Rules Lookup: The Official Thread

Summary:

What are some rules questions that came up in game?

Rules Lookup: The Official Thread

UltimaGabe 28 Sep 2014 05:34

After our first session today, there were a few rules issues that came up that we didn't know the answer to; so I made a quick judgment and we moved on. Now that we have time, though, does anyone remember what the issues were? The ones I remember:

Flanking: How does it work?

Also, do Polearm users get to flank at reach?

I'll look these up soon (unless someone else finds the answer, and wants to post the relevant rulebook text). If anyone thinks of any others, post them here! We can keep a running tally of every one that comes up over the course of the game.

Re: Rules Lookup: The Official Thread

Cfowlkes 28 Sep 2014 06:49

Found out something new with a closer reading of the rules…We've all been doing it wrong flanking does not give advantage at all it only allows the use of sneak attack. Also Reach weapons have no penalty at 5' in this edition.

Re: Rules Lookup: The Official Thread

UltimaGabe 28 Sep 2014 15:32

That makes sense about flanking. My bad. By chance do you have the page number that talks about it? I swear it was in there but strangely absent from the glossary.

Also, I thought reach weapons have disadvantage within 5 feet? I'll try and see if I can find a page reference or if I'm making that up.

Re: Rules Lookup: The Official Thread

Tom Russell 02 Oct 2014 01:46

I see that ranged weapons have disadvantage within five feet, but I don't see it about reach.

Polearms are awesome.

Re: Rules Lookup: The Official Thread

UltimaGabe 02 Oct 2014 03:31

I swear I read that somewhere- it was the 5e translation of how you couldn't attack a target with a reach weapon if they were within 5 feet. I'll find it.

Re: Rules Lookup: The Official Thread

UltimaGabe 03 Oct 2014 02:05

Alright, it seems that, as Chris pointed out, flanking does not exist in 5e- the only time it comes up in the PHB is in regards to Sneak Attack (and even then it's no longer referred to as flanking) and all it does is facilitate Sneak Attack for rogues. The text specifically calls out having an ally adjacent, so polearm users cannot flank at range (not that it would provide much benefit to do so).

Also, as far as I can tell I must have dreamt up the disadvantage-when-using-a-reach-weapon-within-5-feet thing. For a moment I thought maybe it was a house rule I read on reddit, but even that isn't turning up any results. So I guess that is toast.

Edit: AHA! I figured it out. The rule I was thinking of indeed exists (page 148 of the PHB), but it only applies to lances, not all reach weapons. So I was still wrong, but at least I'm not crazy!

Were there any other rules issues during last week's game?

Last edited on 03 Oct 2014 16:25 by UltimaGabe Show more

Re: Rules Lookup: The Official Thread

Cfowlkes 03 Oct 2014 22:03

I propose flanking giving a +2 bonus on attack rolls.

Re: Rules Lookup: The Official Thread

UltimaGabe 04 Oct 2014 03:21

I'll make a separate thread for proposed rules changes.

Re: Rules Lookup: The Official Thread

UltimaGabe 29 Oct 2014 03:31

Okay, guys, I have some rules clarifications from last session (mainly regarding Phileus- sorry, Xave).

First: Telepathy only works when you can see the target. So no communicating from other rooms.

Second: Phileus' ability to see in darkness only works up to 120 feet.

Third: Hex only works on creatures, not objects, so he wouldn't have been able to hex that magic door.

Re: Rules Lookup: The Official Thread

UltimaGabe 30 Nov 2014 23:28

Some more rules clarifications!

1. Reducing falling damage via Acrobatics/Atheletics- as of right now, there are no rules on reducing the damage of a fall like there was in 3e. The only mechanic for this so far is Monk's Slow Fall, which reduces falling damage by the Monk's level (so a 20 foot fall dealing 13 damage would only deal 8 damage to a 5th-level Monk).

2. Jumping Distance- on page 182 of the Player's Handbook, it discusses how far you can jump without a check. It goes like this:
Running Start, Long Jump- you jump a number of horizontal feet equal to your Strength score.
No Running Start, Long Jump- you jump a number of horizontal feet equal to half your Strength score.
Running Start, High Jump- you jump a number of vertical feet equal to 3 + your Strength modifier.
No Running Start, High Jump- you jump a number of vertical feet equal to half of 3 + your Strength modifier.

3. Multiplied Superiority Dice- when you crit, you double ALL dice except those that only occur on a critical hit. This includes Superiority Dice, Sneak Attack Dice, etc.