Little Known Rules of D&D

[StreamOfTheSky]

One little known rule I've used to hose many a fellow PC in a spar or duel is: If you haven't moved at all and you ready an action, you can take a 5 ft step as part of the readied action. Best general usage being if the foe has a reach weapon and you do not.

It's a common known rule to me, but earlier in the year, it came up that Mage Armor is "Target: Creature touched" and not personal. No one else at the gaming table believed me. We ended up arguing about it for about ten minutes, which included me showing them the spell description and even digging out an old 3.0 copy when they claimed, "Oh, that must've been one of those small changes from 3.0 to 3.5," and then another five minutes of them exclaiming their shock, posting in threads to see who else knew of this, and other idiocy. *sigh*

 

[HellHound]

I've tried to ride a monster before (I jumped onto a shark) but unfortunately we were'nt aware of this rule and so never tried to kill it (damn!)

It's now official.

Tonguez jumped the shark.

 

[AnonymousOne]

Also doesn't a creature have to be trained before it can be considered a mount?

You can mount damn near anything, the trick is staying on.

 

[cheshire_grin]

It's a common known rule to me, but earlier in the year, it came up that Mage Armor is "Target: Creature touched" and not personal. No one else at the gaming table believed me. We ended up arguing about it for about ten minutes, which included me showing them the spell description and even digging out an old 3.0 copy when they claimed, "Oh, that must've been one of those small changes from 3.0 to 3.5," and then another five minutes of them exclaiming their shock, posting in threads to see who else knew of this, and other idiocy. *sigh*

It didn't occur to you to just pull up the 3.5 SRD entry?

 

[Modoc]

I know it was mentioned at the beginning of this thread, but you could guys/gals cite your sources so everyone can find them as well.

 

[Aleolus]

All gnomes giggle when you kiss them. Even if they're undead, charmed, dominated, dazed, stunned, nauseated, shaken, completely paralyzed, or were reincarnated from a different race originally. The giggle will be sincere and melodic.

This comes in handy with doppleganger issues. Go nuts.

...And where did you find this out at? I have Races of Stone, so I should probably looks Gnomes up and read through their full entry to find that.

 

[Oryan77]

Is there a way you could attempt to ride a (mindless?) monster and designate it as your mount,

I think Gelatinous Cubes are mindless aren't they? And they can be used as mounts according to the Arms & Equipment Guide (I think that's where I've seen this), they can be used as mounts It has a special harness just for the Gel Cube.

I guess this can also be considered my little unknown rule...I never hear people talk about this or mention getting a Gel Cube as a mount

 

[Mustrum_Ridcully]

I think Gelatinous Cubes are mindless aren't they? And they can be used as mounts according to the Arms & Equipment Guide (I think that's where I've seen this), they can be used as mounts It has a special harness just for the Gel Cube.

I guess this can also be considered my little unknown rule...I never hear people talk about this or mention getting a Gel Cube as a mount

Ah, that reminds me, I always wanted to play an Oozemaster (okay, not really, I preferred the Shifter...).

 

[skelso]

Clerics, Druids, Rangers and Paladins can research and create brand new spells in the same way that Wizards can. (PHB p. 180)

I thought this was general knowledge, but I saw a thread somewhere of people discussing the idea as an optional rule, rather than an actual PHB listed ability.

 

[Thurbane]

Combat Casting adds +4 to your Concentration check only when casting defensively. Skill Focus (Concentration) adds +3 to your Concentration checks all the time.

...so when's the last time you saw anyone with Skill Focus:Concentration?