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    D&D 5E (2014) 5e Monster Stats by Level (not CR)

    How are you using 2nd wind each round - this a OneD&D fighter? 2nd wind is once per short rest. I'd generally advise against BM as your model PC. Fighter is already a higher than typical optimization class, and BM is a top subclass; and non-trivial to describe what optimal play is. (modestly...
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    D&D 5E (2014) 5e Monster Stats by Level (not CR)

    For modestly optimized, I'd dump variant human. That is quite clearly among the highest optimization options at level 1. Here is how I might model 4e style roles as 5e classes. Soldier: Fighter, Longsword+Board. Brute: Paladin/Barbarian, Smite+LoH+Rage, depressed AC. Lurker: Shadow Monk or...
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    D&D 5E (2014) 5e Monster Stats by Level (not CR)

    Your Rogue doesn't use Uncanny Dodge; that is a pile of mitigation. Your fighter ... doesn't seem to use second wind? 149.5 HP plus (con bonus)*20. If it is a "3 rounds between short rests", the fighter gets 5 actions and 3 bonus actions over 3 rounds; so 20 attacks plus 3 bonus actions...
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    D&D 5E (2014) 5e Monster Stats by Level (not CR)

    Now, do a sanity check: 1. Split offensive and defensive level. Your level is the average of those two. 2. Map offensive and defensive CR to your offensive and defensive levels, and overall level. It appears that your HP goes up by 8 per level and your DPR goes up by 5. I find this fishy -...
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    D&D 5E (2014) Homebrew Idea: Skill Clocks (+)

    Outside of magic and combat, in baseline 5e, level 20 PCs are pretty incompetent. They are barely better than their level 1 brethren. Suppose you want these activities to actually matter. Like, how about making a cool artifact sword? Or researching a level 9 spell? Then almost certainly...
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    D&D 5E (2014) Homebrew Idea: Skill Clocks (+)

    You have turned a Skill check from a success/failure flip to a success-and-magnitude. I think that is good; it is why D&D combat often works better than D&D skill checks. What you have failed to do is make the magnitude scale very well. I get that you are mimicing weapon damage, but compare...
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    D&D General Need Magic Longbow Ideas

    When the 2d8 damage dice both roll the same value. Like a pair of 1s, 2s, etc. So if you roll 8+8=16 you activate ability "8:". On a crit, you roll 4d8 and any pair can be used (but just one). This means 1 in 8 hits (12.5%) trigger an effect, and (100%-8 choose 4/8^4) = about 60% of crits...
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    D&D 5E (2014) Players Handbook Expanded Cover Art

    That is one pretty good club.
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    D&D General Need Magic Longbow Ideas

    Living Bow Requires Attunement Ranged weapon (martial, bow) Damage: 2d8 Damage Type: Piercing Properties: Ammunition, Range, Two-Handed Range: 300/600 Weight: 4 The Living Bow resembles a tree branch wrapped in vines more than a bow. It will string itself and when drawn, create its own arrows...
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    D&D 5E (2014) 5e Updates: Monstrous Compendium

    Sure, and I'm ok with that. But look at what those two actions do to gameplay. The counterspell means that you cannot cast a spell while within 1000' with line of effect with Vecna. The knockback means that only your first attack can hit in melee range. If you lack 60'+ of additional...
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    D&D 5E (2014) 5e Updates: Monstrous Compendium

    Vecna's reactions should allow saving throws. Just for gameplay fun reasons. Strength on the "push and knock prone" AOE, and Concentration saving throw on the counterspell. I would probably also add an ability for Vecna to pick someone to gaze at. A creature gazed at has disadvantage on all...
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    D&D 5E (2014) Convince me that the Ranger is a necessary Class.

    Here is my 'brewed Ranger. It is a woodsy character who has formed a pact with primal spirits. Level 1 you pick a Primal Bond. Bond of the Pack: You gain access to a Tasha's Animal Companion. Your Primal spirit forms a creature. It obeys orders on a bonus action; if ordered to attack a...
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    D&D 5E (2014) 5e Updates: Monstrous Compendium

    For that Vrock, using the summon demon in combat is actually negative danger. You have a 70% chance of doing nothing, and a 30% chance of summoning a creature which adds almost 0 to the encounter HP budget. If you did this turn one, by turn 3 you (and it) are dead, giving you 2+2.5 = 4.5 total...
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    D&D 5E (2014) 5e Updates: Monstrous Compendium

    I might suggest splitting these off of damage resistances/immunities. Just because my instinct is to check there for damage. Having advantage on saving throws or immunity is kind of like magic resistance, and applies at a different phase of resolution usually. It should probably be next to...
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    D&D 5E (2014) 5e Updates: Monstrous Compendium

    On Malcanthet: Page 1 text overflows to "column 3", cutting off "Madness". Queen's Lust has no ending condition. If that is intended, you should be explicit. Profane Beauty is an extra roll every PCs turn. It is an annoying condition to track and roll for. The impact of a saving throw...
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    D&D 5E (2014) The Magical Martial

    The problem with the lack of a supernatural power source for Rogues and Fighters, in my experience is that their abilities barring explicit text saying otherwise in the rules are limited by the DM to be what they imagine a normal human being could do in the real world. If there is a mechanic...
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    D&D 5E (2014) Assaying rules for 5E E6 (Revised)

    Healing Word also solves a big problem. Namely, the "heal bot". Having a way for a character healing to not spend their entire action doing nothing but recover another player's HP makes playing a healing character less toxic. So long as their non-spell actions are somewhat fun, they can help...
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    D&D 5E (2014) Level = Challenge Rating

    No, that is completely not how it works? You are describing a system that isn't 5e and then pretending that is how 5e works then objecting that it isn't your system. And a CR 7 monster may have a defensive CR of 1 through 13 - their HP could vary over more than a factor of 2. A monsters...
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    D&D 5E (2014) Level = Challenge Rating

    No, that is a bad idea. A level X PC is designed for a single human being to spend a large percentage of their attention managing and controlling. A level X monster should not be designed for this. Attempts to make PCs simple enough that a DM would want to control 5 of them make PCs too...
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    D&D 5E (2014) Level = Challenge Rating

    I mean, I don't care? My goal is to make a monster such that 4 of them are a reasonable challenge for 4 level 1 PCs. They don't have to look like level 1 PCs particularly. The challenge at level 1 can even be easier than at later levels, so long as the difference isn't crazy. The HP of a...
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