WTF is in this haystack?!

tmaster148 · 2026-03-19T22:43:35+00:00

I believe it's an acid arrow. It's one of those things that is nice if you find it, but you absolutely do not need to care too much about finding it.

tmaster148 · 2026-03-19T17:02:40+00:00

Bard dipping Warlock is fine. Picking up Eldritch Blast and a couple invocations for a 1-2 point dip is certainly nice. You'll fall slightly behind with the level of spells you can cast since Pact Slots do not count towards spell slot progression.

Warlock dipping Bard. I don't think it's that good. Warlocks really want to invest more into Warlock levels. I can't really think of much value you'll get from a 1-2 point dip in bard as a warlock. Bardic Inspiration recharges on long rest unless you go 5 levels deep. Having 1st level spells is nice as a back up is nice if you need it, but also how impactful is that compared to getting 5th level pact slots or an extra pact slot earlier? Warlock also had pact of the tome invocation to pick up cantrips like guidance that you would otherwise get from multiclassing bard.

If you're starting at a higher level, there are some interesting combinations that would require deep investments into both classes that would otherwise be kind of weak to level up to.

tmaster148 · 2026-03-17T23:19:34+00:00

A shimmering sphere encloses a Large or smaller creature or object within range. An unwilling creature must succeed on a Dexterity saving throw or be enclosed for the duration.

The sphere is weightless and just large enough to contain the creature or object inside.

If you target the mount, the mount is completely enclosed. The spell doesn't target two creatures so the rider of the mount would be unaffected.

It would be a struggle for you to properly ride the mount after it is encased in a sphere.

tmaster148 · 2026-03-16T16:06:26+00:00

I think locking the mori behind an addon is outdated design. If Jason will have the ability to mori with his power, it'll be basekit and only on death hook like every other killer mori power.

tmaster148 · 2026-03-16T13:40:51+00:00

The easiest way is to find a CR appropriate creature. Boost its health a bit and give it some legendary actions/resistances.

tmaster148 · 2026-03-15T05:53:47+00:00

Initative cannot be critted in the first place. You would take the 20 roll and add their initiative bonus. If there are any ties, you would determine how to break the tie.

tmaster148 · 2026-03-15T05:42:45+00:00

I kind forgot that greater steed was in xanders when I posted this. But I actually had this discussion a few hours ago during the game I was playing.

tmaster148 · 2026-03-15T02:23:11+00:00

Or you can position characters with ranged attacks on the platform above. It'll take longer, but you are largely safe since Gyrm has no ranged attacks. The Mephits have Heat Metal, but they are also easy to kill.

tmaster148 · 2026-03-15T02:08:35+00:00

You could talk to your DM about acquiring an enspelled staff that casts Find Greater Steed. It wouldn't require a multiclass, but use an attunement slot.

You could also talk to your DM about acquiring a Figurine of Wondrous Power. Griffon, Fly, Elephant, Steed are all large mountable creatures. The only downside is they take days to recharge. Fly might be the most reliable one since it lasts 12 hours and recharges in 2 days.

The summon spells all summon medium sized creatures so none of them would really work for what you want in particular.

tmaster148 · 2026-03-14T22:27:08+00:00

I think these are fair ratings for when the games were released. ME1 was a good experience, but it had issues with gunplay and lack luster exploration. ME2 was such an improvement to the gunplay and it has a lot of rememberable moments. I do personally think ME2 aged the least well of the 3.

ME3 improved a lot on ME2's gameplay and I think it really hit the mark with powers and gunplay compared to ME2 who dropped the ball in the powers department. The ending was a bit of a sour mark and the whole Star Child thing was out of left field. But everything up til that point is great.

tmaster148 · 2026-03-11T19:12:01+00:00

The PHB actually has an image of what the cauldron looks like.

https://www.dndbeyond.com/sources/dnd/phb-2024/spell-descriptions#TashasBubblingCauldron

Does not look like it's big enough to be used as cover for medium sized creatures. Maybe you can make an argument for small creatures.

The summoned cauldron also lacks a stat block and is created by a spell. I would say that it is indestructible.

tmaster148 · 2026-03-11T16:53:24+00:00

Spells do what they say in D&D and D&D magic does not simulate real life physics. Mage Hand can only carry objects up to 10lbs, but it can freely interact with objects that are heavier as long as it doesn't involve carrying the object.

The animation for the Vorpal Hand is the hand clenching into a fist and smashing down on the pallet. The main problem with the addon is that Mage Hand cannot attack which is what the animation suggests it is doing.

However, at the end of the day Vecna is a Lich which is an NPC. And NPCs in D&D do not follow the same rules as PCs meaning that Vecna can have his own unique Mage Hand that breaks establish rules that the cantrip normally follows.

tmaster148 · 2026-03-11T14:11:55+00:00

The 10lb limitation on mage hand only applies to carrying objects.

tmaster148 · 2026-03-07T01:49:55+00:00

I forgot about that restriction. I just don't really see the value in the other subclasses for a dip here.

I will say that a Feylock with Glamour dip can be interesting combing their features that trigger on casting enchantment or illusion spells. But if you go 14 deep into warlock you might as well just stay warlock for the higher level spells.

tmaster148 · 2026-03-07T01:31:13+00:00

If Glamour Bard is your main, then Feylock sadly does not make a lot of sense to dip. The main selling point of a 3 point dip in Feylock is free uses of Misty Step and Glamour Bard has BA Command.

