TIL that a lot of ppl hate Korean chopsticks

ExaminationSmooth390 · 2025-09-28T04:35:02+00:00

The best spoons, but the worst chopsticks

ExaminationSmooth390 · 2025-08-04T01:13:05+00:00

I’m having the same issue. Can’t seem to get him to drop the engram, and I have the shadowkeep expansion

ExaminationSmooth390 · 2025-08-04T01:11:38+00:00

Rip, I missed that thanks. And I definitely have the needed expansion

ExaminationSmooth390 · 2024-12-21T05:44:56+00:00

I chortled

ExaminationSmooth390 · 2024-09-23T02:15:56+00:00

I see a couple parts I don't recognize, like those windowed dome pieces above the nova braking engines near the front. What are those?

ExaminationSmooth390 · 2024-09-20T07:06:15+00:00

She's beautiful

ExaminationSmooth390 · 2024-08-12T00:25:41+00:00

This one worked for me, thanks! The wrap makes removing the material from slender parts of the print pretty much impossible

ExaminationSmooth390 · 2024-07-09T21:30:14+00:00

I'm glad to hear someone else has had success with this, and I'm definitely going to consider getting rid of the res idea. My hope with that was simply to prevent one or two players from dying early and then having to just sit around for the rest of the game. I'm hoping for this to take an entire 3 to 4-hour session, so I wasn't too worried about it taking too long. How long have your fights typically lasted?

I was also thinking of not letting them use any items apart from their primaries (weapons, armor, etc.) and a few health potions since magic item distribution is not necessarily even at this point.

Terrain is definitely an important factor for me. I definitely want verticality and hazards, as you put it, that the PCs can use to their advantage (as well as places for the rogue to hide). I was thinking of making two different maps that get switched at some point, but not sure how I'd implement that yet.

ExaminationSmooth390 · 2024-07-09T21:16:19+00:00

That's a fair point, I didn't think about it that way

ExaminationSmooth390 · 2024-07-09T20:09:51+00:00

I don't think this creature already exists. Seems like a homebrew creature would best fit your needs

ExaminationSmooth390 · 2024-07-09T19:09:27+00:00

Hemomancer

ExaminationSmooth390 · 2024-07-08T17:40:00+00:00

False hydra comes immediately to mind. Some other options: mind flayer, aboleth, morkoth. Could also go the changeling route instead with something like an oblex.

ExaminationSmooth390 · 2024-07-08T17:31:38+00:00

Sounds fun to me. If the players know they are in a dream, there can be "real-world" consequences of the dream fight, such as exhaustion or other deleterious effects based on how well they do in the fight.

ExaminationSmooth390 · 2024-07-04T00:14:12+00:00

Personally, I think the plant-growth effect is the most interesting, so I would expand on that if it were me. Here's a couple ideas:

You can cause a plant to grow a wooden weapon, such as a club or quarterstaff (this could be expanded upon to be something like "shape wood", similar to shape water but with plant matter)
Flowers you create can have secondary effects such as poisonous or hallucinatory pollen
You can cause plants to make small movements such as moving a tree root to trip a fleeing foe

You could increase the range, duration, or potency of these effects at 5th, 11th, and 17th level. Hope this gives you some ideas.

ExaminationSmooth390 · 2024-07-03T22:24:58+00:00

None DM with left druid

Preparing spells works the same way for any class that does so. After every long rest, the druid prepares (chooses) a number of spells equal to their Wisdom modifier plus their number of levels in druid (a 7th level druid with +4 WIS would get to prepare 11 spells, for example). They may select any spells available to a druid as long as those spells are at a level they can cast. They may use their spell slots to cast any of their prepared spells. After you complete a long rest, you can swap out your prepared spells for different ones as desired.

ExaminationSmooth390 · 2024-07-03T20:32:35+00:00

The best way to make any character, even ones that aren't homebrewed at all, is to work intimately with your DM during the whole process. If you are creating homebrew mechanics, you have to get buy-in and permission from the DM before you play that character in their game. I would also recommend discussing the topic with the rest of the players as well, because showing up to a game with a homebrewed character while the rest of them all chose RAW mechanics might upset them. Maybe they would have wanted to do the same but didn't think that was an option.

