I know that 1st level spells can be cast using 2nd level slots. If a character is out of 1st level slots, but has a 2nd level slot, can they still cast a spell at first level, or are they forced to make the spell hit harder? I’d allow it
— Mike Mearls (@mikemearls) August 28, 2018
DnD
I am wearing a Dread Helm for my character
I am wearing a Dread Helm for my character. @ChrisPerkinsDnD is there an on and off switch for making the eyes glow?
— Todd Kenreck (@ToddKenreck) September 25, 2018
Remove the helmet, and your eyes stop glowing. The factory model doesn’t have an on/off switch. #wotcstaff https://t.co/w7azfM8Ol7
— Christopher Perkins (@ChrisPerkinsDnD) September 25, 2018
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Any tips for balancing encounters where players have already been through a few fights?
@ChrisPerkinsDnD Any tips for balancing encounters where players have already been through a few fights? Like they've had a couple short rests.
— Ryan Lowy (@AJustConspiracy) September 27, 2018
I try not to fret about it, knowing I can rein in the difficulty if things get too hard (by having enemies withdraw or negotiate, for example). #wotcstaff https://t.co/cCyGXdAGmf
— Christopher Pumpkins 🎃 (@ChrisPerkinsDnD) September 27, 2018
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You talk of “too many options”, what do you say about “not enough choices or options”?
You talk of "too many options", what do you say about "not enough choices or options"? 5e has a distinct lack of choices and very limited options. Most player characters will make 2, maybe 3 choices in their entire career. 1/2
— Andrew Weyandt (@GenericFighter) September 16, 2018
It’s a continuum. We’re finding that the 5e direction seems to work well for most players. That doesn’t mean it’s a fit for every group, and that’s where other games can pick up the slack. https://t.co/jJlC1YOYiv
— Mike Mearls (@mikemearls) September 16, 2018
So what I have come to realize is that I truly do not desire higher quantity of options, I desire higher quality of options. That I would be happy to have 3 to 5 options if they all had something that interested me. And that is an important thing to me. Meaningful choices. 5/6 It’s funny you brought up 4e – I think if we didn’t go with the very strict power acquisition structure for all classes, the game would’ve been much, much stronger. That and cutting combat time down by 50% – 75%.
— Mike Mearls (@mikemearls) September 16, 2018
Sometimes I feel like 4E is like the ACA: Polling on the individual components is usually high, but somehow people dislike the sum of its parts!
(Observation I had earlier, this was just an easy place to mention it, PRAISE ME FOR MY CLEVER OBSERVATIONS, INTERNET!) 4e was really undermined by the decision fairly late in the process to use the same power structure for every class. That structure was a big mistake for a few reasons:
— Mike Mearls (@mikemearls) September 17, 2018
The number of encounter powers forced the floor for encounter duration up, to the point that 60 minute fights were the minimum for many campaigns. Utility powers ended up getting transformed into stuff you used during fights that wasn’t attacks, which made fights drag even worse. And then dailies sat on top of it all, and at-wills filled in the gaps.
— Mike Mearls (@mikemearls) September 17, 2018
Were I rebuilding 4e today, I’d make at-wills far more exciting and powerful, restrict utility to non-combat, and use the non-attack stuff in encounter powers. Then I’d make daily powers three times as good. Finally, as a first pass on encounter building I’d aim for much faster fights, but allow for the tough fights to be much, much higher than the party’s level and last longer. So, level 1 party might fight level 1 critters, but boss monster is a level 8 solo that draws out dailies.
— Mike Mearls (@mikemearls) September 17, 2018
And also fewer powers overall? Definitely for character building – would have a high standard for getting into the game.
— Mike Mearls (@mikemearls) September 17, 2018
Bah. Assume people are never using at-wills unless something has gone wrong, and expect a player with 3 encounter attack powers to do 3 things of note each encounter! FWIW, one of the biggest problems people had with 4e was that fights felt too similar and dragged out. Getting encounter powers right in an TRPG is very tricky. Could be done, would take a lot of testing to nail it.
— Mike Mearls (@mikemearls) September 17, 2018
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“According to the map, the dragon’s treasure is down there.”
1)
“According to the map, the dragon’s treasure is down there.” The fighter pointed down the shaft.
The thief peered. “Full of jet-black water. With long-dead things floating in it. So it’s a drowned dragon, is it?”#epic fantasy— Ed Greenwood (@TheEdVerse) July 30, 2018
3)
“A mere detail. Could be an illusion,” said the cleric.
The thief picked up a broken-off end of flagstone and tossed it down the shaft.
“PLOOSH,” commented the water below.
“There’s your illusion. Most convincing.” The cleric shrugged. “Water. A mere detail.”
Then something very large and glistening-wet burst up out of the shaft to tower over them. It had many writhing tentacles and staring eyes. And not a few fanged mouths that bit…#epic fantasy— Ed Greenwood (@TheEdVerse) July 30, 2018
5)
In three different directions.
