"Cloud Rune ... In addition, when you or a creature you can see within 30 feet of you is hit by an attack roll, you can use your reaction to invoke the rune and choose a different creature within 30 feet of you, other than the attacker. The chosen creature becomes the target of the attack, using the same roll. This magic can transfer the attack’s effects regardless of the attack’s range. Once you invoke this rune, you can’t do so again until you finish a short or long rest."
As a DM, would you allow a Rune Knight to let another team member attack them without defending themselves (potentially granting an automatic crit, or at least advantage on the attack), and then using the Cloud Rune to redirect the attack to an enemy?
The way Cloud Rune reads to me, you're not transferring the effects of the attack. You're changing the target before damage is rolled, keeping the original attack roll, and the attack could still miss the new target if their AC is higher.
You could make an argument for attacking an ally with advantage and transferring that roll to an enemy, but no free crits. You'd still need to meet the criteria for a crit against the new target. But if the target already has a condition that guarantees criticals, you might as well attack them directly.
But if the target already has a condition that guarantees criticals, you might as well attack them directly.
There's always the scenario where the vulnerable target can't be reached in one turn, but you can reach a different target, and your rune knight party member is within 30 feet of both to act as a 'bridge' for the attack
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Active characters:
Carric Aquissar, elven wannabe artist in his deconstructionist period (Archfey warlock) Lan Kidogo, mapach archaeologist and treasure hunter (Knowledge cleric) Mardan Ferres, elven private investigator obsessed with that one unsolved murder (Assassin rogue) Xhekhetiel, halfling survivor of a Betrayer Gods cult (Runechild sorcerer/fighter)
Huh, never thought of using it that way, but it seems there's nothing in the rule to prevent it; you attacking an ally or vice versa is still you or someone you can see being attacked.
I wouldn't personally allow an auto-crit for not defending yourself, that seems exploitative, but the fact you can use this with allies attacking each other does raise some interesting options:
You, or an ally chooses to (or is forced to) go prone, so you can now attack with advantage for a better chance of hitting the enemy when you transfer the attack.
Ally is paralyzed, giving you an auto-crit melee attack that you can transfer. Or better yet, if your party has a Rogue they could do the attack (auto crit with sneak attack damage) for you to transfer onto the enemy instead. Or the party's Paladin could dump their highest level Divine Smite into the auto-crit. That could be a hell of a lot of damage for the cost of one reaction!
Similar options for restrained, stunned etc.; doesn't help your ally any, but at least something positive can come from their misfortune!
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"Cloud Rune ... In addition, when you or a creature you can see within 30 feet of you is hit by an attack roll, you can use your reaction to invoke the rune and choose a different creature within 30 feet of you, other than the attacker. The chosen creature becomes the target of the attack, using the same roll. This magic can transfer the attack’s effects regardless of the attack’s range. Once you invoke this rune, you can’t do so again until you finish a short or long rest."
As a DM, would you allow a Rune Knight to let another team member attack them without defending themselves (potentially granting an automatic crit, or at least advantage on the attack), and then using the Cloud Rune to redirect the attack to an enemy?
The way Cloud Rune reads to me, you're not transferring the effects of the attack. You're changing the target before damage is rolled, keeping the original attack roll, and the attack could still miss the new target if their AC is higher.
You could make an argument for attacking an ally with advantage and transferring that roll to an enemy, but no free crits. You'd still need to meet the criteria for a crit against the new target. But if the target already has a condition that guarantees criticals, you might as well attack them directly.
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There's always the scenario where the vulnerable target can't be reached in one turn, but you can reach a different target, and your rune knight party member is within 30 feet of both to act as a 'bridge' for the attack
Active characters:
Carric Aquissar, elven wannabe artist in his deconstructionist period (Archfey warlock)
Lan Kidogo, mapach archaeologist and treasure hunter (Knowledge cleric)
Mardan Ferres, elven private investigator obsessed with that one unsolved murder (Assassin rogue)
Xhekhetiel, halfling survivor of a Betrayer Gods cult (Runechild sorcerer/fighter)
Huh, never thought of using it that way, but it seems there's nothing in the rule to prevent it; you attacking an ally or vice versa is still you or someone you can see being attacked.
I wouldn't personally allow an auto-crit for not defending yourself, that seems exploitative, but the fact you can use this with allies attacking each other does raise some interesting options:
Former D&D Beyond Customer of six years: With the axing of piecemeal purchasing, lack of meaningful development, and toxic moderation the site isn't worth paying for anymore. I remain a free user only until my groups are done migrating from DDB, and if necessary D&D, after which I'm done. There are better systems owned by better companies out there.
I have unsubscribed from all topics and will not reply to messages. My homebrew is now 100% unsupported.