Recent content by rmcoen

Hey, I really appreciate you explaining things this way. It doesn't address why the Bandit Captain is vastly more powerful than a Guard, but it does a great job of explaining/equating the Bandit Captain to a PC. 10 HD vs. PC lvl 5... I wonder if that analogy/equivalency holds true in other...

My world assumes that most of the population are "2nd" level, with a noticeable quantity being 3rd towards the end of their careers. Elites are young 3rds, and can reach 4th. Anyone 5th is legendary/celebrity: the Mage of the Ruby Tower, the Hand (master assassin), the Mad Alchemist of Jendar...

I think a "compromise" situation is the best solution. As many others have posted - commoners can't afford even the cheapest thing, so it can't be a 7-11. Nobles and wealthy merchants will purchase magical items that make their lives easier - or highlight their wealth in an obvious fashion...

My players just recently bought the vaunted and powerful.... Stone of Cleaning! It's an Ebberon item, 1-foot diameter stone (ruled it at 30 pounds), touching it cleans your body and all the gear/items you are carrying. "removes grime and dirt". They leave it on their horse, then get cleaned...

In case no one mentioned it in the previous 16 pages I didn't read, take a fun diversion and read MC Planck's "World of Prime" series of novels. https://www.goodreads.com/series/129874-world-of-prime He posits a world where the (3e) D&D rules are how the world works. Most people are...

Late to the party, but I'll add 2 coppers anyway. TL; DR = Abstract way to represent the NPC's other skills, class benefits, training, experiments, background, racial benefits, etc. that don't matter for the three rounds you'll be fighting him. No, I don't like how much more abstract the...

So all weapons just hit, but have to overcome armor. Unarmored foes are screwed?

Atropals, right? Or just nasty side notes in zombie apocalypse shows... ;-)

You have good points. And I'll admit that sometimes I take a shortcut I've seen suggested here on ENworld a few times: assume success. I'll have the "master" PC roll Emphasis Dice (2d20, see if the most extreme die [compared to "10"] is higher or lower) and use that to quickly narrate the...

I want to see "meaningful" Growth. I'm less interested in Diablo IV now, for example - the story is complete, and my "growth" isn't new skills, it's 5% more damage, or 1.3% faster casting. And I always face foes my level (or higher, in nightmare dungeons), so 5% more damage is matched by the...

Sakana, I'd love to know what exactly you did such that "you don't roll to hit". I love the insight perspective on "martials get counterspelled on 25% of their actions"!

I skipped some middle pages, so forgive me if this is already said. Been playing Baldur's Gate 3, which is "based on" 5e. I'm aware of all the divergences, that's not the point. The point of bringing it up here is the DCs - and something 5e tried to accomplish with "bounded accuracy". And...

Orcs, undead, and aberrations (The Far Realm type, not flumphs) have always been my mainstays. Undead are easy - and no "undead babies" issues - and things that want to eat your brain are pretty clearly "bad guys". Orcs due to LotR and literal decades of lore and novels and games. And in the...

Also keep in mind that it costs more to eat healthy. Look at the different in price between junk food (or the college-standbys of Mac'n'cheese and Ramen noodles), and fresh fruit, meat, etc. [Just forget post-COVID nonsense pricing for a minute.] You can get a big bag of chips for $3 (local...

Some "Table Rules" that aren't "social contract": Show up early on or at least on-time, you start the session with Inspiration (or a single-use of "Lucky") For your birthday session, you get 1 extra, which is over and above the previous rule Your character is present, whether you are or not...