D&D 5E (2024) NPCs, and the poverty of the core books

[SkidAce]

To me, the bolded is a big concern. Those extra 38 points should count for something, even if only that it takes 37 points of curing to get that Fighter from 1 to 2 hit points (after which cures work as normal) after the first cure gets him from 0 to 1.

Keep making death saves (i.e. no death from massive damage) until you are healed the amount you went negative.

 

[Maxperson]

No there are not very many better 1st level spells, and in the 2024 rules prepared spells are not nearly as much of a premium, especially since your high level slots are what is most limited and this is a 1st level spell.

You say it is not half the party, so add together all the Tieflings, all the Red Dragonborn, then all the Sorcerers, Druids, Wizards, Artificers, Rogues (AT) and Fighters (EK) who did prepare Absorb Elements. then add all the Draconic Sorcerers and all the Bear Totem Barbarians. Then add all the people who do have a ring of fire resistance or anyone that picked up or crafted a potion to give them fire resistance because they knew they would be facing a dragon. Then finally add any that might have got it from some other spell they cast ahead of time or in the beginning of combat.

Add all those together. What percentage of the party do you think that is? I said it is about half and in a combat with a Dragon in teir 2 I think that is pretty accurate.



No. You talked about how precious prepared spells are above. Cure Wounds is ONE spell prepared. Mass Healing Word (which I only tacked on at the end) is ONE spell prepared spell.

He has 7 more spells to prepare at 5th level, and this is RAW a high difficulty encounter for a 5th level party of 4.

Now if you are saying you would rather not keep healing to stay ahead of the Dragon that is fine, but it is fundamentally different than saying you can't.

I also can't stress enough that I am talking about 1PC, not a party.

You're right. It's not that it can't happen. It's that it generally WON'T happen. People for the most part like to enjoy playing the game and not very many people want to be a healbot and spend every slot they have on healing spells.

 

[Minigiant]

Honestly my favorite 'PC Wizard' statblock is the Legendary Archmage from Monster Manual Expanded 3. I think it's a good compromise between usability (It has a post-MPMM style spell list) and not having completely arbitrary At-Will powers.

There is really should have been more simple cantrips as PC/NPC action.

Yes you can, especially because of the floor at 0 hps. Almost all parties with a healer will ouspec enemy damage with the new healing spells.

For example, a Young Red Dragon's Breath does 56 damage on a failed save or 28 damage on a made save or failed save with resistance and 14 damage on a made save with resistance (about half of PCs are probably going to be resistant) and he is rarely going to be able to do that more than twice in a combat.

A 5th level Cleric can heal ~30 damage to a single ally twice with their 3rd level slots, ~20 3 times with their second level slots and ~12 with their 1st level slots four times. That is around 170 points of healing and it is not counting Divine Spark, Subclass abilities, potions (which are now a bonus action) or any other PCs helping out at all and it also is before we consider the Dragon Breath can't take anyone below 0. And this would be a High Difficulty fight.

Well that fire breath can hit multiple targets. And it deals 48 times accuracy every turn normally with their tooth and nails.

 

[GobHag]

Yeah. That would drive me away from the game.

This tough angry human isn't a human, he's an orc. This other tough angry human isn't a human, he's a dwarf. This third tough angry human isn't a human, he's a goliath.

I want humans to be consistently human. If I want one to be tough, he'll be a barbarian or fighter, with feats and abilities built in that belong to those classes.

Will you complain if I allow another player to be an Artificier-in-fiction but use Warlock mechanics?

 

[Maxperson]

Will you complain if I allow another player to be an Artificier-in-fiction but use Warlock mechanics?

I'm absolutely not a fan of reskinning. However, if a warlock wanted to call himself an artificer and try to fake tech being behind his powers, I wouldn't have an issue with that.

 

[GobHag]

Then we can never agree because I think your approach is terrible and has little to no benefit

 

[AlViking]

You're right. It's not that it can't happen. It's that it generally WON'T happen. People for the most part like to enjoy playing the game and not very many people want to be a healbot and spend every slot they have on healing spells.

I don't remember anyone ever preparing absorb elements even after playing with many different groups. So I'm with you, in my experience it's a niche spell that is rarely used.

 

[Maxperson]

I don't remember anyone ever preparing absorb elements even after playing with many different groups. So I'm with you, in my experience it's a niche spell that is rarely used.

I've seen it situationally for the most part. I think one or maybe two PCs over the years just had it always a part of their prepped spells.

 

[ECMO3]

And it deals 48 times accuracy every turn normally with their tooth and nails.

No it doesn't. If they save, if they have resistance, if they have less than 48hp when they get hit by it.

If my character has 1hp he only takes 1 damage from that Dragon breath .... if he is an Orc with 1hp he takes 0 damage!

Also making your save is rather common, especially considering things like Bardic Inspiration, the new rules for Heroic Inspiration etc

 

[ECMO3]

I've seen it situationally for the most part. I think one or maybe two PCs over the years just had it always a part of their prepped spells.

Like I said IME every Ranger, Druid, Wizard, Sorcerer and Artificer have it prepared. It is not often cast and its use is situational, but they always have it IME.