Just wanted to nip this misunderstanding in the bud. No, you don't necessarily have to roll for an action. Dash, for instance, does not require a roll. You simply get to double your speed for the round. Help is another example - they just get advantage. As an example of both a spell and a reaction, Shield just happens.
Some Actions and Reactions require rolls, yes, but that is not due to them being an Action or Reaction - it is specific to those particular Actions and Reactions.
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If you're not willing or able to to discuss in good faith, then don't be surprised if I don't respond, there are better things in life for me to do than humour you. This signature is that response.
Does it say that slow fall is an action or reaction? Don't you need to roll for actions and reactions? Slow fall is a passive effect, right?
Slow Fall
Beginning at 4th level, you can use your reaction when you fall to reduce any falling damage you take by an amount equal to five times your monk level.
It does in fact require a reaction. Most actions require some sort of roll, but not all of them.
OK then one thing left still doesn't make sense to me: if slow fall isn't magic and it's just expert parkour skills or something, then why is it called "slow fall?" If it's not magical then if two characters of equal weight fell, one of them being a monk, then they would fall at the same rate right?
Also, if it is parkour, then maybe slow fall should be useable as an action so acrobatics bonuses can be added to the roll. Or maybe succeeding acrobatics checks when you fall should just reduce fall damage in-general and slow fall should just add an augmentation to acrobatics or falling damage.
OK then one thing left still doesn't make sense to me: if slow fall isn't magic and it's just expert parkour skills or something, then why is it called "slow fall?" If it's not magical then if two characters of equal weight fell, one of them being a monk, then they would fall at the same rate right?
Also, if it is parkour, then maybe slow fall should be useable as an action so acrobatics bonuses can be added to the roll.
There's no roll; it just happens when you use it.
As for why "slow fall", the assumption is that you are acting to slow your fall. (Yes, it works even with nothing to grab on to. Simplifying assumptions will do that.)
Does it say that slow fall is an action or reaction? Don't you need to roll for actions and reactions? Slow fall is a passive effect, right?
Slow Fall
Beginning at 4th level, you can use your reaction when you fall to reduce any falling damage you take by an amount equal to five times your monk level.
It does in fact require a reaction. Most actions require some sort of roll, but not all of them.
OK then one thing left still doesn't make sense to me: if slow fall isn't magic and it's just expert parkour skills or something, then why is it called "slow fall?" If it's not magical then if two characters of equal weight fell, one of them being a monk, then they would fall at the same rate right?
Also, if it is parkour, then maybe slow fall should be useable as an action so acrobatics bonuses can be added to the roll. Or maybe succeeding acrobatics checks when you fall should just reduce fall damage in-general and slow fall should just add an augmentation to acrobatics or falling damage.
It seems pretty obvious you are against this using RAW. The monk doesn't slow his fall per se, he just takes less damage. Not sure why you keep trying to change this into something it's not.
A reminder - the name slow fall is a hold over from earlier editions where the monk had to be close to something they could touch, grab, slide against etc so that they could actually slow there rate of descent not just lower the active forces by extending the duration of the landing. That meant that in older editions the monk actually did slow their fall rate. In 5e the took away the surface requirement but left the name as a legacy.
A reminder - the name slow fall is a hold over from earlier editions where the monk had to be close to something they could touch, grab, slide against etc so that they could actually slow there rate of descent not just lower the active forces by extending the duration of the landing. That meant that in older editions the monk actually did slow their fall rate. In 5e the took away the surface requirement but left the name as a legacy.
A reminder - the name slow fall is a hold over from earlier editions where the monk had to be close to something they could touch, grab, slide against etc so that they could actually slow there rate of descent not just lower the active forces by extending the duration of the landing. That meant that in older editions the monk actually did slow their fall rate. In 5e the took away the surface requirement but left the name as a legacy.
I did not know this; this explains the confusing name. Thank you for clarifying
Does it say that slow fall is an action or reaction? Don't you need to roll for actions and reactions? Slow fall is a passive effect, right?
Slow Fall
Beginning at 4th level, you can use your reaction when you fall to reduce any falling damage you take by an amount equal to five times your monk level.
It does in fact require a reaction. Most actions require some sort of roll, but not all of them.
OK then one thing left still doesn't make sense to me: if slow fall isn't magic and it's just expert parkour skills or something, then why is it called "slow fall?"
Read my first reply again and let me know exactly what it is that you don't understand about the different usage of the word "slow".
