Search results

  1. doctorbadwolf

    D&D 3.x I miss 3.5 edition

    High level 5e characters can a solutely be very very powerful, but they do not break the game like 3.5. That said, everyone has a competwnt character at every level, rather than some being near useless after or before a certain level.
  2. doctorbadwolf

    D&D 5E (2024) Variant True Strike

    Why? Steady Aim isnt a tentpole class feature, it is a "make sure the class works reliably" patch. It isnt a big deal if it isnt as good as a cantrip.
  3. doctorbadwolf

    Dual Role Games

    Dont make it a level 1 thing. It comes online at level 5, say, when you are already used to your character. That would also dovetail with Bastions and could tie into them.
  4. doctorbadwolf

    Dual Role Games

    I dont think the 3.5 gestalt concept does the same thing. "Fighter" and "Ranger" don't serve different aspects of ghe game, theyre both mostly combat classes. Even if you pick Bard, it is still q "how do you contribute to the group going into physically dangerous places to do quests and get...
  5. doctorbadwolf

    D&D 5E (2024) Variant True Strike

    I like bonus action to get advantage, and if you crit on that attack you max one weapon die. Then scale it with increased crit range and extra d4 damage if you crit. When it punvhes it punches hard but most of the time it is just advantage on a single attack. Alternatively, make a slotted...
  6. doctorbadwolf

    D&D 5E (2024) How do you handle surprised but won initiative?

    Okay This does not follow. The PCs arent deciding the game rules. Combat is cinematic because of ghe game rules. Because enemies have interesting abiliities and can counter the PCs and even when the PCs get thejump, the advantage isnt so great that victory doesnt at least present a little...
  7. doctorbadwolf

    D&D 5E (2024) How do you handle surprised but won initiative?

    Irrelevant. We are not discussing PC decisions to make fights harder foe themselves. That idea is an invention of your mind. No one but you ever said anything like that. Non sequitor. The heck are you even talking about? Are you replying to the wrong post? Okay, so most people wouldnt play in...
  8. doctorbadwolf

    D&D 5E (2024) How do you handle surprised but won initiative?

    Then you undetstand ghe term cinematic incorrectly in the context of TTRPGs. Okay? Did you actually read what you are quoting, or just skim for the bits you could smarmily take pot shots at? The whole point of that example is that people have played silly characters in dnd forever, but it is...
  9. doctorbadwolf

    D&D 5E (2024) How do you handle surprised but won initiative?

    Right. Cinematic combat, where the PCs are challenged, because it is fun for the players when the PCs are challenged. The idea that this means the PCs are "striking dramatic poses" is so laughably silly. LIke, no, very very obviously not. I mean, okay, there are those players about, but they...
  10. doctorbadwolf

    D&D 5E (2024) How do you handle surprised but won initiative?

    The heck you on about? It is a decision at the "what rules are we using to play the game" level, not the in character during play level. No one is talking about the PCs deciding anything. The PCs don't make decisions about what the rules of the game are, or how the GM makes encounters, or what...
  11. doctorbadwolf

    Dual Role Games

    Thats a good example of how it can lean into a theme without costing normal character resources. And a way to add back to dnd somwthing it has lost, which is features with weight that hook strongly into the world and the story.
  12. doctorbadwolf

    Dual Role Games

    Wait, no, if this were ported to dnd you would have an additional layer of features that aren't about dungeons and combat. You don't ignore combat, you just use a separate set of character building resources for it and for social challenges/downtime. Again, not one or the other. The whole point...
  13. doctorbadwolf

    D&D 5E (2024) How do you handle surprised but won initiative?

    No. The game as cooperative storytelling. with an expectation that every combat (or at least most) will be challenging and interesting.
  14. doctorbadwolf

    Dual Role Games

    I had a thought recently that a way tomake different campaigns with the same game feel different would be to give a second role to every PC, with sets of roles being set up in thematic groups. So you might choose to play in my game Crossroads' [name tbd] future era, which is science fantasy...
  15. doctorbadwolf

    D&D 5E (2024) How do you handle surprised but won initiative?

    Trading initiative doesnt give you the surprised condition, it just means you go later.
  16. doctorbadwolf

    D&D 5E (2024) How do you handle surprised but won initiative?

    Well, in ambush you just use those reactions the moment initiative has been rolled and round 1 starts. Then you do not have a reaction that round bc you used it, and combot goes ahead as normal. I kinda like how Solasta does it, too, and i think it works even better with the 2024 rules. The...
  17. doctorbadwolf

    D&D 5E (2024) How do you handle surprised but won initiative?

    Imo that is a solid basis of a support pillar of the ranger class, which it should have more strongly. Survival, stealth, athletics, maybe. Grant a bonus equal to your wisdom (letting allies use your check is too good IMO.
  18. doctorbadwolf

    D&D 5E (2024) How do you handle surprised but won initiative?

    I personally give advantage on attacks against surprised creatures in round one, and the condition ends at the end of the round. Also, i do not call for initiative until an obviously aggressive act has actually been commited to and engaged, ie the arrow has left the bow, but even then...
  19. doctorbadwolf

    D&D 5E (2024) How do you handle surprised but won initiative?

    They arent using either. They are allowing the opening attack to be the thing that causes initiative. That doesnt mean anyone loses a turn.
  20. doctorbadwolf

    D&D General Using Paladin and Warlock to Remake Bard (+)

    Thanks! However ... Bards, the class named after the mythical Taleisen, should definitely have spells.
Top