D&D General The Fourth Pillar of D&D…shenanigans

[James Gasik]

It can also be part of the combat pillar. Every time the characters or NPCs do something that’s unexpected or not covered by the rules…that’s shenanigans.

I was just about to comment on this- I have seen MANY examples of combat shenanigans over the decades.

 

[Minigiant]

Shenanigans is part or the Exploration and Combat pillar.

One of the biggest issues with Shenanigans is codifying it in the PC's abilities. Because as we have seen in the past, reliable shenanigans sops being fun really fast.

That's why it's not it's own pillar. Because it shouldn't be actively focused on unless the table mood is also on full on silly mode.

 

[GMforPowergamers]

It can also be part of the combat pillar. Every time the characters or NPCs do something that’s unexpected or not covered by the rules…that’s shenanigans.

i thought you were going to bring up the time a player threw a shoe at me "Shenanigans"

 

[DEFCON 1]

I believe in D&D it is spelled 'Shamanigans'.

 

[James Gasik]

i thought you were going to bring up the time a player threw a shoe at me "Shenanigans"

 

[overgeeked]

Shenanigans is part or the Exploration and Combat pillar.

Social, too. Tricking NPCs is certainly shenanigans.

One of the biggest issues with Shenanigans is codifying it in the PC's abilities. Because as we have seen in the past, reliable shenanigans stops being fun really fast.

In part. shenanigans should never be reliable. But that’s what rolls are for. Spells that do things solidly under the umbrella of shenanigans are codified and reliable. But they’re always fun. It’s the novelty that makes it, really. If all you ever do is the same thing over and over…that’s boring. One epic use of modify memory is spectacular…using it over and over on all enemies…duller than dirt.

That's why it's not it's own pillar. Because it shouldn't be actively focused on unless the table mood is also on full on silly mode.

I don’t agree that shenanigans are silly mode. Swinging from chandeliers, dumping a shelf full of potions onto someone, and climbing onto the backs of larger creatures are shenanigans. But they’re not silly.

 

[Krachek]

In DnD the mother of all Shenanigans is rolling stats.

 

[tetrasodium]

as a GM who tries to encourage them, I think the biggest hurdle with "shenanigans" is getting players to think in terms of advancing & developing things rather than immediately solving them. As a GM who's sometimes a player it's not an easy step for a lot of GMs to adapt to them. @Yora mentioned it earlier but the lack of pagespace really devoted to the needs of either makes for a big hurdle since GM & player are largely without something they can point at.

 

[Minigiant]

Social, too. Tricking NPCs is certainly shenanigans.

Mere triicking isn't shenanigans.
You need to trick with info not directly involved with the discussion to be shenanigns. This is hard without te DM adding many detials in multiple conversations.

So it doesn't happen enough to be part of social.

I don’t agree that shenanigans are silly mode. Swinging from chandeliers, dumping a shelf full of potions onto someone, and climbing onto the backs of larger creatures are shenanigans. But they’re not silly.

Shenanigans isn't silly mode.
Constant reliable shenanigans is silly mode as you start to ignore the rules completely.
.

 

[Aldarc]

I'm a wee bit skeptical about the results of Ben Milton's informal poll.

The category of "shenanigans" doesn't feel as neutral as the other options, and it almost puts his thumb on the scale. "Shenanigans" is a silly sounding name that often attracts a lot of votes in a similar manner that "lemon curry" does here. He may as well have called the category "having fun." But would that represent a play pillar as we generally understand the other pillars?

Moreover, he is asking his subscribers, which are also likely to represent something of a self-selected bubble who may already fall inline with his own prejudices and biases in regards to this matter.