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Message: <blockquote data-quote="tyrlaan" data-source="post: 5232572" data-attributes="member: 20998">A few points to I think that are worth considering...<ul> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Monsters and PCs do NOT follow the same rules, and therefore do not have to follow the same rules</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Monster statblocks have limited scope to make life easier for the GM, NOT to shoehorn monsters into limited actions</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Claiming disarm alters the difficulty of an encounter is analogous to saying using ANY debuff available to a PC alters the difficulty of an encounter. In other words, yes it does but so what?</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">If PC Bob carries a "golf bag" full of weapons to a fight, and Dominating Monster Zero spends an action EACH ROUND making PC Bob toss a weapon, that's a probably pretty stupid tactical move on Dominating Monster Zero's part. Dominating Monster Zero could have instead made PC Bob slaughter his buddies, thereby eliminating threats Dominating Monster Zero was otherwise ignoring.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Using dominate to force someone to walk off a cliff is probably more punishing than forcing someone to drop a weapon. </li> </ul>After those considerations, if someone still thinks disarm is too powerful, treat it like almost falling of a ledge - give the target a saving throw to hold onto the weapon. If PCs are constantly using disarm on your monsters (or you're worried they will) then it has become too powerful a mechanic in your game and you need to mitigate it. Saying "no" is not mitigation. Mitigating requires a "yes, but" mentality which frankly I hope any GM I play under always has over the "no" mentality. Some ideas to mitigate:<ul> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Institute my suggested saving throw rule above. I would especially do this if you are a "what's good for the goose" GM because otherwise your players will hate you</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Put the PCs up against more (but not ONLY) opponents that don't rely on their weapons</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Tweak the damage expressions to something a bit lower, but not pathetic, when a monster is disarmed (as someone suggested earlier in the thread)</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Have enemies carry spare weapons. Seriously, what weapon wielding individual doesn't carry a spare? The eschewing of extra weapons seems to be endemic of 4e thanks to the game math</li> </ul></blockquote>

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