Okay, so, this is probably a dumb question but I need to know this.
One of my players constantly throws party members at enemies, literally. What I'm wondering is should the 300-something pound Dragonborn or an iron anvil hurt more than a glass bottle, or do I still use standard improvised weapon rules? (STR mod + 1d4, I think)
Okay, so, this is probably a dumb question but I need to know this.
One of my players constantly throws party members at enemies, literally. What I'm wondering is should the 300-something pound Dragonborn or an iron anvil hurt more than a glass bottle, or do I still use standard improvised weapon rules? (STR mod + 1d4, I think)
If this sort of thing is happening a lot, I would definitely consider having some house rule scheme for it. But keep in mind that in order to throw a fellow adventurer, the thrower needs to be able to lift that much weight in addition to everything they're already carrying and wearing.
The video game Baldur's Gate 3 uses a system where thrown objects do a different amount of damage based on how much they weigh, with items between 20 and 100 lbs dealing 1d4 damage and items over 100 lbs dealing 2d4 damage. I think those numbers should probably be a little higher but it's a place to start.
Also worth pointing out that in real life, how fast the thing is moving ultimately matters more than how heavy it is, so it would probably make sense to add the thrower's Strength modifier in there.
Alright, that makes sense. Probably going to implement a house rule for throwing like that... Probably 1d4 per 75lbs, or so. That, +the STR modifier. Thank you!
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Check out my Homebrew... Maybe. I think it's ok :P
New DM, Homebrew World, absolutely no idea what I'm doing.
When one creature lands on another that would be assumed that both take the damage.
I'd also be wary of what you allow, it sounds like they (the player) are trying to get the benefits of the 'Path of the Giant' Barbarian which is a subclass of Barbarian specifically designed for throwing both allies and enemies. Personally, I'd say throwing an ally outside of that subclass should be quiet limited, really who is going to be able to throw a 60 pound halfling more than about 10 foot away.
If you want to allow it then it's entirely home brew.
That's also good advice. The player is a Goliath, playing a warlock, if that has any relevance. I might limit what he can and can't do a bit more from now on, thanks!
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Check out my Homebrew... Maybe. I think it's ok :P
New DM, Homebrew World, absolutely no idea what I'm doing.
I will be the Grinch here (considering the holiday season 😌) and say I would keep the damage the same, but 1d4 to target and 1d4 to the PC. And PC is proned.
Might keep the prone thing, but I don't think I'll do the damage-to-PC bit. My players are already struggling a little, so more damage to them seems overkill- Or maybe I just tell him to stop throwing people.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Check out my Homebrew... Maybe. I think it's ok :P
New DM, Homebrew World, absolutely no idea what I'm doing.
...Or maybe I just tell him to stop throwing people.
100% this. Good chance they’re struggling because they consider throwing people around a tactically viable behaviour. Once or twice under specific circumstances to reward creativity and observe the rule of cool, sure. As an ongoing strategy? Definitely not so much.
To elaborate, what warlock even has the strength to toss dragonborn weighing 300lbs around? Strength is and should be the dump stat for the majority of warlocks. But let’s say they do have the strength to facilitate a 300lb throw…there are better things to throw, like actual weapons that will enjoy better range and better damage by virtue of being purpose built. Not only that, it is almost a certainty that casting a cantrip will be more effective since a warlock is, first and foremost, a spell caster. Then finally, aside from throwing people being a relatively measly contribution to combat at a few d4 in the most generous of situations and very limited range, how do the characters being chucked around feel about being chucked around? I can envision sparingly few scenarios where I’d be appreciate any of my characters getting thrown at an enemy.
If you’re playing with ‘24 rules, at least that character should throw the cleric with Spirit Guardians, and play hot potato. Happy Holidays for the DnD version of the dirty bomb
I’ll also add throwing other creatures is a 10th level class feature for a path of the giants barbarian. So I’d be hesitant to give away a class feature for free to someone else.
Okay, so, this is probably a dumb question but I need to know this.
One of my players constantly throws party members at enemies, literally. What I'm wondering is should the 300-something pound Dragonborn or an iron anvil hurt more than a glass bottle, or do I still use standard improvised weapon rules? (STR mod + 1d4, I think)
RAW the DM decides whether the improvised weapon is a generic improvised weapon (1d4+STR) or whether it mimics an existing weapon (has stats equal to that weapon). RAW an improvised weapon must be an object - it cannot be a creature. Similarly, there are no rules specifying how much or how far you can throw something other than specific equipment or weapons with the "thrown" property. Also keep in mind that a greatsword that weighs only ~10lbs cannot be used as a thrown weapon, so there are no rules to support throwing another creature would count as an attack of any kind, nor that they could be thrown a significant distance. So just keep in mind you are already Homebrewing to allow a character to use another character as an improvised thrown weapon.
The closest guidance we have on this is Grappling rule which state that your speed is halved if you are dragging a creature you are grappling unless they are two-sizes smaller than you - realistically throwing something is much harder than dragging it so the this should be a upper bound of how far a creature could be thrown. Thus, only a Huge creature should be able to throw a Medium creature a significant distance. A 300lb Dragonborn is not going to be able to be thrown more than 5-10 ft by another Medium sized creature and even then only if the thrower can Carry 300lbs in addition to their current carry weight.
Thus you are currently doing a lot of homebrew to allow the thrower to throw other creatures (1) a significant distance and (2) as an attack. Thus you can homebrew it to deal however much damage you like. Just keep in mind if your character is already doing this all the time, upping the damage will just mean they do it constantly as their main form of attack.
