Greetings and salutations fellow Dungeon Crawlers and Masters!
I, together with a group friends, recently finished our first session of D&D with a simple one-shot, and we are very much looking forward to playing more together. I play as a Dragonborn Barbarian using a glaive as a main weapon, and since we are all newbies to the game I encountered some questions which I couldn't really discern a definitive answer from the PHB or other sources. I wasn't sure if I should post this the Barbarian class section or the rules/mechanics section as they aren't solely concerned about the Barbarian, so I apologize in advance if this is out of place. Anyways, onwards to my questions:
In the ability text for "Rage" it states that "[Rage] ends early if […] your turn ends and you haven't attacked a hostile creature since your last turn", does this include:
Attacks of opportunity?
Breath weapon of Dragonborns?
Grappling and/or shoving?
Is the "Path of the Zealot" from Xanathar's Guide to Everything balanced? I can't help but think that combining "Rage Beyond Death" with "Relentless Rage" seems pretty OP, and I don't want my character to become so self-reliant that it doesn't need to care about what the rest of the group is doing in a fight.
In the "Polearm Master" feat, it states that "While you are wielding a glaive, halberd, pike, or quarterstaff, other creatures provoke an opportunity attack from you when they enter your reach." Does this mean that you get a free/additional opportunity attack once someone enters your reach, or do you have to choose to use your reaction to make an attack of opportunity?
Also, does attacks of opportunity function exactly like a normal attack action in regards to modifiers, rage bonus, advantage/disadvantage and spell effects such as Bardic Inspiration?
1.) In 5ed, "attack" can be interpreted strictly (as a rule) or loosely (as a basic English word). "An attack" in the strictest sense is something involving an attack roll, be it melee/ranged and/or weapon/spell. It does not matter whether you do so using an Action on your turn, or a Reaction on someone else's. Grappling is also covered under the attack rules. Since breathing acid on an enemy is obviously also an attack in the way in which we use the word, there would be little issue with interpreting this rule as including that action - check with your DM.
2.) If anything, "Rage Beyond Death" is overkill (pardon the pun) with Relentless Rage in many circumstances. Relentless Rage prevents Rage Beyond Death from triggering until you fail the CON saving throw, which in turn requires that someone has reduced the party's Barbarian to 0 HP (no easy feat). Both are powerful abilities. On the other hand, both require your Rage to be active, where Rage never lasts longer than 1 minute. Further, while Rage Beyond Death allows you to plow ahead without dying, you will still die at the end of your Rage if you've failed all your death saving throws and don't get healed immediately. They function as intended, making you a juggernaut in many ways, but still removable from combat using abilities other than reducing you to 0 HP (e.g., Banishment) and potentially inviting smart enemies to ignore you and target squishier companions, so it's all a balancing act.
3.) Opportunity Attacks require you to use your Reaction. See Opportunity Attacks.
4.) Opportunity Attacks are attacks. They don't use your Extra Attack feature like the Attack action does, but in all ways function as a standard melee attack, including modifiers and situational dis/advantage.
Thanks so much ratwhowouldbeking for swift and precise answers! Happy to see that our interpretation of the rules seems reasonable and adhering to RAW/RAI. We too considered the breath weapon to be an attack for simplicity's sake, but personally I do like to ensure that I play the way the game is intended and not "cheese" out maximum advantage because of fuzzy wording in the PHB.
If I may ask you a follow up question about the "Rage Beyond Death" part, it isn't specifially mentioned in the rules for Rage but I would assume that the "Rage" ends at the start of the characters 10th turn after using Rage - this would mean it is impossible to, for example, down a healing pot on the turn that Rage ends, thus ensuring one's own survival? I hadn't really considered that my rage wouldn't last the whole fight, but that would pose a challenge when it comes to deciding when to get healed before the rage ends.
There is nothing preventing you from using a potion as your action on your last round of rage, then the rage ends as normal.
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"Where words fail, swords prevail. Where blood is spilled, my cup is filled" -Cartaphilus
"I have found the answer to the meaning of life. You ask me what the answer is? You already know what the answer to life is. You fear it more than the strike of a viper, the ravages of disease, the ire of a lover. The answer is always death. But death is a gentle mistress with a sweet embrace, and you owe her a debt of restitution. Life is not a gift, it is a loan."
Nope, I was wrong. RAW is it ends if you have not attacked a hostile creature or taken damage since your last turn. So you would still incur the benefits (without any penalties) till the end of the round.
