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I see closing the forums as a positive step. And WotC's repeated failures to create a good, comprehensive digital game aid is why I think it's positive. This decision is tacitly acknowledging that fans are better at forums. In this specific case, I wholeheartedly agree: I vastly prefer...

I'm curious about these "much larger events", and the "certain decisions" you reference. Can you elaborate? To my knowledge, PAX is the largest event in Seattle (by attendance & total square footage). And takes out all significant available space within easy walking distance of the Convention...

Looking at the comments on the videos, and listening to people at PAX, a whole lot of folks have gotten into D&D after watching the live shows or listening to the podcasts. Which is the entire point. Dungeons & Dragons can be a bit intimidating for a new player--the core rules come in the form...

Let the dice decide. Assume they've had a number of successful adventures, and roll on the appropriate loot tables. Do this 3-4 times, with rewards commiserate with their increasing level. Those are the treasure they "found" prior to the Tomb. Do not let them hand-pick or buy their...

I think the best hooks are 1) the fact that you've got a huge collection of enchanted wood. 2) the Rakshasa legacy. I've got two concepts for you: 1) A necromancer is loitering in the area, attempting to use necromantic magic to raise spirits of the dead Rakshasa. They'd make powerful...

With Minor Illusion and cantrips, you can effectively replicate everything you see in a horror movie. Think of the hapless protagonists in The Ring, Poltergeist, Blair Witch, and other non-slasher "psychological" horror movies. With illusions (and Mage Hand and Prestidigitation), you're the...

It is not. :) PAX is about all games. Since the very first PAX in 2004, PAX has been about video games, and about tabletop games, and about computer games, and about gamer culture. What you won't find at PAX are comics, movies, or TV. It's about the gameplay, not the IP.

First, I think it's important to distinguish between an obstacle and a hazard. An obstacle is an impediment to progress; a hazard is just a trap by another name--a trap that wasn't set by anyone. Quickleaf went to the heart of the matter: what is the purpose--the narrative purpose--of the...

I think you can get what you want (lots of dice, lots of smites) quicker with 3 levels of Warlock. This gets you two 2nd level slots that refresh every short rest. Think of them as smite recharges. Or, it gets you one smite and one use of Hex. You like that Tempest's 1d8 damage add at 8th...

Bard/Warlock is a fine combo. Both Cha-based casters, and Bard has access to healing spells--very powerful when comboed with the Warlock's refreshing-on-a-short-rest slots. Depending on the campaign and party composition, of course.

Thanks for the entertaining writeup! Curious about what happened with the Traveler's Cloak and Rusty Chock.

Good call on the Sleep spell tactic. Unless it's an elven druid, of course. Actually, no. Still works as a druid detector. If that weird animal keeps scurrying even after the Sleep goes off: unload on it.

Shiroiken said it. The backgrounds in the book are examples. You can swap around any skills you like. Or create an entirely new background. Also, like he pointed out: 5e doesn't have skill checks. It has ability checks, to which skill proficiency can be added as appropriate. Seriously! Look up...

Amen to the Expertise. It bums me out that the best wrestler in the game is a bard.

I'm struck by how... easy this discussion is. The 5E ethos of "rulings not rules" has apparently taken hold. In 3e, I think this topic would have much more vehemence and passion about the "right" interpretation. Here, the discussion's tone is pleasantly theoretical, with the consensus being...

Gnome is pretty great. Advantage on all Int, Wis, Cha saves vs. magic is a huge boost. Darkvision is useful. Go with Forest Gnome for the +Dex (initiative mod when in gnome form, to help you get to wild shape form faster), and for the Speak With Small Beasts ability (a huge boon when scouting)...

Page 58 of the PHB. "You prepare the list of cleric spells that are available for you to cast, choosing from the cleric spell list. When you do so, choose a number of cleric spells equal to your Wisdom modifier + your cleric level (minimum of one spell). The spells must be of a level for which...

In 5E, it's more like firmware. The list of prepared spells stays put no matter how many times you reboot (long rest). It only changes when you choose to completely re-write it.

Partial prep was all the rage in 3E Organized Play, at least in the Pacific Northwest. A caster would prep his auto-includes but leave at least 1 or 2 slots open. This way, you had a shot at dealing with whatever the adventure threw at you. It really suited Organized Play because you often had...

I think your spell selection is fine. The Wizard's unique strength is the breadth of spells--every class can do damage, but the Wizard has access to all sorts of multi-use utility spells and you've embraced that. Bravo! You asked how others choose spells. When I play a wizard, I look for spells...