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So I'm doing a 5e West Marches style campaign, and one of my lv3 players is a Bard who got to pick a magic item, with the only restriction being that it has to be an instrument. He picked a magic saxophone. I want to make it good without making it overpowered -- while I would like to give it the ability to cast a few cool cantrips at will, I don't think that'll be too effective. However, I'm also playing with giving it the abilities of the Decanter of Endless Water, just activated by playing it instead of speaking a command word. Any other ideas? It can't be too powerful -- something along the lines of 'an uncommon magic item'. So far I've let it produce water, beer, or hard liquor (user's choice) at a rate of 1 gallon, 5 gallons, or 20 gallons. It's a new world exploration campaign, so the economy won't suffer or anything just by letting it produce this stuff. Orange DeviI fucked around with this message at 22:02 on Jun 15, 2020 |
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Jun 15, 2020 21:54
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please knock Mom! posted:So I'm doing a 5e West Marches style campaign, and one of my lv3 players is a Bard who got to pick a magic item, with the only restriction being that it has to be an instrument. He picked a magic saxophone. I want to make it good without making it overpowered -- while I would like to give it the ability to cast a few cool cantrips at will, I don't think that'll be too effective. However, I'm also playing with giving it the abilities of the Decanter of Endless Water, just activated by playing it instead of speaking a command word. Any other ideas? It can't be too powerful -- something along the lines of 'an uncommon magic item'. Give it some suggestion/charm person etc charges but it has to trigger off of a performance check, so they can't be subtle about it at all
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Jun 15, 2020 21:56
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Give him the ability to bust through a wall, once a day when he says the command word https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZNno63ZO2Lw sebmojo fucked around with this message at 22:05 on Jun 15, 2020 |
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Jun 15, 2020 22:03
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Also hypnotic pattern, but he has to keep playing (and the hypnotized people are rocking out 80s style)
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Jun 15, 2020 22:04
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please knock Mom! posted:So I'm doing a 5e West Marches style campaign, and one of my lv3 players is a Bard who got to pick a magic item, with the only restriction being that it has to be an instrument. He picked a magic saxophone. I want to make it good without making it overpowered -- while I would like to give it the ability to cast a few cool cantrips at will, I don't think that'll be too effective. However, I'm also playing with giving it the abilities of the Decanter of Endless Water, just activated by playing it instead of speaking a command word. Any other ideas? It can't be too powerful -- something along the lines of 'an uncommon magic item'. Careless whispers... guilty feet have got no rhythm. Acrobatics(Dex) save or fall prone for everyone who can hear it. DC 15.
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Jun 15, 2020 22:10
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please knock Mom! posted:So I'm doing a 5e West Marches style campaign, and one of my lv3 players is a Bard who got to pick a magic item, with the only restriction being that it has to be an instrument. He picked a magic saxophone. I want to make it good without making it overpowered -- while I would like to give it the ability to cast a few cool cantrips at will, I don't think that'll be too effective. However, I'm also playing with giving it the abilities of the Decanter of Endless Water, just activated by playing it instead of speaking a command word. Any other ideas? It can't be too powerful -- something along the lines of 'an uncommon magic item'. Shape water/fire, mold earth, or minor illusion when he plays could be fun. They are just basic cantrips, but letting him add a bit of magic to any performance opens up some roleplaying opportunities. They are also useful if the player is creative, but have the added limitation that the PC needs some time to have an uninterrupted performance with a loud instrument.
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Jun 15, 2020 22:37
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These are all lovely suggestions. I'm starting it off with the water/beer/liquor power, adding on the cantrips, save-or-prone, and hypnotic pattern as benefits gained through leveling it. I've already got a few quests in mind for the bard which'll unlock them.
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Jun 15, 2020 23:12
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I'm not sure if this counts as intended or Murphy's Rules, but today we learned that a half-orc's Relentless Endurance trait is always active, not just in combat or particular sources. We learned this when our fighter got sloppy and walked down a hallway ahead of the rogue, tripping a swinging scythe trap that would have made paste out of any of the rest of us. We're gonna take a nap, head upriver to a nearby fort, and come back better prepared. Personally I think the fighter did a great job of checking for traps and we should just use him to do that after every long rest.
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Jun 16, 2020 03:56
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You could also make it a saxophone of stealth: it makes you invisible while you are playing it. Or maybe just save that for another magical instrument that he encounters. Any number of instruments could be fun, but I especially like really big ones or really small and loud ones (like a kazoo)
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Jun 16, 2020 09:37
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Lobsterpillar posted:You could also make it a saxophone of stealth: it makes you invisible while you are playing it. I like the idea of a Tuba that increases stealth, but only if you're actively playing "In the Hall of the Mountain King".
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Jun 16, 2020 17:58
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Does it only work if they're an overfed long haired leaping gnome
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Jun 16, 2020 20:13
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Stabbey_the_Clown posted:I like the idea of a Tuba that increases stealth, but only if you're actively playing "In the Hall of the Mountain King". If you wanted to keep it a saxophone, the Pink Panther theme.
