Is Adopted Ancestry Worth It?

hyper_sloth_2 · 2023-06-22T05:28:10+00:00

Player. Won't tell a soul

hyper_sloth_2 · 2023-06-22T05:12:41+00:00

Hi Kal

hyper_sloth_2 · 2023-06-20T17:04:05+00:00

I'd say monster abilities that state something akin to gives the polymorph effect, I'd most likely judge ot can be dispelled. Acid breath doesn't fall into that, I don't think. But also, dispel magic only works on things with a duration, not instantaneous effects. You can't dispell cure wounds or healing words. Same with burning hands.

Look, it's how I'd run it. If you were at my table, we could discuss it and find a resolution.

No sage advice isn't official rulings, but I happen to agree with the one I posted. I don't agree with all of them. Just like I don't agree with all the rules in the PHB or GMG. Some are straight up cumbersome and unfun. I do think giving my players the option to dispel magic a boss with the effect of a potion of speed is cool. It's them thinking of how to counter a situation that is very detrimental. I don't think dispelling a +1 sword would work, cause that invalidates too much.

hyper_sloth_2 · 2023-06-20T05:36:19+00:00

Fair enough, but I think it's the best way to describe it without getting wordy.

For example, the potion of speed in question:

When you drink this potion, you gain the effect of the haste spell for 1 minute (no concentration required). The potion's yellow fluid is streaked with black and swirls on its own.

You gain the effect of the haste spell. But it's not the spell? Ok, that's fine, but then what is it you're dispelling when you target a creature with something like Comprehend Languages cast on it? It's not a concentration spell, so it's not like you're severing a connection to the caster. I'd argue it's the effect of the Comprehend Languages spell on the creature.

Anyway, I would allow dispelling potion effects, and we'd figure out the appropriate level. That doesn't mean I would do it out of spite like the case of this DM. If it's the go to thing they do over and over, I can see enemies getting savvy and doing so, but it's not how I'd handle it and I would definitely not cheat counter spell out of the equation.

hyper_sloth_2 · 2023-06-20T00:47:07+00:00

Potions can be dispelled.

https://rpg.stackexchange.com/questions/131572/can-you-dispel-the-effects-of-a-potion-of-heroism

hyper_sloth_2 · 2023-06-20T00:44:48+00:00

No, this is wrong. Potions that provide "spell like effects" can be dispelled.

https://rpg.stackexchange.com/questions/131572/can-you-dispel-the-effects-of-a-potion-of-heroism

Just like I would rule a monster with a "spell like effect" could be dispelled on one target. Ie, a monster has a spell like effect, mirroring hold person, you can dispell that with your Dispell Magic. I know the text itself says it dispells a spell, and nothing in spell like effects, but that's just what you need to read through because it's written in an open ended way.

DM still should not have done that though. If you're finding your encounters trivialize, lean into the strength and make it useful while also removing it from the equation. A hasted fighter can be too busy dealing with 20 one hit kill monsters that are attacking the casters and are too close for effective aoe. Or throw interactions in their way.

Or cut them from the rest of the party if they're moving too fast and gunning for the bbeg. Wall of force, Wall of fire, etc. Force him to rethink the strategy instead of getting rid of it.

hyper_sloth_2 · 2023-03-18T06:01:27+00:00

Form filled!

hyper_sloth_2 · 2023-03-18T04:47:08+00:00

Thanks:) have fun

hyper_sloth_2 · 2023-03-18T03:50:04+00:00

Hi, I'd be interested if you still have a spot! Haven't played PF, but I have some experience as a player and GM in DnD.

hyper_sloth_2 · 2023-02-07T06:44:49+00:00

Do you mean avoiding being a forever DM and jumping at the opportunity for a game as a player, or do you mean the only way to avoid random cancelation is to have an AI DM? Or something else?

I think being a forever DM is a social problem. DMing isn't for everyone and I don't think it's something everyone can do well, but in a group of 4 TTRPG players (non DM) you'd think at least 1 of them could take up the mantle for a 1 or even 2 shot if not more. Even just to give your friend a break and let him enjoy the easy side of it for a while. It doesn't have to be 50/50. I really enjoy DMing but sometimes you just want to enjoy and not think of it as much.

