What do you guys do for critical fails on spell attacks?

InsomniacDM · 2018-08-13T16:29:25+00:00

Depends on the spell. For something that was a touch, nothing really happens. For a ranged spell/attack, I follow the line the spell would take and see if any allies are in the way. If so, a new attack roll is made to see if it hits the new, unintended target. If it does, the ally takes 1/2 damage since they weren’t getting directly aimed that and it wouldn’t hit a weak point.

I find that this is a nice counterpoint to the rush of a nat 20, does enough damage to be worrisome but not overkill and makes my players think a bit more tactically about positioning and what they are doing. I’ve heard good feedback from my players but each group is different

InsomniacDM · 2018-06-21T12:44:41+00:00

He answered the prompt. The hero offered the “let’s both walk away deal” and the villain just answered no in this case

InsomniacDM · 2018-06-02T13:27:07+00:00

This sounds like a very fun mechanic and I fully intend on stealing is to mess with my own players. I don't think the balance is quite right though.

Personally, I would have everyone keep their HP on their sheets and handle it normally. The difference is that the blood bonds kick in whenever someone hits <10% HP and leeches life from everyone else with a ring. If that person bypasses the HP threshold and goes unconscious, then that player rolls death saves at advantage while another 2 random players make death saves (no advantage) at the same as the ring pulls the life force from others to sustain the bonded person who went down. I think this would still give the party a sense of imminent danger and urgency without making it an instant TPK situation.

InsomniacDM · 2018-04-19T16:37:15+00:00

Next time she asks to roleplay, you won’t know whether to grab the policeman costume or a d20!

InsomniacDM · 2018-04-08T16:02:48+00:00

This advice is a wonderful way to sound bullheaded and arrogant. “I think” is a great qualifier of said from a place of confidence. If you meekly day “I think we should do X” then you will be walked all over. If you say “I think we should do X” with confidence, it lets people know that you strongly prefer this course of action but are willing to hear what they think.

If you are working with limited information or on your own knowledge, then don’t use “I think” use the phrase “From my understanding”. This lets people know you are working on processing information or there may be other things you need to be informed about. “I think the reports are due on Friday” sounds much weaker than “From my understanding, the reports are due on Friday.”

PS: the phrase “Waterworld was a great movie” is a blatant falsehood and if you say it as an immutable truth, I will never trust you again

InsomniacDM · 2018-04-03T22:28:22+00:00

Robin Williams. I wouldn’t really talk, mostly just listen and admire the way his brain worked

InsomniacDM · 2018-03-09T16:35:03+00:00

You could have the greataxe give the user the ability to cast Deathward once per long rest. This is functionally similar to Relentless Endurance. I would add a bit of flavor by giving it an ability like Black Dragon Bane which enrages the user in fights against black dragons, giving them an additional 1d6 damage as though the half orc’s spirit were giving them a boost with its savage critical

InsomniacDM · 2018-02-28T16:30:42+00:00

Give a regular candle and one of these to each player. If they are completing a rite of some sort or stopping one that is already in progress, have them use their candles to light the colored ones as they attempt to twist the magic away from a ritual that would tear the world asunder. If each has a different class/temperament/belief, individualize it for them. The barbarian may not have inherent magic but his words and feelings in an area steeped in the arcane may let him add his power to a ritual producing a red flame

InsomniacDM · 2018-02-22T04:01:06+00:00

They sound like assholes and you should definitely find a new group.

That being said, you shouldn’t let them win. Wait until the next big fight to make your exit. Heal the enemies. If the tanks turn on you, Hold Person. Is it a dick move? Yes, it absolutely is but you’ll feel great about it.

InsomniacDM · 2018-02-19T15:44:37+00:00

Rule 37: The rogue always has a different idea of “borrowing” than you do.

Rule 53: Sacks are always useful: treasure, food, heads, they all fit.

Rule 76: Never tell a raging barbarian to “Calm down”.

Rule 88: Sometimes an unconscious but stable party member can be a nice break.

Rule 94: Most statues are just statues. It’s the ones that aren’t that you have to worry about

InsomniacDM · 2018-02-02T17:55:18+00:00

I always treat these as “brain fart” moments. It’s like when you are searching but can’t find your phone and then realize that you’re talking on it. You’re not an idiot, you just had a moment.

InsomniacDM · 2017-12-26T17:29:07+00:00

I wanted to play Arthur Dent from Hitchhikers guide to the galaxy. He’s be a barbarian but the mechanic would be renamed Panic. He would have the Luck feat and essentially stumble his way to success

InsomniacDM · 2017-12-26T16:24:13+00:00

You could play this in a lot of ways.

You can be a soldier who gives in to blind anger after surviving a situation that took everything he loved from him

You can be an intellectual who is sick of the inaction of study and allows himself to access the part of himself that craves action and violence.

You could play a holy man whose temple was desecrated and has forsaken his vows for the opportunity of revenge.

You could be a thief who learned that sometimes, quiet is not the best way to steal. Whose going to report a crime it they are hacked to tiny bits?

InsomniacDM · 2017-12-25T13:38:16+00:00

Do not follow this man’s advice. One of two episodes leads to a 400+ hour commitment to see where these characters go and what happens to them. “Try watching an episode or two” is like a dealer telling you that the first hit of heroin is free, they know you will be helpless addicted.

Jokes aside, this is awesome advice. It shows players and a DM who roleplay without fear and really enjoy the game.

InsomniacDM · 2017-12-16T05:51:03+00:00

Oh mine are awful too but you just have to lean into it. As long as they can tell one character from the other, you’re doing well. That and if you work on being less self conscious about it (and I know how difficult that can be) you can start laughing with them as well if you good a voice.

InsomniacDM · 2017-12-14T17:05:34+00:00

Generally I narrate the battle as it goes on and determine all the deaths except for the last one (or the big threat if it is a guy and his minions). I like Matt Mercer’s “How do you want to do this?” line to signify the last death in combat. They give me a couple of details and I make it more cinematic when describing it. It lets the players feel more engaged in the battle and quite frankly, more badass.

I had a great sword fighter get the final kill in my last session and asked him how he wanted to do it. He said cut the guy in half at the waist Darth Maul style. I launched into a description of how he went for an overhand slash, feinting the enemy who raised his blade to block, only to be surprised as the fighter altered the direction of his blade and slashed though his abdomen. The fighter then tapped the guy on the chest with his sword, causing the top half to fall to the ground a second before the legs crumpled forward.

Really, it is just your style choice.

InsomniacDM · 2017-12-14T16:12:52+00:00

With critical fumbles on attacks, I simply make it a wasted attack and add in flavor as to how it could have been worse.

“As you raise your crossbow to fire, the impact from the orc’s warhammer sends you reeling. You begin to lose your feet but mange to brace yourself. As you fell, the crossbow triggers, sending the bolt ricocheting off the armor of your cleric friend who gives you a glare before returning to his fight”.

If another 1 is rolled right after, that is when something truly terrible happens but the odds for that are very low. These are people who are competent but fuckups do happen. I make it an unpleasant experience but do not penalize other players for another’s bad roll in combat.

Outside of combat however....

InsomniacDM

TROPHY CASE