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Jun 17, 2020 00:10
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i want monster hunter hunting horns in dnd so badly now
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Jun 17, 2020 00:22
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Stabbey_the_Clown posted:I like the idea of a Tuba that increases stealth, but only if you're actively playing "In the Hall of the Mountain King". This would be loving terrifying
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Jun 17, 2020 05:19
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Reveilled posted:If you wanted to keep it a saxophone, the Pink Panther theme. I'm all in on the idea of creating a "sneaky soundtrack" effect. As well as a jazzy pink panther version of Hall of the Mountain King: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c-rFzcJm8g0 "While attuned, the Trombone of the Mountain King allows you to use your performance roll in lieu of a stealth check. Once per day, Trombone of the Mountain King may be used to turn yourself and up to four accompanists invisible - other creatures can hear the musical performance normally but cannot identify the source." Kaal fucked around with this message at 15:34 on Jun 17, 2020 |
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Jun 17, 2020 15:21
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I was wondering if anyone has good advice or resources on puzzles. My players are (Avernus stuff) going to the Arches of Ulloch next, and it's kind of a nothingburger of an area so I thought having a puzzle or riddle of some kind would make it more interesting. But, I don't even know where to begin for inspiration on this kind of thing. I did some googling and did hit some DM advice, namely "Don't make it too hard since it bars progress" and "don't be afraid to just let them break it with alternate solutions", but nothing about actually designing a good puzzle.
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Jun 17, 2020 16:03
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Celebrity Ghost posted:I was wondering if anyone has good advice or resources on puzzles. My players are (Avernus stuff) going to the Arches of Ulloch next, and it's kind of a nothingburger of an area so I thought having a puzzle or riddle of some kind would make it more interesting. But, I don't even know where to begin for inspiration on this kind of thing. I did some googling and did hit some DM advice, namely "Don't make it too hard since it bars progress" and "don't be afraid to just let them break it with alternate solutions", but nothing about actually designing a good puzzle. Use the rule of three, so that solving a puzzle should take no more than three steps. Provide multiple ways to get clues, because they'll probably miss them. Make the puzzle interesting because there's a good chance they'll try to sidestep it or push past.
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Jun 17, 2020 16:27
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Speaking from experience here: Never, never do a light's out puzzle
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Jun 17, 2020 16:34
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I can't speak to making puzzles, but I dunno if you need to add anything to the Arches. Just Don't remind them of how they work.
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Jun 17, 2020 16:48
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I've enjoyed making puzzles related to "getting this unusual treasure home, which doesn't fit through the door". Or a chest with 100,000 copper pieces in it (which is obviously incredibly heavy). If the players figure out something clever, they can keep the treasure, otherwise they have to leave it behind.
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Jun 17, 2020 17:36
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This was inspired by a forgotten realms novel whose name I can't recall, but we once had a character who had the innate ability to turn invisible, at will, so long as his eyes were closed. Bit of a mixed blessing
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Jun 17, 2020 18:14
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JustJeff88 posted:This was inspired by a forgotten realms novel whose name I can't recall, but we once had a character who had the innate ability to turn invisible, at will, so long as his eyes were closed. Bit of a mixed blessing 
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Jun 17, 2020 18:21
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DMing for a new group, summarized prompt is that they’ve all done something bad a month earlier and that’s why they’re on a rickety boat setting sail for the unexplored shores of Chult. I haven’t properly DMed in years so I just whipped up some ship crew, two or three encounters to throw at them (starting level 3, so mainly a level appropriate harpy raiding party and sahuagin boarders). I think I’ve got enough for session one. Does anyone have some pointers on solid modules in 5e which feature ship to ship combat? I’d love to cannibalize an encounter with a pirate vessel.
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Jun 17, 2020 19:29
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https://www.humblebundle.com/software/maps-extravaganza-software Is this good? I know Campaign Cartographer is venerable, but is it worth 30 bucks with all the fixins?
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Jun 17, 2020 19:40
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please knock Mom! posted:DMing for a new group, summarized prompt is that they’ve all done something bad a month earlier and that’s why they’re on a rickety boat setting sail for the unexplored shores of Chult. Saltmarsh is what everyone is drawing from for.piratey stuff these days I think.
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Jun 17, 2020 20:28
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Our level 6 party is getting custom magical items made as a quest reward (ie we get to choose) and at first I wanted winged boots, both because flying rules and it's strictly worse than the broom, which I feel like is overpowered. Buttttt I was looking through items last night, and came across the professor orb:quote:Each professor orb takes the form of a smooth, solid, 5-pound sphere of smoky gray quartz about the size of a grapefruit. Close examination reveals two or more pinpricks of silver light deep inside the sphere. How broken is this in practice? I'm playing a wizard already but having a floating, sentient library/universal translator for the languages your party doesn't speak at your disposal seems pretty useful
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Jun 17, 2020 21:04
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Hieronymous Alloy posted:Saltmarsh is what everyone is drawing from for.piratey stuff these days I think. Thanks, I'm just looking to steal some battlemaps and stuff, so this is great. Is the Roll20 module any good? As in, can I just steal battlemaps piecemeal? Else I'll just buy it on dndbeyond.
