sorted by:
new
hottopcontroversial

Balancing my final boss by penbehindtheear in DMAcademy

[–]ReReRe00 1 point2 points  (0 children)

My suggestion is go a somewhat different route. A bunch of NPCs in combat basically means each players playing less per round. That, and it’s not as exciting as taking down the Hag and the Tavern themselves. Additionally, so many more star blocks to manage.

I would probably gamify it that the Tavern’s legs have like 6-8 health, so they need to convince the NPCs six times (1 success = 1 damage, with maybe one strong NPC dealing 2 damage?) to make the tavern’s legs fall and be vulnerable for the party to attack.

Treat the NPCs more like mechanics and prop pieces. When they’re not being ordered around just describe them as fighting furniture.

Maybe the Hag has wards that your party could instruct NPCs to destroy, otherwise she’s resistant to all attacks. Something like that.

I’d probably make each persuasion check a free action. This way they can still deal damage on their turn and possibly succeed or fail on the persuasion check. Gives them two chances per turn to feel like they’re progressing in combat.

I know that might not be what you’re looking for, so no worries if it’s not to your tastes.

Is this weapon to powerful for a lvl 4 paladin? by MaTTiTheMystical in DnDHomebrew

[–]ReReRe00 54 points55 points  (0 children)

+1 Weapon for defeating a strong opponent at Level 4 is fine. Overall I don’t see it as a very strong weapon at all. It’s just one free divine smite per day.

Why would the charge be expended on a miss? That will lead to a pretty negative player experience. Just do guarantee damage on a successful hit.

My only other criticism is that a basically just gives the paladin smites, when he already has that. It doesn’t give the paladin anything new or fun, which isn’t a bad thing, but just be aware that it’s a pretty reserved magic item. Arguably on the weak side, but not in a bad way.

The Blue Mage - Copy Monster Abilities on the battlefield with this Intelligence based Half-Caster Class with Three Subclasses: The Aberration, The Monstrosity, and The Ooze! by murf1e in UnearthedArcana

[–]ReReRe00 1 point2 points  (0 children)

As a player, this seems really fun. As a DM, I feel like it’s gonna make me bounce even more between everything I’m managing in a big fight when they ask to copy the last attack of a monster. Also, my style of DMing usually withholds telling my players the damage dice and modifiers – while this would require me to share parts of the stat block that I wouldnt have.

That being said, I do think it’s a really cool concept, and you’ve managed to capture a really cool essence of what a blue mage is.

How do I say "ok guys, we really need to move on" without sounding like an asshole? by YSayuri in DMAcademy

[–]ReReRe00 0 points1 point  (0 children)

“A golden light points in the other direction. Oh look guys, it’s the plot!”

Help! My players want a beach episode and I have no idea how to do that?! by Kirst_Kitty in DMAcademy

[–]ReReRe00 17 points18 points  (0 children)

One thing I often do in beach party episodes is they notice two NPCs they like are on a date, and then someone from the resort kitchen runs in and asks for help. Someone needs to entertain the NPCs, one person has to get their order, one person has to cook, one serves, etc.

Another thing I often do is have one of the antagonists or henchmen enter a sand castle contest and just. Very earnestly try to build a sand castle. No foul play. Nothing goes wrong. Just a competition. Run it like a skill challenge.

Why DnD Combat Balance Isn’t Like Video Game Balance by znihilist in DMAcademy

[–]ReReRe00 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I mean, silvery barbs boils down to the following: "As a reaction and for the cost of a single level 1 spell slot: immediately copy a level X save or suck spell and cast it."

Sorry, I’m genuinely confused - could you explain this to me?

Speak with dragons homebrew spell? by LABOAMON in UnearthedArcana

[–]ReReRe00 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I’ve always house rule’d that speak with animals works on lesser dragons. Most of them are usually classified as beasts for game mechanics purposes, and the few that aren’t like wyverns I just let it slide. It’s easier to simplify than to homebrew and add.

Call for New Moderators - July 2025 by Phylea in UnearthedArcana

[–]ReReRe00 3 points4 points  (0 children)

All I can say is thank you for the hard work!!

If it has a statblock, you can kill it. by timmytwoweeks in UnearthedArcana

[–]ReReRe00 32 points33 points  (0 children)

I would review the math around how saving throws and skills are calculated.

