The group I just started playing with is at lvl11 and asked me to create a character at that level. I rolled up a Dragonborn 7/4 Paladin, Oath of Ancients/Sorcerer, Draconic. My question is about Booming Blade. Can I start with Booming Blade, or Green Flame Blade, and still get my extra attack? I know the extra attack only works following an attack action but the cantrip requires an attack roll. I am really new and the bonus actions and stuff are confusing me. Could I add a smite to the extra attack too?
Green Flame Blade and Booming Blade (not booking blade) do not stack with Extra Attack for A) game balance reasons and B) Extra Attack requires the Attack action, which has a specific definition the 5th edition. Just making an attack roll does Not equal an Attack Action. You can only take an Attack Action on your turn and you cannot cast any spells that require a regular action when you do so.
Think of bonus actions, actions and reactions as three separate things. Unless you are dead or incapacitated or paralyzed, you can always take an action. Bonus actions are bonuses b/c you might not be able to do them. Reactions only happen in direct response to another creature or a trap doing something to You. Unless a spell, feat or sub-class feature explicitly tells you otherwise, you only get 1 action, 1 bonus action, and 1 reaction. If you use your action to cast Booming Blade, you are simultaneously attacking with a melee weapon while doing so. This counts as casting a spell that happens to require a melee weapon attack roll, Not taking the regular Attack Action.
Yes, you can smite while using the Attack Action, this applies to your extra attack as well. This does cost a spell slot for each smite. It is not a free resource the way a cantrip is a free resource.
Thank you both. That is what I was thinking but thank you for the confirmation. As for the booking blade thing, autocorrect got me. I should have paid more attention. Didn't help that my phone messed up and I ended up typing that whole thing twice.
OK, rather than starting a new thread, I'd like to ask a couple more questions here.
Along those lines, I took the Charger Feat. I assume that the dash is the action, the attack as part of the charge would not initiate the extra attack, just like when a cast spell includes an attack roll.
Magic Weapon - This is a bonus action. Can this be used before an actual attack action and still get the extra attack? I know you can't stack bonuses so I couldn't use this then do Charger since it is just a dash plus a bonus action to attack or shove. However, once the spell is cast, and I am concentrating on it, I can do Charger on a following turn with the effects still in place.
OK, rather than starting a new thread, I'd like to ask a couple more questions here.
Along those lines, I took the Charger Feat. I assume that the dash is the action, the attack as part of the charge would not initiate the extra attack, just like when a cast spell includes an attack roll.
Magic Weapon - This is a bonus action. Can this be used before an actual attack action and still get the extra attack? I know you can't stack bonuses so I couldn't use this then do Charger since it is just a dash plus a bonus action to attack or shove. However, once the spell is cast, and I am concentrating on it, I can do Charger on a following turn with the effects still in place.
Thanks again. Maybe I am getting the hang of it. First time playing this character will be tomorrow night. I sat in on the session last week but did not play. They did 0 battles last week and barely covered any ground in 2 hours. I may be over prepared. DM has the party meeting me in the Underdark that they just entered. Should be interesting.
Ok, one last question...maybe. It's not really a mechanics question but maybe rules related. Hopefully I won't get flaked for asking here.
Since this guy is starting at lvl11, would it be out of reason to ask the DM for a concession or rule of cool type thing? Specifically, my Paladin started out with a spear, shield and a great sword. I would like to drop the shield but keep the AC in a different way. Could I add the single right sleeve of full plate armor to my chainmail and keep the +2 AC that the shield gave me? I have visions of this guy going I to battle with spear in hand and great sword stowed. First action is to throw the spear at an enemy then draw the sword and go from there. Great sword is two handed and class gave him a fighting style so I took Great Weapon Master, or whatever it's called, that lets me re-roll 1 or 2 on damage but it has to be with a two handed weapon.
Would having just the sleeve of a full plate suit be enough to keep the higher AC given that a full suit of plate is only 18 AC and a full suit of chainmail is 16. Thoughts and comments?
