, there is often a significant amount of travel time. Weapons take time to draw and swing. Even a spell with an instantaneous effect will require components that can be...

If you have 4 or 5 hp then sure, you're probably feeling afraid for your character. - But if the DM had just rolled a little better on that last hit you took, you wouldn't be feeling afraid for your character, you'd probably be feeling frustrated and annoyed as you start generating a new one. If...

I think that the main reason that the "down-and-making-death-saves" system was added to the game wasn't to remove fear, but to add it, as well as increase player engagement and increase tactical complexity. Options to "just don't take damage" are limited in 5e, particularly for the types of...

Is it the level of tactical synergy that the party are using? Utilising forced movement so much?

Legends of Greyhawk has been introduced, which is a little like AL, if AL was run by some of the grognards who hate D&D5.5 who post here. :-p However AL is still going strong and there are no plans to change that as far as I'm aware. I can't see why AL doesn't funnel into sales: it seems to be...