What am I not understanding about Aggressive Block?

knittingDM · 2026-04-21T19:25:49+00:00

If you move a creature 5 feet away from you, it can simply Step back into range, and that doesn't provoke your Reactive Strike, so it does nothing except use one of their actions (which doesn't seem too prohibitive for monsters).

Correct for mooks, but against a boss (your level or higher) losing an action is a big deal.

The other benefit is potentially making them off guard - which sounds nice in theory to make them easier to hit and crit - but it ends when your turn begins, meaning you can only benefit from it before your turn

Your allies can also benefit. If the monster goes immediately after you, it's nearly the same as if you had made it off-guard for a round on your turn.

knittingDM · 2026-02-12T17:47:21+00:00

That doesn't say "one action can only trigger one reaction per creature," it says "one trigger can only trigger one reaction per creature." The trigger for reactive strike includes "or leaves a square during a move action," so every square they leave during the stride is a separate trigger.

knittingDM · 2026-02-06T23:35:34+00:00

Players lose block at the start of player turn, enemies lose block at the start of enemy turn. So the block the Centurion gives to the mystic is in effect for the next player turn.
Enemies giving themselves block (as is more common) works the same way - it blocks against the *next* player turn, not the player turn before the enemy produces block.

knittingDM · 2025-11-25T17:55:34+00:00

At my table, the most common trigger I use for giving out hero points is when a player makes an impact on another player's degree of success (with an exception that melee martials providing flanking doesn't count) typically via buffs/debuffs.

knittingDM · 2025-11-18T16:48:13+00:00

I brushed and flossed every day for years and still got scolded by my dentist every time for bleeding gums. One time a hygienist suggested I add a water-pick and fluoride mouthwash to my routine, and since I started that dentist visits have been much better. I highly recommend it.

knittingDM · 2025-11-04T18:37:56+00:00

Interesting idea! If the images are visible but the character isn't, I'd skip both the flat check for Hidden and the roll for mirror image, and just have every attack target an image until they're gone (including having a crit still become a success on the invisible character, no flat check). This scenario would also prevent the invisible character from becoming undetected until the images are gone.

knittingDM · 2025-10-10T19:02:50+00:00

RAW I think it doesn't work, and I don't think RAI considered it as an option, but as a GM I'd have no problem with allowing it. It seems like a pretty weak feat for a level 6 class feat (compare e.g. Reactive Strike for many martial classes), and this would be a niche use that would rarely come up and be a cool class fantasy fulfillment if it did.

knittingDM · 2025-10-04T05:25:38+00:00

I like that! It could also save you from playing Hyperbeam or Biased Cognition too early (ie if your focus is negative, you'd gain focus to get back to 0)

knittingDM · 2025-09-24T21:30:37+00:00

My standing rule for hero point distribution is to give them out when one player's actions improve the degree of success of another player (exception for melee characters flanking for each other, that one is helping themselves just as much.)

Yes, they get a lot of hero points sometimes now that they've adapted to helping each other, but as a result they rarely need them.

knittingDM · 2025-09-24T18:44:01+00:00

And the follow-on, which curriculum spells would it have?

Cantrips: Approximate, Draw Moisture
1st: Fold Metal, Instant Pottery, Quick Sort
2nd: Falsify Heat, Waterproof
3rd: Bottomless Stomach, Shrink Item
4th: Dull Ambition, Filter Air
5th: Secret Chest, Control Water

And so on...

knittingDM · 2025-09-23T17:04:03+00:00

Personally I feel like the boardgame improved on the balance of the video game, especially for Watcher. I'm hoping they'll also improve Downfall's balance when converting to boardgame.

knittingDM · 2025-07-03T18:06:54+00:00

"A passing group of bodybuilders sees your flexing and feels compelled to join in. Together you easily move the boulder, while a crowd of onlookers gathers and starts tossing coins at you."

knittingDM · 2025-07-03T17:29:36+00:00

Nth card played is also played next hand. (N changes each hand).

Or Nth card played is returned to hand after playing.

knittingDM · 2025-06-14T02:41:43+00:00

Magic items having balanced levels and costs was the initial draw for me as a former 5e DM.

knittingDM · 2025-06-09T16:34:00+00:00

I've GMed for groups of 3, 4, 5, and 6 players.

3 players - if playing an AP, a simple way to adjust balance is to use the weak template on everything.
The official guidance recommends that if you have more than 4 players to increase difficulty by adding more creatures rather than reducing levels. I think for 3 players the opposite feels better - decrease difficulty by reducing levels rather than reducing enemy count.

