D&D 5E (2014) [OOC] Uller's Out of the Abyss

[SunGold]

Hey, like I said, if he's allowing it: cool!

I posted in part because I catch his posts now and then reading 5E rules board. He's obviously a guy who's into the rules nitty-gritty. I don't think he's the sort to get bent out of shape over someone sharing pertinent info in good faith.

There are a lot of rules. People miss stuff, people forget stuff. I certainly do. IMO, it's not a crime to just bring up something like this. (I like learning, and appreciate when someone points out something I might not know, as long as they're not a jerk about it.) You become the actual rules-lawyer-jerk if you don't let it go. (For me, that means anything past a single casual mention.)

Ironically, in writing this in-defense-of post, I have already taken the issue much further than intended, so I'll leave off here.

 

[DMAesh]

No worries! I appreciate it, and in fact am usually doing it in other face-to-face games, because I am the most experienced DM there. Uller has corrected me on rules a few times, so I trust that he knows what he's doing. It's actually very refreshing for me!

 

[JustinCase]

Well, I still cling to the rule of fun and the rule that the DM decides. Works so far.

 

[SunGold]

Hah, as the party barbarian, I will be the last one to argue if it turns out Uller really intended to house-rule this. Freebie OA grapples? That's a freaking gift for Surana. I'll just be bummed I didn't know about this decision sooner.

 

[JustinCase]

I'm not sure if we're waiting for something. Erevan is happy to give the others weapons (on his init count) but I believe the wererat goes first.

 

[Uller]

I'm willing to allow it. It makes sense to me that you can forgoe hitting someone with your sword and instead try to grab them, shove them, trip them or whatever. Attempting to run past someone who desperately wants to stop you should be harder than jusy spending a couple hp...its one of the unfortunate examples of meta reasoning that the system results in. I know I have enough hp to take hit so I'm going allow the ogre to hit me with his tree stump.

In this case it makes narrative sense for the rat to run past. He knows you can't hurt him. It also makes sense for you not to try to stop him with a weapon.

But it means the monsters can do the same thing when the occasion arises.

Also if you grab him he still has his attack.

Sent from my SCH-I535 using EN World mobile app

 

[Uller]

I think he is just being a nice DM. Stop questioning!

When in doubt I defer to RAW. But when the narrative clearly calls for deviation from RAW we go with it.

What makes more sense in your mind's eye? You helplessly punching the wererat as it runs past you or grabbing it to stop it?

Maybe there will be some wierd balance repercussions I haven't thought of but if there are we'll deal with that then.

Sent from my SCH-I535 using EN World mobile app

 

[Uller]

Hey, like I said, if he's allowing it: cool!

I posted in part because I catch his posts now and then reading 5E rules board. He's obviously a guy who's into the rules nitty-gritty. I don't think he's the sort to get bent out of shape over someone sharing pertinent info in good faith.

I have no problem with players pointing out when I miss a rule or if I get it wrong. I _frequently_ miss rules at the table...to my annoyance. I try very hard not to look up rules at the table other than Monster stats/abilities, spells and the like. I jump into rules discussions on the boards to keep in practice and to learn to give some thought to all the corner cases that come up on the boards.

As long as know one gets all rules-lawyer-mode on me we're good. But it is much easier in PbP to actually look up a rule before posting.

I played in a game run by Creamsteak and got a rule wrong as a player (I think it was about maintaining concentration on a spell while casting another as a ritual...it can't be done). Creamsteak and one of the other players set me right. I tried looking up the rule and couldn't find it so I just accepted his ruling and went on with my life (and eventually found the rule...it's under casting time I think).

 

[Uller]

Hah, as the party barbarian, I will be the last one to argue if it turns out Uller really intended to house-rule this. Freebie OA grapples? That's a freaking gift for Surana. I'll just be bummed I didn't know about this decision sooner.

No. I didn't intend it as a houserule. I honestly assumed you could swap a special attack in for any attack. If you have multiple attacks you can swap in a grapple for one of them...so why not an OA?

I don't mind keeping it as a house rule for now. It gives the tanky characters a bit more battlefield control but only when their foes choose to give it to them. You still have to have a free hand...

 

[DMAesh]

Visually, this gives a very Jackie Chan feel to combats, which I love, though I likely will not use them with my 12 Str.