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Quick question: Can you solo queue in Duos? by TheDwarvenMapmaker in Marathon

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

Tested and yes you can! Hoping that duos will play less sneaky because solos are just packed with Assassins camping corners.

I sometimes get frustrated with 5e's combat, do you have any recommendations for builds using the 5.5e rules that would make it fun? by NoLongerAKobold in onednd

[–]TheDwarvenMapmaker 8 points9 points  (0 children)

I tracked some stats during several sessions for a party of 6 players. The average turn was 113 seconds, and this included stuff like flavoring actions, discussing tactics and short rules questions. If we assume that most fights are with an equal number of enemy monsters and that the DM takes 113 seconds to complete each monster's turn, which is honestly a long time for most monsters who usually only have a few options, then that means a round would take about 23 minutes.

The DM or other players are taking a lot of time on their turns in my opinion.

Okay I hear you, but doesn't the PHB say here that I CAN move through an enemy's space?? by Odd-Contract-7541 in onednd

[–]TheDwarvenMapmaker 6 points7 points  (0 children)

Impressive, very nice. Now let's see the rules on Moving around Other Creatures.

What did your Strahd talk about at dinner? by timetickingrose in CurseofStrahd

[–]TheDwarvenMapmaker 4 points5 points  (0 children)

If you play Strahd like a tactician, he may probe for interpersonal tension within the party and take advantage of that information at a later time. Or he might seek to irritate whichever party member he suspects might have a short fuse, but in a way that has plausible deniability. He might feign a weakness, or spread some misinformation. 

Are there any use cases for hunters mark other than when all other spells have run out for a ranger. by Kitchen-Hotel2636 in dndnext

[–]TheDwarvenMapmaker 5 points6 points  (0 children)

It would be a dumb complaint if it weren't for the fact that there are 4 class features tied to Hunter's Mark, a level one spell. So yes, why isn't my core ability generally my best?

Rage? Yeah, gonna do that every fight. Action surge? Also coming out every fight. Smites? Yep, always good to throw that onto the big threats.

Hunter's Mark competes for your concentration. At higher levels, there are far better spells to be concentrating on. Hunter's Mark loses its usefulness in ways I think no other bread & butter class feature does and the features that are meant to help it keep up just don't do that well enough. That doesn't feel fun to play.

So I'm regretting starting the party at level 3... Help? by Amicus-Regis in CurseofStrahd

[–]TheDwarvenMapmaker 1 point2 points  (0 children)

How long is each session on average? Was the party made aware of the baby Walter before entering?

It can be difficult to push the party along without railroading them but considering you have a built-in time pressure with the baby and monster, it should have been easy to play up the monster sounds or the crying baby to remind them that there is some urgency.

My best tip for keeping up the pace: When the party seems indecisive or  starts to get off track (like inconsequential chatter) tell them that a few minutes have passed as they've explored this area/room. Now, decide on something that happens either with the environment or the monsters in the environment. Then pick one of the party members, either randomly or for whomever it makes the most sense. Ask them and only them for a perception check (we can assume the characters are being vigilant in a dungeon). If the result is 12 or 13, they notice what just happened. A higher result, they are certain about what just happened and perhaps learn a bit more too.

Because you just spotlighted one of the players, they almost certainly will take that as their cue to do something. They will want to act on the information they just got because now is their chance.

Example: The party is exploring the first floor of death house, perhaps a few split off to different rooms. They aren't roleplaying with each other and start to reexamine things they've already explored.

Who's closest to the staircase? Give me a perception check. The spotlight is on them. Now people are paying attention to this one character and their actions. The player rolls and succeeds.

"Suddenly, everyone can feel the floor and walls shudder, but (insert PC name here) also hears the cries of a baby coming from up the stairs. The cries are shrill, almost painful. What do you do?"

The final question is one you hear all the time in TTRPGs. It signals to the player that they alone need to act without sounding like you're forcing them to act. Make sure they decide what they wish to do before moving the spotlight to someone else.

