If the medusa is between us, would it be reasonable for Rodolfo to scamper 15 to the right and be kind of behind her to avoid the gaze that way? Or how does that work?
5e doesn't have facing, as far as I know. And if it was intended to be only in front of her, they would have defined it as a cone, much like a Beholder. The monster description says: as long as you are within 30 feet and able to see her eyes. So that would be all around her (360 degrees), assuming she could look around at any given moment.
Rodolfo will go about trying to fix the Medusa in space by Wand of Viscid Globs: (1st roll) 26 (and 2nd if needed for disadvantage) 13. He will also cast Expeditious Retreat on himself and run away towards T15 or so.
You didn't roll a CON save, so I'm assuming you choose to not look at her when your crystal eye patch fails you, so mechanically she has the invisible condition. That means you attack at disadvantage. Is that correct?
Yeah I know, those squares 5 feet? Not much he can do at this range, and moving towards her just leaves him exposed. Can he try and sneak around to get somewhere closer, like following a wall or something?
5e doesn't have facing, as far as I know. And if it was intended to be only in front of her, they would have defined it as a cone, much like a Beholder. The monster description says: as long as you are within 30 feet and able to see her eyes. So that would be all around her (360 degrees), assuming she could look around at any given moment.
But it also requires that the Medusa can see the creature. That sounds like the ability requires eyes locking with each other. If she is constantly spinning around (360 viewing), might that require an Action (for future rounds)? Or instead, if someone fails a gaze roll, maybe a chance that she wasn't looking in that direction at that moment (DM coin flip after the save roll)?
I'm not trying to argue that it should be this way.
But considering how crappy using these crystals are, and that we aren't allowed to look at her legs (disadvantage on attacks but we don't have to guess what square she is on), I'm checking if there is any edge our group can get.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Beegred Thornpost - Lvl 8 Halfling Ranger - Out of the Abyss by Kerrec Drusk - Lvl 8 Half-Orc Life Cleric - The Long Road: Dragon Heist by Mingofaust (player & current DM) Hunferho Aelorothi - Lvl 5 Half-Elf Bard/Rogue - Baldur's Gate: Descent Into Avernus (by Pokepaladdy) DM - Frontier City of Nunkreet (ended)
Petrifying Gaze. When a creature that can see the medusa's eyes starts its turn within 30 feet of the medusa, the medusa can force it to make a DC 14 Constitution saving throw if the medusa isn't incapacitated and can see the creature...
...Unless surprised, a creature can avert its eyes to avoid the saving throw at the start of its turn. If the creature does so, it can't see the medusa until the start of its next turn, when it can avert its eyes again. If the creature looks at the medusa in the meantime, it must immediately make the save.
I'm guessing mechanics wise, it was written like this to keep things simple. The OotA module gives the encounter an increased chance of success, by providing the crystals and advantage on the saving throw at the cost of occupying a free hand.
If you want an explanation that makes real world sense to explain whey she can see all around her at any given time... then I suppose the snake eyes also count as 'her eyes', so she can be looking all around her for the purpose of Petrifying Gaze.
If you want to find a way to make this a winnable fight, then
Don't be near her, ie: stay at maximum range of your ranged attacks, or
Free action: loud talking. "If you keep looking behind you, that will just make it easier for me to put this sword through your back. Not easy keeping your eyes on someone half your height, eh?"
This would be a good time to get some inspiration... According to my notes, you could lean on any of your traits, ideals, bonds or flaws to get one.
The restrained condition doesn't stop you from attacking, casting, dodging, using your bonus action, etc...
Beegred Thornpost - Lvl 8 Halfling Ranger - Out of the Abyss by Kerrec Drusk - Lvl 8 Half-Orc Life Cleric - The Long Road: Dragon Heist by Mingofaust (player & current DM) Hunferho Aelorothi - Lvl 5 Half-Elf Bard/Rogue - Baldur's Gate: Descent Into Avernus (by Pokepaladdy) DM - Frontier City of Nunkreet (ended)
Hmm, I just looked it up to be sure, and per RAW DM Inspiration is only supposed to give you advantage if you didn't already have it? Seems dumb to me.
