Search results

Doesn't that just push the problems of QM down a level? Instead of matter particles having a wave nature, this postulates a new field in nature that can supply the waves, and then you have to think about what this field is made of and how it interacts with different kinds of matter...

When I read the beholder entry, I took the random rays as an abstraction of facing in a fluid combat situation. Of course they can be non-random out of combat. To mitigate the randomness, I might let the beholder spend its move action to "reface" then pick whatever rays I wanted, or a bonus...

That's why I'm thinking that Guardians of the Galaxy is a good model. The situations are serious but the heroes are funny as hell.

I had several long conversations with one such author about general relativity and cosmology. The man had a law degree but no science degree. Eventually I realized that he was fixated on an antique cosmological theory (I forget which one--a deSitter variant, I think) as the basis of his new...

I agree with DEFCON--it would be better to start small. The reason being that most D&D campaign settings are VERY rich in detail compared to what a single movie can express. So pick a world, then zoom in to one interesting location, and tell a typical story for that world. Don't try to show...

Cool idea, but it doesn't sound like something a PC would likely choose. It makes a good story element for an adventure, though! Maybe something that an alienist sorcerer would have.

I don't need any double weapons in the game for sure, but I've already presented my players with the option of picking up a kuo-toa mancatcher and learning to use it through the same rules as gaining a tool proficiency. They didn't take me up on it. I think it's fair in general to say that "All...

Thanks. I just did a quick check in the MM, and large creatures typically have 5' reach. Monsters good at grappling don't make initial athletics checks to do it--the grapple just triggers on a hit. They also aren't proficient in Athletics. The half-ogre is large and has 17 Str, 14 Con, Int 7...

Well, one could look at the benefit as having the Enlarge spell "always on", or with a number of uses per day equal to the typical number of combat encounters. It's powerful, but a race with Enlarge 3/day is certainly in the scope of what a basic race can provide. Is a hypothetical race that...

Fair enough, my language was sloppy. What I was trying to say is: it would be interesting if the choice of favored terrain granted an ability that was useful in all terrains, in addition to expanded utility limited to the chosen terrain. For example, Favored Terrain: Mountain granting a climb...

Not insightful enough. Try again. :-)

Yes, with nuances. The Ranger currently gets several unique advantages for exploring which could be opened up to everyone as high-DC uses of the Survival skill. In the current rules, Natural Explorer is better for the Ranger. But I would be fine with expanding the scope of Survival to include...

Soldier vs scout again. By the same token, the fighter could use more abilities/maneuvers/feats to enhance their abilities when part of an organized unit. Another literary ranger that hasn't been mentioned yet is the "Lone Ranger"--operates alone, self-sufficient, feared by baddies, etc. A...

The same reason a fighter with Survival doesn't make a good ranger, or a fighter with stealth doesn't make a good rogue... when people are saying they want a class, with powers that go above and beyond skills and support the archetype they want to play, what's the point of telling them that...

At the risk of derailing the thread into something other than literary deconstruction... Personally, I prefer D&D when the majority of PCs are not spellcasters. I prefer fantasy in general when magic and the use thereof are rare events in the character's lives. I have no problem with a party...

I totally agree with your analysis. As for the "studied enemy" design, it's certainly possible and what I was going for in my proposed alt ranger (post #296).

As far as I'm concerned, the art can cover Dejah's bosoms. But they had better not retcon her laying an egg!

The bonus damage doesn't need to be part of the base class, I agree. If we want subclasses that encourage different combat roles, it can go in the subclasses. The beastmaster actually does encourage a very unique play style and combat role, which makes it more interesting to me personally than...

Ideally, you have both in the same encounter. The best challenge for any party of PCs is another party of PCs; if you're using monsters then feel free to have a few bags o' hit points supporting a glass cannon or two.

If we're looking for consistency across most editions, the only class ability absolutely unique to the ranger is Favored Enemy, but its potency varies widely. Averaging over all editions, FE has been the main source of extra damage, with fighting styles (e.g. 2 weapons or weapon specialization)...