(OOC) The Dog Days of Doom

[TaranTheWanderer]

... maybe? I spent a LOT of time looking at grappling under the 5e24 rules. It's a lot different than 5e14 even thought it looks similar at first glance.

It's not exactly an "attack" and advantage, AFAIK, doesn't help. Instead, think of the following flow chart:

1. You declare an unarmed strike action.

2. When you declare an unarmed strike action, you have the option of a) damage, b) shove, or c) grapple.

3. If you choose damage, you make an attack roll against the target.

4. If you choose grapple (or shove)... there is no attack roll. Instead, the target must make a save (either S or D, target choose). The DC for the save is 8+str+prof.


In other words, having advantage does nothing for grapple. On the other hand, imposing disadvantage on the target (for saves) is helpful.

For that reason, vex would do nothing for grapple. Prone also doesn't affect the saves.

If you are going with a strong grapple build, I really recommend reviewing the changes to the rules thoroughly. They appear the same as 5e14, but they really, really aren't. Now, I might be misreading all of this, but you might want to check the text again - I mean, grapple uses an attack action, but it's not an attack roll based on my understanding. If I'm reading it right, and you want to grapple more successfully, look for things that target the opponent's saves, and remember they get to choose between two (so even if you impose disadvantage on, inter alia, strength, they can always choose dexterity).

This sounds a lot more like the 3.5 grapple rules.

 

[Snarf Zagyg]

This sounds a lot more like the 3.5 grapple rules.

To be fair, I have never, ever, made a grapple build in D&D or even attempted to grapple with any character.

...I still have nightmares about trying to make sense of the rules for grappling and unarmed combat in the 1e DMG.

 

[FitzTheRuke]

I should add that I have to doublecheck things constantly, because it's not the big changes in 5e24 that trip me up; it's the small changes. Here's an example- my ranger has ritual spells that I intended to cast as rituals. But yesterday, when I was looking at my character sheet, I panicked for a minute, because I thought to myself, "SELF! YOU MORON! RANGERS CANT CAST RITUALS!!!!!"

Because that's the 5e14 rule. Except ... they can in 5e24, because rituals are defined in the spellcasting section. And ... I had done it correctly when I first did the character, and then forgot I did it correctly under the new rules because I remembered the old rules. It's the big changes (weapon mastery, etc.) that are completely new in 5e24 that are easy. It's the small changes to things we are used to using that always trip me up.

Small changes have ALWAYS been the problem. Took me awhile (like 4-5 YEARS) to understand that there's no "Surprise Round - Round Zero" in 5e.

 

[Kobold Stew]

(2024 Burning hands has doubled its range! now it's fully two cantrips in one.)

 

[TaranTheWanderer]

(2024 Burning hands has doubled its range! now it's fully two cantrips in one.)

It gets bigger every edition. It’s tradition

 

[TaranTheWanderer]

Okay!

I promise the posts won't all be super long but this is the intro to the adventure so I want to set the mood. Also, I apologize for all the grammar mistakes. I need to get my daily post in and it's better imperfect but posted.

Everyone will have an opportunity to try to help people if they want, but you will be quickly overrun.

I'd like to know what people's objectives are. The most obvious place to run is the city and Knowledge History and Religion checks will give you more info about the city to give you more details about its pitfalls and advantages. If you all choose to run through the gates, it will be a fighting retreat. If you want to help survivors, or do anything else, I will deal with those side objectives as extended tests.

I'm too tired now to draw the mechanics I'll be using but once I know what people want to do, it'll be easier for me to do tomorrow when I post.

For now, feel free to post or attack or whatever. Any successful actions you do when you post will go towards whatever you are trying to accomplish.

 

[Neurotic]

I always thought you have to hit first with the unarmed attack, then deal with resistance or saves or whatever.

 

[FitzTheRuke]

I always thought you have to hit first with the unarmed attack, then deal with resistance or saves or whatever.

Not in 2024, no. Just pick Unarmed Strike as your Attack Action and either Roll an Attack (to damage them) OR they roll their STR or DEX Save. If they fail, you Grapple, Push, or Knock them Prone (whichever you picked).

 

[FitzTheRuke]

Just to be clear - because it seems obvious what's going on, but you haven't explicitly said - we are talking Zombies, right? And EVERYONE who died or was already dead are turning into one?

Yeah, we gotta get out of there. I recommend a fighting retreat to town, protecting those we can on the way. We should start with the family (if they are smart enough to listen) and anyone else that gathered under Anson's light.

 

[TaranTheWanderer]

Just to be clear - because it seems obvious what's going on, but you haven't explicitly said - we are talking Zombies, right? And EVERYONE who died or was already dead are turning into one?

Yeah, we gotta get out of there. I recommend a fighting retreat to town, protecting those we can on the way. We should start with the family (if they are smart enough to listen) and anyone else that gathered under Anson's light.

Yes, zombies.