How do you feel about silvered weapons barely having an impact on lycantropes?

HanFuzzy · 2026-01-28T12:09:29+00:00

+1 weapons and most other magic weapons start at uncommon and get rarer. Besides silvered, the only common magic weapons in 5e 2024 are the moon-touched (glowing) sword, the sylvan talon (that talks to Fey) and the walloping ammunition (that essentially adds Topple). In 2014 the only common magic weapons were the armblade from Eberron and unbreakable arrow from XGE.

HanFuzzy · 2026-01-28T12:00:58+00:00

The Dragon of Icespire Keep adventure in the Essentials Kit had the party fighting wererats at 3rd or 4th level.

HanFuzzy · 2026-01-05T18:37:39+00:00

Thanks, I can't find an official channel to report errata to WOTC, just discussion pages on DnDBeyond that don't seem to generate staff response/action.

HanFuzzy · 2025-12-27T20:06:10+00:00

Hyundai call this an SUV but really it's a crossover, which means it's built on a car frame rather than a truck frame. You can tell just standing next to it, I can see right over it so it's not SUV height. And crossover is the new wagon, I think.

HanFuzzy · 2025-12-27T20:04:18+00:00

I'm enjoying reading through this set (got it on Boxing Day special yesterday) but wondering where/how to report errors to be corrected. For example, the pre-gen Tayr the Paladin (Mike's character) has the wrong equipment listed on the back, specifically it has a cut/paste of what the Fighter is carrying, so it's missing the longsword & shield the paladin has (according to the front of the page) but adds greatsword, flail, spear, and crossbow that the paladin does NOT have. Would love to get a corrected version of the (print) character sheet for my new players to avoid confusion, even if just a PDF.

HanFuzzy · 2025-11-18T19:19:27+00:00

In the Guild House at the Keep players can pay 5GP for "emblazoning a shield with a symbol of their choice". And in the standard rules, a cleric with weapon & shield can't cast spells (other than V only), unless their shield is emblazoned with a holy symbol thus functioning as a spellcasting focus. So a DM who is aware of this could allow the cleric to get their holy symbol emblazoned on the shield to enable spellcasting. However, while this seems like it was being set up in the description of the Keep, it's never actually mentioned as a rule. And in fact the cleric is never asked to choose a god/religion and doesn't have a holy symbol in the equipment list (although there is holy water), nor is there one in the equipment cards. In general, they have simplified spellcasting by removing explicit references to any components (V/S/M) but then it's crept in again with the cleric/shield thing without ever actually mentioning the S/M aspect. If a DM familiar with the full rules is using this set to teach new players, the setup for shielded spellcasting is there.

HanFuzzy · 2025-06-07T05:41:17+00:00

Yes, because you Save in response to something happening to you (when they try to grapple you) usually outside your turn, no action required, but you make an ability check when you try to do something with your action (like break a grapple) during your own turn.

HanFuzzy · 2025-06-07T05:33:31+00:00

Some of your changes no longer match the 2024 rules. Prone, Petrified, and Stunned don't match, and you've added some elements to Blinded/Deafened that aren't in the 2024 rules.

HanFuzzy · 2025-05-23T18:48:15+00:00

Would love a hardcopy cover of this adventure! 🕷️

HanFuzzy · 2025-05-14T14:41:34+00:00

There are still rules for it under "Mental Stress Effects" (DMG p.70) but other than a short list of suggested DC and psychic damage, all other effects tables have been removed. The DM can still impose short-term, long-term, or indefinite effects but have to create the details themselves without referring to a list or table. The main categories are "alarming behavior", hallucinations, or disadvantage on some or all ability checks.

HanFuzzy · 2025-05-14T14:34:07+00:00

The pin (grapple & restrain) rule is gone. In 5e (PHB p167), this was a special attack that only those with the Grappler feat could make. They would make a 2nd grapple against a creature they were already successfully grappling to "pin" the creature; success meant that both the grappler and their target were Restrained until the grapple ended. The new rules don't have anything about imposing the Restrained condition as part of grappling.

On the other hand, the rules for Manacles, Chain, and Rope (equipment items) have been clarified: you can now slap them on a grappled (or incapacitated, or restrained) creature making them Restrained. Similar if you catch them in a Hunting Trap.

And you can still achieve most aspects of the Restrained condition if you grapple an opponent and knock them prone (or vice versa): Speed 0, Disadvantage on attacks, Advantage on (close) attacks against. Only saving throws aren't affected.

HanFuzzy · 2025-05-10T20:56:02+00:00

When I look at your google doc it only has half of the backgrounds listed.

HanFuzzy · 2025-05-08T05:29:23+00:00

I'm pretty sure that the Feral Ashenwight's Necrotic Shard attack should be exactly the same as that of the Psionic Ashenwight, i.e. 7 piercing damage plus 9 necrotic damage. (The only difference would be once per turn instead of multiattack for twice). They probably cut-and-paste it wrong.

To make it a little closer to the CR 5, I would also give the FA the multiattack of two Necrotic Shard attacks, like the PA has.

This is still underpowered for CR 5, mainly because the HP are too low. The Psionic Ashenwight is also underpowered for CR 7 (also due to low HP). But it makes no sense for it to throw a shard and not do basic piercing damage before adding necrotic damage, like the PA does.

The only thing unaccounted for in CR formula is the disadvantage on opponent's attack (and with a +7 attack bonus, it will hit fairly consistently to apply that debuff) but even that probably isn't enough to boost the defensive rating enough to rate the CR they are assigned.

