Jeremy Crawford's New Sage Advice Column

Thanks. I hadn't seen it.

 

[UngeheuerLich]

I don't really think this is true.

I can think of clear RPG rules that don't have exploitable loopholes. The rules for rolling to hit in D&D have always been pretty clear, and don't seem to involve exploitable loopholes.

Ok, I take that back,
roll a d20 and add modifiers seems pretty foolproof... i was thinking more along the line of stealth or any other rules that involve adjucating relative distance and size of imaginary creatures and cover etc.

Yes, you can play it as a board game with "clear" rules like in 3.5 or 4e, or optionally in 5e (DMG), drawing imaginary lines etc... but then it loses too much as a roleplaying game, where I can fully hide behin a tree trunk, crawl through a small hole, that is less than 5ft wide, can´t fight with a two handed axe in a 5 ft wide hall, but can hold someone with a dagger at bay...

stealth rules, while not in combat, should really in the hands of the DM, I do however believe, some more clarity in the current stealth rules, while being in combat would help.

 

[pemerton]

i was thinking more along the line of stealth or any other rules that involve adjucating relative distance and size of imaginary creatures and cover etc.

Ah, OK, in that case I agree that rules like that can have issues, yes.

 

[TarionzCousin]

RAW: You can sneak attack with a trebuchet or ballista.

"I steal his pants!"

 

[Paraxis]

"I steal his pants!"

When I first mentioned the possibility of being able to sneak attack with siege weapons this is exactly what I was alluding to.

 

[Henry]

Apparently, there are two people in this world who have to watch every single word they utter, for fear of throwing the world onto unmitigated chaos...

...The Chairman of the U.S. Federal Reserve...

...and Whomever is serving as the Sage for WotC.

For God 's sake, let the man write his column! Sometimes, a blurb is just a blurb, not the reason to wage Geek-jihad. (Gee-had?)

 

[TarionzCousin]

Apparently, there are two people in this world who have to watch every single word they utter, for fear of throwing the world onto unmitigated chaos...

...The Chairman of the U.S. Federal Reserve...

...and Whomever is serving as the Sage for WotC.

For God 's sake, let the man write his column! Sometimes, a blurb is just a blurb, not the reason to wage Geek-jihad. (Gee-had?)

But this is an internet message board! I believe we are required by international law to speculate aimlessly and critique every minor detail!

 

[Athinar]

Then maybe a Portable Ballista, that on command sizes from a Full size Ballista to a Hand Crossbow sized one, +3 Ballista and +3 Bolts, maybe for next Christmas
3d10 damage, 120/480 one target, Ranged Weapon, aided by the Ranger
Sharpshooter, Archery, Bracers of Archery, Sneak Attack, Surprise, Death Strike, Poison etc....

Green Arrow eat your heart out

I did not make the rules, I just live by them, and if I thought up something this dumb using the RAW then the other side did as well, so look out if the hall way is very long and very high and is only 5 feet wide

and if you use the Cleave Thru with Missile Weapons and cannon balls

 

[Lanefan]

I was just thinking of the same thing, and the whole siege weapon sneak attack made me understand how the rules as fun part is going to most likely work.

Siege weapons are ranged weapon attacks, sneak attack can be applied to ranged attacks.

RAW: You can sneak attack with a trebuchet or ballista.

RAI: I imagine they didn't consider people sneak attacking with siege weapons, so the intent is probably you shouldn't be able to.

RAF: I like the idea of Bard from the last hobbit movie, sneak attacking with that ballista, or a rogue using a cannon to hit a tarrasque in the knee, so in this case under most situations I think the RAW works fine and my players can sneak attack with siege weapons just fine.

RACS: Sneak attack with a siege weapon? Are you kiddin' me?

Lan-"backstrike is a better term, ditched by 3e, as it both describes what you are doing and how"-efan

 

[Paraxis]

RACS: Sneak attack with a siege weapon? Are you kiddin' me?

Lan-"backstrike is a better term, ditched by 3e, as it both describes what you are doing and how"-efan

When I first noticed siege weapons all did, ranged weapon attacks, sneak attack just came to mind and I immediately thought to a scene from the movie The Gamers where they do backstab someone with a ballista. So then a while later in another thread I mentioned this was a possibility and I referenced the movie, so yes at first I was kidding. Now though as it seems to have gotten some attention I keep thinking about it and I have no problem with it.

If a player wanted to sneak attack something with a ballista in my game the answer would be yes.

Now there is some debate as someone pointed out that not all "ranged weapon attacks" are made with ranged weapons, for instance a spear is not a ranged weapon so you can't sneak attack with it. The players handbook does state that there are only two types of weapons ranged and melee, obviously a ballista is not a melee weapon so it must be ranged. But maybe siege weapons are a third category that just makes "ranged weapon attacks", see why RAW, RAI, and RAF are important.

If you like rogues sneak attacking with ballista go for it there is support for your rulling, if you don't and you are the DM then don't no matter what the book says. Everyone can have fun.

The scene that started all this, starts about 2:12 but the first two minutes are enjoyable too.

[video=youtube;s4ZeTAfYoY4]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s4ZeTAfYoY4[/video]

 

[Athinar]

I am going to try that next game, Cool


But I was thinking more of a Dragon terrorizing a country side and the group of PC's takes out a Ballista or 5 pounder and places it in duck blind setup with cows for bait, Cleric places silence on the bolt/cannonball and the wizard places Greater invisibility on the bolt/ball, Rouge Assassin aims and the others "help", sneak attack and Death Strike for a 17th Assassin on the dragon, or giant, demon or what ever it is
or
Group of Goblins/Orcs etc.. and a very long hallway and the end of the hallway is covered by a fake wall (paper) the Leader of the creatures has Rouge/Assassin levels
The fake Wall hides the ballista, witch doctor cast silence in front of the wall to hide the sounds of the cranking of the weapon, Creatures aid "Help" with the aiming etc.. and Surprise Critical with Ballista doing enough damage to one shot the lead PC and maybe Cleave thru

so the little Inn scene is funny but ......