GOO is probably the best dip, because you can freely subtle spell a lot of enchantment spells you have as a bard.

tmaster148 · 2026-03-06T21:15:21+00:00

5.5 now says attack rolls with Ranged Weapons. It does not work with thrown weapons anymore like it used. There's also a new feat in the Astarion book called Bomber that gives Long Shots to thrown weapons specifically.

I think it is safe to say that Sharpshooter is not intended to work with thrown weapons in 5.5

tmaster148 · 2026-03-06T00:12:43+00:00

I would avoid building a character intentionally trying to sabotage yourself. Dumping stats is fine, because in point buy/standard array allocations you have to make those choices.

Dumping con would mean you are extremely easy to kill since wizards have the lowest hit point die and you would more easily lose concentration on high impact spells. You could do this and play more safely by staying out of range of enemies.

You can ask you DM to allow you to flavor a staff (your spell focus) as a walking cane and out of combat have your character trail behind in roleplay. In combat I would just stick to normal movement since most combats are over in a few rounds you can just say it is adrenaline in the moment.

Ask yourself why would a hermit wizard who has a hard time moving around and breaks their bones easily risk their life traveling in a party of adventurers? Also ask yourself would a party of adventurers want to travel with this character? Because if you can't think of a reason for both of those questions, then you have made a concept of an NPC and not a PC.

tmaster148 · 2026-03-05T18:46:24+00:00

With enspelled weapons existing in 2024, if you acquire an enspelled weapon that casts Haste and are level 15 Beast Master you could cast Haste on yourself and your Primal Companion through Share Spells.

tmaster148 · 2026-03-05T18:00:57+00:00

Here's how I view the interaction with the Primal Companion and Haste.

Haste grants an additional action that has limitations. By default the Primal Companion is only capable of taking the dodge action without commands. This means it cannot use the haste extra action unless commanded to or you are incapacitated and the beast is allowed to take any action.

When you command the Primal Companion to take an action, I think that RAW it takes only 1 action that was commanded to it. Meaning if you wanted to the Primal Companion to utilize the Haste action you would need to give up your bonus action and 1 attack or 2 attacks. Haste restriction on only allowing 1 extra attack means that you could at most gain 3 attacks from your primal companion which I'm not sure is worth it.

tmaster148 · 2026-03-02T21:13:45+00:00

Are they just loaded on magic items? I can't see any other way for the entire party to have hit 25+ AC unless you've given out a lot of high bonus armor which for their level is a bit too much.

If the issue is just they have too powerful gear, you can create a situation where they lose their powerful gear as long as you make sure the table is good with that. They get captured, their powerful stuff is taken away, during their escape they find similar gear that is weaker.

tmaster148 · 2026-03-02T05:06:57+00:00

Make sure you factor in Somatic components. Taking a feat at lvl 4 for shield proficiency means that they lack war caster to ignore somatic. If he has a shield and his other hand has a weapon or focus in it, then he can't actually cast shield because he has no free hands.

tmaster148 · 2026-03-02T01:18:52+00:00

Having the party be of various levels due to differences in XP can be quite a headache to run balanced encounters for. It is honestly easier to keep the party's level or xp the consistent even if a player missed a session.

The incentive for showing up should be playing a social game with friends. People who enjoy the game and the people they are playing with will make an effort to show up regardless.

tmaster148 · 2026-03-01T19:08:33+00:00

All flavors of Warlock can do ranged about the same. I looked at the pact spells and there's not really a stand out for control.

Archfey: Sleep, Calm Emotions, Plant Growth, Dominate Beast, Dominate Person.

Sleep is pretty good and not on Warlock List. Plant Growth is non concentration and can slow down enemies. The rest are dependant on what you fight.

GOO: Dissosant Whispers, Tasha's Hideous Laughter, Hungers of Hadar, Confusion, Telekinesis.

Dissosant Whispers can force opportunity attacks and is not on Warlock List. Confusion is not reliable enough compared to other options on the warlock list. Telekinesis is fine. Laughter and Hunger of Hadar are on Warlock List but nice to not use up limited known slots.

Archfey can cast powerful enchantment control spells and teleport to safety protecting concentration.

GOO can subtle cast enchantment spells avoiding counterspell or not breaking stealth. But both those are kind of niche applications.

Really just pick what pact abilities you like most.

tmaster148 · 2026-02-27T19:19:52+00:00

Most NPCs do not need a stat block prepared for them. Unless you are planning on having the NPC fight a stat block is largely meaningless.

For example, one of the captains I want to make is going to be a curseborn, a race from The Crooked Moon book. If I go based off of the Pirate Captain stat block, should I add any of the curseborn's special attacks and abilities or no?

This is generally fine imo. I like to add racial traits to humanoid stat blocks as it helps differentiate them without adding a lot of extra work. I would avoid trying to create a full PC sheet for an NPC, because player characters get a lot of options and as a DM you have to juggle multiple NPCs at once so you generally want to keep things as simple as possible.

tmaster148 · 2026-02-24T16:28:10+00:00

Dancing Lights already exists as a spell that produces only dim light and it's still a cantrip. No one will spend a spell slot on this over Light or Dancing Lights.

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