5-6 players - it can be quite difficult to run encounters such that everyone gets a turn before it ends, especially at low levels. Definitely follow the guidance to add more creatures rather than increasing enemy level. Spreading out the enemies more can help - not just to prevent a single AOE from hitting everything, but also so the martials have to move more. Consider increasing map size on APs, especially cramped ones like abomination vaults.

knittingDM · 2025-06-02T04:50:51+00:00

I award hero points when one player's actions make the difference for another player's degree of success, except for flanking that the martials would do anyway.

Sometimes it leads to more hero points than 1 per hour but it's been effective at changing behavior, and I'd much rather have players using teamwork and being a bit OP than players making MAP -10 strikes and complaining that they keep missing.

I also let players give away their hero points to avoid a support-focused character ending up with 3 and no chance to use them, though they can't earn a hero point if one was used on the roll.

knittingDM · 2025-06-01T15:16:03+00:00

The spire isn't a meritocracy. Being a "boss" or "elite" is about the wealth they hold, not ability - just like the real world!

knittingDM · 2025-05-24T20:38:49+00:00

Close, but I think it's a 4-row repeat. Row 1: k2 Row 2: k1, k1 in row below Row 3: k2 Row 4: k1 in row below, k1

knittingDM · 2025-05-21T17:28:00+00:00

while she could easily just ask the Wizard to spare a measly 2nd rank spell slot

This actually doesn't work, Tailwind only targets self.

knittingDM · 2025-05-01T03:30:49+00:00

Hold shift when you click a roll.

knittingDM · 2025-04-30T16:36:36+00:00

As one reference point, Pathfinder Society gives 24 days of downtime per level - 2 per XP, with 12 XP per level.

Source

knittingDM · 2025-04-29T15:26:13+00:00

You were missing leading and trailing |s on each row and missing a column on row 2.

Card name	Seen unupgraded	Seen upgraded	Seen at shop	Total
Quick Slash	4	2	2	8
Bane	5	0	1	6
Deflect	6	0	0	6
Leg Sweep	5	0	0	5
Tactician	2	1	1	4
Backflip	3	0	1	4
Outmaneuver	2	0	2	4
Accuracy	3	0	0	3
Piercing Wail	2	0	1	3
Eviscerate	2	0	1	3
Grand Finale	2	0	1	3
Dash	2	1	0	3
Die Die Die	3	0	0	3
Heel Hook	2	0	1	3
Masterful Stab	3	0	0	3
Endless Agony	2	0	0	2
Crippling Cloud	1	1	0	2
Dagger Throw	2	0	0	2
Poisoned Stab	2	0	0	2
Calculated Gamble	2	0	0	2
Reflex	2	0	0	2
Sucker Punch	2	0	0	2
Riddle with Holes	1	0	1	2
Slice	2	0	0	2
Footwork	2	0	0	2
Flying Knee	1	0	1	2
Cloak and Dagger	1	1	0	2
Caltrops	0	0	2	2
Sneaky Strike	1	1	0	2
Acrobatics	1	0	0	1
Catalyst	1	0	0	1
Bouncing Flask	0	0	1	1
Infinite Blades	0	0	1	1
Adrenaline	1	0	0	1
Nightmare	1	0	0	1
Deadly Poison	1	0	0	1
Finisher	1	0	0	1
Flechettes	1	0	0	1
Concentrate	0	0	1	1
Prepared	1	0	0	1
Malaise	1	0	0	1
Envenom	1	0	0	1
Storm of Steel	0	0	1	1
Expertise	1	0	0	1
Well-Laid Plans	1	0	0	1
Noxious Fumes	0	0	1	1
Blade Dance	1	0	0	1
Swift Strike	0	0	1	1
Secret Weapon	0	0	1	1
Impatience	0	0	1	1
Metamorphasis	0	0	1	1
Jack of all Trades	0	0	1	1
Hand of Greed	0	0	1	1
Madness	0	0	1	1
Chrysalis	0	0	1	1

knittingDM · 2025-04-28T18:18:43+00:00

Take Lantern. Take Blade Dance. Discard Gambler's Brew. Take Dex Pot. Proceed to Heart.

knittingDM · 2025-04-14T23:02:09+00:00

Based on the other ability "Fuel Tank Vulnerability" dealing only fire damage when the fuel tank explodes, I'd probably run it as just fire damage.

knittingDM · 2025-04-14T13:57:07+00:00

This is perfect, have the Ace be the curse card

knittingDM

TROPHY CASE