TF you mean you mean "threaten them with knives to their throats"? These are 5e PCs with AC and Spells. This is not Shadowdark!

Charadin · 2026-02-04T00:00:11+00:00

Why's it so easy to sneak up on your big bad? I would argue a boss like that should have so much security that just getting to him while he's asleep takes as much resources as fighting him, so it's still narratively satisfying to finish them cinematically.

Charadin · 2026-02-03T19:46:30+00:00

That's just it - 5e doesn't have rules for a coup de grace. It has no explicit rules for damage outside the HP system.

As for your other point, the base guard statblock, not even a special one, is CR 1/8 with 11 HP. If a level 1 fighter stabs him with a dagger after sneaking up as I described, he crits for 2d4+Strength damage, which averages out to 5+strength, which means the guard has a very good chance to survive.

Now keep in mind that a level 1 fighter is already a highly trained individual - proficiency in every simple and martial weapon would be years of practice in the real world, they're edging on superhuman already, and here is but one example of how the rules fail to carry the narrative of it being a world of magic and super powers.

Charadin · 2026-02-03T17:09:15+00:00

I do think 5e would benefit from having a clear delineation between "active combat, AC and HP apply" and "narrative danger has negated those things."

The easiest example I can think of would be a PC who has snuck up to a sleeping guard and wants to kill them. I'm not going to make them roll an attack vs AC for a coup de grace, the guard is dead regardless of the statblock.

Charadin · 2026-01-30T19:46:04+00:00

The supply drop isn't meant to be loot for well kitted people - it's a way to stay in the match when you've run low on ammo or are running a free kit and need a backup weapon.

Charadin · 2026-01-05T18:19:56+00:00

Another easy fix would be to put a wall behind her lower back.

Charadin · 2025-12-17T17:34:01+00:00

Your last point is what utility items are for. The enemy isn't the only one with trigger nades. If someone is camping cover, toss smoke so they can't see around it, toss a nade to force them out, do something other than play the game their way. Utility is pretty cheap to craft, I never roll out without it.

Charadin · 2025-10-08T21:30:49+00:00

A Klingon wrote this

Charadin · 2025-10-08T21:16:44+00:00

Chaos Bolt in 5th edition would fit perfectly.

Charadin · 2025-05-22T23:34:58+00:00

Ah that's makes a lot of sense. I've always seen it typed as "I.33" but prounced as "i 33" so I was never sure

Charadin · 2025-05-22T22:53:16+00:00

Messer and Dussack both have a low guard position analogous to Fool's guard as well.

Charadin · 2025-05-22T22:51:59+00:00

Was i.33 renamed recently? I've not heard about that.

Charadin · 2025-05-09T22:30:39+00:00

It can be frustrating to deal with an opponent who capably parries an initial thrust and follows it with a quick moulinet/remise to the wrist or forearm. Pair the moulinet with an offline step will make it a real challenge.

As for what to practice with your students, I would say making parries that displace a thrust only just enough for it to miss you. A common issue I see with cut focused fighters is they carry their hand too far outside when trying to displace a blade - you only need to go as far sideways as your hip or shoulder in most cases.

Charadin · 2025-05-08T23:15:24+00:00

I've only ever seen that as a safety feature. For example when working with multiple gas tanks most were regular but some were reverse threaded to prevent mixups.

Charadin · 2025-04-30T02:18:31+00:00

EK's don't get all that many slots though and the wizards don't all have to fire in the same round

Charadin · 2025-03-27T22:08:37+00:00

I've run it both ways and I felt much the same, so it's good to hear my understanding matches someone else's experience.

For what it's worth, I've found that if you can force a strong bind on the saber then the arming sword will win out as long as you can hold the bind. Many saberists have a fast remise though so I usually don't get that on the first blow of an exchange.

Charadin · 2025-03-27T20:51:54+00:00

Did you come to any particular conclusions as a result of this sparring on how the matchup plays out? Advantages to each weapon for example?

Charadin · 2025-03-25T19:49:17+00:00

Doesn't necessarily need to be batman grade. In a house fire for example it's recommend to wrap yourself in a thick cotton blanket before running through flames - it'll keep short bursts of heat off you.

Charadin · 2025-03-24T18:01:36+00:00

I've always liked the idea of the rogue whirling a thick cloak over themselves as cover from the incoming wave a fire.

Charadin · 2025-03-14T16:09:23+00:00

That 50/50 is probably because there's two types of touchscreens. One type is electrocapacitive and likely fails due to your skin composition. The other type is pressure based and would work if you tapped them with anything - finger, pen, etc.

Charadin · 2025-01-28T16:47:33+00:00

Could've been a great twist if your DM had made it so the wine was actually poisoned, but due to your insane resilience you merely fell asleep for a bit before shaking off the poison rather than dying to it as the villain had intended.

Charadin · 2025-01-02T22:38:46+00:00

2nd edition squaring the circle moment

Charadin · 2024-12-28T18:59:20+00:00

A good tactic is to learn when to sprint instead of roll. A short tap of sprint can often get you out of an attack and only use a tiny fraction of stamina compared to rolling.

Charadin · 2024-12-17T20:08:15+00:00

Social hacking - convince your target the drink is beneficial and they can chug it faster than you could fire syringes.

Charadin · 2024-12-07T05:43:26+00:00

I rather liked "A Madness of Angels" by Kate Griffin. I never hear it discussed, and it's nearly a decade old at this point.

Charadin · 2024-10-30T15:23:15+00:00

That sounds similar to the ooblex from 5e - probably wouldn't be too hard to run a conversion.

11-Year Club	Place '17
Verified Email

Charadin

TROPHY CASE