Ok, one last question...maybe. It's not really a mechanics question but maybe rules related. Hopefully I won't get flaked for asking here.
Since this guy is starting at lvl11, would it be out of reason to ask the DM for a concession or rule of cool type thing? Specifically, my Paladin started out with a spear, shield and a great sword. I would like to drop the shield but keep the AC in a different way. Could I add the single right sleeve of full plate armor to my chainmail and keep the +2 AC that the shield gave me? I have visions of this guy going I to battle with spear in hand and great sword stowed. First action is to throw the spear at an enemy then draw the sword and go from there. Great sword is two handed and class gave him a fighting style so I took Great Weapon Master, or whatever it's called, that lets me re-roll 1 or 2 on damage but it has to be with a two handed weapon.
Would having just the sleeve of a full plate suit be enough to keep the higher AC given that a full suit of plate is only 18 AC and a full suit of chainmail is 16. Thoughts and comments?
I would say you have better odss of being able to start with plate armor than to get a special homebrew shield that leaves your hand free (which is pretty OP).
Plate is expensive, but you are level 11, you should have good armor and magic items by this point.
Yeah, if you're starting at level 11 you should have some upgrades to your equipment beyond the listed level 1 starting gear. Probably a magic item or two. Ask the DM.
As far as mechanics go, heavy is heavy, right? The only reason I want to keep the chainmail is RP/aesthetics. Don't even get me started on the fact that I had to take four levels of Sorcerer to get dragon skin when he is Dragonborn in the first place. I could leave him naked for a 13 AC but I have a feeling the extra 25% from having an 18 would be helpful.
I plan to get to the session a little early tonight so I can review my char sheet with the DM. I'll broach the subject of "what did he acquire while adventuring so far".
Chain Mail gives you an AC of 16, whereas Plate armor gives you an AC of 18. Both give disadvantage to Stealth checks, so if you have the money and strength requirements then Plate is always the better choice. Having a "free" shield is rather game breaking, but you could certainly wear Plate armor so long as your strength is 15 or more.
Does Divine Smite stack with Great Weapon Fighting Style? i.e. when I roll for the smite damage can I reroll the 1s and 2s? I'm guessing not but have to ask.
I don't see why GWF could not work in conjunction with Divine Smite. Note, however, that GWF does specifiy "When you roll a 1 or 2 on a damage die for an attack...". Therefore, you could not re-roll multiple 1s and 2s, just one of the die.
Chain Mail gives you an AC of 16, whereas Plate armor gives you an AC of 18. Both give disadvantage to Stealth checks, so if you have the money and strength requirements then Plate is always the better choice. Having a "free" shield is rather game breaking, but you could certainly wear Plate armor so long as your strength is 15 or more.
Sorry, I understand the different AC, I was talking about the other stuff. "Mechanically" was probably the wrong choice of word.
Chain mail + shield gives you AC 18. Plate gives you AC 18. Just wear plate and pretend it looks like you want it to look. By level 11, you should certainly have access to mundane plate armor (at least).
I just noticed that the sheet I made on OrcPub has the damage on my weapons as xDy+3. With proficiency in those weapons I should be adding my proficiency bonus of 4. My STR bonus is 3. Am I reading something wrong or is the sheet messing up?
EDIT: I was only reading part of it. the section on rolling damage makes it more clear. Attack roll gets ability plus proficiency, Damage just gets ability.
STR=3, Prof=4 so I have +7 to attack, if proficient, and only +3 to damage.
I don't see why GWF could not work in conjunction with Divine Smite. Note, however, that GWF does specifiy "When you roll a 1 or 2 on a damage die for an attack...". Therefore, you could not re-roll multiple 1s and 2s, just one of the die.
