So for 5E monk weapons, it seems to be a matter of preference. Shortbow and light crossbow have two-handed property so they are out. One-handed versatile weapons (spear and quarterstaff) seem best for melee combat while the javelin or hand axe are top for ranged weapons. Until you run out, of course. My monk is currently carrying 10 darts which came as part of his monk starting equipment.
One of the oddities of weapons is darts are not light weapons, which means you can't throw one with an offhand attack per RAW. My Monk just bought a bunch of daggers, reflavored them as heavy throwing stars, and can therefore throw an extra one in the rare cases he's not just running up and punching people (and then running away, hooray for the Drunken Master, the most fun of Monks).
But handaxe is Light which weighs 8 times as much as a dart!
The weight makes the handaxe range 20/60 compared to Milkman's "throwing stars" which are 40/120 if you're considering them small knives. All you get with a handaxe is shorter range for 1d6 damage instead of 1d4.
I just thought it was a funny incongruity.
Darts exist in kind of a weird space since they are one of the few Thrown Ranged weapons. They don't get the Light tag because Two-Weapon Fighting only applies to melee weapons.
They're also technically not Monk Weapons so they don't benefit from Martial Arts. Daggers, Handaxes, and Javelins are better overall, but they're a lot heavier and more expensive.
Darts exist in kind of a weird space since they are one of the few Thrown Ranged weapons. They don't get the Light tag because Two-Weapon Fighting only applies to melee weapons.
They're also technically not Monk Weapons so they don't benefit from Martial Arts. Daggers, Handaxes, and Javelins are better overall, but they're a lot heavier and more expensive.
In 1st Ed AD&D, my Wizards used to always have them because of the weak weapon choices.
What do you guys use darts for in 5e? A medium to get poison into someone's bloodstream for your Assassin? A fun RP thing where you can whip out the darts at the campsites or in the taverns? Toothpicks?
-BEP
A 1st level monk starts with darts if you're doing package starts.
I upgraded to a couple of javelins. Darts will be a backup ranged weapon.
Every dart hit is a constitution saving throw for an enemy spellcaster who is out of range.
New 5e WotC book coming out is great for online groups that lose random players occasionally.
Sounds like me... lol Anyone else interested?
Sounds like a good idea to have one off adventures for online play.
I have a small collection of one off adventures for when we can't run the main game for whatever reason.
My only issue is that a lot of them are rather plain. I feel a one shot should do unique things in order to be interesting. Most are super vanilla. The three best I had were a groundhog day one, Texas chainsaw goblin, and a Friday the 13th. Last one was free online and first two I had to make.
I have a small collection of one off adventures for when we can't run the main game for whatever reason.
My only issue is that a lot of them are rather plain. I feel a one shot should do unique things in order to be interesting. Most are super vanilla. The three best I had were a groundhog day one, Texas chainsaw goblin, and a Friday the 13th. Last one was free online and first two I had to make.
I played a one-shot adventure that involved a wizard who was turned into a goat by their apprentice. The apprentice stole some artifacts from the wizard to start charming people in town. You had to figure out what was going on from a goat who gave you a scroll of Speak with Animals that only lasted so long and the towns people. That was the most interesting one-shot I've played.
master0 wrote:I have a small collection of one off adventures for when we can't run the main game for whatever reason.
My only issue is that a lot of them are rather plain. I feel a one shot should do unique things in order to be interesting. Most are super vanilla. The three best I had were a groundhog day one, Texas chainsaw goblin, and a Friday the 13th. Last one was free online and first two I had to make.
I played a one-shot adventure that involved a wizard who was turned into a goat by their apprentice. The apprentice stole some artifacts from the wizard to start charming people in town. You had to figure out what was going on from a goat who gave you a scroll of Speak with Animals that only lasted so long and the towns people. That was the most interesting one-shot I've played.
I believe that's The Wild Sheep Chase on DM's Guild - I've also played in this and it was a lot of fun.
I've also run Pudding Faire, which took a couple sessions but everybody had a blast.
