Recent content by Sword of Spirit

Sometimes I have them as allies...but I don't think they need to serve a game design purpose. Their role in world-building is sufficient explanation. As DM, knowing about them helps me understand how things work in the setting, in the same way knowing things about evil monsters that never end...

It looks like you can buy it on either Roll20 or Fantasy Grounds, for $14.99 USD at either place. So the cheapest current option I'm aware of is to make a free Roll20 account and buy it there. At one point it was free on Roll20, and at one point it was free on D&D Beyond, but apparently those...

I choose starting level for the specific campaign or theme adventure experience I'm going for. It could be anywhere from 1 to 20 with epic boons.

Yeah. 5e doesn't particularly give you any good reason to bother messing with the hassle of a mount. A meaningful travel speed boost makes intuitive sense and is desirable.

Interesting take. I've tended to merge some personality elements into alignment, specifically the L/C axis. For instance, I have a friend who exhibits typically Chaotic things. He dispositionally very much considers the needs of the individual in a group rather than the whole. For instance, he...

I know what you're talking about. I like to define selfish as seeking what you want at the expense of others. If it isn't at the expense of others (or is actually for their benefit also, and peehaps you know that...and the subtleties can just keep going). The funny thing is, while one of my...

I like alignment because: 1) It expresses the cosmological nature of the Planescape / Great Wheel cosmology which I love. 2) It is indispensable to me as a DM, and much easier to use than any alternative. 3) It feels very D&D-y, and I like my D&D to be very D&D-y, and my other role-playing...

A rare thread where people are talking about two adventures I've actually run :D (Lost Mine of Phandelver and Forge of Fury)

I'm a big fan of sandbox play, but I sometimes make pretty linear adventures. Usually they are one-shots, but the one I'm currently working on is being introduced into a long campaign. One thing I often do in such situations is straight up tell the players ahead of time that this one shot or...

I'm sure you're right. I was really only speaking in context of raw DPR, which isn't the full equation.

2014 DMG p.274 has rules for "Climb Onto a Bigger Creature"

I just noticed the way their Extra Attack and Battle magic features are phrased, and it really looks like you could use your Attack action to make one attack plus cast a one-action cantrip, and then since you just cast a qualifying spell use your bonus action to make another attack. That's...

I vaguely recall a designer saying something to the effect that they didn't need regeneration because they had all the hit points. This of course was likely what they were thinking before the MM came out and people started bringing up the issues. Why haven't they changed it in 2024? Probably...

I finally have ones I'm happy with. For reference about what I was specifically looking for, for higher nobility you have this: Second person (direct address): (My) Lord/Lady Third person (titles): Lord/Lady My minor nobility is officially nobility, but are not entitled to be referred to or...

I understand what you're saying, but... In 5e the lack of a touch attack is part of the intended power level. If you add that requirement it throws off the balance of those spells, making them weaker than intended. A solution to the conceptual problem that maintains balance is to just...