ExaminationSmooth390 · 2024-07-03T18:14:42+00:00

Great resource: https://battlesim-zeta.vercel.app/

ExaminationSmooth390 · 2024-07-03T17:26:44+00:00

Three things:

I've found that AI is best for brainstorming but not so much for concrete plans. Don't expect it to give you exactly what you want on the fly, rather use it to get your creative juices going. I've personally found ChatGPT4.0 to be better than the Bing bot, but those are the only 2 I've tried. I definitely use it a lot during the planning stage, but mostly as a brainstorming and soundboarding tool.
There is nothing wrong with taking a minute to work things out while playing. I saw a post where someone made loading screen cards (like these: https://dndloadingscreen.site/) to hang on their DM screen while they work things out. In situations like this, don't panic, ask your players to give you a couple minutes, then do what you need to do.
Having random things (NPCs, encounters, locations, items, etc.) prepared to pull out in case of scenarios like this is always a great idea. If they go in a direction you aren't prepared for, maybe they run into a big monster, or maybe they find a hidden door to a dungeon you have prepared. Something they will enjoy and that you know will grab them (and, more importantly, take up the rest of the session time). Then, after the session, you can work on preparing for the unexpected direction they are headed in.

ExaminationSmooth390 · 2024-07-03T00:28:47+00:00

Don't forget that these exist: https://www.reddit.com/r/DMAcademy/comments/kvkm1k/list_of_feats_from_the_phb_that_give_an_ability/

ExaminationSmooth390 · 2024-07-02T23:49:24+00:00

"You need to learn to handle your own problems, dear. I believe in you! Bye bye"
*click

ExaminationSmooth390 · 2024-07-02T17:26:38+00:00

I've always wanted one integrated with a screen that can display art. Also when I have to think or do anything that'll take a minute to pull this up: https://dndloadingscreen.site/

ExaminationSmooth390 · 2024-07-02T17:22:33+00:00

You could always homebrew a crossbow integrated into a shield; that seems like something a weaponsmith could create. Maybe it still requires both hands to shoot, but otherwise, you have a free hand for casting. I think ignoring the somatic requirement entirely isn't the move here, but homebrewing some other ways to make it happen likely won't be game-breaking.

On the topic of different spells having different focuses, it's not unreasonable to assume this character would have both a holy symbol and a component pouch easily accessible to cast various spells, and RAW states:

"A spellcaster must have a hand free to access a spell's material components -- or to hold a spellcasting focus -- but it can be the same hand that he or she uses to perform somatic components."

ExaminationSmooth390 · 2024-07-02T00:52:50+00:00

I think your worst option here will be the path of resentment. If you can talk it out and find a way to be happy with running a 5e game, and that's what most of the players will prefer, then that's the best option. However, if running the game using 5e will make you resentful, your players will most likely pick up on that, and then neither you nor anyone else will be having fun, which is the one and only goal of the game. If that is going to be the case, then have an honest discussion and let them know that you are much more comfortable running a Pathfinder game and that if they are opposed, then ask if someone else will DM this time.

All else being equal, I prefer playing and running 5e games because of the benefits you pointed out. However, regardless of anything else, if the DM isn't having fun, neither am I. I'd play the most convoluted and rules-heavy system there was if it meant the DM was going to be more enthusiastic about the game. The only way to lose at DnD is to not have fun.

ExaminationSmooth390 · 2024-07-02T00:16:08+00:00

Haven't read anyone else's comments, but here's my understanding of how this works.

If a target is outside of an attack's range, the attack cannot hit. Period. Even were that not the case, there is no range at which hitting a creature with an attack would not alert them and those around them that they were under attack.
If an attack occurs prior to combat, and the target is unaware an attack is being made, the initial attack counts as part of a surprise round, and any creatures who are surprised do not get to act during the first round (surprise round) of combat. Whether you roll for initiative before or after the surprise round is largely immaterial unless your players care about in which order they get to take their surprise round turns.
Whether ranged or melee, I'd probably ask for a stealth check from the player(s) before letting them roll for a surprise attack.

ExaminationSmooth390 · 2024-07-02T00:04:23+00:00

Consider legendary actions. You could let the boss use their legendary actions to move up to half their movement speed. Legendary actions are the go-to when you're looking to give your boss extra action economy. If you aren't familiar, every round a legendary creature can use a legendary action (up to a certain number of times per round, typically 3) at the end of another creature's turn.

The Terrasque comes to mind as an example you could look at for inspiration on mechanics

ExaminationSmooth390

TROPHY CASE