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*Dungeons & Dragons
When a rule is clear but leads to illogical efffects
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<blockquote data-quote="Ath-kethin" data-source="post: 7020705" data-attributes="member: 6798775"><p>So we have all seen, ad nauseum, discussions of situations where vague or non-specific rules can make rulings challenging or complicated (how do characters with the Alert feat react to invisible creatures who are standing motionless?). But something that came up in my game last night that called attention to a different kind of issue: rules that are clear but don't necessarily make logical sense.</p><p></p><p>Specifically, the party rogue was attacked by a swarm of spiders. He poisoned his weapon and attacked the swarm the same as he would any other foe (he is using a subclass form the <em>Primeval Thule Player's Companion</em> that applies poison to his weapon as a bonus action). He hit and rolled his weapon damage (which was cut in half because of the swarm's resistance). He also rolled his poison damage, which was not reduced because the swarm is not immune or resistant to poison damage. Additionally, the swarm failed its saving throw and therefore suffered from the poisoned condition.</p><p></p><p>There is no ambiguity over how any part of the encounter should function by the RAW. But basically, the rogue killed dozens or hundreds of tiny spiders, crawling on his body, with the swipe of a poisoned sword. Those who survived the blow were somehow very sick. A round or so later, his brother the barbarian killed the last of them by striking them (again, the tiny spiders crawling all over the rogue) with a morningstar. </p><p></p><p>Truly, this is a fantasy roleplaying game.</p><p></p><p>Anybody run into any similar experiences?</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Ath-kethin, post: 7020705, member: 6798775"] So we have all seen, ad nauseum, discussions of situations where vague or non-specific rules can make rulings challenging or complicated (how do characters with the Alert feat react to invisible creatures who are standing motionless?). But something that came up in my game last night that called attention to a different kind of issue: rules that are clear but don't necessarily make logical sense. Specifically, the party rogue was attacked by a swarm of spiders. He poisoned his weapon and attacked the swarm the same as he would any other foe (he is using a subclass form the [I]Primeval Thule Player's Companion[/I] that applies poison to his weapon as a bonus action). He hit and rolled his weapon damage (which was cut in half because of the swarm's resistance). He also rolled his poison damage, which was not reduced because the swarm is not immune or resistant to poison damage. Additionally, the swarm failed its saving throw and therefore suffered from the poisoned condition. There is no ambiguity over how any part of the encounter should function by the RAW. But basically, the rogue killed dozens or hundreds of tiny spiders, crawling on his body, with the swipe of a poisoned sword. Those who survived the blow were somehow very sick. A round or so later, his brother the barbarian killed the last of them by striking them (again, the tiny spiders crawling all over the rogue) with a morningstar. Truly, this is a fantasy roleplaying game. Anybody run into any similar experiences? [/QUOTE]
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