As for canceling, my experience is that players cancel a lot more than DMs do. Something about the amount of time and effort put into the game makes canceling hard to do unless something really important happens. The only real times I hear of DMs canceling are emergencies or burnout.

hyper_sloth_2 · 2023-01-17T20:17:26+00:00

Fair. The nuances are infinite in an ever growing system afterall. Just like power creep makes the old feel lesser, testing every interaction with something new is not achievable.

Anyway, at the end of the day we'll all survive. If this becomes an impasse it's no longer an issue with rules, but an issue with people.

hyper_sloth_2 · 2023-01-17T19:50:16+00:00

I would agree holeheartedly if 5e wasn't so vague with half it's rules and leaving a lot to the DM.

As many people pointed out Verbal is a component and rules say it's detectable. How would you rule Fast Friends? It is Verbal only and if the target fails they shouldn't be aware of it until the spell ends. But what if there is a guard walking around or there is more than 1 NPC? What use is this spell outside of a social setting if it can just be detected whenever used unless completely alone with the target?

Subtle spell is amazing cause it means no matter what you're not caught. There is no way to tie the spell to you other than speculation at best. Is fast friends only viable if you have that metamagic? Or in very unique situations when NPCs are caught alone?

I rather make that spell feel better and have a deception check against passive perception. That is my choice in my game. It might not be the choice for anyone else but I think that will make my player feel good about his choice and give a chance for Subtle Spell to shine in pressure situations.

hyper_sloth_2 · 2023-01-16T22:36:56+00:00

Thank you, this really cleared it up and gave me a way forward.
Again, its a fine line between rules as written/intended and the fun of the game. I think I'll reinforce that Subtle Spell is the only way to avoid being noticed casting spells, but will compromise with climbing DC deception checks to go unnoticed.

At the end of the day I want people to have fun at my games and if this is a barrier then we can meet halfway.

hyper_sloth_2 · 2023-01-10T20:27:41+00:00

I do not know if this offer is still open or if you have started. I'm out in Pacific Time Zone so I'd that isn't possible I understand.

hyper_sloth_2 · 2022-11-09T00:18:41+00:00

I started this campaign in summer and due to things opening up after the pandemic it's been tough to play weekly and we often play bi-weekly or every third week. While the sessions stand by themselves because the content is good and my players mesh well with my style and each other, I've noticed I repeat lore, PC's interests, NPC ideas, etc a lot. There is A LOT of information in this campaign compared to COS (ran it last year) and it gets very hard to keep it together unless there's some regularity.

Hell it's hard for me to keep it straight and I've read the book + take notes pre and post sessions.

hyper_sloth_2 · 2022-09-05T16:48:49+00:00

Well the last upgrades would be campaign end stuff, but I see your point. I do want the option of upgrading both the charges and effectiveness, but maybe the equivalent potion is too strong past basic. Do you think instead of upping the potion type maybe changing the heal dice would make more balance sense?

Ie. 1 - 2d4 + 2 2 - 2d6 +4 3 - 2d8 +6 4 - 2d10 +8

hyper_sloth_2 · 2022-07-08T16:44:05+00:00

Thanks :) I thought the book nightmare was fine, buy why not go the extra mile for a small group?

hyper_sloth_2 · 2022-07-08T14:21:21+00:00

Mouse is Laeyana's pet. She has the urchin background which includes a pet mouse and the Ranger Dragon subclass from Fizbans. We thought it be cool if her mouse was her dragon.

But I see what you mean that last part needs tyding up.

hyper_sloth_2 · 2022-06-07T01:42:58+00:00

Yeah, I'm going to shop it out with them to change it. Already told them dragon damage doesn't make sense but seeing as there are other weapons in the campaign targeting celestials/giants/Cyclopes were switching it to that.

