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Not so strange really, given the tug-o-war between whether D&D has Tolkien-Orcs or Warcraft-Orcs. Looks like officialdom's settled with Warcraft, and some folk simply don't like it, fair enough. I mean, Orcs are a staple in umpteen home-brew settings, mucking with them was bound to stir things...

I object to this condescending language. To some of us, your point of view simply doesn't carry the moral weight you think it does. The fantasy races would be classified as different species if we bothered to shine the sober light of science on a fun fantasy setting. Basically, I find the...

Yep, our main campaign city has a ZoT protocol requiring involvement of at least 2 of 3: the main church, the crown and the wizard organization. ZoT by itself won't convict or exonerate, just evidence. There's an tri-inquisitor (counts as 1 member of any of the 3) that oversees the whole...

My PCs were pressed for time doing cool stuff and accepted an official transcript of an interrogation of a cultist they had captured. The interrogation used Zone of Truth. They thought the answers were very interesting and revealing of new hooks and leads. Then one PC realized the Cleric that...

Ah, I don't know about this. I don't really like this erosion to race distinctiveness. A bit of character tweaking here and there is okay by me, but you've got to draw a line somewhere - and what's going on with free floating abilities scores doesn't seem right. We'll see how it pans out, but...

Oh, I'm not resolving the crossbow attack before combat. I'm saying it's whining through the air.

I think there needs to be a commitment to action to start combat. It can be as general as 'I attack', but I personally require an action statement. In our hidden Assassin example, assuming their stealth has beaten everyone's PP, we can't narrate their personal actions as starting combat...

A lot of this comes down to why initiative is being rolled in the first place? The unseen assassin and their target exist = no combat. The unseen assassin loads and aims their crossbow = no combat. The unseen assassin shoots their crossbow = combat! Only when combat starts does the question of...

Regarding the horde slowing play: 1) use average damage and 2) use that mob attack optional rule from the DMG, you know, that one where you compare att to ac and say '1 of these 5 hit, and I'll roll the remaining 3.' And yeah, as mentioned, don't split them up on the battlefield.

This is a tricky spell. On the one hand I'd want the player to do all the legwork, and conjuring just 1 type saves everyone hassle. Otoh, 8 Pixies offer unbalanced spell options for their CR, and choosing them again and again is boring. I'd probably ask the player for a table of choices and...

What exactly is the problem with a player preparing some lists beforehand? Is it just the Pixie cheese?

Heh, a twitchy assassin second guessing themselves. If I saw that 'will I/won't I' behavior I'd rule disadvantage on initiative checks until they get therapy or Greater Restoration. Or roll NPC initiative behind the screen. No reason to know initiative until round 2.

Dice are doubled in a critical, static bonuses aren't. Seems to me the crux of the issue here is the desire for the Assassin to use their Assassinate on all surprise rounds. % chance of stealth x % chance of winning initiative x % chance of actually hitting = too small a chance of having fun...

But why not follow RAW? Assassin says I'll snipe Duke Dunderhead from my inn window. Okay, you have surprise, roll initiative, you win proceed / you lose proceed. Maybe just roll NPC initiative in secret?

Ability checks, saving throws and attack rolls are divided arbitrarily to make the game work. Really they're one in the same, dividing them up allows more nuance and depth.

If you're unaware of attackers you're surprised. If you're surprised you don't get to act, move or react until your first turn is finished. If an assassin initiated combat, but the party concluded the battle halfway through round one. It's concluded. I suppose the upstaged assassin could...

This would work wonders for someone writing a D&D themed story. It's faithful to the system without getting too caught up in mechanics.

I recall a 3E battle where the rogue left the bushes to stab a Barghest and was denied their sneak attack due to not being hidden. It was near the end of a combat (where the PCs were getting taken apart - much gnashing & roaring), so within the initiative cycle.

Yeah, I'm more comfortable with that too. It models the stealthy knife kill. I recall 3E haven't stricter stealth rules which didn't allow leaving cover.

Let me try working my way through this without referencing the books: First up, stealth =/= initiative. These are different attributes. Okay... - Player has a PC who is unnoticed by foes. - Player declares their PC attacks, starting combat. - PC rolls lower initiative than foe. Foe was...