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ShortQuests -- Pocket Sized Adventures! An all-new collection of digest-sized D&D adventures designed for 1-2 game sessions.

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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Tilla the Hun (work)" data-source="post: 1605081" data-attributes="member: 14214">Oh ye of little faith <img src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/joypixels/assets/8.0/png/unicode/64/1f642.png" class="smilie smilie--emoji" loading="lazy" width="64" height="64" alt=":)" title="Smile    :)"  data-smilie="1"data-shortname=":)" />  (FYI - KOMODO DRAGONS ~=~ MONITOR LIZARDS in MM)Nicely written post btw - I have to admit I do wax poetic...However, to refute some of your fairly astute points for the sake of future NPC druids:Diving for cover (and looking innocent)-an archer fish sees out of the water just fine...-an alligator or crocodile (granted not innocuous) can be almost completely invisible.-other small creatures - gm's discretion - don't limit yourself to the imaginations/constraints of the authors (i.e. the short list in the MM)-You can share eyesight with other creatures via spells...-other, more imaginative solutions to the sighting issue...-No sight required to direct SNA friends - joist point 'em in the right direction...-No PC spot need be allowed under certain circumstances, or even if it is - allow with severe penalties...  and spellcraft??  Since when could a wizard recognize a fish casting call lightning???  At least add a penalty <img src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/joypixels/assets/8.0/png/unicode/64/1f642.png" class="smilie smilie--emoji" loading="lazy" width="64" height="64" alt=":)" title="Smile    :)"  data-smilie="1"data-shortname=":)" />Spellcasting:-sure he's limited on spells, even granting bonus spells from high wisdom...-with swamp stride, things aren't going to get hairy very fast at all, unless he makes some serious mistakes...-Sure infusions cost money to create...  that money buys herbs, that MoW says the Druid can find for free with a skill check...-12,000 gp?  How much for a 2nd level spell? 12.5 * 2 * 3 * /5 = 12.5 * 3 = 37.5 gp...  That's rather a LOT of 2nd level spells, such as BS, CG, AS, Snake Swiftness Mass, etc.  Not mentioning all the SNA II's you could cast...  -and yes, infusions have the same standard action activation as most magic items (i.e. scrolls) - difference is, the druid can 'eat' them to activate them...Plant Growth:-Use the plant growth to enhance the algae, toadstools, etc. on the surface of the water...  no spellcraft check allowed, requires some sense of a spell being cast...  Spot checks to notice the increase of the plants?  Cast plant growth -before- they get there....-sure plant growth will impede the PC's...  but toadstools/thick algae isn't going to slow down a croc or an alligator or a snake...-It's the cover that the druid is targeting, so how is it limiting him??And finally:"Poetic? Yes." - Hell yeah...  That's me - cinematic, and more worried about the description than the rule <img src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/joypixels/assets/8.0/png/unicode/64/1f642.png" class="smilie smilie--emoji" loading="lazy" width="64" height="64" alt=":)" title="Smile    :)"  data-smilie="1"data-shortname=":)" />"Possible given the RAW? No. Sorry, no croc hordes. The SNA III is necessary to get 1d3 normal sized croc at a time, and a SNA IV gets you 1 giant croc. Meaning he could have several crocs...but no hordes. Especially not if he wants to do this 3 or 4 times."It gets easier with the infusions, but true - it's nay a horde.  Poetic again!  Nonetheless, he could conceivably have 2 or 3 d3 Crocs + Buffs + Animal Growth."Did I mention that one (yep, count 'em => 1) 1st level spell could make this druid's tactic completely flop? Completely."  Really?  Which one?I tend to speak in more 'poetic' terms (your word usage, not mine) than most, but I find that enthusiasm helps me describe things in a more exciting way when I GM.I also tend to heavily use creative licensing when drafting tactical advice to people - it's far more important to me to juice up their own creativity than to tell them how to do something.And please, tell me you're not one of those 'So it is written, so mote it be!' types that think the rules are sacrosanct and non-expandable??  That's what the majority of your post came across as - no offense, I'm gaming with several people of that type on a weekly basis <img src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/joypixels/assets/8.0/png/unicode/64/1f642.png" class="smilie smilie--emoji" loading="lazy" width="64" height="64" alt=":)" title="Smile    :)"  data-smilie="1"data-shortname=":)" />However, if that is you're feeling, I'll not waste our times preaching my opposing point of view and get back on topic here ....</blockquote>

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