In my head, it's just another roll that works LIKE inspiration, so roll another die, choose what result you want to keep. For example, say you have disadvantage because: reasons... you roll 2d20 and keep the lowest. Then, if you don't like the result and you have inspiration, you can choose to use up your inspiration and roll another d20. Then you choose which of the two you use.
I have no idea if I clearly explained what I was thinking when we started this module, but that is how I DM in all my games and how I intend to keep using DM inspiration. So roleplaying to your character's traits, ideals, bonds and flaws will always be rewarded, not JUST when you don't already have advantage.
Edit: And you can still take the dodge action, or cast a spell (like prep your hunter's mark)
Edit2: If you have advantage and use inspiration, then you get super advantage: roll 2, choose highest. roll 3rd, choose which you want to use.
If the medusa is between us, would it be reasonable for Rodolfo to scamper 15 to the right and be kind of behind her to avoid the gaze that way? Or how does that work?
5e doesn't have facing, as far as I know. And if it was intended to be only in front of her, they would have defined it as a cone, much like a Beholder. The monster description says: as long as you are within 30 feet and able to see her eyes. So that would be all around her (360 degrees), assuming she could look around at any given moment.
You didn't roll a CON save, so I'm assuming you choose to not look at her when your crystal eye patch fails you, so mechanically she has the invisible condition. That means you attack at disadvantage. Is that correct?
Aha, good point about facing and cones and beholder. Thank you.
And yeah, definitely avoiding looking at her, meaning attack with disadvantage.
@ArgentTheWise: It is Skameros's turn.
Yeah I know, those squares 5 feet? Not much he can do at this range, and moving towards her just leaves him exposed. Can he try and sneak around to get somewhere closer, like following a wall or something?
Skameros - Bugbear Barbarian - Out of the Abyss - By Kerrec
Follow your Arrow where it Points - Tabaxi Monk - Baldur's Gate: Descent Into Avernus (by Pokepaladdy)
Citron Pumpkinfoam - Fairy Monk - Project Point: Team Longsword
Yes, squares are 5 feet. If you want to sneak around, you can certainly try. :)
@ArgentTheWise: I'm going to assign the /dodge action tomorrow to Skameros if no post today.
Oh my bad thought I did post...
The gray blob north of I think Beegred - is that a wall or a hole - like the area at L8
Skameros - Bugbear Barbarian - Out of the Abyss - By Kerrec
Follow your Arrow where it Points - Tabaxi Monk - Baldur's Gate: Descent Into Avernus (by Pokepaladdy)
Citron Pumpkinfoam - Fairy Monk - Project Point: Team Longsword
MAP
Can you give a coordinate? I'm not sure what you mean by a 'gray blog'.
D5 - stairs down
K8 - Huge pit
like L8
Skameros - Bugbear Barbarian - Out of the Abyss - By Kerrec
Follow your Arrow where it Points - Tabaxi Monk - Baldur's Gate: Descent Into Avernus (by Pokepaladdy)
Citron Pumpkinfoam - Fairy Monk - Project Point: Team Longsword
That's a deep pit.
Ah ok so can't hide against that :P
Skameros - Bugbear Barbarian - Out of the Abyss - By Kerrec
Follow your Arrow where it Points - Tabaxi Monk - Baldur's Gate: Descent Into Avernus (by Pokepaladdy)
Citron Pumpkinfoam - Fairy Monk - Project Point: Team Longsword
Went ahead and posted a turn ofr Narstin
But it also requires that the Medusa can see the creature. That sounds like the ability requires eyes locking with each other. If she is constantly spinning around (360 viewing), might that require an Action (for future rounds)? Or instead, if someone fails a gaze roll, maybe a chance that she wasn't looking in that direction at that moment (DM coin flip after the save roll)?
