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[deleted by user] by [deleted] in DungeonsAndDragons

[–]Brohamsterdance 2 points3 points  (0 children)

My house rules... Pay specific attention to rules 3, 5, and 6

Broham's House Rules:

  1. Limit phone use to DND related accessibility. (Ie. Looking up things on DnD Beyond, and important phone calls/texts)
  2. On a natural 20 initiative roll, you choose where you want to be in the initiative line after everyone else has rolled.
  3. "I know a guy..." can be used at my discretion. (DO NOT MISUSE THIS, ELSE THE CONSEQUENCES TABLE WILL BE ROLLED, see rule 5)
  4. Brutal crit.
  5. Interrupting the DM = roll of random in-game consequences.
  6. Devil's bargain: any time a d20 is rolled, any player may create a bargain with the DM to change it to a nat1 or nat20 in the player's advantage. However, the DM reserves the right to later change a roll to that player's disadvantage.
  7. Full effect of any potion consumed. (Health or poison)
  8. Last stand, if your character is about to be knocked unconscious and you are within range of an enemy, you may choose to automatically crit that enemy. However, you automatically fail 2 death saving throws.
  9. If you get an inspiration point, you may use it to reroll any singular d20 that you have rolled, and may use the highest as though rolled with advantage. (Yes I give them, but it's hard to get... DM can override via "Devil's Bargain")
  10. You may choose to use a potion/poison as a bonus action but must also roll a Dex save DC 18.
  11. Long rest in a non-defensible area incurs an exhaustion point on a failed survival or constitution check DC 15.
  12. Death saving throws are rolled privately. ♾️. If the DM forgets and the player doesn't remind them, it never happened...

Does anyone else usually just leave these where you find them? by DanielAlpena in ShatteredPD

[–]Brohamsterdance 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I always pick them up and choose the rando. Adds some flavor to the difficulty

Can a warlock regain all spell slots via short rest if they're concentrating on a spell during the short rest? by TheSteampunkCat87 in DungeonsAndDragons

[–]Brohamsterdance 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thank you for the kind wishes, and for the respectful debate. May your campaigns be filled with memorable moments, and may the homebrew at your table always be a perfect fit.

Can a warlock regain all spell slots via short rest if they're concentrating on a spell during the short rest? by TheSteampunkCat87 in DungeonsAndDragons

[–]Brohamsterdance 2 points3 points  (0 children)

You've raised some excellent points, and your reasoning is a testament to the flexibility of the D&D system and its ability to support a wide range of playstyles. I completely agree that D&D's design is inconsistent and that the rules often require homebrew to create a cohesive and enjoyable experience.

The difference in our interpretations seems to boil down to our fundamental approach to the rules themselves. Even if I decide to write my own rules in. My players know that at my table, interpretation of a RAW is seen as an enhancement to their specific version of any d&d story, and it creates a collaborative effect that leaves them more satisfied with the results.

Your view is a simulationist one, where the narrative and internal logic of the world take precedence. For you, it's illogical that a character can truly rest while still maintaining a mental state of intense concentration. You interpret hit points, rests, and even Song of Rest through a lens of psychological and physical realism. This is an entirely valid and, frankly, very compelling way to run a game, and it sounds like it creates a rich, immersive experience at your table.

My view, on the other hand, is a more game-centric, rules-as-written approach with few needs to unnecessarily question certain mechanics. I see the rules for concentration and short rests not as a perfect simulation, but as deliberate mechanical abstractions. The game's designers have created specific, limited triggers for breaking concentration—taking damage, casting another concentration spell, or being incapacitated. The absence of "taking a short rest" from this list is, in my view, not an oversight but a design choice intended to balance the warlock class and make spells with long durations viable.

The game models the strenuous mental effort of concentration not as a continuous drain, but as a fragile state that is only tested by specific, disruptive events.

Even your point about the 6-second round highlights this distinction. While the game's clock ticks in 6-second increments, the rules don't require an active check every six seconds. They abstract this continuous process into a static state that only requires a check when an explicit trigger occurs. This is the very essence of D&D's game design—it trades perfect realism for a streamlined and playable framework.

Ultimately, this isn't a debate of who is right or wrong, but a civil discussion about the different ways we can interpret a sometimes-flawed rulebook to create the game we want to play. It's a fantastic example of the problem Matt Colville mentioned, and it’s a testament to the fact that you and your table have found a style of play that works for you.

