D&D 5E Triggered Actions in D&D Next.

[ForeverSlayer]

Would you like to see triggered actions toned down in D&D Next?

I think a few are okay but I found that 4th edition combat would get bogged down do to all the triggers going off. Would you like to see this area brought down to a reasonable level?

 

[tlantl]

I'm not too familiar with the term. Might it be similar to attacks of opportunity?

I voted yes since it doesn't sound like something I want to have to deal with.

I assume since it is a 4e thing, it has something to do with combat.

Since I don't like the convoluted gridiron combat rules from 3e and 4e I imagine they won't be something I need to worry about any way. I don't plan on using combat grids for encounters if I decide to take on yet another set of rules for D&D.

 

[ForeverSlayer]

I'm not too familiar with the term. Might it be similar to attacks of opportunity?

I voted no since it doesn't sound like something I want to have to deal with. I assume since it is a 4e thing then it has to do with combat. Since I don't like the convoluted gridiron combat rules from 3e and 4e I imagine they won't be something I need to worry about any way. I don't plan on using combat grids for encounters if I decide to take on yet another set of rules for D&D.

It's not just attacks of opportunity. There are many actions that are triggered by specific conditions. Like if creature A moves into Wizard X's zone then B is triggered, or if PC A is hit with fire then something is triggered etc.. It can be like a domino effect.

 

[Kaodi]

I have always thought that the reliance of 4E on so many triggers was one of the major barriers that prevented there being any 4E D&D CRPGs... I mean, look at Pool of Radiance: Ruins of Myth Drannor. While it was a seriously flawed game, it came out the year after 3e. We are in the fourth year of 4E and no real 4E game has come out yet.

 

[TwoSix]

I don't think triggered effects are necessary, but I wouldn't mind a class of abilities that were stronger if you used them as readied actions then as standard actions.

 

[Ahnehnois]

I like combat reactions and having explicit rules based on the action economy, but this triggering thing sounds too game-y and too complicated for me. Maybe as part of some expanded tactical combat rules.

 

[DEFCON 1]

We are in the fourth year of 4E and no real 4E game has come out yet.

That had nothing to do with the tabletop game and everything to do with Atari owning the computer game design rights. It didn't matter how the TTRPG played... no game was being made unless Atari chose to work on one.

Now that the computer game rights are back in house... more games can be made. (And I read that a company Beandog has possibly got something brewing with Baldur's Gate.)

 

[Fede]

That had nothing to do with the tabletop game and everything to do with Atari owning the computer game design rights. It didn't matter how the TTRPG played... no game was being made unless Atari chose to work on one.

Now that the computer game rights are back in house... more games can be made. (And I read that a company Beandog has possibly got something brewing with Baldur's Gate.)

I believe that both you and Kaodi are right, from different points of view:

Defcon 1 is right about licensing rights being the problem that blocked the making of videogames.

But, assuming that a game was to be made and that it is trying to recreate the tabletop rules, Kaodi is right that the biggest problem to overcome is the amount of triggered actions. I believe that making a game that is both correct in terms of rules application and it isn't a UI nightmare for reactions with 4E is much more difficult than with previous editions (in spite of all the "4E is not a roleplaying game, it's a videogame!!!" nonsense).

 

[AbdulAlhazred]

Would you like to see triggered actions toned down in D&D Next?

I think a few are okay but I found that 4th edition combat would get bogged down do to all the triggers going off. Would you like to see this area brought down to a reasonable level?

These yes/no polls are not really that useful. If you think about it for a minute you'll realize that 'no' is not a viable answer in any absolute way. 'yes' OTOH tells nobody anything because it is the only meaningful response.

There have to be mechanisms for several things:

Opportunity attacks - Pretty much gotta exist in some form if you're going to have anything like D&D style combat.

Readied actions - There really needs to be some way for a player to designate that his character is waiting to act at a specific point. All sorts of basic routine things people do become impossible otherwise.

There's a huge amount of important differentiation that can be made between say 4e where this kind of thing is very common and say 1e where a lot of it has only vague unclear rules. That's where any meaningful discussion needs to take place.

 

[BobTheNob]

I don't see them as a necessary component of the game, but I think they would make a great optional.

They were one of the things within 4e I thought worked really well. The one thing I did find fidly and unnecessary was the "immediate" action with limited usage. To me, either they are free and limited or use some form of action economy and are at will

 

[AbdulAlhazred]

They work well until too many PCs pile on too many of them. I think really they should limit ALL off-turn actions to once a round and cut way back on the interrupts. Reactions can be basically ditched. Combine interrupts with OAs, then you have a more simple and streamlined system.

 

[Jeff Carlsen]

I think we need a better mechanic for allowing characters to react to things that aren't on their turn. Something universal that options can be attached to and that doesn't require careful attention.

For a quick example, let's say that each round, each character has one move, one action, and one reaction. On their turn, they may take a move and an action. They may also make one reaction at any point during another character's turn.

Most reactions would probably be defensive: Setting a pike against a charge, taking a defensive stance, casting a ward. Once chosen, you can't change it until your next turn, and you can't make any more reactions.

Opportunity attacks would also be reactions. They don't need specific triggers. Whenever someone you threaten does anything, you can use your reaction to attack them. If it's a spell, you might disrupt that spell.

Of course, such a system means a lot of off turn actions, but they're never "gotchas!", and it would give everyone at the table a reason to be paying attention to the battle.

Regardless, it's just an example of a unified mechanic. I'm sure someone can come up with something else.