D&D 5E D&D 5e Basic Set: Things that make you go "what?!"

[Ruzak]

Actually rolling an extra die & dropping the lowest makes both 1d12 & 2d6 average about 8.5 (1d12 8.49, 2d6 8.46).

That would differentiate GWF from Duellist while giving about the same benefit & mesh with the advantage principle.

The current benefit is pretty sad.

I like this a great deal.
I already coincidentally use an advantage on damage type rule for two handed weapons in my very simple d6 homebrew. The fact that this fixes the sword/axe problem in 5e seems like it makes it perfect.

 

[Nebulous]

Players would, I agree, but that just means using it with care and good taste against them, and avoiding stuff like "6 Wizards appear, they have Surprise and are all casting Sleep!" as an excuse to get them into a dungeon or whatever. (Shades of "The Azure Bonds", which had a pretty cheese-tastic and eyeroll-inducing encounter to capture the PCs).

It's always best to put the PCs in a situation where they have nobody to blame but themselves, like they hear there is an amazing treasure in the Halls of the Sleepmaster and his apprentices... they better be ready for some ZZZZZ action...

A 1st level goblin shaman could potentially take out a whole party at once . That, however, would be bad DMing and not a fault of the Sleep spell necessarily, just poor unfair use of it. Then again, D&D doesn't have to be fair! I like the spell, hell, I love it.

 

[Thaumaturge]

The save for sleep is having more hitpoints.

Thaumaturge.

 

[Psikerlord#]

They actually fixed this in the Playtest. Initially it was Shield-only. People complained. They changed it to Shield or Weapon.

Great!

Then the actual release broke it again? Gaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah. It's also really wack because they claim to be supporting 4E as a play style, but putting this to Shield-only breaks with that.

I think its great that the protector thing is limited to shield. Makes good balance sense. You trade big damage for the extra protection.

 

[Ruin Explorer]

I think its great that the protector thing is limited to shield. Makes good balance sense. You trade big damage for the extra protection.

Hahahaha. Nope. But nice try.

 

[Nebulous]

The save for sleep is having more hitpoints.

Thaumaturge.

True, and rolling low on the dice pool will render that particular casting ineffectual.

 

[edhel]

The save for sleep is having more hitpoints.

Thaumaturge.

If you don't have enough, buy some more. Mistrustful evil wizards will just bring a pack of muscular slave children with them to their meetings.

 

[fba827]

The save for sleep is having more hitpoints.

Thaumaturge.

Or be an elf ( fey ancestors trait).

While it does vary, typically there is usually one elf in the group I play so at least the whole party wouldn't be out.... The elf can run away and survive to make his own new party as the leader ;-) a very diabolical plan indeed.... Just like an elf.

 

[Sadrik]

Another interesting thing is that they have skills doubling as saves. So Investigation (INT) for disbelieving. But why not Acrobatics for DEX saves, or athletics for STR saves. And to top it off, for instance web spell you get a strength check vs the spell DC to move through the webs not a strength (athletics) and not a strength save. Meaning you cannot have proficiency. Deadly webs...

For the illusions and the Investigate skill, what if you have proficiency in INT saves? You are SOL...

 

[amerigoV]

The save for sleep is having more hitpoints.

Thaumaturge.

There is an interesting difference here between the classic party and the classic group of goblins led by a Shaman:

PCs: The Wizard is usually the low HP - so the Wizard, either the Rogue and/or the Cleric will go down depending on the roll and when the Shaman casts the sleep (will get 2 and possible 3 bunched 1st level PCs).

The Goblins - typically the spellcaster has the highest HP. So many of his cannon fodder will go down unless they are well dispersed.

So it a race of initiative - because its probably going to be the Shaman vs the Fighter in round 2.