What are the rules for a character (or monster) jumping onto a foe below? For example, jumping off of a balcony to try to drive a sword into a monster below?
It would seem that such a foolhardy (but spectacular) move would require an acrobatics check or something similar, and that it would do extra damage if successful.
On a simpler matter, what are the rules for a dropped rock or similar attack from above?
I don't believe 5e has rules for falling object damage, so by RAW, the attacker would take 1d6 damage per 10ft fallen, and that's the only difference.
Realistically, both the attacker and the victim would take the same amount of damage from the impact. (The weapon damage would be calculated separately.)
The idea of letting the attacker deal more damage, but not take damage themself is unrealistic, but not the strangest thing for a fantasy game.
The most practical option would be to give the player the benefit of "Pounce" as seen on the Lion and similar monsters. Adding a chance to inflict the prone condition, rather than additional damage.
Dropping a rock I’d call an improvised weapon attack. I guess you could change the damage based on the size of the rock, but I wouldn’t want to get into that kind of headache, and just basically use the same rules for if you threw the rock at a creature.
What are the rules for a character (or monster) jumping onto a foe below? For example, jumping off of a balcony to try to drive a sword into a monster below?
It would seem that such a foolhardy (but spectacular) move would require an acrobatics check or something similar, and that it would do extra damage if successful.
On a simpler matter, what are the rules for a dropped rock or similar attack from above?
I don't believe 5e has rules for falling object damage, so by RAW, the attacker would take 1d6 damage per 10ft fallen, and that's the only difference.
Realistically, both the attacker and the victim would take the same amount of damage from the impact. (The weapon damage would be calculated separately.)
The idea of letting the attacker deal more damage, but not take damage themself is unrealistic, but not the strangest thing for a fantasy game.
The most practical option would be to give the player the benefit of "Pounce" as seen on the Lion and similar monsters. Adding a chance to inflict the prone condition, rather than additional damage.
There isn't an official rule.
I house rule both taking half the fall damage, and target gets STR save against prone.
There actually is an official rule for falling onto creatures, found in Tasha's Cauldron of Everything
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Oh. Neat.
Dropping a rock I’d call an improvised weapon attack. I guess you could change the damage based on the size of the rock, but I wouldn’t want to get into that kind of headache, and just basically use the same rules for if you threw the rock at a creature.
Thank you!