D&D 5E Portentous Portents?

[steeldragons]

For the Diviner wizard special ability, Portent, in which the PC can roll 2(to start) d20s and decide when, later in play, those results are used instead of what is rolled. They can apply these rolls to anyone (they can see), I believe. So, naturally, high rolls will be applied to themselves or their allies, bad rolls get applied to their foes (or just other PCs or NPCs they don't like ). The ability stipulates the rolls can be an attack, save, or ability check.

So, my question is this...What would people say to houseruling the Diviner decide, at rolling, what the rolls are going to be used for. Doesn't have to a who or a when, but say whether it is an attack, ability check or save, before they are applied and then use them when appropriate. Kind of makes them feel more...I don't know...like a portent or premonition that doesn't have the specifics all in view yet...versus the rather meta-game element of saying "I'm/They have to use this now, instead of rolling" because: Portent. The player can say "I foresaw this! Bigaxe's mighty strength will fail him! So, no, you don't make your save. [Sorry, bud.]"

I don't know...I LOVE the flavor of this ability...I just want some way for it to not feel quite so...mechanic/gimmick meta-gamey.

 

[Mouseferatu]

No, that'd be a serious mechanical nerf. Better simply to require your player to describe/RP the vision when he/she applies the mechanic. That should get you some feel of premonition without actually requiring the player to try to guess the future.

 

[Treantmonklvl20]

The player can say "I foresaw this! Bigaxe's mighty strength will fail him! So, no, you don't make your save. [Sorry, bud.]".

Can't they say that now? Let's say your Diviner rolls a 17 and a 3. You can apply the 3 to a saving throw and say "I foresaw this! Bigaxe's mighty strength will fail him..."

If your players are instead saying - "I assign my 3 to his saving throw" - that's a failing of the role-player, not the mechanic.

That said, if you think your house rule would encourage more role playing, the Diviner can take it, as it's probably the mechanically strongest arcane tradition presently. If you don't want it to be a nerf, you could add another die or something.

 

[The Grassy Gnoll]

Could play it like déjà vu - you get it at that moment, not before, but the diviner is able to act on it and turn it to his advantage?