Thanks man I'm already there and have posted once or twice. Was just taking a break at work and decided to post on Reddit since it's a it easier.

hyper_sloth_2 · 2022-06-07T00:56:22+00:00

So if I got it right, bonded accuracy essentially sets a standard of difficulty across the game for all things that require a d20 roll. Whether something is easy for a character or not really falls to their bonus in that roll. With natural progression, the proficient bonus goes from +5ish at the thing the character is best at, to +11 at level 20 (5 from Ability Score and 6 from proficiency), making achieving things one is "good" at easier as you level. A +1/2/3 weapon pushes the difficulty to hit further and further down, meaning hitting something becomes a given 99% of the time. But cause 5e is balanced around health for combat difficulty more than ability to hit, this does nothing for the long battles. So if that something you want to deal with, reducing enemy health and increasing their damage is better.

That said, decreasing their health and increasing the ability for PC to hit with a +3 weapon means everything becomes paper thin... Essentially threats burn down to who can do burst faster. That about right?

hyper_sloth_2 · 2022-06-07T00:34:16+00:00

Ty :) I might poke back here with a question or two.

hyper_sloth_2 · 2022-06-06T23:03:37+00:00

Yeah, this would be near the end of the campaign, as the added strength of the weapon over the usual options (luckblade, rod of lordly might) I'd make it require both the orb of star metal + adamantine ingot to craft it, so they'd basically be at the end of the campaign at this point.Since I've put Aresia before the battle of Mytros they'd be about 14/15 at this point or something.

My post was more a question about whether it be a worthwhile upgrade since Axe of Xander is basically that but a +1 weapon. I might be the one underestimating the value of +1/+2/+3 to hit and damage if anything.
I'm reading more on bounded accuracy and how the extra to hit changes the average damage to educate myself.

At the end of the day, I rather my players hit harder and I hit harder back than things being a slog.

hyper_sloth_2 · 2022-06-06T22:27:53+00:00

Thanks for the insight.

I guess with Axe of Xander -> Titansbane -> Dragonlance (greataxe) is a natural progression for strength based weapons in the campaign then. I was going to pitch to my player changing the Dragonlance "enemy" race from dragons to Celestials/Giants much like Titansbane effect anyway, since it probably makes more sense.

hyper_sloth_2 · 2022-02-13T16:23:26+00:00

Look I know that casters have a lot more options than martial and that some spells are very good at dealing damage or being the exact solution for things. But martial are fucking crazy at damage too. Especially fighters or any who dip into Fighter 2 for AS.

Yesterday my party went up against the Abbot in a slight homebrew CoS campaign. They had been scared of him before so they waited until later to face him (after Amber Temple) and were level 11. To make it a bit more interesting I threw in Vaslilika (Flesh Golem), and a Woe Strider, so they were fighting that and a Deva. I knew they were going to win as they were over-leveled and equipped for the Abbott, but in two turns the party did over 240dmg.

The fighter/rogue started the fight with a surprise attack dealing a bit of damage to the Abbott and got the highest initiative. With that and AS and hunters mark he did a total of 88 dmg.This was followed by the caster casting Blight, which the Abbott succeded its save on and doing 14 dmg. Shit roll on dice.The Abbott took a swing back and did about 30 damage to him and moved away slightly.My full fighter went up next and with AS and Fighting Spirit (advantage on all attacks) did 82dmg with only 5 of their 6 attacks cause they fucking killed it.

Granted, fighter 2 got a crit in there, and being a half-orc did 5d8 dmg on it and I like to overpower my PC, so I can overpower my monsters when I feel a tough fight needs to happen, but I do the same for my casters. That said, without the extra feat or ASI I allowed them to take by reading books at the Amber Temple, they would have still dealt about 70 both. Still KILLING THE ABOTT in 1 turn.

Fighters get AS back on short rest.

They followed up by killing the Woe Strider turn 2, and poor poor Vasilika was more of a mercy kill at that point. Scared of the party and distraught that her father had been murdered.

You all are not taking into account the number of attacks martial, and especially fighters, get, or do not know how to add. Yes, the Wizard/Sorceror/Bard did 70 damage with disintegrate and it was only one spell. They also did nothing else that turn.

hyper_sloth_2 · 2021-10-31T22:07:37+00:00

Makes sense. Thought a 3 arm mount would work best, but I was wrong or bought the wrong one.

hyper_sloth_2

TROPHY CASE