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Jun 17, 2020 21:45
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change my name posted:Our level 6 party is getting custom magical items made as a quest reward (ie we get to choose) and at first I wanted winged boots, both because flying rules and it's strictly worse than the broom, which I feel like is overpowered. Buttttt I was looking through items last night, and came across the professor orb: It's as broken as your DM lets it be. Or as worthless as your DM makes it. But it does have a hard cap at just being lore dumpy. Or a floor at being useless. I'd talk to your DM, they might be able to implement it into the story in interesting ways.
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Jun 17, 2020 21:45
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Enola Gay-For-Pay posted:https://www.humblebundle.com/software/maps-extravaganza-software Anyway I'll try to get some time with the Campaign Cartographer bundle and post thoughts here
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Jun 17, 2020 22:19
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Celebrity Ghost posted:I was wondering if anyone has good advice or resources on puzzles. My players are (Avernus stuff) going to the Arches of Ulloch next, and it's kind of a nothingburger of an area so I thought having a puzzle or riddle of some kind would make it more interesting. But, I don't even know where to begin for inspiration on this kind of thing. I did some googling and did hit some DM advice, namely "Don't make it too hard since it bars progress" and "don't be afraid to just let them break it with alternate solutions", but nothing about actually designing a good puzzle. My usual place of inspiration for D&D puzzles is a 90s TV show called The Crystal Maze, you can find episodes on Youtube. If you've never seen it before, the general premise is that a team of players must complete challenges in various categories (mental, physical, skill, and mystery) and settings. Each challenge is attempted by one player, but other players can help out with advice or encouragement. The mental and mystery games are usually the most "puzzly" but the other two are good inspirations also. The nice thing about these challenges is that they're designed to be completed in three minutes or less, so you can be relatively sure that any D&D puzzle based on a Crystal Maze puzzle will not stump the players for very long, while providing a nice change of pace.
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Jun 17, 2020 22:22
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Dexo posted:It's as broken as your DM lets it be. Or as worthless as your DM makes it. She's going to give me a list of potential scholarly areas it can have expertise in, so I assume it won't be totally useless. But I just found out that we all get to pick rare items anyways, so it's a moot point if everyone's getting nice things.
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Jun 17, 2020 22:23
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Syrinxx posted:I'm bout to find out. I do have Dungeondraft but I found the lack of cool graphics/tilesets to be a bit limiting - everything has the same cartoony look. I realize it's in alpha so I assume DD assets will grow a lot after release. 2-minute tabletop's packs (which includes lots of free -- or really PWYW with optional $0 payment) all seem to include dungeondraft asset packs which import pretty easily, I've had pretty good success with it.
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Jun 17, 2020 22:55
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In my entire 15 year span of playing TTRPGs I've never actually done a classic dragon fight from either side of the DM screen. The OP of this thread says that the Tyranny of Dragons hardcovers are actually lackluster, so can anyone recommend me maybe some DMs Guild adventures that are good dragon based adventures?
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Jun 17, 2020 23:06
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https://dnd.wizards.com/articles/features/diversity-and-dnd racial stat bonuses ... might be gone soon ?
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Jun 18, 2020 02:06
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pog boyfriend posted:https://dnd.wizards.com/articles/features/diversity-and-dnd good
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Jun 18, 2020 02:11
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I’m curious to see what the modifications to CoS are. They’re gonna have to redo the whole presentation of that group.
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Jun 18, 2020 02:14
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pog boyfriend posted:https://dnd.wizards.com/articles/features/diversity-and-dnd Even if you do play your Drow PC as evil, how may people actually play a drow as they are written int he setting?
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Jun 18, 2020 02:16
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pog boyfriend posted:https://dnd.wizards.com/articles/features/diversity-and-dnd Sounds good to me. I know it's not necessary to be optimal or whatever, but if one player is a gnome barbarian and everyone else is more conventional combos the disparity can be a little bit of a bummer.
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Jun 18, 2020 02:27
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pog boyfriend posted:https://dnd.wizards.com/articles/features/diversity-and-dnd Holy goddamn poo poo yes, they should have killed them ages ago! Not enthused about paying money for the privilege or eating my Adventurer's League +1, but if I can play an orc wizard I'm down.
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Jun 18, 2020 02:38
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Kaysette posted:I’m curious to see what the modifications to CoS are. They’re gonna have to redo the whole presentation of that group. Same. I'm looking to run CoS very soon, and if they want to provide a non-racist version of the Vistani so I don't have to figure out what to do with them that would be great. I wonder how long it'll take to update D&D Beyond.
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Jun 18, 2020 02:40
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