"If you use Great Weapon Fighting with a feature like Divine Smite or a spell like hex, do you get to reroll any 1 or 2 you roll for the extra damage? The Great Weapon Fighting feature—which is shared by fighters and paladins—is meant to benefit only the damage roll of the weapon used with the feature. For example, if you use a greatsword with the feature, you can reroll any 1 or 2 you roll on the weapon’s 2d6. If you’re a paladin and use Divine Smite with the greatsword, Great Weapon Fighting doesn’t let you reroll a 1 or 2 that you roll for the damage of Divine Smite."
I changed the one line to red. This says I can re-roll any of the normal weapon damage die that end up being a 1 or 2 but none of the added effect die from the smite. There are many discussions on this ranging from what you stated all the way to "re-roll them all". I am happy with this middle ground since that is how I read the style definition when I selected it for my character. I wish they had added the word "either" to that example. "...reroll any 1 or 2 you roll on either of the weapon's 2d6." It would make it even more clear.
The group I just started playing with is at lvl11 and asked me to create a character at that level. I rolled up a Dragonborn 7/4 Paladin, Oath of Ancients/Sorcerer, Draconic. My question is about Booming Blade. Can I start with Booming Blade, or Green Flame Blade, and still get my extra attack? I know the extra attack only works following an attack action but the cantrip requires an attack roll. I am really new and the bonus actions and stuff are confusing me. Could I add a smite to the extra attack too?
Thanks
Green Flame Blade and Booming Blade (not booking blade) do not stack with Extra Attack for A) game balance reasons and B) Extra Attack requires the Attack action, which has a specific definition the 5th edition. Just making an attack roll does Not equal an Attack Action. You can only take an Attack Action on your turn and you cannot cast any spells that require a regular action when you do so.
Think of bonus actions, actions and reactions as three separate things. Unless you are dead or incapacitated or paralyzed, you can always take an action. Bonus actions are bonuses b/c you might not be able to do them. Reactions only happen in direct response to another creature or a trap doing something to You. Unless a spell, feat or sub-class feature explicitly tells you otherwise, you only get 1 action, 1 bonus action, and 1 reaction. If you use your action to cast Booming Blade, you are simultaneously attacking with a melee weapon while doing so. This counts as casting a spell that happens to require a melee weapon attack roll, Not taking the regular Attack Action.
Yes, you can smite while using the Attack Action, this applies to your extra attack as well. This does cost a spell slot for each smite. It is not a free resource the way a cantrip is a free resource.
Booming blade and green-flame blade use the cast a spell action. You make an attack as part of the spell, but it is still not an attack action, so no extra attack.
Thank you both. That is what I was thinking but thank you for the confirmation. As for the booking blade thing, autocorrect got me. I should have paid more attention. Didn't help that my phone messed up and I ended up typing that whole thing twice.
OK, rather than starting a new thread, I'd like to ask a couple more questions here.
Along those lines, I took the Charger Feat. I assume that the dash is the action, the attack as part of the charge would not initiate the extra attack, just like when a cast spell includes an attack roll.
Magic Weapon - This is a bonus action. Can this be used before an actual attack action and still get the extra attack? I know you can't stack bonuses so I couldn't use this then do Charger since it is just a dash plus a bonus action to attack or shove. However, once the spell is cast, and I am concentrating on it, I can do Charger on a following turn with the effects still in place.
You are correct.
Correct and correct.
Thanks again. Maybe I am getting the hang of it. First time playing this character will be tomorrow night. I sat in on the session last week but did not play. They did 0 battles last week and barely covered any ground in 2 hours. I may be over prepared. DM has the party meeting me in the Underdark that they just entered. Should be interesting.
Ok, one last question...maybe. It's not really a mechanics question but maybe rules related. Hopefully I won't get flaked for asking here.
Since this guy is starting at lvl11, would it be out of reason to ask the DM for a concession or rule of cool type thing? Specifically, my Paladin started out with a spear, shield and a great sword. I would like to drop the shield but keep the AC in a different way. Could I add the single right sleeve of full plate armor to my chainmail and keep the +2 AC that the shield gave me? I have visions of this guy going I to battle with spear in hand and great sword stowed. First action is to throw the spear at an enemy then draw the sword and go from there. Great sword is two handed and class gave him a fighting style so I took Great Weapon Master, or whatever it's called, that lets me re-roll 1 or 2 on damage but it has to be with a two handed weapon.
