Hey new to playing and am in the DM role with a bunch of other newbies. Been looking through all the handbooks but can’t seem to get a clear answer to something that’s been coming up in combats. Are there limits on to what PCs can pick up from their environment to fight with? Are they only able to attack with their listed attacks, spells or weapons? Like if in a tavern and a half-orc barbarian wants to lift a 200-pound table and hurl it at a troll...is that possible? And how do I navigate that? Do they do a strength ability check on their turn to ready the item? And then on their next turn roll to hit? How do I determine the random items damage to the troll? Also can PCs just randomly make up what’s in the tavern? There is probably a few home brewed rules on this but just going by the D&D standard rules, how does this work? Thanks ya!
Good luck DMing for the first time—it's hard, but very rewarding, especially as you learn! Basically, the players can use random items to attack, but they don't add their proficiency to the attack roll, just their strength bonus. You decide how much damage items do, but the default is 1d4 damage for things not designed as weapons (bottle, chair, etc). As for what the players can use, they can absolutely make it up within reason, but you are allowed to veto (e.g. if a player says "I pull a sword off a weapon display" and you don't think the tavern should have a weapon display, feel free to say no). There's more info in the player's handbook under "improvised weapons" (I think).
I'd say you're on the right track. A d4 is typical for improvised weapon attacks (table leg, candlestick, etc,). I'd find it reasonable to ask for a Strength check first to see how well the half orc can lift or throw the heavy table if he is already standing next to said table (maybe a str good check turns it into 2d4 damage if you're generous, or a d4 + str mod), but how far could it be thrown? 10 or 15 ft maybe at best? The table is likely broken the moment it hits anything so can't be used again. I wouldn't personally make the character wait another round b/c that doesn't add to anyone's fun. The rules can't account for every sort of potential the characters come up with. And, I think BigLiz made an excellent point: don't let imrpov become stronger than real weapons, and keeping the dmg output low will keep such improv as situational and occasional fun and not a real replacement. As far as the question goes about whether the players can just "find" what they may want in the environment, totally your discretion. As naiv pointed out, you could just say there is no weapons rack, or, it's 60 ft away, or, there could be a meat clever in the kitchen but the player would have to take the Search action first to find it...
as long as you give the players (reasonable) options to consider, with reasonable limits to improv items usage and potential damage output, that makes a much more fun encounter for everyone involved (including you, as the DM, getting to decide how much havoc is caused with a 200 lb table being hurled across a crowded tavern, knocking out several good patrons in the process, causing the town guards drink to spill, etc.)
As mentioned there are rules about improvised weapons so I won't re-iterate that. I will add that a strength check isn't required. How much a player can lift is clearly defined by their ST and can be found under "equipment' > 'weight carried' on the character sheet, but it's 30 times the STR score. So even a 15 STR can lift 450 lbs.
Smashing a table over a trolls back is a time honored tradition in D&D! The only thing you always have to be cautious of is that improvised weapons never become better then actual weapons mechanically. I played in a game one time where I picked up an Anvil and smashed a guy with it. The DM gave me a 2d6 +STR for the damage.. I was like, ok, from now on, this is my weapon. I came to be known as The Anvil.
Wow. Anvils are effing heavy! What was your Str score?
Back in AD&D the max strength was 18 a few races could get above an 18 - half orc (don't remember their max) but a male human could have an 18/00 - eighteen double o.
the above question i think was asking what the equivalent would be in 5e -i.e. 18/65 in AD&D may be close to a 22-24 in 5e
The rules recommend that the DM either treat it as a similar existing weapon (e.g. a table leg can count as a "club") or use a d4 damage die and no proficiency bonus.
d4 with no proficiency bonus makes them basically unusable (when there's usually no mechanical penalty for just pulling out your own weapon) so I'd usually be pretty generous in treating improvised weapons being "similar" to an actual weapon to use its proficiency and dice.
Smashing a table over a trolls back is a time honored tradition in D&D! The only thing you always have to be cautious of is that improvised weapons never become better then actual weapons mechanically. I played in a game one time where I picked up an Anvil and smashed a guy with it. The DM gave me a 2d6 +STR for the damage.. I was like, ok, from now on, this is my weapon. I came to be known as The Anvil.
Totally agree that smashing furniture at enemies is a long standing tradition.