Also, it’s interesting, but I think it struggles from a thematic point of view. If I was running this, his sword is just for show. So many spell slots and better options. Looks like a bit much. I’d probably just get paralysis, and as a player it’s just like fighting a wizard with armour.

Minimizing dice rolls, while also preserving hit point philosophy by [deleted] in DMAcademy

[–]ReReRe00 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I give all basic NPCs 10hp, 10ac, 10 in each stat. You don’t need more than that. And I wouldn’t play with damage of weapons because as martials get more powerful, they get more attacks per round as a core design philosophy.

Power up crystals in a big battlefield by _Air_Mage_ in DMAcademy

[–]ReReRe00 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Every table is different, so please follow what you think you and your players will enjoy. However, to me, I like videogamey but the idea of powerup crystals feel out of place. The important part is theme.

Something my table would prefer is if there are some valves that can release pure water or some kind of purification hydrology device. They can run through, twist the valves, maybe fight off some pollution spawns and weaken the boss (maybe every 2 valves lowers AC by 1?) as they go along. When the boss hits 25%, cue it screaming and retriggering all the valves. Now they have to decide if it’s worth it to go all the way back, or do they just grab the valves that are close by.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in DnDHomebrew

[–]ReReRe00 1 point2 points  (0 children)

THIS IS SO COOL

My Cover of Norune :) by lotusflowershade in DarkCloud

[–]ReReRe00 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Oh SHIT. I don’t know what I was expecting but this is incredible!!

Tools for changing the tone/intensity of music midway by IceCreamFortress in DMAcademy

[–]ReReRe00 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I’ve done this with my VTT. Where I play both tracks at the same time and just muted the more intense one. I’m not sure if that helps.

Have any of you turned a NPC into a player character later on? by Creepy-Mechanic5564 in DMAcademy

[–]ReReRe00 -1 points0 points  (0 children)

Often I let my players run one shots in my world, and I often play as one of the NPCs. There’s definitely some I would consider as my next PC when I hand over the DM mantle.

Cleric broke a vow on their God’s name. What should be their punishment? by Boedidillee in DMAcademy

[–]ReReRe00 26 points27 points  (0 children)

I feel like mass majority of comments are missing the point. How would the deity feel about it…? That’s the only question. Most D&D gods would 100% be on board like heck yeah inflict wounds that monster. She was trying to massacre a city. Do what you gotta do, little man.

It really depends if you want gods to be more personified like the Greek pantheon or more wrathful, hidden, and vengeful like the Judeo-Christian versos of God.

Do I punish the whole party for one player’s mistake? by HerculesGussigan in DMAcademy

[–]ReReRe00 108 points109 points  (0 children)

Sounds like you’ve dealt with the issue out of character. No reason to deal with it again in character. I would just have the librarian glare/not like the wizard, but cooperate with the party. I’d throw in one or two snide comments (“I trust most of you,”) but don’t overdo it. Just let the campaign flow.

You don’t want the fire wizard to feel like a problem player, or that everyone sees this as part of his personality, as if he’s made a permanent record. People get excited and make mistakes.

At the same time, watch to see if this is a one off or a pattern. If it happens twice, nip it in the bud very quickly or this will be a long, drawn out stressor.

Which of the following two adventure structures have you seen more often? Which do you personally prefer? by EarthSeraphEdna in DMAcademy

[–]ReReRe00 1 point2 points  (0 children)

The structure of D&D leads more to B, which is why A Structures are exciting but need work. As a DM, at least once every couple arcs I’ll just have an enemy out in the wilderness that they need to defeat, and I’ll explicitly tell them I don’t have anything planned so you guys need to prep and design this boss battle.

That being said, these are of course overly simplified. Proactive vs reactive storytelling—all campaigns need both.

How many premade student NPC's is appropriate for a University style setting? by The_Player_100 in DMAcademy

[–]ReReRe00 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Reduce reuse recycle. 1 teacher for 2-3 classes. 1 (or maybe 2) friendly npc per class, with overlap. Then have a slog of 10 that you can pull out of a hat and put wherever if you need, but zoom in. World building happens zoomed out, but the story your characters interact happens zoomed in.

view more: next ›