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"Where words fail, swords prevail. Where blood is spilled, my cup is filled" -Cartaphilus
"I have found the answer to the meaning of life. You ask me what the answer is? You already know what the answer to life is. You fear it more than the strike of a viper, the ravages of disease, the ire of a lover. The answer is always death. But death is a gentle mistress with a sweet embrace, and you owe her a debt of restitution. Life is not a gift, it is a loan."
1.) In 5ed, "attack" can be interpreted strictly (as a rule) or loosely (as a basic English word). "An attack" in the strictest sense is something involving an attack roll, be it melee/ranged and/or weapon/spell. It does not matter whether you do so using an Action on your turn, or a Reaction on someone else's. Grappling is also covered under the attack rules. Since breathing acid on an enemy is obviously also an attack in the way in which we use the word, there would be little issue with interpreting this rule as including that action - check with your DM.
I would argue that "Attack" (upper case) as in the "Attack action" is interpreted strictly as a rule as it's a propernoun, while "attack" (lower case) is "an aggressive and violent action against a person or place.".
If you're the sort of person who likes definitive answers, then I believe D&D is going to frustrate the 666 layer of the abyss out of you. BTW, 666 is not a definitive figure, just an idea that there are a lot of layers.
On the other hand, if you're the sort of person who chooses a berserking-barbarian as your first character, then I believe you are going to enjoy this hobby of ours immensely.
My advice is keep whacking stuff until your DM yells at you to stop!
Just to clarify, my DM and fellow players had no problems with my interpretation of the rules, and since we are all really good friends we created a consensus everytime there was a major uncertainty regarding the rules. However, I personally hate the feeling that I am reading a rule wrong og misinterpreting it. Besides, I think the best way of learning the mechanics of the game is to discuss in-depth whatever uncertainties occured after the game rather than in the middle of combat.
To The_Plundered_Tombs: It's not so much the definitive answers I seek, rather reassurances that the way we chose to play/interpret the rules are fair and reasonable in the eyes of more experienced D&D players. I used to play Warhammer (tabletop wargame) and one of the things that always grinded my gears was when your opponent systematically exploited poor wording or unclear rules to min/max their armies and gain unfair advantages; in Warhammer it was known as playing "cheesy" and having a "cheesy" army list.
PS: Hacking goblins to pieces as a barbarian was indeed incredibly satisfying, as was the look on the faces of my group when I soaked up huge amounts of damage with my rage resistance.
PS: Hacking goblins to pieces as a barbarian was indeed incredibly satisfying, as was the look on the faces of my group when I soaked up huge amounts of damage with my rage resistance.
I knew you were one of us!
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Roleplaying since Runequest.
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Greetings and salutations fellow Dungeon Crawlers and Masters!
I, together with a group friends, recently finished our first session of D&D with a simple one-shot, and we are very much looking forward to playing more together. I play as a Dragonborn Barbarian using a glaive as a main weapon, and since we are all newbies to the game I encountered some questions which I couldn't really discern a definitive answer from the PHB or other sources. I wasn't sure if I should post this the Barbarian class section or the rules/mechanics section as they aren't solely concerned about the Barbarian, so I apologize in advance if this is out of place. Anyways, onwards to my questions:
In the ability text for "Rage" it states that "[Rage] ends early if […] your turn ends and you haven't attacked a hostile creature since your last turn", does this include:
Is the "Path of the Zealot" from Xanathar's Guide to Everything balanced? I can't help but think that combining "Rage Beyond Death" with "Relentless Rage" seems pretty OP, and I don't want my character to become so self-reliant that it doesn't need to care about what the rest of the group is doing in a fight.
In the "Polearm Master" feat, it states that "While you are wielding a glaive, halberd, pike, or quarterstaff, other creatures provoke an opportunity attack from you when they enter your reach." Does this mean that you get a free/additional opportunity attack once someone enters your reach, or do you have to choose to use your reaction to make an attack of opportunity?
Also, does attacks of opportunity function exactly like a normal attack action in regards to modifiers, rage bonus, advantage/disadvantage and spell effects such as Bardic Inspiration?
Many thanks in advance for any and all replies!
1.) In 5ed, "attack" can be interpreted strictly (as a rule) or loosely (as a basic English word). "An attack" in the strictest sense is something involving an attack roll, be it melee/ranged and/or weapon/spell. It does not matter whether you do so using an Action on your turn, or a Reaction on someone else's. Grappling is also covered under the attack rules. Since breathing acid on an enemy is obviously also an attack in the way in which we use the word, there would be little issue with interpreting this rule as including that action - check with your DM.
