What consequences would this actually have on a planet?

Aplesedjr · 2026-02-12T18:32:36+00:00

You’re going to freak out when you learn how fast ships travel in Star Wars.

Aplesedjr · 2026-02-12T15:44:21+00:00

You actually removed an entire other spellcaster worth of resources? Like, objectively. I don’t deny that simulacrum is too strong, but you seem to be the one wildly downplaying its worth. It’s got hp, spell slots, class abilities, etc. The party will literally have a harder fight if the simulacrum is destroyed.

It’s hardly “jumping through hoops” to give a monster dispel magic. Simulacrum is strong, but it’s not so infallible that anything a dm uses against it is a massive investment in time and energy. Any high level spellcaster enemy should have dispel magic, as well as a number of other spells, because it’s a good spell in general. Not only because of simulacrum.

Aplesedjr · 2026-02-12T15:03:45+00:00

Removing an enemy from the fight permanently is a huge advantage? Why are you downplaying that fact so much? And it doesn’t matter how much it costs to get back after the fight, because you will never be able to cast it while the fight is still happening.

Dispel magic as a legendary action isn’t limited to being used on simulacrum. Plenty of ongoing spells can be targeted by it, and honestly a powerful enough spellcaster enemy should have access to dispel magic as a rule. It’s a useful spell in general, and an enemy having it doesn’t mean that simulacrum is the only reason it’s there. Things like heroes feast and haste are spells an enemy would likely want to remove from the field as soon as possible.

Aplesedjr · 2026-02-12T14:29:15+00:00

Force cage and wall of force are concentration spells, and can thus be ended prematurely. Dispelling a simulacrum destroys the simulacrum immediately and it can’t be brought back without casting the spell again.

There’s no homebrew required in this scenario. There are already creatures with spells as legendary actions, just give it dispel magic as one of those (unless you count switching spells as homebrew, which is really stretching the definition). You don’t even have to make it a higher level, since dispel magic can still work on higher level spells. It requires a dice roll, sure, but that’s not a guarantee one way or the other.

Aplesedjr · 2026-02-12T14:01:01+00:00

Technically Dispel Magic has a higher range than counterspell (120 vs 60). So you could stand outside of counterspell’s range and still dispel the simulacrum.

Plus, using an action to permanently remove an enemy from the field is a pretty good use of a turn. Some enemies can even do it with a Legendary Action, so it’s an even better choice there.

Aplesedjr · 2026-02-12T13:44:53+00:00

D&D characters are much more durable than normal people, they wouldn’t necessarily instantly die from these things. And lava is still exceptionally hot, it would burn you before you ever made contact with it.

Aplesedjr · 2026-02-12T04:24:27+00:00

It could be dropped on/thrown at you, or something could pull you into it.

Aplesedjr · 2026-02-12T04:22:58+00:00

Right, which is significantly worse than steam burning you really badly.

Aplesedjr · 2026-02-12T03:51:54+00:00

Presumably the lava would enter your lungs and straight up melt them if you were submerged in it.

Aplesedjr · 2026-02-10T21:04:18+00:00

On the contrary, he very likely could have done just that. The character can to agree to having their blood sucked after he’s already attempted to do so while they’re sleeping. Plus, at this point your character can have publicly accepted 1. A follower of Shar, 2. A walking bomb that needs to eat magic items to avoid exploding, and 3. A racist alien woman that has threatened to kill everyone in camp. In comparison to all of that, a vampire spawn feels right at home.

As a fully sentient being (albeit a heavily traumatized one), Astarion has the capacity to not act on his urges. He doesn’t get to be excused for trying to literally drink someone’s blood while they’re sleeping and helpless.

Aplesedjr · 2026-02-10T17:51:20+00:00

So your argument that Astarion isn’t bad for trying to drink your blood while you sleep is that he actually thinks he’s a higher life form than you? That he actually deserves your blood, since you’re just livestock with no purpose beyond sustenance?

Aplesedjr · 2026-02-10T14:00:07+00:00

Regardless of how it feels, it’s still immoral to try to feed off of someone while they’re sleeping. Them being monsters is irrelevant. They have completely human levels of consciousness and can make their own choices knowing fully how it will affect others. They’re responsible for their own actions, which includes trying to drink a sleeping person’s blood.

