HelpfulNPCs

The Helpful NPCs crew (Ryan and Thom). Professionally unprofessional RPG advice, opinions, and tools.

Opinions posted are Thom's.

[HelpfulNPCs @HelpfulNPCs]

My reaction when I see tortured reading of the rules to justify a powerful-but-clearly-unintentional synergy.

[HelpfulNPCs @HelpfulNPCs]

D&D is the "ol' reliable" of RPGs. It just works!

[HelpfulNPCs @HelpfulNPCs]

The year is 2050. Wizards of the Coast announces another update to OneD&D™. The Pinkerton Identity drones are dispatched to ensure rules compliance.

[HelpfulNPCs @HelpfulNPCs]

Suppose I have a group of kuo-toa and don't include the amphibious trait on them, but I note they appear only in "aquatic and marsh terrain." Is that sufficient information for the GM to infer amphibiousness?

5e says no; I say otherwise.

(4)

[HelpfulNPCs @HelpfulNPCs]

A few thoughts.

1a. If a creature is amphibious but it is not immediately obvious (e.g., black dragon), it is desirable to indicate that it is amphibious.

1b. This does not necessitate an "amphibious" trait, as a robust section on monster ecology would suffice. (1)

[Mike Mearls @mikemearls]

I think there's a simple test you can use to sort our TTRPGs. In 5e, there's a trait called Amphibious. It reads: "This creature can breathe air and water."

Do you think a TTRPG needs a rule like that to point out which creatures can breathe under water?

[HelpfulNPCs @HelpfulNPCs]

4a. The inclusion of the "amphibious" trait signals that 5e's design assumes players and GMs can't be trusted to play without strict guidance because they'll play it wrong. Without rules explication, people won't understand that giant frogs are amphibious.

(3)

[HelpfulNPCs @HelpfulNPCs]

DC 13 is the ideal benchmark for skill rolls in D&D! 🎲 Curious why? We break it down in our latest blog. Explore the insights here: https://t.co/fLSAryNUtk #DnD #TabletopGaming

[HelpfulNPCs @HelpfulNPCs]

@Appeal2HeavenVI While I adore the movies, it's one spot where I think Jackson missed the mark. The books portray him in a much more sympathetic light as a man trying to forestall the decline and fall of his kingdom.

[HelpfulNPCs @HelpfulNPCs]

Tolkien is making me rethink Insight checks.

"He [Denethor] has long sight. He can perceive, if he bends his will thither, much of what is passing in the minds of men, even of those that dwell far off. It is difficult to deceive him, and dangerous to try."

[HelpfulNPCs @HelpfulNPCs]

@AngryGamesInc It results in engagement. That's all. What gets more clicks, likes, and views, posts about how cool [preferred RPG] is, or how awful WotC / 5e is?

[HelpfulNPCs @HelpfulNPCs]

My hottest 5e take:

Proficiency Bonus is an elegant, simple, streamlined mechanic, and it sucks.

The original "D&D Next" playtest materials had variable weapon and magic attacks based on class, and this was A Good Thing, Actually.

[HelpfulNPCs @HelpfulNPCs]

@mikemearls WFRP 4e and Imperium Maledictum incentivize random character generation with bonus XP. This feels like a good compromise.

[HelpfulNPCs @HelpfulNPCs]

@orcphilosopher I've considered this, but it limits the design space. If you're going for barebones simple, it's fine--and it probably makes Armor Class make more sense!--but D&D's combat is already fairly low-crunch.

[HelpfulNPCs @HelpfulNPCs]

I'm going to get political today:

D&D only needs four classes: Fighter, Rogue, Cleric, and Wizard.

And one of those is on notice.

[HelpfulNPCs @HelpfulNPCs]

@AngryGamesInc I actually agree with that a hexcrawl with a few random dungeons is insufficient to sustain a campaign, but I also think that slagging on the OSR--whose advice and suggestions are often excellent--is unnecessary.

[HelpfulNPCs @HelpfulNPCs]

@AngryGamesInc Your entire schtick is being a bellicose asshole. Throwing out bombastic statements then acting the victim when people respond in kind is pathetic.

[HelpfulNPCs @HelpfulNPCs]

@mikemearls I don't think bonus actions are necessarily "hot garbage" - it just turns 5e into a pseudo-3 AP system, which, is, imo, super to a proper 3 AP system. I'd prefer to see bonus actions renamed and used less liberally.

[HelpfulNPCs @HelpfulNPCs]

@mikemearls There was a marked change in design from the early DnDNext playtest packets to the final product: proficiency bonus and the loss of the more universal "maneuver dice" system. How were these changes decided, and would you implement them any differently today?

[HelpfulNPCs @HelpfulNPCs]

@mikemearls Strongly feel that 1-10 are "core levels" and 11-20 are "bonus content." Yes, you can play higher than 10, but there are diminishing returns!