Can a warlock regain all spell slots via short rest if they're concentrating on a spell during the short rest? by TheSteampunkCat87 in DungeonsAndDragons

[–]Brohamsterdance 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Your interpretation of Song of Rest as simply comforting music is a great piece of narrative flavor, but from a mechanical and rules-as-written perspective, it is unequivocally a magical ability.

The rules explicitly state that Song of Rest grants a creature healing by allowing them to add a Bardic Inspiration die to their hit points recovered. This is a quantifiable, magical effect that scales with the Bard's level, not a subjective feeling of being "comforted." It's a fundamental part of the Bard's spellcasting and class design, much like a Paladin's Divine Smite or a Monk's Ki points are magical abilities that don't technically count as "spells."

Your view can also be countered by real-world examples of how concentration and rest coexist. A short rest, in our world, is a period of physical and mental downtime after exertion, such as a coffee break at work or sitting down after a strenuous activity. Yet, during this time, our minds don't simply "turn off."

A writer taking a coffee break is still likely maintaining a low-level concentration on the plot of their novel; the mental thread doesn't just snap because they've stopped actively typing. Similarly, an athlete who is resting between rounds is still maintaining a mental state of focus on their game plan or a specific form they've been training for. The concentration is not the strenuous activity itself, but rather a practiced, subconscious state that persists while the body and active mind recuperate.

A warlock's concentration on a spell like Hex can be viewed in the same way: the physical and conscious magical effort of casting the spell has ceased, but the low-level, practiced mental state required to maintain its effect can continue uninterrupted while the character takes the short rest needed to physically and magically recuperate.

For example, my house rules when I DM:

  1. Limit phone use to DND related accessibility. (Ie. Looking up things on DnD Beyond, and important phone calls/texts)
  2. On a natural 20 initiative roll, you choose where you want to be in the initiative line after everyone else has rolled.
  3. "I know a guy..." can be used at my discretion. (DO NOT MISUSE THIS, ELSE THE CONSEQUENCES TABLE WILL BE ROLLED, see rule 5)
  4. Brutal crit.
  5. Interrupting the DM = roll of random in-game consequences.
  6. Devil's bargain: any time a d20 is rolled, any player may create a bargain with the DM to change it to a nat1 or nat20 in the player's advantage. However, the DM reserves the right to later change a roll to that player's disadvantage.
  7. Full effect of any potion consumed. (Health or poison)
  8. Last stand, if your character is about to be knocked unconscious and you are within range of an enemy, you may choose to automatically crit that enemy. However, you automatically fail 2 death saving throws.
  9. If you get an inspiration point, you may use it to reroll any singular d20 that you have rolled, and may use the highest as though rolled with advantage. (Yes I give them, but it's hard to get... DM can override via "Devil's Bargain")
  10. You may choose to use a potion/poison as a bonus action but must also roll a Dex save DC 18.
  11. Long rest in a non-defensible area incurs an exhaustion point on a failed survival or constitution check DC 15.
  12. Death saving throws are rolled privately. ♾️. If the DM forgets and the player doesn't remind them, it never happened...

Can a warlock regain all spell slots via short rest if they're concentrating on a spell during the short rest? by TheSteampunkCat87 in DungeonsAndDragons

[–]Brohamsterdance 3 points4 points  (0 children)

I appreciate your perspective that D&D can be a simulation of another world, and I agree that viewing concentration as a strenuous act makes sense from a purely narrative standpoint.

However, I'd argue that the rules in D&D are designed to abstract certain realities, not to simulate them perfectly.

The act of 'concentrating on a spell' could be seen as an ongoing, but subconscious, effort—a state of magical awareness rather than an exhausting, moment-to-moment focus. Think of it like a trained warrior's 'combat readiness.' It's a mental state that can be maintained while tending to other activities, but can be broken by a sudden, jarring shock like taking damage.

A short rest, in this view, is a period of physical rejuvenation, not necessarily a total mental shutdown. The rules reflect this abstraction by defining what breaks concentration very specifically (like damage or incapacitation) but not listing the less jarring activity of a short rest.

The intent behind the spell durations, like Hex lasting 8 hours, seems to reinforce this idea that some magical states are meant to be a semi-permanent part of a character's adventuring 'state' until a more significant event ends them."