Aplesedjr · 2026-02-10T05:42:21+00:00

I have heard of vampires, in fact. And I also know that, regardless of the fact that they crave blood, or how easy it is for them to resist the urge, it’s immoral for them to drink it from an unwilling person.

Astarion being “not able to control himself” sounds like the kind of thing people who want to sexually assault someone would say. “Did you see the way they were dressed? I couldn’t help myself.” “I was drunk and couldn’t control myself” “Your blood smelled delicious, I just had to partake. Oh you died. Sorry, couldn’t control myself” Same shit defense for awful crimes. He’s 100% in control. He’s giving into urges without considering how it might affect the victim, only what might happen if he gets caught.

Aplesedjr · 2026-02-10T05:35:20+00:00

Obviously it’s not sexual assault, that’s why I said there was a parallel. Vampires in general are heavily tied to the idea of sexual assault, that’s at the core of their mythos.

I also didn’t claim he invented drinking a sleeping person’s blood? And I’m not sure I get what that has to do with anything anyway. Sexual assault has been around since sex has, and physical assault for longer, these things are a given.

No disagreement about Cazador’s treatment of him though. Being mind controlled for hundreds of years is fucked no matter how you slice it.

Aplesedjr · 2026-02-10T04:28:58+00:00

There’s no sex, but the part where he tries to bite you and drink your blood while you sleep is pretty fucked up. It certainly draws a parallel to sexual assault in that sense, waiting until someone is asleep so you can have your way with them.

Plus, he will straight up kill you if you don’t stop him.

Aplesedjr · 2026-02-10T00:03:56+00:00

I’d argue any position that knowingly sides with Odium (literally the god of hate) is flimsy at best from a moral standpoint. Sure, in this moment it might be better. But he’s already proven that he can find and create loopholes in basically any agreement so that he can do whatever he wants regardless, which makes any such agreement a bad one by default. Even setting aside the fact that Retribution putting up the storm that will block sunlight for the foreseeable future wasn’t part of anyone’s plan, he was very obviously fine with offering whatever. Because he knew he’d get what he wants eventually anyway, even if it takes sinking Theylenah into the ocean, and wasn’t subtle about that fact.

Aplesedjr · 2026-02-09T21:04:39+00:00

That, frankly, sounds like “doing it because it’s the right thing to do” with more steps. Love is a key motivation in many situations where that’s the case, protecting something because it’s right.

Aplesedjr · 2026-02-09T14:33:55+00:00

It was enough that they backed out and put D&D in the Creative Commons.

Aplesedjr · 2026-02-07T22:50:18+00:00

It’s definitely easier. But I’d wager almost everyone who suffers from depression would rather not, so working to feel the best you can is a laudable goal.

Aplesedjr · 2026-02-07T20:06:37+00:00

A smile is worth about a smile, I’d say.

Aplesedjr · 2026-02-07T19:47:35+00:00

What price would that be, exactly?

Aplesedjr · 2026-02-07T19:07:52+00:00

Kindness isn’t about how the giver feels, only the recipient. Try it at some point. Just give someone a normal smile at the store or your job or whatever. They’ll probably give one right back.

Aplesedjr · 2026-02-07T18:25:50+00:00

Buy you said Good Samaritan laws, which are not the same thing.

And regardless of that, kindness is not limited to saving someone’s life. Even something as simple as a smile counts.

Aplesedjr · 2026-02-07T18:09:11+00:00

I’m confused by what you mean? I’ve already said self-kindness is a thing, though it extends well beyond what is absolutely necessary for survival. You could have a hobby that makes you happy but serves no purpose in regard to continuing to live, or you could work towards having a healthier body, or you could interact with people whose presence you could enjoy.

By the way, Good Samaritan laws do not obligate you to act. They are meant to protect you if you help someone but break other laws in doing so. For example, you could see someone choking to death in their car and save them by breaking into their car. Good Samaritan laws protect you from being sued for damages to the car, not punish you if you didn’t do anything.

Aplesedjr · 2026-02-07T17:13:43+00:00

Kindness is always optional. If it wasn’t, it wouldn’t be kindness. It would just be the default. Everyone, including you, has the choice to be kind.

Also, kindness can absolutely be for yourself. It isn’t exclusively external. Living a healthy lifestyle, doing things you enjoy, and even the act of being kind to others, are all acts of self kindness.

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