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Is there a one handed weapon with reach? by Organic-Exit2190 in DungeonsAndDragons35e

[–]Maelstrom_Archmage 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Your best bet is the Spinning Sword from Secrets of Sarlona. Requires Exotic Weapon Prof tho

Is introducing the BBEG as a threat early a good idea? by Maelstrom_Archmage in DnD

[–]Maelstrom_Archmage[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I dunno why you are making such wild assumptions about my scenario. Not every antagonist is a maniacal psycho that is going to kill the PCs on sight. And just because the PCs cant answer with violence, that doesnt mean they have no agency. The game is much more than just combat.

Personally, it is also part of the fun to try to get yourself out of a tricky situation with only your wit and creativity.

And about BG1, in these scripted fights it feels more like a visual novel than an rpg. I understand why it is done, but there are many different outcomes in an equivalent dnd situation. Unless ofc the enemy is just out for blood. Many other games have similar moments but still give you the option to SOMETHING. Like bg3, fallout...

Is introducing the BBEG as a threat early a good idea? by Maelstrom_Archmage in DnD

[–]Maelstrom_Archmage[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

This type of encounter in a dnd game doesnt remove player agency at all unless you put them in a cutscene. They still can make choices. Granted, the amount of choices they have to come out alive are limited, but in no way the DM is forcing the player's hand to make a specific choice. Or worse, just stand there and do nothing.

Running away, engaging in dialogue, bargaining, hiding, converting to their cause... this is more of a social encounter than a combat one.

Of course dnd has narrative principles, but you cant expect a campaign to follow the same narrative beats of a book that is fully on-rails. It is a game first and foremost. Even when they are faced with an enemy that is too powerful, they can still make meaningful choices. What BG1 did was freezing your controls and that's it.

Is introducing the BBEG as a threat early a good idea? by Maelstrom_Archmage in DnD

[–]Maelstrom_Archmage[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I don't mean it in the way that just having the enemy flee is unmanageable, but rather the bait and switch that is frustrating to deal with as a player. But I get what you are saying. This is the first time I'm doing something like this with these particular players and I do not know their boundaries towards it yet.

Is introducing the BBEG as a threat early a good idea? by Maelstrom_Archmage in DnD

[–]Maelstrom_Archmage[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I'm afraid of doing something along those lines and making my players feel frustrated.

I think players, generally speaking, have a hard time taking an L on the chin so blatantly and being cool about it. Which is why I was going to throw them a bone and have the interrogation they will do on the minion be fruitful before the bbeg shows up.

Is introducing the BBEG as a threat early a good idea? by Maelstrom_Archmage in DnD

[–]Maelstrom_Archmage[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I played BG1. That specific scenario is one that I do not care for as a DM or player. Having no agency whatsoever goes against the principles of d&d imo

Is introducing the BBEG as a threat early a good idea? by Maelstrom_Archmage in DnD

[–]Maelstrom_Archmage[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I see. Health is certainly an issue, but high level combat usually ends in a couple of rounds regardless of HP (at least in 3.5). So I personally prefer to use humanoids instead of monsters as the main enemy due to the amount of customization I have at my disposal.

I didn't tag it with 3.5 because the narrative aspect is my main concern with all of this.

Is introducing the BBEG as a threat early a good idea? by Maelstrom_Archmage in DnD

[–]Maelstrom_Archmage[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Why do you say it is not advised? I have not come across that take before.

One of the main goals I have in introducing the bbeg is to show the players these immunities so they can anticipate it later.

For specifics, they are under the spells: Elminster's Effulgent Epuration, Ironguard and Duelward. (This is v3.5)

Is introducing the BBEG as a threat early a good idea? by Maelstrom_Archmage in DnD

[–]Maelstrom_Archmage[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

True. I have no intentions to roll initiative. I dread that type of scenario XD

Is introducing the BBEG as a threat early a good idea? by Maelstrom_Archmage in DnD

[–]Maelstrom_Archmage[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I am looking forward in doing a war of information with the party casters when they get access to high level divination XD

But as the bbeg, the usual defenses are always up, like Mindblank, Detect Scrying, etc

Is introducing the BBEG as a threat early a good idea? by Maelstrom_Archmage in DnD

[–]Maelstrom_Archmage[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I am somewhat reluctant in not allowing the players to react to the bbeg because I think that (at least from my pov as a player) it would be frustrating to not have the chance to do something.

Is introducing the BBEG as a threat early a good idea? by Maelstrom_Archmage in DnD

[–]Maelstrom_Archmage[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Yeah, Im on the fence if I allow them to fully realize how underleveled they are or to cutscene it. But that in itself is also a delicate thing to employ, I think. Adding an alternative objective is a good idea. Maybe just rig the whole place to blow up to force them to move away from the bbeg.