Also a time loop adventure, in case that repeat isn't desirable for your group
Arcadia magazine from MCDM has had several neat-looking one shots, but I haven't had a chance to run any of them yet.
I'm actually kind of the opposite for one-shots, because that's by and large what I run in the big ol' West Marches group I've been in for almost five years where we share DMing depending on the night; lots of times, if somebody's going to DM and can't show, I'll just jump in, and I'll quickly make a map on Donjon, make sure I have the classic blue background, throw random monsters and traps on the map, and just call it an "Old-School Gygax Adventure". It doesn't make sense at all and there's nothing much beyond the tactical element of bashing stuff on a map, but players sometimes really appreciate stepping away from roleplaying and creative thinking and just want to powergame/murder monsters. It's kind of refreshing to just do it for stupid fun every once and a while.
I'm actually kind of the opposite for one-shots, because that's by and large what I run in the big ol' West Marches group I've been in for almost five years where we share DMing depending on the night; lots of times, if somebody's going to DM and can't show, I'll just jump in, and I'll quickly make a map on Donjon, make sure I have the classic blue background, throw random monsters and traps on the map, and just call it an "Old-School Gygax Adventure". It doesn't make sense at all and there's nothing much beyond the tactical element of bashing stuff on a map, but players sometimes really appreciate stepping away from roleplaying and creative thinking and just want to powergame/murder monsters. It's kind of refreshing to just do it for stupid fun every once and a while.
I think it honestly depends how often and how long you've gotten to play. We can maybe get a session every two weeks. So the desire for a break from the main campaign isn't there. I actually have a request to do another Halloween one shot already. Thinking a dnd party lost in creepy suburbia or something cabin in the woods style.
I believe that's The Wild Sheep Chase on DM's Guild - I've also played in this and it was a lot of fun.
About how long did that take your group to play through?
I had fun just reading through it, and now maybe I have a chance to run it coming up in a few weeks.
ActualDragon wrote:I believe that's The Wild Sheep Chase on DM's Guild - I've also played in this and it was a lot of fun.
About how long did that take your group to play through?
I had fun just reading through it, and now maybe I have a chance to run it coming up in a few weeks.
We knocked it out in one evening, though I don't recall how long we were playing. Maybe 4-5 hours with a lot of faffing about? A lot of faffing. Mr. Dragon and I rolled up Jesse and James (and Meowth) for our characters, if that's an indication (Mastermind Rogue and Beastmaster Ranger, respectively). 
ActualDragon wrote:I believe that's The Wild Sheep Chase on DM's Guild - I've also played in this and it was a lot of fun.
About how long did that take your group to play through?
I had fun just reading through it, and now maybe I have a chance to run it coming up in a few weeks.
Yeah I'd say about 4 hours.
Joined an in person D&D group for the first time in like 5 years... I am super excited even though its a standard Tyranny of Dragons campaign. I barely ever have a chance to game with real folks.
I'm running a firbolg circle of the moon druid which is a top character I have wanted to run for awhile. I've loved druids since they came out in Diablo 2...
Finally using my kickstarter backer reward for the full color print at heroforge, but made a mistake and had to cancel to redo it. While I wait for my kickstarter codes to be valid again... Do folks want to take a look and critique? I opted for nothing on the back and leather armor but metal gloves. I think he look awesome, but I'd love some feedback.
While I wait for my kickstarter codes to be valid again... Do folks want to take a look and critique? I opted for nothing on the back and leather armor but metal gloves. I think he look awesome, but I'd love some feedback.
Is that blue on his top/back-knot the glow from the glyphs behind him? If so, do you want that since it won't be part of the printed mini?
-BEP
manta173 wrote:While I wait for my kickstarter codes to be valid again... Do folks want to take a look and critique? I opted for nothing on the back and leather armor but metal gloves. I think he look awesome, but I'd love some feedback.
Is that blue on his top/back-knot the glow from the glyphs behind him? If so, do you want that since it won't be part of the printed mini?