I'd describe many abilities in the D&D world as supernatural, but not necessarily under the umbrella of explicitly magical. The D&D universe operates on a flexible sort of logic where characters can do supernatural things with enough training. The key is not to take the rules so seriously.
A reminder - the name slow fall is a hold over from earlier editions where the monk had to be close to something they could touch, grab, slide against etc so that they could actually slow there rate of descent not just lower the active forces by extending the duration of the landing. That meant that in older editions the monk actually did slow their fall rate. In 5e the took away the surface requirement but left the name as a legacy.
A reminder - the name slow fall is a hold over from earlier editions where the monk had to be close to something they could touch, grab, slide against etc so that they could actually slow there rate of descent not just lower the active forces by extending the duration of the landing. That meant that in older editions the monk actually did slow their fall rate. In 5e the took away the surface requirement but left the name as a legacy.
I did not know this; this explains the confusing name. Thank you for clarifying
There's nothing confusing about the name though. It does what it says -- you slow your fall, thus taking less damage. 5e simply doesn't give an explicit explanation of how you do it
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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)
Logically they should have changed the name to soft landing. Otherwise the Monk looks like Mary Poppins without the umbrella.
If you want to flavor your Slow Fall as opening an umbrella because it fits your concept of a Mary Poppins-like character, go ahead. I've actually seen that one before in a one-shot
Or having flying squirrel-like flaps sewn into your gi that spread open
Or doing a one-point landing on your index finger, as you are so perfectly in harmony with the universe
That's one of the great strengths of 5e. The rules don't tell you what something has to look like, and instead focus on what its effects are, so you can fill in those blanks yourself
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
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)
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Just wanted to nip this misunderstanding in the bud. No, you don't necessarily have to roll for an action. Dash, for instance, does not require a roll. You simply get to double your speed for the round. Help is another example - they just get advantage. As an example of both a spell and a reaction, Shield just happens.
Some Actions and Reactions require rolls, yes, but that is not due to them being an Action or Reaction - it is specific to those particular Actions and Reactions.
If you're not willing or able to to discuss in good faith, then don't be surprised if I don't respond, there are better things in life for me to do than humour you. This signature is that response.
OK then one thing left still doesn't make sense to me: if slow fall isn't magic and it's just expert parkour skills or something, then why is it called "slow fall?" If it's not magical then if two characters of equal weight fell, one of them being a monk, then they would fall at the same rate right?
Also, if it is parkour, then maybe slow fall should be useable as an action so acrobatics bonuses can be added to the roll. Or maybe succeeding acrobatics checks when you fall should just reduce fall damage in-general and slow fall should just add an augmentation to acrobatics or falling damage.
There's no roll; it just happens when you use it.
As for why "slow fall", the assumption is that you are acting to slow your fall. (Yes, it works even with nothing to grab on to. Simplifying assumptions will do that.)
It seems pretty obvious you are against this using RAW. The monk doesn't slow his fall per se, he just takes less damage. Not sure why you keep trying to change this into something it's not.
A reminder - the name slow fall is a hold over from earlier editions where the monk had to be close to something they could touch, grab, slide against etc so that they could actually slow there rate of descent not just lower the active forces by extending the duration of the landing. That meant that in older editions the monk actually did slow their fall rate. In 5e the took away the surface requirement but left the name as a legacy.
Wisea$$ DM and Player since 1979.
I did not know this; this explains the confusing name. Thank you for clarifying
Read my first reply again and let me know exactly what it is that you don't understand about the different usage of the word "slow".
I'd describe many abilities in the D&D world as supernatural, but not necessarily under the umbrella of explicitly magical. The D&D universe operates on a flexible sort of logic where characters can do supernatural things with enough training. The key is not to take the rules so seriously.
There's nothing confusing about the name though. It does what it says -- you slow your fall, thus taking less damage. 5e simply doesn't give an explicit explanation of how you do it
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)
Logically they should have changed the name to soft landing. Otherwise the Monk looks like Mary Poppins without the umbrella.
If you want to flavor your Slow Fall as opening an umbrella because it fits your concept of a Mary Poppins-like character, go ahead. I've actually seen that one before in a one-shot
Or having flying squirrel-like flaps sewn into your gi that spread open
Or doing a one-point landing on your index finger, as you are so perfectly in harmony with the universe
That's one of the great strengths of 5e. The rules don't tell you what something has to look like, and instead focus on what its effects are, so you can fill in those blanks yourself
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)