"Totally" disagree that your DM was wrong when he gave that anvil 2d6+STR. It probably broke a lot of rules, but hey, that mistake sounds like it "formed" your character, and we are talking about him like 30 years later :-)
My point is: don't be too afraid of doing this kind of mistakes. Sometimes those random mistakes adds a lot of flavor to the story. I would rather give a table 2d6+STR in damage if my barbarian half-orc comes up with a fantastic fun move using it as a weapon then having him say: "oh, d4 damage, guess I'll just hack n slash with my greatsword then doing 2d6+STR." I know this isn't RAW, so we don't need to start a discussion about the rules. But if you want to "encourage" players to use their surroundings and come up with fun moves, don't punish them too much with no proficiency, low damage etc. If the barbarian usually do 2d6+STR I would consider to allow him a damage in that "area" with a random cool object just to encourage him to be creative.
I'd say you're on the right track. A d4 is typical for improvised weapon attacks (table leg, candlestick, etc,). I'd find it reasonable to ask for a Strength check first to see how well the half orc can lift or throw the heavy table if he is already standing next to said table (maybe a str good check turns it into 2d4 damage if you're generous, or a d4 + str mod), but how far could it be thrown? 10 or 15 ft maybe at best? The table is likely broken the moment it hits anything so can't be used again. I wouldn't personally make the character wait another round b/c that doesn't add to anyone's fun. The rules can't account for every sort of potential the characters come up with. And, I think BigLiz made an excellent point: don't let imrpov become stronger than real weapons, and keeping the dmg output low will keep such improv as situational and occasional fun and not a real replacement. As far as the question goes about whether the players can just "find" what they may want in the environment, totally your discretion. As naiv pointed out, you could just say there is no weapons rack, or, it's 60 ft away, or, there could be a meat clever in the kitchen but the player would have to take the Search action first to find it...
as long as you give the players (reasonable) options to consider, with reasonable limits to improv items usage and potential damage output, that makes a much more fun encounter for everyone involved (including you, as the DM, getting to decide how much havoc is caused with a 200 lb table being hurled across a crowded tavern, knocking out several good patrons in the process, causing the town guards drink to spill, etc.)
I don't think an additional STR roll would really be necessary, because the attack itself is essentially a STR roll, since proficiency isn't included with the attack itself.
So outside of random items in combat, how do we deal with weapons “found” throughout our campaign? Do they replace items we have on hand? Can someone find a sword and just be like I want to swap out my sword for this one cause I like the handle better? And is there a limits to how many weapons one can “hold”, do we then do those confusing weight calculations? Lol
Sure, they can swap out weapons anytime they like. Technically there is no limit to how many items a character can “hold,” but a Character can only “wield” one weapon in each hand. If you want to use encumbrance then just set the character sheet to track it. Click the arrow next to “edit character” touch the cog symbol, and scroll down on the slideout to find it.
Hey new to playing and am in the DM role with a bunch of other newbies. Been looking through all the handbooks but can’t seem to get a clear answer to something that’s been coming up in combats. Are there limits on to what PCs can pick up from their environment to fight with? Are they only able to attack with their listed attacks, spells or weapons? Like if in a tavern and a half-orc barbarian wants to lift a 200-pound table and hurl it at a troll...is that possible? And how do I navigate that? Do they do a strength ability check on their turn to ready the item? And then on their next turn roll to hit? How do I determine the random items damage to the troll? Also can PCs just randomly make up what’s in the tavern? There is probably a few home brewed rules on this but just going by the D&D standard rules, how does this work? Thanks ya!
Good luck DMing for the first time—it's hard, but very rewarding, especially as you learn! Basically, the players can use random items to attack, but they don't add their proficiency to the attack roll, just their strength bonus. You decide how much damage items do, but the default is 1d4 damage for things not designed as weapons (bottle, chair, etc). As for what the players can use, they can absolutely make it up within reason, but you are allowed to veto (e.g. if a player says "I pull a sword off a weapon display" and you don't think the tavern should have a weapon display, feel free to say no). There's more info in the player's handbook under "improvised weapons" (I think).