I'm not trying to argue that it should be this way.
But considering how crappy using these crystals are, and that we aren't allowed to look at her legs (disadvantage on attacks but we don't have to guess what square she is on), I'm checking if there is any edge our group can get.
Beegred Thornpost - Lvl 8 Halfling Ranger - Out of the Abyss by Kerrec
Drusk - Lvl 8 Half-Orc Life Cleric - The Long Road: Dragon Heist by Mingofaust (player & current DM)
Hunferho Aelorothi - Lvl 5 Half-Elf Bard/Rogue - Baldur's Gate: Descent Into Avernus (by Pokepaladdy)
DM - Frontier City of Nunkreet (ended)
Here's the relevant text from the Medusa's sheet:
Petrifying Gaze. When a creature that can see the medusa's eyes starts its turn within 30 feet of the medusa, the medusa can force it to make a DC 14 Constitution saving throw if the medusa isn't incapacitated and can see the creature...
...Unless surprised, a creature can avert its eyes to avoid the saving throw at the start of its turn. If the creature does so, it can't see the medusa until the start of its next turn, when it can avert its eyes again. If the creature looks at the medusa in the meantime, it must immediately make the save.
I'm guessing mechanics wise, it was written like this to keep things simple. The OotA module gives the encounter an increased chance of success, by providing the crystals and advantage on the saving throw at the cost of occupying a free hand.
If you want an explanation that makes real world sense to explain whey she can see all around her at any given time... then I suppose the snake eyes also count as 'her eyes', so she can be looking all around her for the purpose of Petrifying Gaze.
If you want to find a way to make this a winnable fight, then
I saw Clash of the Titans - anyone got a big shiny reflective shield? :P or a mirror
Skameros - Bugbear Barbarian - Out of the Abyss - By Kerrec
Follow your Arrow where it Points - Tabaxi Monk - Baldur's Gate: Descent Into Avernus (by Pokepaladdy)
Citron Pumpkinfoam - Fairy Monk - Project Point: Team Longsword
This would be a good time to get some inspiration... According to my notes, you could lean on any of your traits, ideals, bonds or flaws to get one.
The restrained condition doesn't stop you from attacking, casting, dodging, using your bonus action, etc...
The gaze effect happens at the start of the turn (can't move), so he is out of melee range.
He already got Advantage from the crystal, so Inspiration wouldn't help.
Using a bow would require two hands. I'd rather use the crystal again next round (for advantage on the CON save), to hopefully stop the petrification.
Beegred Thornpost - Lvl 8 Halfling Ranger - Out of the Abyss by Kerrec
Drusk - Lvl 8 Half-Orc Life Cleric - The Long Road: Dragon Heist by Mingofaust (player & current DM)
Hunferho Aelorothi - Lvl 5 Half-Elf Bard/Rogue - Baldur's Gate: Descent Into Avernus (by Pokepaladdy)
DM - Frontier City of Nunkreet (ended)
Hmm, I just looked it up to be sure, and per RAW DM Inspiration is only supposed to give you advantage if you didn't already have it? Seems dumb to me.
In my head, it's just another roll that works LIKE inspiration, so roll another die, choose what result you want to keep. For example, say you have disadvantage because: reasons... you roll 2d20 and keep the lowest. Then, if you don't like the result and you have inspiration, you can choose to use up your inspiration and roll another d20. Then you choose which of the two you use.
I have no idea if I clearly explained what I was thinking when we started this module, but that is how I DM in all my games and how I intend to keep using DM inspiration. So roleplaying to your character's traits, ideals, bonds and flaws will always be rewarded, not JUST when you don't already have advantage.
Edit: And you can still take the dodge action, or cast a spell (like prep your hunter's mark)
Edit2: If you have advantage and use inspiration, then you get super advantage: roll 2, choose highest. roll 3rd, choose which you want to use.