Recent content by Distracted DM

I like saying things are Bloodied at half. It also has mechanical effects with A5E (and some other 5e iterations, I think). If players were to track how much damage they'd done so far, and they know when it's bloodied, they can roughly figure out the HP.. we did track damage dealt as players...

The new FR book's Dragon Cult background gives inspiration whenever you fear someone, and provides a method of fearing things IIRC.

I've had this problem with A5E, which successfully spreads feature saves out among the 6 stats: if something targets Intelligence, it's too good. The vast majority of enemies will have almost no chance at passing. Creatures will have decent wisdom or charisma, or at least not negative.. but...

On one hand the WotC Circle Casting is easier, on the other hand the Circle Casting from the DMsG Thay book is better balanced. And has built-in gatekeeping via sp?Ssaz Tam?

Did you read OPs question? The keyword here is Targeted. When you cast Hold Person, you're targeting someone with that spell. When you're casting fireball, you're affecting an area, no one is being targeted. So, as per OPs question, reactive ward wouldn't work for that. In addition, spells like...

This just sounds like you value player content over GM content. They can both be viewed as having years of gameplay value, and they're both integral to the game.

The wording makes it a very, very niche feature, yes. I've been inclined to make it work against spells and magical effects both targeted and AoEs, though dragon breath still wouldn't qualify for that.. but Fireball, a lich's arc lightning, an ice devil's Wall, etc. would. I guess the question...

Well now I need to check this out. Looks like a little bit of an investment, I wonder if I can find some reviews somewhere.

I'm glad that some folk can enjoy playing this way- I've never been comfortable with it. It was never worth the stress, but I have some degree of social anxiety n' all that fun stuff. That's definitely a big help, but resolving interparty conflict in-character has never sat well with me. Again...

OP is, I think, just pointing out that there's a great visual similarity between the modern meme and this old cover. Sharing something they thought was funny, with a group of like-minded individuals. I guess it'd more appropriate to something short-lived, like a discord channel, rather than a...

I think there may be times when there's a differences between wanting to play a character who's a coward, likely because they want some arc where said character overcomes that cowardice, and the player being risk-averse, basically not wanting to be in melee because that's a higher likelihood of...

Yup. "Because it's what my character would do" generally refers to an excuse for destructive or difficult behavior. And yes, the best answer to "I don't go on the quest" really is "OK so make a character that would." Either that, or come up with some reasons that this character would. The...

For this kind of stuff, I go to Necromancer Games' The Mother of All Treasure Tables. It's sooo worth picking up. It has hoards covering a wide range of treasure: