As an upfront statment, my whole group (inlcuding me as a DM) are completely new to the game and I am trying hard to absorb as much as I can for our next session, so I totally get that this is a newbie question, so be kind.
So I'm reading ahead for my parties next encounter and they ( 5 of them) will possibly be entering a large abandoned room with 4 large stone pillars placed in an orderly fashion. On the far side of the room, opposite from where they enter will be a POI, and it appears that there will be 1 Ochre Jelly that is more or less in plain site. However, I imagine as they get closer, or enter the room and walk across their attention may not be 100% on the floor to ceileing pillars. The pillars are large enough to hide/obscure any other medium to large size creature that may be behind them. In the case that there are 5 party members, I believe the encounter recommended adding another Ochre Jelly towards south end of room. I imagine this Ochre Jelly clinging to the cieling or behind the top part of one of these southern pillars.
How exactly do I check for surprise for the jelly to ooze on down the pillar and come up behind the party if their backs are turned to it. I can see the party being distracted and engaging the one Jelly they did see in the room, but as the other Jelly is in the shadows, and the room is dimly lit. Pg 243 of MM states Ochre Jelly (large) has a Passive Perception 8, WIS 6 (-2), DEX 6 (-2).
I understand the characters have a PP of 10 + Wis + Proficiency bonus...so if this Jelly crawled down the pillar, or even dropped from the ceiling behind, or even on, one of the party members, how exactly do I figure out if any of them are caught off guard (i.e. surprised)? Do I make Dex (Jelly doesn't have Stealth skill) roll for the Jelly (1d20 -2) and compare to the characters passive wisdom?
Anyone nice enough to explain how this proceeds to play out for me?
Also, bonus question. Looking at the Stat Block for the Jelly, under Actions, it has Psuedopod meele weapon attack. +4 to hit, reach 5ft, one target, Hit 9. I take this to mean it can target 1 character within 1 square, and upon a hit cause average of 9pts damage. Just not 100% what the +4 is...Is it 1d20 +4 vs character AC?
I understand the characters have a PP of 10 + Wis + Proficiency bonus...so if this Jelly crawled down the pillar, or even dropped from the ceiling behind, or even on, one of the party memebers, how exactly do I figure out if any of them are caught off guard (i.e. surprised)? Do I make Dex (Jelly doesn't have Stealth skill) roll for the Jelly (1d20 -2) and compare to the characters passive wisdom?
Yes, that is how I would generally recommend resolving it. [edit] I think you meant to say "compared to the characters' passive perception." [edit]
If--when you ask what people are doing while in the room--any of the players say they're "looking around", you can give them the opportunity to roll an active Wisdom (Perception) skill check against the Jelly's active Dexterity (Stealth) skill check.
Also worth noting is that anyone/anything can make a Dexterity (Stealth) skill check, even if Stealth isn't one of their skill proficiencies; they just don't get to add their proficiency bonus to the roll.
Aslo, bonus question. Looking at the Stat Block for the Jelly, under Actions, it has Psuedopod melle weapon attack. +4 to hit, reach 5ft, one target, Hit 9. I take this to mean it can target 1 character within 1 square, and upon a hit casue avergae of 9pts damage. Just not 100% what the +4 is...Is it 1d20 +4 vs character AC?
Yes, that's absolutely correct. The +4 to hit is the creature's total attack bonus (ability score modifier + proficiency bonus) when using that attack.
You don't know what fear is until you've witnessed a drunk bird divebombing you while carrying a screaming Kobold throwing fire anywhere and everywhere.
...Aslo, bonus question. Looking at the Stat Block for the Jelly, under Actions, it has Psuedopod melle weapon attack. +4 to hit, reach 5ft, one target, Hit 9. I take this to mean it can target 1 character within 1 square, and upon a hit casue avergae of 9pts damage. Just not 100% what the +4 is...Is it 1d20 +4 vs character AC?.....
Roll the d20 add the 4 if meets or beats the AC it is a hit for 9 pts of damage. Note that is the average damage. You can roll for damage. You got this right.
Surprise Three ways of handling if they don't have a weapon, feat, or something else with prevents surprise.
1. DM says so. Don't to this to often.
2. Stealth check of jelly D20 -2 due Dex 6 vs the pass perception of each individual. You covered this.
3. Stealth with advantage due to room makeup.
But it looks like you have everything covered. What module/adventure are you running?
The most common way is to have the Jelly make a Dexterity (Stealth) check and compare the total against the Passive Perceptions of the party. (It still technically a Dex Stealth check, but the Jelly gets no proficiency bonus to the roll since it is not proficient in stealth.) Then everyone rolls for Initiative and anyone who has a PP higher than the Jelly’s roll is not surprised and anyone who’s PP is lower than the Jelly’s roll is Surprised.
Some DM’s have their players to ask if they can make checks for Perception, in which case they roll against your Jelly’s “Passive Stealth” determined by you and set as a DC. Anyone who fails the check (or doesn’t make one) fails to notice it and are surprised.
Most DMs probably use some combination of the two methods depending on the situation.
A “surprised” creature cannot take any Actions on their first round of combat, and cannot take any Reactions until after their turn in that round.
If you want to, you could give the jelly a bonus to its stealth check to show that it is already hiding. I imagine a moving jelly would be easy to spot, but one hiding blending in with the ceiling would be much more difficult.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
A fool pulls the leaves. A brute chops the trunk. A sage digs the roots.
Remember that the PCs only get to add their proficiency to their passive perception if they are actually proficient in Perception. Otherwise it's just 10+Wisdom Modifier. That said, I would say that jasperrdm gave some really good advice with having the jellies roll for Stealth with advantage due to the room's makeup. To not tip your players off that there is something weird in the room you can roll when they are not looking (to avoid the old "oh no, the DM is rolling dice! I do *something*!") You could also give a penalty to passive perception due to the room being dimly lit etc.
To not tip your players off that there is something weird in the room you can roll when they are not looking (to avoid the old "oh no, the DM is rolling dice! I do *something*!") You could also give a penalty to passive perception due to the room being dimly lit etc.
Or take the opposite approach, roll dice constantly, and always keep you players on edge. Whenever you want to add tension to a scene, just scoop up some d20s and roll them behind your screen.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
A fool pulls the leaves. A brute chops the trunk. A sage digs the roots.
Ooh your playing dwarven excavation in Dragon of Icespire Peak. Ahhhh. I remember me DMing for the first time and running that a few months ago.
I found it hilarious when my players (all new) were obsessing over the fact that they had to kill it with fire for some reason. They did some damage, but then one of the two rangers in the group just decided to destroy it in a good two hits.
Remember that the PCs only get to add their proficiency to their passive perception if they are actually proficient in Perception. Otherwise it's just 10+Wisdom Modifier. That said, I would say that jasperrdm gave some really good advice with having the jellies roll for Stealth with advantage due to the room's makeup. To not tip your players off that there is something weird in the room you can roll when they are not looking (to avoid the old "oh no, the DM is rolling dice! I do *something*!") You could also give a penalty to passive perception due to the room being dimly lit etc.
Thanks, I actually did think about various ways to account for the rooms makeup.... either giving them (Jellies) a slight bonus, or the players an additional -1 unless they had their torches out or how they entered and then fanned out in the room. Thank you all.
We are playing the Essentials Kit as we are all new to this. It is one of the early encounters. Spolier:
Dwarven Excavation encounter, I think Lvl 2-3. Southwest of Phandelver
Thank you for your help.
Ok. I have that one in print and on beyond. Ceilings. Ceilings throughout are 10 feet high and flat. No light. Since your are learning, I will go with DM says you are surprise. And use the surprise rules. To be an evil dm. The jelly has a reach of 5 feet. So anyone 5 foot and 1 inch tall is in range. Smack them in the head. :). Or it could jump to the floor and attack.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
No Gaming is Better than Bad Gaming.
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As an upfront statment, my whole group (inlcuding me as a DM) are completely new to the game and I am trying hard to absorb as much as I can for our next session, so I totally get that this is a newbie question, so be kind.
So I'm reading ahead for my parties next encounter and they ( 5 of them) will possibly be entering a large abandoned room with 4 large stone pillars placed in an orderly fashion. On the far side of the room, opposite from where they enter will be a POI, and it appears that there will be 1 Ochre Jelly that is more or less in plain site. However, I imagine as they get closer, or enter the room and walk across their attention may not be 100% on the floor to ceileing pillars. The pillars are large enough to hide/obscure any other medium to large size creature that may be behind them. In the case that there are 5 party members, I believe the encounter recommended adding another Ochre Jelly towards south end of room. I imagine this Ochre Jelly clinging to the cieling or behind the top part of one of these southern pillars.
How exactly do I check for surprise for the jelly to ooze on down the pillar and come up behind the party if their backs are turned to it. I can see the party being distracted and engaging the one Jelly they did see in the room, but as the other Jelly is in the shadows, and the room is dimly lit. Pg 243 of MM states Ochre Jelly (large) has a Passive Perception 8, WIS 6 (-2), DEX 6 (-2).
I understand the characters have a PP of 10 + Wis + Proficiency bonus...so if this Jelly crawled down the pillar, or even dropped from the ceiling behind, or even on, one of the party members, how exactly do I figure out if any of them are caught off guard (i.e. surprised)? Do I make Dex (Jelly doesn't have Stealth skill) roll for the Jelly (1d20 -2) and compare to the characters passive wisdom?
Anyone nice enough to explain how this proceeds to play out for me?
Also, bonus question. Looking at the Stat Block for the Jelly, under Actions, it has Psuedopod meele weapon attack. +4 to hit, reach 5ft, one target, Hit 9. I take this to mean it can target 1 character within 1 square, and upon a hit cause average of 9pts damage. Just not 100% what the +4 is...Is it 1d20 +4 vs character AC?
Thanks in advance.
Yes, that is how I would generally recommend resolving it. [edit] I think you meant to say "compared to the characters' passive perception." [edit]
If--when you ask what people are doing while in the room--any of the players say they're "looking around", you can give them the opportunity to roll an active Wisdom (Perception) skill check against the Jelly's active Dexterity (Stealth) skill check.
Also worth noting is that anyone/anything can make a Dexterity (Stealth) skill check, even if Stealth isn't one of their skill proficiencies; they just don't get to add their proficiency bonus to the roll.
Yes, that's absolutely correct. The +4 to hit is the creature's total attack bonus (ability score modifier + proficiency bonus) when using that attack.
You don't know what fear is until you've witnessed a drunk bird divebombing you while carrying a screaming Kobold throwing fire anywhere and everywhere.
...Aslo, bonus question. Looking at the Stat Block for the Jelly, under Actions, it has Psuedopod melle weapon attack. +4 to hit, reach 5ft, one target, Hit 9. I take this to mean it can target 1 character within 1 square, and upon a hit casue avergae of 9pts damage. Just not 100% what the +4 is...Is it 1d20 +4 vs character AC?.....
Roll the d20 add the 4 if meets or beats the AC it is a hit for 9 pts of damage. Note that is the average damage. You can roll for damage. You got this right.
Surprise Three ways of handling if they don't have a weapon, feat, or something else with prevents surprise.
1. DM says so. Don't to this to often.
2. Stealth check of jelly D20 -2 due Dex 6 vs the pass perception of each individual. You covered this.
3. Stealth with advantage due to room makeup.
But it looks like you have everything covered. What module/adventure are you running?
No Gaming is Better than Bad Gaming.
RAW there are generally two ways to handle it.
Most DMs probably use some combination of the two methods depending on the situation.
A “surprised” creature cannot take any Actions on their first round of combat, and cannot take any Reactions until after their turn in that round.
I hope that helps.
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We are playing the Essentials Kit as we are all new to this. It is one of the early encounters. Spolier:
Dwarven Excavation encounter, I think Lvl 2-3. Southwest of Phandelver
Thank you for your help.
If you want to, you could give the jelly a bonus to its stealth check to show that it is already hiding. I imagine a moving jelly would be easy to spot, but one hiding blending in with the ceiling would be much more difficult.
A fool pulls the leaves. A brute chops the trunk. A sage digs the roots.
My Improved Lineage System
Remember that the PCs only get to add their proficiency to their passive perception if they are actually proficient in Perception. Otherwise it's just 10+Wisdom Modifier. That said, I would say that jasperrdm gave some really good advice with having the jellies roll for Stealth with advantage due to the room's makeup. To not tip your players off that there is something weird in the room you can roll when they are not looking (to avoid the old "oh no, the DM is rolling dice! I do *something*!") You could also give a penalty to passive perception due to the room being dimly lit etc.
Or take the opposite approach, roll dice constantly, and always keep you players on edge. Whenever you want to add tension to a scene, just scoop up some d20s and roll them behind your screen.
A fool pulls the leaves. A brute chops the trunk. A sage digs the roots.
My Improved Lineage System
Ooh your playing dwarven excavation in Dragon of Icespire Peak. Ahhhh. I remember me DMing for the first time and running that a few months ago.
I found it hilarious when my players (all new) were obsessing over the fact that they had to kill it with fire for some reason. They did some damage, but then one of the two rangers in the group just decided to destroy it in a good two hits.
Thanks, I actually did think about various ways to account for the rooms makeup.... either giving them (Jellies) a slight bonus, or the players an additional -1 unless they had their torches out or how they entered and then fanned out in the room. Thank you all.
Ok. I have that one in print and on beyond. Ceilings. Ceilings throughout are 10 feet high and flat. No light. Since your are learning, I will go with DM says you are surprise. And use the surprise rules. To be an evil dm. The jelly has a reach of 5 feet. So anyone 5 foot and 1 inch tall is in range. Smack them in the head. :). Or it could jump to the floor and attack.
No Gaming is Better than Bad Gaming.