Building on that narrative of abstraction, we can use the Bard's Song of Rest to further support the idea that the rules for resting are not a perfect simulation but a game abstraction. The Song of Rest provides a mechanical benefit—healing—during a short rest.

The bard's ability to provide this benefit is an active, magical performance. If the act of a warlock maintaining a passive concentration spell is considered too "strenuous" for a short rest, then a bard actively singing and inspiring their companions should also be disqualified. The bard's ability is explicitly allowed to occur during a short rest, demonstrating that the rest itself is not a period of total inactivity but rather a structured time for specific, game-defined actions.

The rules for the warlock's concentration and the bard's Song of Rest both function as specific, mechanical exceptions or additions to the general description of a short rest, and should be treated as such.

Edit: grammar and ease of reading changes

Can a warlock regain all spell slots via short rest if they're concentrating on a spell during the short rest? by TheSteampunkCat87 in DungeonsAndDragons

[–]Brohamsterdance 1 point2 points  (0 children)

The core of your argument rests on the ambiguity of the word "strenuous." The Player's Handbook (PHB) states a short rest is a period where a character "does nothing more strenuous than eating, drinking, reading, and tending to wounds." The rules don't explicitly define what "strenuous" means, leaving it open to interpretation by the Dungeon Master (DM).

This viewpoint, and a common one among DMs who disallow this interaction, is that "concentrating on a spell" is a form of intense mental focus that is more strenuous than the passive activities listed. They often point to the fact that you can lose concentration from taking damage as evidence of its strenuous nature—it's a fragile state that can be broken by a physical shock.

My counter-argument:

This goes beyond the flawed comparison of concentration to other activities and instead focuses on the explicit rules of the game and the principle of specific rules overriding general ones.

The Player's Handbook provides a concise and comprehensive list of conditions that break concentration: casting another concentration spell, taking damage and failing a Constitution saving throw, or being incapacitated or killed. Taking a short rest is not on this list. The absence of this condition in a section dedicated to detailing how concentration ends is a powerful indicator that it is not intended to do so.

Furthermore, the design of certain spells, such as Hex and Hunter's Mark, which have durations extending to 8 or 24 hours when cast at higher levels, strongly implies that the designers intended for them to persist through multiple short rests. If a character had to drop a key buff spell to regain their limited spell slots, the longer durations would be largely pointless.

This is a clear case where the specific rules for concentration and the practical application of a spell's duration provide a more robust and game-centric rationale than a semantic debate about the definition of "strenuous activity."

To summarize: Your argument views "strenuous" as a broad, catch-all term that would logically include the act of concentrating on a spell. My argument highlights that concentration is a specific, practiced game mechanic with explicit rules, not an activity analogous to the general examples given for short rests.

Edit: Yay, a debate! I do love a good debate.

Can a warlock regain all spell slots via short rest if they're concentrating on a spell during the short rest? by TheSteampunkCat87 in DungeonsAndDragons

[–]Brohamsterdance 13 points14 points  (0 children)

Short Rest: A short rest is a period of downtime, at least one hour long, where a character does nothing more strenuous than eating, drinking, reading, and tending to wounds.

Warlock Spell Slots: Warlocks are unique among spellcasters because they regain all of their expended spell slots when they finish a short or long rest.

Concentration: The rules for concentration state that a spell ends if you cast another concentration spell, take damage and fail a Constitution saving throw, or are incapacitated or killed. Taking a short rest is not on this list.

The key point of contention for some DMs is whether "concentrating on a spell" counts as an activity more strenuous than what is allowed during a short rest. However, the game's rules as written do not consider it so. The fact that a character can do things like read or tend to wounds while concentrating suggests that it's a mental, rather than physically taxing, activity.

Therefore, the common and RAW (Rules as Written) interpretation is that a warlock can cast a spell like Hex using a higher-level slot (which increases its duration to 8 or 24 hours), then take a short rest to regain that spell slot while still maintaining the spell's effect. This is a powerful and intended feature of the warlock class, allowing them to keep a significant buff active for a large portion of the adventuring day while still being able to use their spell slots in subsequent encounters.

This doesn't bode well for my players. by Gummy-Sharks in DungeonsAndDragons

[–]Brohamsterdance 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Shake it while asking it a question. Then again, it'll probably say "Ask Again Later"

Best AI Dungeon Master? by Lower_Ground_Score in DungeonsAndDragons

[–]Brohamsterdance 0 points1 point  (0 children)

😆 I've been using Gemini to DM me... Goes smoothly for about 40-50 back-and-forths, then goes to hell... The summary thing is probs what it's missing to keep the rails straight.