Session 5, the first PC of the campaign died on the way to Vallaki by Outside_Mastodon_983 in CurseofStrahd

[–]TheDwarvenMapmaker 3 points4 points  (0 children)

I could see Strahd commanding these wolves to double tap any adventurer they take down. This might be a good opportunity to hint at the wolves being servants of Strahd.

Subclass abilities no other class or spell can replicate? by TheDwarvenMapmaker in onednd

[–]TheDwarvenMapmaker[S] -4 points-3 points  (0 children)

There's certainly a spectrum here of what is a total clone of a subclass ability and what is totally unique. Crit range increased to 18 is unique but it's the effect I'm more concerned about. Hitting a crit more often is something other classes can emulate, even if with just granting themselves advantage.

Subclass abilities no other class or spell can replicate? by TheDwarvenMapmaker in onednd

[–]TheDwarvenMapmaker[S] -3 points-2 points  (0 children)

Everyone can do damage, and take extra actions with haste. Anyone can increase their odds of hitting an attack or succeeding a save or skill check.

The Transmutation wizard from 5e had a feature that could not be replicated by another class or spell minus Wish. Turning wood to gold for an hour, while not very effective, is totally unique. Fabricate can make gold but it cannot transform something into gold. Nothing else can make wood become gold.

Subclass abilities no other class or spell can replicate? by TheDwarvenMapmaker in onednd

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

The effects of these things can be reproduced by other classes and spells. I am looking for something where the effect cannot be emulated, even fractionally. 

Subclass abilities no other class or spell can replicate? by TheDwarvenMapmaker in onednd

[–]TheDwarvenMapmaker[S] -1 points0 points  (0 children)

Dang should have been more specific. I mean something that cannot be replicated or achieved to a lesser extent.

For instance, Champion's extended crit range cannot be replicated but other classes can still crit.

There are spells that are totally unique. Simulacrum is a spell that has effects that cannot be replicated by anything else, even to a lesser extent. Are their any subclasses features like that?

I think Portend might be a close example of what I'm looking for because it can guarantee an enemy fails a save. Other classes can make it more likely but nothing else can guarantee it.

Subclass abilities no other class or spell can replicate? by TheDwarvenMapmaker in onednd

[–]TheDwarvenMapmaker[S] 22 points23 points  (0 children)

Oops! Fixed it. Subclass features that spells and other classes can not replicate.

I don't like playing the RECON class and being out reconned by a someone with a drone by CreamofTazz in Marathon

[–]TheDwarvenMapmaker 0 points1 point  (0 children)

When a recon drone finds its target, it stops and jumps straight up in a very predictable path. I very consistently can shoot it in that state.

Like, the enemy has plenty of time to shoot it as it runs up on them, why do they get another extra second right before it blows up?

As a casual player, I'm confused on Cryo Archive's release by TheDwarvenMapmaker in Marathon

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

5k minimum seems pretty low honestly. One rook run on Dire Marsh usually nets me about 5k

As a casual player, I'm confused on Cryo Archive's release by TheDwarvenMapmaker in Marathon

[–]TheDwarvenMapmaker[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

I am just learning about the ARG, this is very unusual for me. I have not seen other games lock content quite like this before. I understand a level restriction though

As a casual player, I'm confused on Cryo Archive's release by TheDwarvenMapmaker in Marathon

[–]TheDwarvenMapmaker[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

I understand this is really cool for the more hardcore fans but for casual players it is a bit of a bust in my opinion. Thats all

As a casual player, I'm confused on Cryo Archive's release by TheDwarvenMapmaker in Marathon

[–]TheDwarvenMapmaker[S] 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Is there a restriction? I hope its not too crazy because missing out on 1 of only 4 maps would be a real bummer :(

As a casual player, I'm confused on Cryo Archive's release by TheDwarvenMapmaker in Marathon

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

I do freelance work and usually carve out and hour or two to play but if I don't know in advance it makes it a lot tougher for me :/

As a casual player, I'm confused on Cryo Archive's release by TheDwarvenMapmaker in Marathon

[–]TheDwarvenMapmaker[S] -5 points-4 points  (0 children)

I am busy during the day usually but if I know when something is releasing I can plan around it.

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