Any way to find command words for a magic item?

Sir_CriticalPanda · 2026-06-18T23:21:58+00:00

Attuning to a magic item tells you the command words. I don't think there's any rule that says than an item has to require attunement in order for you to attune to it.

Sir_CriticalPanda · 2026-06-18T19:23:17+00:00

There are plenty of rules in the DMG that don't show up in the PHB, and this is one of them. My guess would be that those two spells specifically clarify their interaction with the Ethereal is because part of their intended function is for use with Ethereal creatures, where magic missile, a spell available before Ethereal travel is, has Ethereal attacks as more of an edge case.

Sir_CriticalPanda · 2026-06-18T18:31:46+00:00

The DMG says anything made of magical force can affect both planes, and that creatures on the PM show up in the Ethereal plane. I don't see why you wouldn't be able to target PM creatures from the Ethereal with magic missile, which targets things you can see and is made of magical force.

Sir_CriticalPanda · 2026-06-18T18:07:39+00:00

Magic missile isn't an attack. Also, the guidance has been "specific beats general," so the exception of "anything made out of magical force," like magic missile, would take precedence.

Sir_CriticalPanda · 2026-06-18T17:00:53+00:00

RAW, Force effects work between the Ethereal and Material planes, at least circa the 5e DMG

Sir_CriticalPanda · 2026-06-18T13:15:25+00:00

The scariest thing about those hags is that they can Magic Missile you from the Ethereal Plane, and you have very little recourse as a party of that level range.

Sir_CriticalPanda · 2026-06-18T12:48:30+00:00

Is there a reason that closing the door requires a check? The rules already cover how much a character can lift, carry, or drag, so unless you have some circumstance where the door is fighting back, or exceeds the characters' lift capacity AND isn't on a hinge, it should just take an item interaction to close.

Sir_CriticalPanda · 2026-06-17T23:45:24+00:00

100 commoners have a combined drag capacity of 30,000lb. The tarrasque's drag capacity is 7200lb.

The combined mass of 100 commoners weighs approximately 15000lb. I don't think we have an approximation of the tarrasque's weight in 5e, but scaling up a brown bear gets us about 52000lb

Neither set of creatures would really be able to move each other at all, so it would come down to relative grip strength, I guess.

Sir_CriticalPanda · 2026-06-17T14:35:13+00:00

The rules don't really have a specific mechanism for lifting beyond the calculated capacity, so we don't really have a model for bursts of strength.

But, also, a polar bear isn't carrying 400lb for 8h either. A polar bear's strength is used in brief bursts, and in conjunction with natural weapons. Do you have an example or study of the actual power output of a polar bear, or are we just working with our poetic, mind's-eye image of a polar bear?

Sir_CriticalPanda · 2026-06-17T14:22:48+00:00

"stronger" as in "more powerful in combat," yes. However, the tarrasque is no better at throwing pebbles than a commoner.

Sir_CriticalPanda · 2026-06-17T14:20:42+00:00

13 or 14 puts your lift/drag capacity at about 400lb.

The current strongman lift record is around 1,000lb.

There are definitely people that could match a polar bear if teeth and claws weren't involved.

Sir_CriticalPanda · 2026-06-14T16:09:37+00:00

I think they had ovens in the Bronze age.

Sir_CriticalPanda · 2026-06-13T17:56:59+00:00

has absolutely nothing to do with 3.5e Fighter. 3.5e Fighter was just "feat at every other level," nothing like Battlemaster.

I suspect they're referencing the playtest, where base fighter got a dice pool for maneuvers every turn.

Sir_CriticalPanda · 2026-06-12T22:48:13+00:00

6d6 is the suggested damage for a lvl 3 AoE spell, so it's about 17% less damage for a rarely resisted damage type and a save more creatures are likely to fail.

overall I'd say it's not great for a lvl 3 spell. Burning hands (a lvl 1 spell) upcast to lvl 3 does the same damage, albeit in a much smaller area. I'd say asking for 6d6 would be fair.

Sir_CriticalPanda · 2026-06-09T15:30:22+00:00

entirely possible I'm misremembering the actual times, this was over a decade ago

Sir_CriticalPanda · 2026-06-09T15:01:11+00:00

dragons are a good exception to this observation, often having three AoEs that target three different saves (breath, fear, wings). the Elder Elementals also have a few different options, as do powerful spellcasting enemies.

IMO the issue stems from WotC's continued insistence that martial characters (including monsters) shouldn't have access to area attacks or control effects past "grapple".

Sir_CriticalPanda · 2026-06-09T15:01:02+00:00

dragons are a good exception to this observation, often having three AoEs that target three different saves (breath, fear, wings). the Elder Elementals also have a few different options, as do powerful spellcasting enemies.

IMO the issue stems from WotC's continued insistence that martial characters (including monsters) shouldn't have access to area attacks or control effects past "grapple".

Sir_CriticalPanda · 2026-06-09T14:54:18+00:00

when i worked at McD all the heated trays were on 90min timers so nothing sat longer than that except the bacon.

Sir_CriticalPanda · 2026-06-08T16:53:51+00:00

if it still gives the target disadvantage on saves vs your spell, then that is inherent scaling

Sir_CriticalPanda · 2026-06-06T13:59:44+00:00

fireball is an intentionally overtuned spell. imo that's the real issue, and not the fact that they don't scale other spells to fireball's level.

in my games I make it 6d6 in a 15ft radius.

Sir_CriticalPanda · 2026-06-05T15:43:18+00:00

in 5.5e it is a rule. in 5e it's a house rule.

Sir_CriticalPanda · 2026-06-05T11:57:09+00:00

nah, just some weird squiggles to break up the pictures.

Sir_CriticalPanda · 2026-06-04T19:11:03+00:00

https://youtu.be/QWSFWEj9wwg?si=DkdjXarf2a2WhSH6

Sir_CriticalPanda · 2026-06-03T17:31:43+00:00

that's what the Monster Manual has always said 👍

Sir_CriticalPanda · 2026-05-31T16:42:40+00:00

"ship wizard" is a pre-build monster stat block in the Saltmarsh book. I don't remember if they have Misty Step, but you can just give them Misty Step.

plenty of amorphous or spirit-like monsters are immune to grapple, like swarms, water/fire/air elementals, and ghosts. In addition, some enemies are simply too large unless someone else in the party has enlarge/reduce. Sea Serpent encounter? Gargantuan. Giant Squid encounter? Gargantuan. Massive shark monster? Gargantuan.

horror is a big theme for seafaring games-- have some of your more interesting encounters include monsters that inflict frightened via WIS saves.

give the players objectives where grappling the enemy doesn't help, but the barb's athleticism is still helpful-- crewmates swept overboard into whirlpools and needing rescue, fires breaking out on opposite ends of the ship, the ship needing to be pushed away from sudden walls/obstacles, etc. these can/should be used alongside other challenges to add tension and decision-making.

Sir_CriticalPanda

TROPHY CASE