…at the air.
Two tentacles angrily waved the flagstone.
The cleric stared at it. “Could be an illusion. Or another mere detail.”
The fighter, thief, and wizard traded glances.
Then, in silent accord, turned and sprinted away.#epic fantasyThe large, swaying something regarded the cleric—and pounced, striking like a snake. Holy spells flashed blinding white.
And rebounded off fangs that bit big chunks out of the cleric.#epic fantasy— Ed Greenwood (@TheEdVerse) July 30, 2018
7)
Fangs that glowed with their own holy fire.
“Sacrilege!” thundered the large swaying something. “As the Guardian Priest of the Great Wyrm GGHlong, hear me! Pieces of stone are NOT acceptable offerings to the Wyrm Of All!”#epic fantasy “Will pieces of cleric do?” the thief called, from around a corner in the distance. “Or can we depart in safety to go and fetch you something else?”
The Guardian Priest sneered. “You seek to deceive me. You shall flee and…#epic fantasy— Ed Greenwood (@TheEdVerse) July 30, 2018
9)
…SEVEN MORE clerics. I eat only holy flesh, and have not eaten in years!”
…never return. GGHlong is further affronted! Seek not to escape, for GGHlong is the Wyrm Of All! All worms obey Him; you are safe nowhere!”
The wizard rolled his eyes. “How may GGHlong be appeased?”
“Bring me pieces of… “Ah. I believe we can oblige. We must go and get them, though; we’re a long way from any temples.”
“How can I trust you’ll return?”#epic fantasy— Ed Greenwood (@TheEdVerse) July 30, 2018
11)
“Clever,” the thief told the wizard, when they were out in the open air again. “Safe escape, though we have to kiss the dragon’s treasure farewell.”
“You must have faith,” the wizard called. “GGHlong would expect no less!”
“You speak truth! Go, then!”
“Going!” the wizard, thief, and fighter chorused. And went.#epic fantasy “How so? I fully intend to come back with seven clerics.”
“Whaaat?”#epic fantasy— Ed Greenwood (@TheEdVerse) July 30, 2018
12)
“Clever,” the thief told the wizard, when they were out in the open air again. “Safe escape, though we have to kiss the dragon’s treasure farewell.”
“How so? I fully intend to come back with seven clerics.”
“Whaaat?”#epic fantasy “How will you get them to come?”
“I’ll tell them yon Guardian Priest commanded it. So, holy quest. I may neglect to mention GGHlong, or that GGHlong’s priest happens to be a huge monster. Mere details, after all.”#epic fantasy— Ed Greenwood (@TheEdVerse) July 30, 2018
12)
“How will you get them to come?”
“I’ll tell them yon Guardian Priest commanded it. So, holy quest. I may neglect to mention GGHlong, or that GGHlong’s priest happens to be a huge monster. Mere details, after all.”#epic fantasy— Ed Greenwood (@TheEdVerse) July 30, 2018
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The Stranger Things companion book has D&D character sheets for the party!
This is pretty cool: the @Stranger_Things companion book by @_ginamcintyre coming out soon has @Wizards_DnD character sheets for the party. Comes with a very snazzy pre-distressed jacket for those vintage feels. #dnd #rpg https://t.co/56NW86aGIh pic.twitter.com/gfGnpeUNEn
— Jon Peterson 👻 (@docetist) October 20, 2018
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Kind of want to re-fluff Barovia into Chult and make Strahd have to deal with dinosaurs…
Kind of want to re-fluff Barovia into Chult and make Strahd have to deal with dinosaurs… humidity, blazing hot days, wild vegetation, and all the people do things slowly because of the heat.@StrahdVonZ can then complain “why am I in Heart of Darkness”?? Kreszk could be the Isle of Dr Moreau.
— Kale Ghouled (@taverntalesdm) September 29, 2018
The inspiration for Krezk (as it appears in Curse of Strahd) was the The Island of Doctor Moreau. #wotcstaff https://t.co/GeKJjsNXo7
— Christopher Pumpkins 🎃 (@ChrisPerkinsDnD) September 29, 2018
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Don’t sweat it if you’ve veered pretty far from the main storyline of a published D&D module
DM Tip of the Day: Don't sweat it if you've veered pretty far from the main storyline of a published D&D module, just be prepare for Chris Perkins to break into your house late at night and beat you with a sock full of d20s. Don't resist. You deserve this fate.
— Colin is a Stubby Squid (@ColinItLikeISee) September 5, 2018
If this were true, I’d be smacking myself upside the head with socks full of d20s at least once a week. I almost never run a published adventure as written. #wotcstaff https://t.co/II3feYKw7I
— Christopher Perkins (@ChrisPerkinsDnD) September 6, 2018
