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    D&D General Do genes exist in D&D?

    It's fruitless, frankly, to speculate on some universal truth of how genetics work in D&D. The answer is entirely dependent on the setting or game world developer(s).
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    D&D 5E (2014) Homebrew cantrip help

    Seems fine to me. Concentration is a pretty big limitation if the Char either 1) plans on continuing as a wizard, and or 2) intends to use said cantrip in melee. Looking at some similar spells: Guidance, by comparison, applies to a much wider variety of rolls even if it only applies once; and...
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    D&D 5E (2014) How to handle massive oncoming swarms

    I would tend to say: Don't worry too much about specific numbers of foes. Improvise a few swarm-type stat blocks that represent different numbers of enemies. If you want it super-quick - use only one "swarm" creature and up or downgrade it based on the number of creatures that can reach the...
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    D&D 5E (2014) So Where my Witches at?

    Of course, the original wizard class back from AD&D - the Magic-User - was deliberately intended to encompass the conceptual space of "witch". Given that several spellcasters (very particularly the warlock) continue to appeal to the archetype, I maintain that it would be better to find ways to...
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    D&D 5E (2014) So Where my Witches at?

    Some homebrew spells I use in my games that might be tangentially appropriate: Rend - Bard, Cleric, Druid, Sorcerer, Warlock, Wizard Transmutation cantrip (Note: gets around Eldritch Knight school restrictions because it isn't a leveled spell) Casting time: 1 action Range: Normal weapon reach...
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    D&D 5E (2014) So Where my Witches at?

    What makes a spellcaster "witchy" is their motivation, methodology, and personal style. Not their base skillset. What differentiates an hunter or soldier from a villain in a slasher movie is their choice of prey...plus maybe some scarring, deformity, and history of inbreeding. You have all...
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    D&D 5E (2014) So Where my Witches at?

    It is quite easily possible to make a warlock that doesn't use Elrdritch Blast - making use of cantrips like Toll the Dead or Infestation for example. Or making melee attacks with a pact weapon (possibly in the form of talons). They will inflict less damage than other casters, sure, but...
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    D&D 5E (2014) So Where my Witches at?

    Frankly, ALL the primary casting classes work just fine for evoking the witch fantasy archetype (bard maybe a little less so than the others IMO).
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    D&D 5E (2014) Hags - Something doesn't add up.

    Hags IMO have traditionally been creature types that do NOT want to fight the PCs directly in combat. They tend to have powers of illusion and trickery - they'll try to corrupt or kill the PCs through deceit. For example, appearing as an injured peasant and trying to send the PCs off into...
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    Designing Adventures with Lethality in Mind (Kobayashi Maru)- the Poll!

    I regularly include monsters or encounters that are highly lethal if not unwinnable. I feel that this enhances backstory, immersion, drama, and range of challenges. My general rule of design is as follows: 1) Information that the PCs are outmatched should be reasonably available (i.e. clues...
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    [AL] Are Season 8's New Rules an Improvement?

    Categorically awful. Poorly written, poorly organized, poorly thought out, poorly implemented. Toxic for AL membership. Organization: Information spread over multiple documents, requires referencing multiple tables, expects PCs to be able to access books such as the DMG that were not...
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    D&D 5E (2014) Treantmonk's Guide to Wizards 5e

    I like the imagery, personally, of a fire-breathing cat or bird. And from a balance perspective there's not a hugely significant trade-off between letting a familiar use it and letting an animated corpse or tiny servant use it. From a DM perspective of course, I think it's entirely fair and...
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    Can of spinach

    Presuming you're DM? As written? Seems incredibly powerful for the right character. And limited...so works just fine. Maybe add in a fishy aftertaste, a craving for olives, and/or rippling forearms if you feel the need to egg.
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    Doh! Killed my party with a skill challenge

    So...just something to keep in mind: At level 6, the max skill bonus a non-rogue or bard will likely have is +7. If the DC is consistently 15, then the chance of failing is 35%. Which means that MORE THAN HALF THE TIME, with maximum skills, your party will get the 3 fails before they succeed...
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    Help me fill in the blanks, please :) Next session in 4 days.

    One way to present magical bloodline transformation would be to start introducing bits of lore about "blood magic". An evil caster the PCs defeat might have a treatise on it; other works might be found in an ancient library or treasure trove. The PCs might encounter a mage headed or giving a...
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    D&D 5E (2014) Reliable Talent. What the what?

    At least it's an interesting thread. *cooing voice* Who's a nice, little thread-zombie? Yes, you are!
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    D&D 5E (2014) Treantmonk's Guide to Wizards 5e

    IF it fails the save. Playing an enchanter wizard right now. I want to like the redirect ability - and I HAVE used it a few times - but it has ended up being SOOOO much less reliable than shield in our campaign. Kind of requires one to be in close quarters, affects only a single attack, and...
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    Do You Play in AL?

    My FLGS, like many others, elected to drop AL entirely in favor of a loose-knit pair of "open D&D gaming nights" as a result of the Season 8 morass. There will doubtless be problems with character portability, but nothing insurmountable. I encourage the wittingly and unwittingly ignorant here...
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    Do You Play in AL?

    No, the individuals responsible for the changes ARE in fact imbeciles. I don't think I've ever met a single person with even moderate gaming experience who would think any of the treasure/faction changes are anything short of egregiously stupid. My five year old nephew who probably doesn't...
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    Do You Play in AL?

    ...but no longer as of today. Because the individuals responsible for the season 8 rule changes are imbeciles.
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