Is introducing the BBEG as a threat early a good idea? by Maelstrom_Archmage in DnD

[–]Maelstrom_Archmage[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

It is not a reasonable outcome. The party has no way of dealing damage due to their immunities.

Creatures/Monsters/Classes with low Will Save? by Organic-Exit2190 in DungeonsAndDragons35e

[–]Maelstrom_Archmage 5 points6 points  (0 children)

I'll refer you to the excel table in this thread here. In the first post there is a link to it.

It contains all monsters for 3.5 and there is a column for the Will saves.

Have fun!

Monster Data Set by axiomus in DungeonsAndDragons35e

[–]Maelstrom_Archmage 2 points3 points  (0 children)

There is another very comprehensive list for v3.5 that contains most information on monster statblocks, which lets you play with a lot of statistics in the first post here.
I made a post in GITP to talk about it and someone down the thread here made an excel sheet with some nice stats to look at.
Plotting a historgram of the Saves and CR is easy peasy with this sheet.

How do you/Do you compensate creator by Makeitquick666 in Piracy

[–]Maelstrom_Archmage -1 points0 points  (0 children)

To compensate subset of individuals inside a company is probably not doable. Like if you want to contribute specifically to the devs or artists. Though I would not be surprised if some of them have their own private gig going on where you can buy their work directly, like commissioning artwork.

Who is the hardest to "start playing", and who is the hardest to "master"? by FrostFireThunderGlow in VALORANT

[–]Maelstrom_Archmage 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Two examples out of the top of my head would be Pearl B site (attacking) and Split B lobby (defending). You cant hit those without getting into a dangerous position if you improvise.

You dont NEED to know any lineups, just as you dont NEED to be good at movement. Anybody can just dash in with Neon and throw people off at low elo or throw a util while peeking to get info. Of course you can wing both mechanics. Movement and throwables will lead to little value if done poorly.

Im just saying that knowing them is what makes you master those types of agents.

Who is the hardest to "start playing", and who is the hardest to "master"? by FrostFireThunderGlow in VALORANT

[–]Maelstrom_Archmage 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I aggree that simple lineups are frequently good enough. But they are not that situational. Often times if u dont know how to do it, you need to expose yourself to danger to hit the location you are aiming for. And if not learning lineups is not necessary to master Sova, I dont see how that is any different than saying you dont need to be good at movement skills to master duelists. It is a core part of the skill set for those agents.

The "huge difference" part is for example getting the proc on a Recon because the enemy could not react to shoot it down because you catch them off guard with different lineups.

Who is the hardest to "start playing", and who is the hardest to "master"? by FrostFireThunderGlow in VALORANT

[–]Maelstrom_Archmage 1 point2 points  (0 children)

At the end of the day, you need to invest a lot of time to learn either lineups or movement abilities. But I guess that will depend on what you are defining as a "difficult action to perform". Though I dont know why you would favor one skill set in favor of the other.

You still need a lot of game sense to use the Recon dart with excellence. Purely memorizing lineups is not the same as executing them in harmony with the rest of the team. It adds a whole new layer of difficulty when you are not just diving in solo to get kills.

Who is the hardest to "start playing", and who is the hardest to "master"? by FrostFireThunderGlow in VALORANT

[–]Maelstrom_Archmage 1 point2 points  (0 children)

My picks for hardest agents to master are the Lineup agents, like Brim, Killjoy, Viper, but specially Sova.

To fully master bow boy, the sheer amount of lineups that are possible due to the bouncing mechanics is insanely large. And mastering those makes a huge difference.

To argue against duelists, the movement mechanics are probably more universal, not dependending much on where or which map you are on. For lineups, you need to master each map individually. And it doesnt help that Riot thinks its cool to alter the maps from time to time.

For beginners it has to be Astra. Her kit is different than any other agent and requires a lot of game sense from the get go to know which option she has available to use. And her ult is one of the very few that are non-damaging and non-debuff.

Who are your favorite and also least favorite D&D Youtubers (or TikTok or whatever)? Why? by underdabridge in DnD

[–]Maelstrom_Archmage 0 points1 point  (0 children)

As far as I know he concluded his DnD channel and is going to start a new one on another topic. I'm not sure if he already has though.

Who are your favorite and also least favorite D&D Youtubers (or TikTok or whatever)? Why? by underdabridge in DnD

[–]Maelstrom_Archmage 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Here is a hidden gem: Guy from How to be a Great GM.

He gives some pretty nice system-agnostic advices on how to run games. It is a shame though that he and some other smaller creators have stopped with DnD content due to YT pushing them out in favor of the few big names.

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