Wizard (Gandalf) of the Tolkien Club
I'd say you're on the right track. A d4 is typical for improvised weapon attacks (table leg, candlestick, etc,). I'd find it reasonable to ask for a Strength check first to see how well the half orc can lift or throw the heavy table if he is already standing next to said table (maybe a str good check turns it into 2d4 damage if you're generous, or a d4 + str mod), but how far could it be thrown? 10 or 15 ft maybe at best? The table is likely broken the moment it hits anything so can't be used again. I wouldn't personally make the character wait another round b/c that doesn't add to anyone's fun. The rules can't account for every sort of potential the characters come up with. And, I think BigLiz made an excellent point: don't let imrpov become stronger than real weapons, and keeping the dmg output low will keep such improv as situational and occasional fun and not a real replacement. As far as the question goes about whether the players can just "find" what they may want in the environment, totally your discretion. As naiv pointed out, you could just say there is no weapons rack, or, it's 60 ft away, or, there could be a meat clever in the kitchen but the player would have to take the Search action first to find it...
as long as you give the players (reasonable) options to consider, with reasonable limits to improv items usage and potential damage output, that makes a much more fun encounter for everyone involved (including you, as the DM, getting to decide how much havoc is caused with a 200 lb table being hurled across a crowded tavern, knocking out several good patrons in the process, causing the town guards drink to spill, etc.)
Boldly go
As mentioned there are rules about improvised weapons so I won't re-iterate that. I will add that a strength check isn't required. How much a player can lift is clearly defined by their ST and can be found under "equipment' > 'weight carried' on the character sheet, but it's 30 times the STR score. So even a 15 STR can lift 450 lbs.
That's what happens when you wear a helmet your whole life!
My house rules
Wow. Anvils are effing heavy! What was your Str score?
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Just curious, what was your STR, BigLizard
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I sure dont. What was that equivalent to in 5e
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Holy shit!
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22-24ish give-or-take.
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How? Players can only have a 20 max! What level was the fighter?
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Thats why i like 5e. nice and simple!
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Back in AD&D the max strength was 18 a few races could get above an 18 - half orc (don't remember their max) but a male human could have an 18/00 - eighteen double o.
the above question i think was asking what the equivalent would be in 5e -i.e. 18/65 in AD&D may be close to a 22-24 in 5e
To the original question:
The official rules on improvised weapons are at https://www.dndbeyond.com/sources/phb/equipment#ImprovisedWeapons .
The rules recommend that the DM either treat it as a similar existing weapon (e.g. a table leg can count as a "club") or use a d4 damage die and no proficiency bonus.
d4 with no proficiency bonus makes them basically unusable (when there's usually no mechanical penalty for just pulling out your own weapon) so I'd usually be pretty generous in treating improvised weapons being "similar" to an actual weapon to use its proficiency and dice.
Totally agree that smashing furniture at enemies is a long standing tradition.
"Totally" disagree that your DM was wrong when he gave that anvil 2d6+STR. It probably broke a lot of rules, but hey, that mistake sounds like it "formed" your character, and we are talking about him like 30 years later :-)
My point is: don't be too afraid of doing this kind of mistakes. Sometimes those random mistakes adds a lot of flavor to the story. I would rather give a table 2d6+STR in damage if my barbarian half-orc comes up with a fantastic fun move using it as a weapon then having him say: "oh, d4 damage, guess I'll just hack n slash with my greatsword then doing 2d6+STR." I know this isn't RAW, so we don't need to start a discussion about the rules. But if you want to "encourage" players to use their surroundings and come up with fun moves, don't punish them too much with no proficiency, low damage etc. If the barbarian usually do 2d6+STR I would consider to allow him a damage in that "area" with a random cool object just to encourage him to be creative.
Ludo ergo sum!
Yeah I love this balanced advice
I don't think an additional STR roll would really be necessary, because the attack itself is essentially a STR roll, since proficiency isn't included with the attack itself.
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So outside of random items in combat, how do we deal with weapons “found” throughout our campaign? Do they replace items we have on hand? Can someone find a sword and just be like I want to swap out my sword for this one cause I like the handle better? And is there a limits to how many weapons one can “hold”, do we then do those confusing weight calculations? Lol
Sure, they can swap out weapons anytime they like. Technically there is no limit to how many items a character can “hold,” but a Character can only “wield” one weapon in each hand. If you want to use encumbrance then just set the character sheet to track it. Click the arrow next to “edit character” touch the cog symbol, and scroll down on the slideout to find it.
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