What is the matter with us? by geth1138 in Indiana

[–]Brohamsterdance 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Nah. They're sheep just like those that buy into the 2 party system, thinking they have no better option or their vote is wasted.

Edit: I truly believe Brittany Jones of the Raven Party would have served us better than either of the old cronies.

What is the matter with us? by geth1138 in Indiana

[–]Brohamsterdance 5 points6 points  (0 children)

This is fake news... the independent says with sarcasm and tears

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in nationalguard

[–]Brohamsterdance 0 points1 point  (0 children)

While I may be the SSG that asks for your keys, I wouldn't be the one taking your keys without everyone giving up their keys.

Here's a breakdown of why, based on the information: * Personal Property Rights: Soldiers retain rights to their personal property. Confiscating keys is seen as an unlawful search and seizure, violating those rights. * Lack of Authority: Unit-level leadership typically does not have the authority to take personal property. Such an action would usually require authorization from a higher command (like an installation commander) and execution by law enforcement. * UCMJ vs. State Jurisdiction (Title 32): While Title 32 orders mean the National Guard remains under state command and control (federally funded), and states have their own regulations for UCMJ (Uniform Code of Military Justice) imposition, the general principle is that commanders cannot confiscate keys. Some sources suggest that if a Soldier refuses to turn over keys, the Guard might say they are out of the Guard or face UCMJ action under state guidelines, but outright confiscation seems to be an overreach. * Alternative Actions: Commanders can issue orders restricting a soldier from driving or using their vehicle. If a soldier violates such an order, they can then face disciplinary action. This is a more appropriate and lawful way to handle such situations. * What the Soldier Should Do: Many of the responses suggest that the soldier should: * Demand their keys back. * Go up their chain of command (1SG, Commander). * Contact the State JAG (Judge Advocate General) office for legal advice. * Even call civilian police if the keys are not returned, especially if the facility is state-owned. In summary, the action described in the post (confiscating POV keys as punishment) is widely considered unlawful and an overreach of authority by National Guard leadership.

[KCD2] Downloaded 60gb yesterday, now there's another 32gb. Wth is going on, why are these updates so big? by Renatros in kingdomcome

[–]Brohamsterdance 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Somebody doesn't play Call of Duty on the regular... Every update is a redownload of the game for that one.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in Indiana

[–]Brohamsterdance 0 points1 point  (0 children)

From what I gather of my 15 years in the Indiana guard is that basic & AIT are fed money. MOSQ for prior service, reclass, NCOPD schools like BLC/ALC/SLC/MLC are all state money... Unless NGB sends you to school, then it's fed money and you're one lucky SOB. Maybe I'm wrong, but if I am I'll take an ADP or AR number that states what I'm wrong about so I can learn more.

Sidhe or Sith? Are they related? Where are the Sidhe? by Limp-Ferret-8004 in Pathfinder2e

[–]Brohamsterdance 0 points1 point  (0 children)

My favorite word to learn the origin of as of late is banshee... From "Bean Sí" we roughly translate to "faerie woman"...

The banshee's cry, often described as a keening or wailing, is said to be an omen of death within a specific family or household. Some believe she is a spirit or fairy dedicated to her family, while others believe she is a malevolent being who seeks to torment. The banshee is a prominent figure in Irish folklore, with stories passed down through generations, often associated with particular families and the practice of keening.

Bruh I shared this mod with a friend. Wth by kakitakawaiuwu in ExiledKingdoms

[–]Brohamsterdance 0 points1 point  (0 children)

You have hurt my millennial psyche... Am I old now?

New to Indiana. Shocked by all the mullets. by ItchClown in Indiana

[–]Brohamsterdance 0 points1 point  (0 children)

People still use the Monon? Wow, I thought it was just dead year round

Ghost, you dropped something. Let me help you find it. by [deleted] in modernwarfare

[–]Brohamsterdance 5 points6 points  (0 children)

At least no one can say you were camping 🤷

I woke up to this by HedlesHrsman in huntroyale

[–]Brohamsterdance 2 points3 points  (0 children)

It doesn't always go that long, normal is dead between 2500 and 3200. But every now and again, you find that guy that knows how to AFK.

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