I just started playing D&D as a wizard and I got a magic broom as a magic item.
During the combat of the following session I told my DM I wanted to spin the broom near the enemy's head to wack him with the intent to knock him out, my DM allowed it as he thought it was a cool use of the broom. (PS: It was not enough to knock him out rolled an 11 dex check but needed to beat 13 DC)
So I want to know if there are other ways to do ranged melee attacks that follow the Knock out rule?
Non lethal damage just requires it to be a melee attack.
Melee attacks can be made at different ranges (several weapons have reach for example) or even not originate from the attack when magic is involved (see spiritual weapon).
Since attacking with the broom is a bit of a house rule, it is up to the DM.
As Farling pointed out, “ranged” attacks and “melee” attacks are generally mutually exclusive. However, as DxJxC pointed out, there are certain spells that can make melee attacks at ranges greater than 10 feet, such as the aforementioned spiritual weapon or thorn whip.
Yeah, that is what I thought. But it is still a melee weapon so doesn't benefit from Sharpshooter.
Only the -5 to attack for +10 damage explicitly requires a Ranged Weapon. The other benefits that allow you to ignore the penalties for cover or long range apply to all Ranged Weapon Attacks which include even objects you throw as an improvised weapon.
There a a lot of variables to consider. Like is it magical so does the person have to make a saving throw or you have to roll to hit. Are you still controlling the weapons movement when it hits the creature like if you throw a broom at someone it is a ranged attack with a usually melee "weapon". And don't forget melee weapons with a thrown ability like a light hammer which turns the melee weapon into a ranged weapon, is that considered a melee ranged attack.
And like a lot of people said, spiritual weapon you can techniqually cast from a range but uses melee attacks.
Well, the knock out rules in 5e require making a melee weapon attack. I think the only current options for those beyond 5' is using a reach weapon or using some specific class features (like using an echo knight's Manifest Echo). Melee spell attacks can't knock creatures out, even if you could make one from a distance with spells like thorn whip or spiritual weapon.
Well, the knock out rules in 5e require making a melee weapon attack. I think the only current options for those beyond 5' is using a reach weapon or using some specific class features (like using an echo knight's Manifest Echo). Melee spell attacks can't knock creatures out, even if you could make one from a distance with spells like thorn whip or spiritual weapon.
The rule only limits it to "melee attack" so melee spell attacks work. Here is whole rule:
Sometimes an attacker wants to incapacitate a foe, rather than deal a killing blow. When an attacker reduces a creature to 0 hit points with a melee attack, the attacker can knock the creature out. The attacker can make this choice the instant the damage is dealt. The creature falls unconscious and is stable.
Well, the knock out rules in 5e require making a melee weapon attack. I think the only current options for those beyond 5' is using a reach weapon or using some specific class features (like using an echo knight's Manifest Echo). Melee spell attacks can't knock creatures out, even if you could make one from a distance with spells like thorn whip or spiritual weapon.
The rule only limits it to "melee attack" so melee spell attacks work. Here is whole rule:
Sometimes an attacker wants to incapacitate a foe, rather than deal a killing blow. When an attacker reduces a creature to 0 hit points with a melee attack, the attacker can knock the creature out. The attacker can make this choice the instant the damage is dealt. The creature falls unconscious and is stable.
Setup:
DM does not share the creatures' total hit points with the players.
In combat, a Fighter does enough damage with his longsword to kill a goblin. The DM indicates the creature is dead the player then decides he really should keep that goblin alive so then he changes his mind and indicates he wants to knock it out instead. Damage is flipped to non-lethal damage and the goblin falls unconscious.
Question:
This would be a valid scenario to knocking out a creature as the timing of when the player indicates lethal or non-lethal is only relevant after the player knows if the creature has died?
Well, the knock out rules in 5e require making a melee weapon attack. I think the only current options for those beyond 5' is using a reach weapon or using some specific class features (like using an echo knight's Manifest Echo). Melee spell attacks can't knock creatures out, even if you could make one from a distance with spells like thorn whip or spiritual weapon.
The rule only limits it to "melee attack" so melee spell attacks work. Here is whole rule:
Sometimes an attacker wants to incapacitate a foe, rather than deal a killing blow. When an attacker reduces a creature to 0 hit points with a melee attack, the attacker can knock the creature out. The attacker can make this choice the instant the damage is dealt. The creature falls unconscious and is stable.
