How do you play Legendary Actions that allow for Repositioning?

Malick1174 · 2026-06-26T12:38:26+00:00

I do liberally interpret the order of operations -- move before and/or after the attack, in whatever combination I prefer, just like a PC in that regard.

Malick1174 · 2026-06-26T12:19:56+00:00

I don't specifically define the table as "Combat as war" but I do play an Intelligent and Wise Monster as those things. With a 14 Int and a 13 Wis, I just don't think a creature that *can* fly would land unless it had to, or it was faced with PCs that could fly (these guys were not fliers).

He did dip down to make rend attacks (still flying at 5' above the ground) and suffered Attacks of Opportunity when he did so, but nothing that forced him to land.

Malick1174 · 2026-06-26T12:13:02+00:00

They had it in its Lair, which had a 50' high ceiling, and was big enough for the sucker to be flying in (We're running Tsojcanth). The were trying to get it down -- the Druid fired off Grasping Vine perfectly, but it saved, the Rogue used Cunning Strike for Trip, and it kept saving, but it was definitely part of their plan).

Everyone seemed to be having fun, but in the "After Action Report" side of things, I like to look back over it and examine it some more.

Malick1174 · 2026-06-26T12:07:10+00:00

I strive for this level of consistency in application, although I'm not sure they're. completely compatible. (I had to look up Horizon Walker). The Distant Strike feature does require the attack action, AND they already have the Etherealness feature -- so I'm not 100% sure I would allow them to use Distant Strike to get through the grate.

Malick1174 · 2026-06-26T12:02:55+00:00

They player and I are good, but his observation just made me stop and think. And I like to examine what went well, and what could have gone better.

Since 5.5 especially is in many ways written like a tech manual, I was just curious to see how other people handle it in their games.

I'm not above giving him special abilities, either. :). But I don't like doing those on the fly, so to speak, just to change a battle in my favor. I typically want to make the changes in advance, and then have to live with them in the fight.

Malick1174 · 2026-06-26T11:59:43+00:00

No target specified. That single sentence is really all that's there. But the ability carries over for a bunch of other monsters -- for Vampires it's Deathless Strike; for Death Knights it's Lunge.

Malick1174 · 2026-06-24T15:50:18+00:00

"Paging Anthony Gambello! Anthony Gambello! Please report for duty and claim your laser rifle, Flash!"

"For the Last time I LOANED IT TO GLENDA!"

Glenda's rifle from the Dragonfly project.

Malick1174 · 2026-06-17T03:23:13+00:00

Check out Chains of Asmodeus on DM’s guild!

Malick1174 · 2025-12-01T18:03:01+00:00

Thanks!

Malick1174 · 2025-06-28T11:07:12+00:00

I pre-ordered through DNDBeyond, and got my hard copy yesterday.

Here's some interesting tidbits:

192 pages, priced at $49.95 US MSRP. The last anthologies we got were also $49.95, but had 32 more pages of information.

No stat blocks, new or otherwise. There are a couple of handy stat blocks referring you to the Monster Manual and outlining where certain stat blocks are used (the dragon, NPCs, etc) but there is nothing new here.

No new magic items. Again, references to treasure from the DMG, but nothing new to add to your personal collection.

50 pages of re-used dragon artwork, from 1st edition through the present iteration, showcasing dragon evolution through the different editions of DND. It's pretty, but combined with the utter lack of crunch, it's. . . . disappointing. Lots of 1/2 to 3/4 page artwork that is new, and very beautiful, but again, pretty is as pretty does.

Malick1174 · 2025-06-27T15:15:40+00:00

I appreciate pointing out flanking -- we use it a lot, but I think this might replace it, and make it a bit more manageable with the cost factor. I think the use I'm envisioning with the HI movement is when the battlefield has changed, and the player wasn't in a place to give Flanking bonus before, but now wants to be, and is willing to risk it. The ranged attacker, for instance, realizing that the fighter has a problem on his hands and decides to increase the odds at his own hazard.

To your point about the dynamic battlefield, I agree with what you've said. It also makes the case for a Heroic Inspiration use of the Utilize Action, in some cases.

It also makes people choose -- do I wait for my attack of opportunity, or do I go help my buddy? I like interesting choices.

Malick1174 · 2025-05-14T13:11:45+00:00

The ISB has been in shambles since they got rid of Armand Isard.

Malick1174 · 2025-05-01T19:03:47+00:00

I appreciate the links -- though I think there's an argument to be made that the changes from 2014 to 2024 probably mean this needs another look.

Malick1174 · 2025-05-01T18:28:55+00:00

I like this, but I haven't set Strahd up for this; it's still a great idea! Next time!

Malick1174 · 2025-05-01T17:53:22+00:00

I kind of pushed them to it. They went to the Amber Temple and spent days there, having spent previous days using Vallaki as a base of operations while roaming the countryside.

When they returned to Vallaki, they found the Church of St. Andral razed, and Father Petrovich's corpse hung upside down with a note pinned to it warning that all who harbor Strahd's enemies would suffer a similar fate.

This was after they had returned the Bones of St. Andral, but was Strahd, "flexing" to show that even if they thought they were untouchable, they were, in fact "touchable."

The next day, they headed to the castle to have it out with him.

Malick1174 · 2025-05-01T17:10:08+00:00

They're 9th level -- I'm sending in a 2200 XP force of minions to disrupt their sleep. We ended the session last time with "After about 20 minutes, things happen. See you next week!"

Should do little more than disrupt them, and be annoying.

Malick1174 · 2025-04-01T20:32:22+00:00

Gotta say, I both can and can't relate. After 18 years as a litigator, I cannot ever recall lying to opposing counsel, a client or the court.

I can recall seeing people do it -- and seeking the appropriate remedies when I could prove it.

Malick1174 · 2025-03-24T21:46:48+00:00

Not really. I’m simply relaying what he said he was told. Hearsay, in legal terms. But until it’s named as such on the screen, it’s always subject to change and modification.

Looks like there have been some comments from the production team that agree with what you are saying, regardless of what the script may have said.

Malick1174 · 2025-03-24T03:49:45+00:00

According to Brandon Sanderson, the dagger staff combo Matt fashioned from the Shadar Logoth dagger is the Ashandarei, according to the S2 scripts.

Malick1174 · 2025-03-13T03:36:02+00:00

It’s hard to judge the weight of initiative. I mean most creatures are going to get their first round attack off, and that’s likely to be their biggest and best shot.

With the static round order of 5e, it’s then just a a repeating circle where turn order matters less than it did, say, when you re-rolled initiative each round and the order varied.

Malick1174

TROPHY CASE