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All the games I've played in or run have allowed feats. I've also homebrewed some feats of my own, which one of my DMs promptly incorporated into his own game. So far we haven't seen any real issues with them. The most novel use of a feat I've seen is our wizard in one game I'm playing in who...

The Bonus Action shove can be done before your attacks, but you are "locked in" to using your Action to attack should you use your bonus action to shove.

I've been running and playing games in Roll20 for the better part of 2 years now. One thing we've found to make things run smoother is that in circumstances where the party is talking to NPC(s) or the DM is actively describing what's going on, the voice line should be reserved for Player-to-DM...

Trying to repeatedly hide behind the same rock is why the Stealth rules allow for DM discretion. The DM can easily say "No, that doesn't work."

I think the Stealth rules were intentionally left vague so the DM could adjudicate based on a given situation. I think either declaring that any creature that isn't completely behind cover/concealment is automatically spotted or declaring that rogues can essentially enter "video game stealth...

Here's the way I look at it, from a simple action economy standpoint: the rogue is sacrificing his bonus action every round, plus whatever movement needed to get in and out of cover, to give himself a chance (because he could roll poorly on his Stealth check and/or his opponent could roll well...

The difference is, in my mind, the Valor Bard is still about inspiring his allies in battle. While he is more combat-focused than a Lore Bard, he's still rallying his team. The Blade, on the other hand, much like the kit it is based on, is about enhancing his own ability in combat opposed to...

This pretty much the way I handle it in my games. Combat is chaotic and people tend to have tunnel vision, focusing on the threat immediately in front of them. Yes, in a situation with a lone rogue and alert enemies, they're not going to get away with popping out of hiding and catching their...

Yeah, I was 12 or 13 when I started DMing and probably made DMing decisions that would make me cringe in retrospect until my early 20s. It takes time learning how to DM properly, plus emotional/intellectual maturity, to become a really good DM.

Actually, I should have. I just realized in retrospect that one of the grabbed PCs was the barbarian which means she would have had advantage on the roll anyway, since she was raging. Something that completely slipped my and the player's minds in the moment.

When stuff doesn't "make sense" you either need to shrug and say "well, that's how it's written" or if you're the DM, make a house ruling that does make sense (though obviously your players need to trust your judgment or that can lead to arguments.) Regarding Hex and grapples, last session we...

I'm not disagreeing with you here. I'm just saying the DM has to be willing to tweak things in some fashion, whether it's that the party happens to encounter someone able to be their new ally (aka the replacement for the brain-dead character) or discover a method of getting their ally restored...

Sometimes as DM you have to tweak fate a bit and give the PCs a lucky coincidence. Obviously, you don't want to hand-feed them solutions, but you need to work with them so everyone has a chance to enjoy the game. If you're expecting a player to sit out for 8-10 sessions because of a single...

Yeah, I don't know that the game really needs separate stats for every possible weapon that existed in human history. While the actual fighting styles for using a longsword or katana, for example, have some differences, they're functionally "hand-and-a-half" swords designed primarily for...

Traditionally, the D&D (and fantasy) longsword has been closer to a historical category of swords that include the arming sword and "knight's sword" (ie. one-handed straight double-edged blades primarily used to slash) while the actual historical longsword is closer to the D&D bastard sword. The...

I understand that can be a problem, but just flat out making it light armor and not requiring proficiency means every wizard and rogue in the world wants to get ahold of it, rather than it being the iconic armor of fighter/mage types. Of course, I also made this rule change before the...

I do something similar, though Elven Chain only counts as light armor if you have medium armor proficiency. Basic idea is while Elven Chain is really easy to move in (allowing users without proficiency to wear it without penalty) those who actually know how to wear and move in a chain shirt can...

The way I handle it is this: If I roll randomly for treasure, the NPC in question will use any of the treasure that it is capable of. On the other hand, if I want to make a magic item using NPC as a specific threat, I'll just eyeball the treasure value for its CR compared to whatever items I...

I'm playing in two games. One was rules as-written and the other gave everyone a free feat at first level (Variant Human was changed to +2 to 1 stat, +1 to a second, 2 skills, 1 language and 1 free saving throw proficiency.) I'm honestly not seeing a huge difference in power between the two...

I don't think there needs to be a separate system beyond what's already in the rules. As others have said, if you make it too difficult to knock someone out (and having a risk of accidentally killing them falls into this category) no one will ever attempt it. If you make it too easy, then it...