I'd say the when of stating intent of non-lethal is going to be DM dependent and at times, situationally dependent. If a player, after the strike, is following the other party member's rantings or complaining of not taking a prisoner or such, I won't likely retcon the killing blow. If, however, the players had discussed the strategy beforehand and agreed to it, I'd certainly be open to the player forgetting and retcon, because his/her character likely would have remembered. All told, I prefer when the players tell me at the onset they want to knock a foe out, and then everyone can simply fight the fight and I will narrate the "killing blow" to be the knockout.
Still no ranged melee however lol.
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Hello,
I just started playing D&D as a wizard and I got a magic broom as a magic item.
During the combat of the following session I told my DM I wanted to spin the broom near the enemy's head to wack him with the intent to knock him out, my DM allowed it as he thought it was a cool use of the broom. (PS: It was not enough to knock him out rolled an 11 dex check but needed to beat 13 DC)
So I want to know if there are other ways to do ranged melee attacks that follow the Knock out rule?
Non lethal damage just requires it to be a melee attack.
Melee attacks can be made at different ranges (several weapons have reach for example) or even not originate from the attack when magic is involved (see spiritual weapon).
Since attacking with the broom is a bit of a house rule, it is up to the DM.
Ranged and Melee are opposites, same as black and white - so the usual answer would be no.
As Farling pointed out, “ranged” attacks and “melee” attacks are generally mutually exclusive. However, as DxJxC pointed out, there are certain spells that can make melee attacks at ranges greater than 10 feet, such as the aforementioned spiritual weapon or thorn whip.
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Do melee weapons with the thrown property count?
She/Her Player and Dungeon Master
Melee and ranged attacks are mutually exclusive, so an attack is usually either one or the other.
A ranged attack with a Melee weapon being thrown is still a ranged attack.
Yeah, that is what I thought. But it is still a melee weapon so doesn't benefit from Sharpshooter.
She/Her Player and Dungeon Master
Only the -5 to attack for +10 damage explicitly requires a Ranged Weapon. The other benefits that allow you to ignore the penalties for cover or long range apply to all Ranged Weapon Attacks which include even objects you throw as an improvised weapon.
There a a lot of variables to consider. Like is it magical so does the person have to make a saving throw or you have to roll to hit. Are you still controlling the weapons movement when it hits the creature like if you throw a broom at someone it is a ranged attack with a usually melee "weapon". And don't forget melee weapons with a thrown ability like a light hammer which turns the melee weapon into a ranged weapon, is that considered a melee ranged attack.
And like a lot of people said, spiritual weapon you can techniqually cast from a range but uses melee attacks.
Well, the knock out rules in 5e require making a melee weapon attack. I think the only current options for those beyond 5' is using a reach weapon or using some specific class features (like using an echo knight's Manifest Echo). Melee spell attacks can't knock creatures out, even if you could make one from a distance with spells like thorn whip or spiritual weapon.
The rule only limits it to "melee attack" so melee spell attacks work. Here is whole rule:
https://www.dndbeyond.com/sources/phb/combat#KnockingaCreatureOut
Setup:
DM does not share the creatures' total hit points with the players.
In combat, a Fighter does enough damage with his longsword to kill a goblin. The DM indicates the creature is dead the player then decides he really should keep that goblin alive so then he changes his mind and indicates he wants to knock it out instead. Damage is flipped to non-lethal damage and the goblin falls unconscious.
Question:
This would be a valid scenario to knocking out a creature as the timing of when the player indicates lethal or non-lethal is only relevant after the player knows if the creature has died?
Yes its valid. All that matters is that the creature is being reduced to 0 hit points when knocking it out.
oops
I'd say the when of stating intent of non-lethal is going to be DM dependent and at times, situationally dependent. If a player, after the strike, is following the other party member's rantings or complaining of not taking a prisoner or such, I won't likely retcon the killing blow. If, however, the players had discussed the strategy beforehand and agreed to it, I'd certainly be open to the player forgetting and retcon, because his/her character likely would have remembered. All told, I prefer when the players tell me at the onset they want to knock a foe out, and then everyone can simply fight the fight and I will narrate the "killing blow" to be the knockout.
Still no ranged melee however lol.
Talk to your Players. Talk to your DM. If more people used this advice, there would be 24.74% fewer threads on Tactics, Rules and DM discussions.