D&D 5E Has anyone experimented with Advantage / Disadvantage on damage dice?

Quartz · Apr 6, 2020

Subject says it all, really. I'm wondering if it might add to the fun if, say, a weapon had the enchantment of rolling base damage with Advantage. Or a magic shield might make an opponent roll base damage with Disadvantage. I don't see much use for multi-dice spells as damage will always tend to the mean though it would help prevent spectacularly bad spells. We already almost have it with one Fighting Style.

So, have you experimented with it? What was the result?

Tales and Chronicles · Apr 6, 2020

Quartz said:
Subject says it all, really. I'm wondering if it might add to the fun if, say, a weapon had the enchantment of rolling base damage with Advantage. Or a magic shield might make an opponent roll base damage with Disadvantage. I don't see much use for multi-dice spells as damage will always tend to the mean though it would help prevent spectacularly bad spells. We already almost have it with one Fighting Style.

So, have you experimented with it? What was the result?

This is what I use for masterwork or shoddy equipment. Something like:
Rusty Shortsword: 2d6(w)
Masterwork Handaxe: 2d6(b)
(b) is ''the best of the two d6 rolled, (w) is the worst of the two.

Jediking · Apr 6, 2020

vincegetorix said:
This is what I use for masterwork or shoddy equipment. Something like:
Rusty Shortsword: 2d6(w)
Masterwork Handaxe: 2d6(b)
(b) is ''the best of the two d6 rolled, (w) is the worst of the two.

Yoink!

great idea

LordEntrails · Apr 6, 2020

If you are playing at the table, then I would have the concern about slowing down play for what might thematically be a very minor improvement.

Quartz · Apr 6, 2020

LordEntrails said:
If you are playing at the table, then I would have the concern about slowing down play for what might thematically be a very minor improvement.

With multi-dice spells, yes, that would be an issue, but people don't seem to have a problem with Advantage & Disadvantage on he d20.

LordEntrails · Apr 6, 2020

Quartz said:
With multi-dice spells, yes, that would be an issue, but people don't seem to have a problem with Advantage & Disadvantage on he d20.

It slows the game down, but it's valuable enough there, imo, to justify it. IMO, it's not valuable enough for damage.

Just for starters; how are crits going to be handled? And sneak attack or bonus damage or...? Doesn't mean you should use it, just mean's I'm not going to.

Nebulous · Apr 6, 2020

vincegetorix said:
This is what I use for masterwork or shoddy equipment. Something like:
Rusty Shortsword: 2d6(w)
Masterwork Handaxe: 2d6(b)
(b) is ''the best of the two d6 rolled, (w) is the worst of the two.

That's such a simple solution I'm surprised i've never heard it suggested before. Good idea.

Tales and Chronicles · Apr 7, 2020

Nebulous said:
That's such a simple solution I'm surprised i've never heard it suggested before. Good idea.

Bonus cue: I also use dis/advantage on healing for good rest, diseases and the whole Death Curse of ToA instead of the reduced hp at dawn.

DND_Reborn · Apr 7, 2020

We tried it, just added more rolling, etc. and slowed things down. So, I wouldn't advise it accept in rare or uncommon circumstances.

FWIW: here is the impact:

So, a d6 weapon with advantage on the damage die will average 0.972 points of damage greater.

Shiroiken · Apr 7, 2020

Quartz said:
With multi-dice spells, yes, that would be an issue, but people don't seem to have a problem with Advantage & Disadvantage on he d20.

The only real issue I see is with the 2d6 weapons, because the player would either need two sets of differentiated dice or roll them separately. It could also pose a minor issue with extra damage dice of similar types (sneak attack with a d6 weapon, or smite with a d8 weapon). The question becomes: how much is it worth adding to the game? If you don't think the downside's a big deal, go for it!

D&D 5E Has anyone experimented with Advantage / Disadvantage on damage dice?

Quartz

Hero

Tales and Chronicles

Jewel of the North, formerly know as vincegetorix

Jediking

Explorer

LordEntrails

Hero

Quartz

Hero

LordEntrails

Hero

Nebulous

Legend

Tales and Chronicles

Jewel of the North, formerly know as vincegetorix

DND_Reborn

The High Aldwin

Shiroiken

Legend

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