Okay, so, this is probably a dumb question but I need to know this.
One of my players constantly throws party members at enemies, literally. What I'm wondering is should the 300-something pound Dragonborn or an iron anvil hurt more than a glass bottle, or do I still use standard improvised weapon rules? (STR mod + 1d4, I think)
Check out my Homebrew... Maybe. I think it's ok :P
New DM, Homebrew World, absolutely no idea what I'm doing.
If this sort of thing is happening a lot, I would definitely consider having some house rule scheme for it. But keep in mind that in order to throw a fellow adventurer, the thrower needs to be able to lift that much weight in addition to everything they're already carrying and wearing.
The video game Baldur's Gate 3 uses a system where thrown objects do a different amount of damage based on how much they weigh, with items between 20 and 100 lbs dealing 1d4 damage and items over 100 lbs dealing 2d4 damage. I think those numbers should probably be a little higher but it's a place to start.
Also worth pointing out that in real life, how fast the thing is moving ultimately matters more than how heavy it is, so it would probably make sense to add the thrower's Strength modifier in there.
pronouns: he/she/they
Alright, that makes sense. Probably going to implement a house rule for throwing like that... Probably 1d4 per 75lbs, or so. That, +the STR modifier. Thank you!
Check out my Homebrew... Maybe. I think it's ok :P
New DM, Homebrew World, absolutely no idea what I'm doing.
The RAW answer is that horizontal distance does no damage, vertical distance does damage, 1d6 for every 10 foot.
https://www.dndbeyond.com/sources/dnd/free-rules/rules-glossary#FallingHazard
When one creature lands on another that would be assumed that both take the damage.
I'd also be wary of what you allow, it sounds like they (the player) are trying to get the benefits of the 'Path of the Giant' Barbarian which is a subclass of Barbarian specifically designed for throwing both allies and enemies. Personally, I'd say throwing an ally outside of that subclass should be quiet limited, really who is going to be able to throw a 60 pound halfling more than about 10 foot away.
If you want to allow it then it's entirely home brew.
That's also good advice. The player is a Goliath, playing a warlock, if that has any relevance. I might limit what he can and can't do a bit more from now on, thanks!
Check out my Homebrew... Maybe. I think it's ok :P
New DM, Homebrew World, absolutely no idea what I'm doing.
I will be the Grinch here (considering the holiday season 😌) and say I would keep the damage the same, but 1d4 to target and 1d4 to the PC. And PC is proned.
EZD6 by DM Scotty
https://www.drivethrurpg.com/en/product/397599/EZD6-Core-Rulebook?
Might keep the prone thing, but I don't think I'll do the damage-to-PC bit. My players are already struggling a little, so more damage to them seems overkill- Or maybe I just tell him to stop throwing people.
Check out my Homebrew... Maybe. I think it's ok :P
New DM, Homebrew World, absolutely no idea what I'm doing.
100% this. Good chance they’re struggling because they consider throwing people around a tactically viable behaviour. Once or twice under specific circumstances to reward creativity and observe the rule of cool, sure. As an ongoing strategy? Definitely not so much.
To elaborate, what warlock even has the strength to toss dragonborn weighing 300lbs around? Strength is and should be the dump stat for the majority of warlocks. But let’s say they do have the strength to facilitate a 300lb throw…there are better things to throw, like actual weapons that will enjoy better range and better damage by virtue of being purpose built. Not only that, it is almost a certainty that casting a cantrip will be more effective since a warlock is, first and foremost, a spell caster. Then finally, aside from throwing people being a relatively measly contribution to combat at a few d4 in the most generous of situations and very limited range, how do the characters being chucked around feel about being chucked around? I can envision sparingly few scenarios where I’d be appreciate any of my characters getting thrown at an enemy.
If you’re playing with ‘24 rules, at least that character should throw the cleric with Spirit Guardians, and play hot potato. Happy Holidays for the DnD version of the dirty bomb
I’ll also add throwing other creatures is a 10th level class feature for a path of the giants barbarian. So I’d be hesitant to give away a class feature for free to someone else.
RAW the DM decides whether the improvised weapon is a generic improvised weapon (1d4+STR) or whether it mimics an existing weapon (has stats equal to that weapon). RAW an improvised weapon must be an object - it cannot be a creature. Similarly, there are no rules specifying how much or how far you can throw something other than specific equipment or weapons with the "thrown" property. Also keep in mind that a greatsword that weighs only ~10lbs cannot be used as a thrown weapon, so there are no rules to support throwing another creature would count as an attack of any kind, nor that they could be thrown a significant distance. So just keep in mind you are already Homebrewing to allow a character to use another character as an improvised thrown weapon.
The closest guidance we have on this is Grappling rule which state that your speed is halved if you are dragging a creature you are grappling unless they are two-sizes smaller than you - realistically throwing something is much harder than dragging it so the this should be a upper bound of how far a creature could be thrown. Thus, only a Huge creature should be able to throw a Medium creature a significant distance. A 300lb Dragonborn is not going to be able to be thrown more than 5-10 ft by another Medium sized creature and even then only if the thrower can Carry 300lbs in addition to their current carry weight.
Thus you are currently doing a lot of homebrew to allow the thrower to throw other creatures (1) a significant distance and (2) as an attack. Thus you can homebrew it to deal however much damage you like. Just keep in mind if your character is already doing this all the time, upping the damage will just mean they do it constantly as their main form of attack.