2.) If anything, "Rage Beyond Death" is overkill (pardon the pun) with Relentless Rage in many circumstances. Relentless Rage prevents Rage Beyond Death from triggering until you fail the CON saving throw, which in turn requires that someone has reduced the party's Barbarian to 0 HP (no easy feat). Both are powerful abilities. On the other hand, both require your Rage to be active, where Rage never lasts longer than 1 minute. Further, while Rage Beyond Death allows you to plow ahead without dying, you will still die at the end of your Rage if you've failed all your death saving throws and don't get healed immediately. They function as intended, making you a juggernaut in many ways, but still removable from combat using abilities other than reducing you to 0 HP (e.g., Banishment) and potentially inviting smart enemies to ignore you and target squishier companions, so it's all a balancing act.
3.) Opportunity Attacks require you to use your Reaction. See Opportunity Attacks.
4.) Opportunity Attacks are attacks. They don't use your Extra Attack feature like the Attack action does, but in all ways function as a standard melee attack, including modifiers and situational dis/advantage.
Even a blind squirrel finds a nut once in awhile.
Thanks so much ratwhowouldbeking for swift and precise answers! Happy to see that our interpretation of the rules seems reasonable and adhering to RAW/RAI. We too considered the breath weapon to be an attack for simplicity's sake, but personally I do like to ensure that I play the way the game is intended and not "cheese" out maximum advantage because of fuzzy wording in the PHB.
If I may ask you a follow up question about the "Rage Beyond Death" part, it isn't specifially mentioned in the rules for Rage but I would assume that the "Rage" ends at the start of the characters 10th turn after using Rage - this would mean it is impossible to, for example, down a healing pot on the turn that Rage ends, thus ensuring one's own survival? I hadn't really considered that my rage wouldn't last the whole fight, but that would pose a challenge when it comes to deciding when to get healed before the rage ends.
There is nothing preventing you from using a potion as your action on your last round of rage, then the rage ends as normal.
"Where words fail, swords prevail. Where blood is spilled, my cup is filled" -Cartaphilus
"I have found the answer to the meaning of life. You ask me what the answer is? You already know what the answer to life is. You fear it more than the strike of a viper, the ravages of disease, the ire of a lover. The answer is always death. But death is a gentle mistress with a sweet embrace, and you owe her a debt of restitution. Life is not a gift, it is a loan."
So you're saying that the Rage effectively ends when my turn is finished, rather than when it starts?
(And again, thanks so much for the swift replies!)
Nope, I was wrong. RAW is it ends if you have not attacked a hostile creature or taken damage since your last turn. So you would still incur the benefits (without any penalties) till the end of the round.
"Where words fail, swords prevail. Where blood is spilled, my cup is filled" -Cartaphilus
"I have found the answer to the meaning of life. You ask me what the answer is? You already know what the answer to life is. You fear it more than the strike of a viper, the ravages of disease, the ire of a lover. The answer is always death. But death is a gentle mistress with a sweet embrace, and you owe her a debt of restitution. Life is not a gift, it is a loan."
If you're the sort of person who likes definitive answers, then I believe D&D is going to frustrate the 666 layer of the abyss out of you. BTW, 666 is not a definitive figure, just an idea that there are a lot of layers.
On the other hand, if you're the sort of person who chooses a berserking-barbarian as your first character, then I believe you are going to enjoy this hobby of ours immensely.
My advice is keep whacking stuff until your DM yells at you to stop!
...and "hostile"? What does that really mean?
Roleplaying since Runequest.
Cheers for all the replies!
Just to clarify, my DM and fellow players had no problems with my interpretation of the rules, and since we are all really good friends we created a consensus everytime there was a major uncertainty regarding the rules. However, I personally hate the feeling that I am reading a rule wrong og misinterpreting it. Besides, I think the best way of learning the mechanics of the game is to discuss in-depth whatever uncertainties occured after the game rather than in the middle of combat.
To The_Plundered_Tombs: It's not so much the definitive answers I seek, rather reassurances that the way we chose to play/interpret the rules are fair and reasonable in the eyes of more experienced D&D players. I used to play Warhammer (tabletop wargame) and one of the things that always grinded my gears was when your opponent systematically exploited poor wording or unclear rules to min/max their armies and gain unfair advantages; in Warhammer it was known as playing "cheesy" and having a "cheesy" army list.
PS: Hacking goblins to pieces as a barbarian was indeed incredibly satisfying, as was the look on the faces of my group when I soaked up huge amounts of damage with my rage resistance.
Roleplaying since Runequest.