Would having just the sleeve of a full plate suit be enough to keep the higher AC given that a full suit of plate is only 18 AC and a full suit of chainmail is 16. Thoughts and comments?
I would say you have better odss of being able to start with plate armor than to get a special homebrew shield that leaves your hand free (which is pretty OP).
Plate is expensive, but you are level 11, you should have good armor and magic items by this point.
Yeah, if you're starting at level 11 you should have some upgrades to your equipment beyond the listed level 1 starting gear. Probably a magic item or two. Ask the DM.
As far as mechanics go, heavy is heavy, right? The only reason I want to keep the chainmail is RP/aesthetics. Don't even get me started on the fact that I had to take four levels of Sorcerer to get dragon skin when he is Dragonborn in the first place. I could leave him naked for a 13 AC but I have a feeling the extra 25% from having an 18 would be helpful.
I plan to get to the session a little early tonight so I can review my char sheet with the DM. I'll broach the subject of "what did he acquire while adventuring so far".
Not sure what you mean by this. Different armors give different AC's: https://www.dndbeyond.com/sources/basic-rules/equipment#HeavyArmor
Chain Mail gives you an AC of 16, whereas Plate armor gives you an AC of 18. Both give disadvantage to Stealth checks, so if you have the money and strength requirements then Plate is always the better choice.
Having a "free" shield is rather game breaking, but you could certainly wear Plate armor so long as your strength is 15 or more.
Another question... I said maybe...
Does Divine Smite stack with Great Weapon Fighting Style? i.e. when I roll for the smite damage can I reroll the 1s and 2s? I'm guessing not but have to ask.
I don't see why GWF could not work in conjunction with Divine Smite. Note, however, that GWF does specifiy "When you roll a 1 or 2 on a damage die for an attack...". Therefore, you could not re-roll multiple 1s and 2s, just one of the die.
Sorry, I understand the different AC, I was talking about the other stuff. "Mechanically" was probably the wrong choice of word.
Chain mail + shield gives you AC 18. Plate gives you AC 18. Just wear plate and pretend it looks like you want it to look. By level 11, you should certainly have access to mundane plate armor (at least).
I just noticed that the sheet I made on OrcPub has the damage on my weapons as xDy+3. With proficiency in those weapons I should be adding my proficiency bonus of 4. My STR bonus is 3. Am I reading something wrong or is the sheet messing up?
EDIT: I was only reading part of it. the section on rolling damage makes it more clear. Attack roll gets ability plus proficiency, Damage just gets ability.
STR=3, Prof=4 so I have +7 to attack, if proficient, and only +3 to damage.
Thank you for the reply. After I asked here I did a little more research and found this specific question/answer in one of the Sage Advice newsletters. https://dnd.wizards.com/articles/features/rules-answers-april-2016
"If you use Great Weapon Fighting with a feature like Divine Smite or a spell like hex, do you get to reroll any 1 or 2 you roll for the extra damage? The Great Weapon Fighting feature—which is shared by fighters and paladins—is meant to benefit only the damage roll of the weapon used with the feature. For example, if you use a greatsword with the feature, you can reroll any 1 or 2 you roll on the weapon’s 2d6. If you’re a paladin and use Divine Smite with the greatsword, Great Weapon Fighting doesn’t let you reroll a 1 or 2 that you roll for the damage of Divine Smite."
I changed the one line to red. This says I can re-roll any of the normal weapon damage die that end up being a 1 or 2 but none of the added effect die from the smite. There are many discussions on this ranging from what you stated all the way to "re-roll them all". I am happy with this middle ground since that is how I read the style definition when I selected it for my character. I wish they had added the word "either" to that example. "...reroll any 1 or 2 you roll on either of the weapon's 2d6." It would make it even more clear.
Yes. Various interpretations on that one. I would ask your DM.