Charlaquin
Goblin Queen (She/Her/Hers)
Yeah, that’s pretty consistent with my own observations.
D&D 5E Do you let PC's just *break* objects?
- Thread starter Asisreo
- Start date
The goal of smashing a vase is to ... wait for it ... to smash the vase. I don't remember the last time I had to clarify a PC's goal of an action. I'm sure it's happened, I just don't remember the last time I had to say "What are you trying to do?" To have them state it every time, or even on a regular basis, would just be annoying overhead to me.
I don't want to derail the thread. I just don't understand the value and no one has ever given actual play examples that show how it's particularly useful or adds to the game.
greg kaye
Explorer
You were discussing a case where:
so yes, before the players (hopefully) made their plans clear, they were unclear.
However:
or something like that, even though it hadn't been previously clear that they had intended to smash the vase, when they finally stated it, that was the vase drop moment.
greg kaye
Explorer
Getting back to the OP:
DM (after a dice roll): The room in which you find yourself contains a vase.
Player: I smash the vase on the floor.
Now, from the player's perspective, this is "an object of indescript material, location, and size" but solely because descriptions of the "material, location, and size" have not been given. Those are things for the DM to know and, if relevant, to present.
I'd think that the Rule of Cool along with Rules as Fun could apply to situations like this. If there hasn't been something specified that you want to follow, make something up.
If, in a future encounter, they want to better predict the possible outcome of an action, they should ask questions first.
As per instruction, I'm imagining:
DM (after a dice roll): The room in which you find yourself contains a vase.
Player: I smash the vase on the floor.
Now, from the player's perspective, this is "an object of indescript material, location, and size" but solely because descriptions of the "material, location, and size" have not been given. Those are things for the DM to know and, if relevant, to present.
Yeah, it depends on the context, of any and perhaps all of the things mentioned and perhaps other things such as the composition of the floor. Maybe you need to decide whether the vase is made of poor-quality pottery or adamantium and whether the floor is laid with swathes of wool (perhaps there's a reason you didn't mention it) or is lined with bricks.
I'd think that the Rule of Cool along with Rules as Fun could apply to situations like this. If there hasn't been something specified that you want to follow, make something up.
If, in a future encounter, they want to better predict the possible outcome of an action, they should ask questions first.
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Whizbang Dustyboots
Gnometown Hero
If you don't go around breaking random clay pots and crates, how do you find the coins inexplicably hidden all over the world?
greg kaye
Explorer
Who knows the DC when the warship is of "indescript material, location, and size"
Lanefan
Victoria Rules
Well the location must be pretty obvious, given that he can reach it with his fist...Who knows the DC when the warship is of "indescript material, location, and size"
greg kaye
Explorer
While standing on the ice sheet, swimming or from dockside or from inside the floating or somehow flying or precariously perched vessel?Well the location must be pretty obvious, given that he can reach it with his fist...
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