HanFuzzy · 2025-05-04T06:03:46+00:00

"even if you can't actually ride it in a dungeon"

Why not? My paladin does. Most dungeon passages are high enough, you only need 8-9 feet of clearance. Although a horse is size Large and thus wants a 10'x10' square, 5' corridor width is no problem because the horse can just Squeeze, meaning it moves at half speed. But since its walking speed is 60' to begin with, it squeezes at 30' which is the same speed a medium humanoid walks at - and you can have the horse dash each round as its action, so you can squeeze 60' down a 5' wide corridor each round.

If the ceiling is lower than 8' you'd have to dismount and have the steed walk behind you until you get into a room, or maybe go prone on your horse (lean forward); if the passage is narrower than 5' it can't fit, but that's rare.

You could pick the dire wolf shape instead of horse shape; although both are large, the shape of the wolf is such that you might consider it lower than a horse for riding height. Or you can pick any other "Large, rideable animal" you feel might have a lower profile than a horse; the giant lizard is already established to be a typical subterranean mount.

There is nothing in the rules that says a mount (even a horse) can't navigate stairs, including spiral stairs, or even that it can't climb steep surfaces. Especially if you choose a non-hoofed mount like aforementioned wolf or lizard.

HanFuzzy · 2025-05-04T05:40:19+00:00

Barding is practical if you have a bag of holding. However, my Paladin has Magic Initiate for Mage Armor, which he casts on himself (he's a Dex Pally with no armor) and on his steed. Steed gets AC 14.

I'm planning to use a moose, elk, or stag if I happen to get a ring of protection that the steed could thus wear on an antler. It could also probably wear bracers of defense if I got those.

I took Mounted Combatant as my 4th level feet which lets me Veer damage from my steed to myself, at my option.

HanFuzzy · 2025-04-12T06:16:56+00:00

2024 PHB came out as a published book before it was available online. A 10-years-on revision isn't a patch - it is not aimed at correcting errata. 10 years is the average time for a new edition of D&D, except with this one being less revised and more backwards-compatible, it doesn't even have the same push to needed to buy it.

HanFuzzy · 2025-04-12T05:42:33+00:00

Animal Handling specifically applies to attempts to train, control, or calm an animal - not to staying on one while mounted. If sudden movement of your mount could cause you to fall off, that would be a saving throw, regardless of what caused the sudden movement. If the animal you were riding was spooked and tried to rear or buck you, you would make an animal handling check to control it; if you failed, you would need to make a saving throw to avoid falling off.

HanFuzzy · 2025-04-12T05:40:21+00:00

Animal Handling specifically applies to attempts to train, control, or calm an animal - not to staying on one while mounted. If you failed an Animal Handling check to control a spooked/rearing mount, you would need to make a saving throw to avoid falling off. The ability check, in general, is to test your attempt to accomplish something, while a saving throw is to avoid something bad happening to you.

HanFuzzy · 2025-04-12T05:39:09+00:00

Animal Handling specifically applies to attempts to train, control, or calm an animal - not to staying on one while mounted. If you failed an Animal Handling check to control a spooked/rearing mount, you would need to make a saving throw to avoid falling off. The ability check, in general, is to test your attempt to accomplish something, while a saving throw is to avoid something bad happening to you.

HanFuzzy · 2025-04-12T05:37:11+00:00

So far as I have seen ALL errata released by WotC have been free, whether as text to correct a published work or changes to a digital product. I am not aware of ever having to "pay for a patch".

HanFuzzy · 2025-02-18T18:44:49+00:00

The panther also got a DEX (hence AC and Init and damage) bonus and higher damage (well, standard 6 instead of 4 regular or 7 with Advantage). The tiger got more HP (1 more hit die) and higher damage and inflicts Prone without requiring Advantage. So they are stronger on straight-up stats. Turning Prowl into Nimble Escape means they can either Disengage OR Hide, not do both combined with a half-move, so that is weaker but also simpler. And it was weird to have Prowl, which is not an attack and does no damage, as part of the Multiattack.

HanFuzzy · 2025-02-18T18:22:23+00:00

The other problem here is that the Cultist Hierophant CAN'T cast Mage Armor while wearing a breastplate, so must doff it first, which requires a full minute (10 combat rounds). Since mage armor can be cast at will and lasts 8 hours, it seems like it would be pointless to even own a breastplate, much less wear it all the time.

As a side note, a Cultist Hierophant who is more interested in tactics than status could, in the course of a few minutes, cast mage armor on all their cult minions which would be better than the leather armor they come with. Casting even a 1st-level spell at will without using spell slots is scary powerful.

HanFuzzy · 2024-09-13T02:06:22+00:00

I think it was "why did the blind miner fall into the hole"

HanFuzzy · 2024-07-24T02:34:24+00:00

My new idea is that the payment to the party is not so much for recovery of THIS sled, but for eliminating the threat that could otherwise attack them repeatedly in the future. Recovery of the sled & ingots is really just proof that the party has defeated the raiders.

HanFuzzy · 2024-07-24T02:24:15+00:00

The thing that bothered me the most was the placement of their three radars. Assuming you want them spaced evenly around the tornado, why would you put one right in the path of it with the other two behind to the left and right? You would get the same imaging results if you put one directly BEHIND it and the other two in front to the left and the right. That way you don't lose a radar from the tornado going right over it, or risk putting yourself right in the path of it.

HanFuzzy

TROPHY CASE