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General Tabletop Discussion
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Should 5e have save or die?
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<blockquote data-quote="BryonD" data-source="post: 5779669" data-attributes="member: 957"><p>Ok, explain please.</p><p></p><p>You are mixing mechanical and narrative comments here, so it is a bit hard to provide a simple reply.</p><p></p><p>I agree that there can be logistical issues with turning everyone to stone. The same basic issue applies to vampires. And werewolves. We can deal with these purely narrative concerns.</p><p></p><p>And yes, having "lesser" and "uber" Medusa is a fine narrative option as well. But if you want to model the Medusa of legend, be she unique or the basis for a race, then only the uber qualifies.</p><p></p><p>I don't agree that saves don't work. You can save for half vs. fireball and a lot of classes can avoid the damage altogether. As with HP and many other elements of mechanics are intended to support, not dominate storytelling.</p><p></p><p>A save is a perfectly valid mechanic for establishing if the look happened. SoD allows correct modeling, but it certainly does not come close to promising it. If in someone's game a player makes a save and the DM describe the character staring Medusa in the eye and saying "Bring it!! You can't turn me to stone!!" then I would readily agree that this is every bit as wrong.</p><p></p><p>And if a player in my game ever says "I look at the Medusa." I will reply, "OK you turn to stone." No save. If they jump into lava they will also die. Yes, they could also have magic options to trump these defaults. That is fine. But those are the defaults.</p><p></p><p></p><p>Nah, I completely disagree. One of the origins of the basilisk is the cobra. You are walking along, minding your own business and WHAM you are dead.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="BryonD, post: 5779669, member: 957"] Ok, explain please. You are mixing mechanical and narrative comments here, so it is a bit hard to provide a simple reply. I agree that there can be logistical issues with turning everyone to stone. The same basic issue applies to vampires. And werewolves. We can deal with these purely narrative concerns. And yes, having "lesser" and "uber" Medusa is a fine narrative option as well. But if you want to model the Medusa of legend, be she unique or the basis for a race, then only the uber qualifies. I don't agree that saves don't work. You can save for half vs. fireball and a lot of classes can avoid the damage altogether. As with HP and many other elements of mechanics are intended to support, not dominate storytelling. A save is a perfectly valid mechanic for establishing if the look happened. SoD allows correct modeling, but it certainly does not come close to promising it. If in someone's game a player makes a save and the DM describe the character staring Medusa in the eye and saying "Bring it!! You can't turn me to stone!!" then I would readily agree that this is every bit as wrong. And if a player in my game ever says "I look at the Medusa." I will reply, "OK you turn to stone." No save. If they jump into lava they will also die. Yes, they could also have magic options to trump these defaults. That is fine. But those are the defaults. Nah, I completely disagree. One of the origins of the basilisk is the cobra. You are walking along, minding your own business and WHAM you are dead. [/QUOTE]
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Should 5e have save or die?
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