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You can really tell that they wrote parts of the module before publishing the rules… (ttrpg.network)

submitted 1 week ago by jounniy@ttrpg.network to c/rpgmemes@ttrpg.network

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For reference: There is a duell in the module where a shaman tries to secretly help one NPC by continously casting Cure Wounds on him while supposedly only helping him "stand up" after he intentionally let‘s himself fall prone. To spot this, a PC has to specifically declare checking for interventions a then suceed a DC 15 perception-check despite being within earshot…

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[–] NightFantom@slrpnk.net 1 points 1 week ago (1 children)

But the shaman's no player character so the rules don't apply to him.

In 3e pretty much every npc was fully buildable from existing classes, in 5e they just stopped doing that. If the module says he can do sneaky cure wounds, he can do sneaky cure wounds.

[–] jounniy@ttrpg.network 1 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago)

They are using an official statblock which lacks this ability. The only way the shaman can have it is if the DM added it themself. And since this is a prewrittem module, it really shouldn’t have such oversights, especially since newer, inexperienced DM‘s likely aren’t familiar enough with the rules to know this, which makes it at least decently likely that they’ll just assume everyone can cast stealthily.

[–] MurrayL@lemmy.world 1 points 1 week ago (1 children)

People actually pay attention to spell components? I’ve been playing D&D for 20 years and literally every campaign I’ve ever played in just ignored them.

[–] MSBBritain@lemmy.world 2 points 1 week ago (1 children)

I tend to rule that any components are "assumed to be in the materials pouch", unless there is a significant (relative to party wealth) gold price attached, in which case they need to be bought. In practice I found that only really seems to apply to resurrection spells.

From there, the only thing that matters to me is can you reasonably perform or (roll to hide to perform) the semantic and vocal components, as well as get out the materials of your materials pouch in your current state.

In practice this means I can ignore components 85% of the time, but can still temporarily de-power my players if needed for some reason.

[–] Doc_Crankenstein@slrpnk.net 1 points 1 week ago

your first paragraph is literally the book rules for spell components. You either have a focus/components pouch for mundane components and anything with a gold amount needs to be spent to cast.

Very few spells actually have a costly material component for it to ever come up anyway.

Can't hide somatic or verbal components without being a Sorcerer for the meta magic though. Otherwise you're literally undermining one of the key features of that class.

Spell components exist literally for the reason stated at the end: so the DM can keep in check the power of the spellcaster as needed for the scenario by limiting what spells are available to be cast.

[–] gaiety@lemmy.blahaj.zone 1 points 1 week ago

its also the lowest rated official module, after its prequel hoard of the dragon queen

I did run it and it was a fun game all the same, but i made soooo many changes. if i could go back in time I'd teach myself how to make dragon encounters richer

[–] MSBBritain@lemmy.world 0 points 1 week ago (1 children)

I mean, I don't see an issue with hiding the casting of a spell from people. I do think it should probably be the other way around for players (do a slight of hand to hide the semantic/material components, and beat passive perception), but in principle I don't see why you shouldn't be able to hide those?

[–] kichae@wanderingadventure.party 1 points 1 week ago

msbbritain@lemmy.world The issue us that it breaks with the established systems of "reality" without explanation or cause. It's an arbitrary deviation from the established and shared understanding of how things work, with the only available explanatiin being "because I said so, so shut up and don't question me".

It's one thing if there's the equivalent of the Conceal Spell feat and actiin from Pathfinder being leveraged here,but tbat comes with both a build tax and an action tax. If there's no price being paid, it's a little bit of a "fuck you" to the players.