-BEP
Yeah I wanted some color other than green on him and thought it was interesting, lots of blue in firbolg art even if it is darker tones. The gradient hair colors are not the easiest to play with. Think I should tone it down?
Spelljammer released today... as did it's official soundtrack "Spelljams"
Not gonna lie, I'm totally digging it so far
Yeah I wanted some color other than green on him and thought it was interesting, lots of blue in firbolg art even if it is darker tones. The gradient hair colors are not the easiest to play with. Think I should tone it down?
Nah, looks fine. I was more interested in how the blue got there. I haven't messed too much with their designer in a while.
-BEP
Last week I learned that the Spanish and French versions of the D&D cartoon had their own theme songs... and they SLAP:
So this is the first time I have made it to level 5 with a character... I am having all kinds of decision paralysis with my circle of the moon druid.
Feats vs ability points. We rolled stats so I'm not in a great spot ability points wise but I'm not bad off.
12 STR
12 DEX
18 CON
11 INT
17 WIS
8 CHA
The feats I have been looking at are Gift of the Gem Dragon, Observant (20 or 21 on perception), or maybe telepathic... but our barbarian can speak with animals... so that's less of an issue than normal. I would add 1 to wisdom with all of those... or if I did 2 points I would add the extra to dex waiting for the next time I get an increase.
I'm sure it all balances out... but I want to not shoot myself in the foot at higher levels. Let me know if any of those look like a bad idea.
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Campaign: so we kind of killed a young dragon as a group of level 3s... it was a little wonky, but the barb antagonized it and we had ballistae... We now have a ton of raw materials for crafting gear... but mechanically I don't know a good way to do this. I'm not the DM of course... but man it looks like we will be magic item heavy. How would you do an in world creation of things like dragon scale mail or a dragon's wrath weapon (rolled a nat 20 trying to get the breath weapon organ out)? Find a crafter then an enchanter... track down a high level artificer? make a bunch of rolls ourselves? The DM plans on doing a bunch of magic items grow with us stuff, i assume we could easily incorporate that into these items following the hoard item rules.
Fizban's book has a lot of cool toys... I might roll a drakewarden ranger if I need another character anytime soon.
I also want the Dragon-Touched Focus... but man I can only attune to like 3 things... Any other dragon part toys y'all might suggest would be cool too.
So after some debate, seems like he saddled us with lots of time and money requirements per various WotC books... lol there goes being overpowered for the next 5 levels or so... lol
I did find out that I can make my own health potions given time and cash... so that's nice. Apparently anyone with an herbalism kit can...
Me, I'd make that huge treasure hoard a target for every chancer, sneak thief and bandit band in the area, once word got out. Make you work and bleed for every item. 
But then, I'm Olde Schoole.
My players just got their grubby hands on 400,000 gold pieces (in the finale of Waterdeep: Dragon Heist), and they kept hold of it for almost a whole session before it got into the hands of criminal elements and they were framed for its theft.
Me, I'd make that huge treasure hoard a target for every chancer, sneak thief and bandit band in the area, once word got out. Make you work and bleed for every item.
But then, I'm Olde Schoole.
Yeah DM already mentioned that being in a big city to find someone capable of making stuff might lead to that...
But yo my passive perception is freaking 22...
Just some more of the DnD One play test that got released. Rangers and dual wield got the most interesting changes to me. Dual wielding is no longer a bonus action for the off hand. Just a part of the attack action instead. With a few feats it seems like a decent buff for it.
Ranger, the class punching bag, got some heavy buffs. Better spell casting and abilities overall. Including can trips. While hunter's mark is no longer concentration and is a free spell. Plus a bunch of other abilities got buffed. They literally said in the video it might be too much. Could be fun
Rogue only got tweaked a little. Maybe a slight debuff as hiding got harder, but mostly unchanged. Bard got tweaked a little and is bit more of a healer now. Being able to heal with bardic inspiration is neat. And gets some healing song/spell stuff as well.
Otherwise the rest seemed fairly normal to me. Some design changes, and other errata. They changed exhaustion to be less horrible. And introduced a spell with downcasting.
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