Recent content by Jonathon Robinson

I can't think of a single cantrip that deals half damage on a successful save. Which spell are you referring to?

Assuming 1's and 2's are re-rolled once: 1d4 => 2.5 average roll => (2.5+2.5+3+4)/4 = 3 (+0.5) 1d6 => 3.5 average roll => (3.5+3.5+3+4+5+6)/6 = 4.17 (+0.67) 1d8 => 5.25 (+0.75) 1d10 => 6.3 (+0.8) 1d12 => 7.33 (+0.83)

I can just imagine the cleric now, dancing around his foes while his spells wreak havoc in the background.

I bet you get strange looks from the other players too. :)

I realize how it reads and we've gotten some great humorous posts as a result. Not to be nit-picky but the DMG is pretty clear on how to surprise characters (it's just stealth versus passive perception and those who lose are surprised during the first round of combat). I meant how do you...

It is interesting that you call out "those who are Keeping Watch, that is." I have always assumed that the characters are keeping watch at all times. How would you run a relaxing night in the tavern suddenly ruined by a doppelganger? Would the player who said "I open the treasure chest" have his...

I actually did mean surprise the players. As soon as one calls for an initiative roll, the surprise is sort of lost. I feel it would be more theatrical if the ambush began *before* the players roll for initiative thus surprising the players (whether or not the characters are surprised). This...

As a DM, how do you surprise your players? For example, if a module calls for an ambush, how do you run the ambush narrative and subsequent combat? How do you manage PCs that roll higher initiative than the monsters doing the ambush? How would you manage a character that has the alert feat or...

I am intrigued. Can you share your PDF or what iserith wrote?

The surprise round rules fall short for me so I am planning on introducing a new rule in my campaigns to compensate. I'd love to hear your feedback on this. The Problem There are many reasons for characters to be surprised. Besides being ambushed, the players could be in a situation where they...

Ready doesn't change your combat order RAW. However, you can use ready to go after another player such as "after the wizard clears a path I charge in" I don't really like this because it feels weird to get two turns so close together. I preferred 4e rules that permanently moved your turn order.

As a DM, I'm really happy there is a Ready mechanic I can fall back on, but I prefer my players not to use it explicitly. What I prefer my players to do instead is give me a narrative such as: "when the dragon swoops down to bite me, I want to jump on him" or "when the invisible creature...

In my opinion, the School of Evocation is the strongest school of magic for the wizard. I do not see a need to modify Potent Cantrip.

I was about to say the same thing. The only thing in the game that can raise a spell save DC is your spellcasting stat, so for spellcasters that rely on saves this is the most important stat. When I played an enchanter wizard, I maxed my spell save ASAP so that I had a chance of actually getting...

I am a recent join as well and have been very pleasantly surprised by the community we have here. The active members are all very open and are encouraging. I think the XP system does encourage the correct behaviour (the posts I got XP on tended to be more insightful or drawn from my own...