Ask the Sage: Quick Rules Questions Vol. 5 (DnD 4e)

[Nocturnal]

I know the answer, but we aren't allowed to quote things to help you here, because of very silly misunderstandings of how copyright law works. Read the paragraph right above the table on page 209 of the Dark Sun Campaign Setting. In particular note the third sentence in that paragraph.
In short: Use the higher bonus.

[Punkie]

Thank you very well.

[theIncredibleL]

Can you detail the major difference between 3.5e and 4e for me. Are there any good SRD resources out there like Pathfinder and the 3.5e system?

[ShadowcatX]

The major differences are everything other than that the names of some things are the same. For example you still have elves and dwarves. Other than that pretty much everything changed. Classes, all of them, have powers they use, some are per encounter, some per day, or whatever. Every character gets a certain amount of healing they can perform on themselves every day. A lot of the powers deal with movement, either your own or your enemies so a map is very important. Casters are significantly neutered from 3.5. They have ritual magic. And so forth.

[hvg3akaek]

Saying that, there's a lot more that is similar than, say, between either of them and one of the White Wolf games.

The maths has been simplified: instead of penalties (eg, in 3.5 races gave you penalties to stats, non-proficiency gave you penalties to hit) they make the standard 0, and give bonuses (so races simply give you bonuses to stats, non-proficiency is +0 but proficiency is +2 or +3). Some things were swapped to make calculations easier (such as saves being static, so all attacks are rolled against a defence, instead of both the attacker and defender having to roll dice). Powers instead of spells does mean less power for mages and clerics, but that was done to bring all classes back to the same power level - no longer will a level 20 mage wipe the floor against any other class, they are all meant to have an equal footing.

Anyway, there are way more tweaks and improvements, but ultimately, it comes down to personal tastes. My recommendation is to investigate further. Apply for a solo game, or have a look through some of the classes WotC has made publicly viewable:

• Cleric
• Warlock
• Fighter
• Warlord
• Wizard

[theIncredibleL]

Originally Posted by hvg3akaek

Saying that, there's a lot more that is similar than, say, between either of them and one of the White Wolf games.

The maths has been simplified: instead of penalties (eg, in 3.5 races gave you penalties to stats, non-proficiency gave you penalties to hit) they make the standard 0, and give bonuses (so races simply give you bonuses to stats, non-proficiency is +0 but proficiency is +2 or +3). Some things were swapped to make calculations easier (such as saves being static, so all attacks are rolled against a defence, instead of both the attacker and defender having to roll dice). Powers instead of spells does mean less power for mages and clerics, but that was done to bring all classes back to the same power level - no longer will a level 20 mage wipe the floor against any other class, they are all meant to have an equal footing.

Anyway, there are way more tweaks and improvements, but ultimately, it comes down to personal tastes. My recommendation is to investigate further. Apply for a solo game, or have a look through some of the classes WotC has made publicly viewable:

• Cleric
• Warlock
• Fighter
• Warlord
• Wizard

Thanks, guys. I am trying to restrict myself to an one game maximum, but if anything opens up, I think I may give it a shot. It is unfortunate I do not have any RL DMs and players in my area that I am familiar with.

[Punkie]

Originally Posted by Azariah

Thanks, guys. I am trying to restrict myself to an one game maximum, but if anything opens up, I think I may give it a shot. It is unfortunate I do not have any RL DMs and players in my area that I am familiar with.

Sometimes looking for a group is not successful. Because, they do not advertise, they dont present themselves to anyone else, they stopped, ....(endless list)
Instead try to announce yourself as a player.
I know I did after searching a long time. I mentioned I wanted to try that and suddenly in the audience popped up "me too!". After 2 minutes we had 5 players and a DM. We later accepted 2 players who just did the same: announcing they looked for a group. Right place, right time I suppose....

[theIncredibleL]

Originally Posted by Punkie

Sometimes looking for a group is not successful. Because, they do not advertise, they dont present themselves to anyone else, they stopped, ....(endless list)
Instead try to announce yourself as a player.
I know I did after searching a long time. I mentioned I wanted to try that and suddenly in the audience popped up "me too!". After 2 minutes we had 5 players and a DM. We later accepted 2 players who just did the same: announcing they looked for a group. Right place, right time I suppose....

I recently moved to a new city, so I really don't even know where to begin... I guess I can try google.

[WitM]

Try any of the following:
Meetup.com - look for a general gaming group, boardgaming event or rpg event.
RPGgeek.com - painful website to use if you're not used to it, but it's a good way to find groups if used together with its sister site boardgamegeek.com
Find local gaming store, post notice or just hang out.
Find local college, ask about gaming groups there.
Go to local cons, socialize.

In my experience finding a boardgaming group is much easier than finding a group for RPGs, since that actually requires being more just slightly socially compatible. There is enough overlap in most cases, so that getting into a boardgaming group and using that as a way to get to know people is usually pretty solid idea. Obviously if you can't stand boardgames you're out of luck.

[Ubernostrum]

I have a question on the Paladin's divine challenge and divine sanction:
If an opponent uses a power like a whirlwind attack that says "target all adjacent enemies" that clearly includes me as a target and doesn't trigger the challenge damage. However, last night, we couldn't decide how this scenario should work: we were fighting some quicklings who had the ability to move and make two attacks at any point during their movement. If it hit me once, then moved on and attacked one of my allies, would that second attack trigger the challenge damage?

[hvg3akaek]

The rules are really vague on this issue (a Hydra's many-head attack also is an example). People have taken hard rulings either way, and ultimately it's up to the group to decide.

Ask the players: if they were marked, and wanted to make an attack that included multiple attacks (eg twin strike, dual strike, etc), would they want to be penalised?

My personal take is that as long as it's one action, it meets the mark's requirements, even if it says "standard action: the creature makes five basic attacks" or some such thing. The other side is: if they all have to be against the marker, then it could be quite damaging to them. Every one of the Hydra's attacks against the fighter, every round? Goodbye fighter

(also - why should the wizard get yet another bonus, that is, attacking multiple folk and allowing it to still be mark-friendly? Same situation (attacking >1 enemies, at least one is the marker), just different styles (close, area, ranged, melee). )

[Leafwin]

So there is a debate at our table on how many times one can use elvan accuracy in an encounter and if it can be used in story?

[Schneebly]

It's an encounter power, which means that you can only use it once per encounter. It will recharge when you take a short rest.

As for out of combat, the text of the power states that it allows you to reroll an attack roll. If you're making attacks out of combat, I'd think you can, but it's definitely not compatible with skill checks (at least, those that aren't attacks.)

That's how I read the power.

[lumisphere902]

Quick question. So a staff (implement) can be used one-handed as an implement and two-handed as a weapon (essentially a quarterstaff), right? So my question is, while using the staff as a weapon, do you need to spend a minor action or something to change it back to one-handed, or can you just directly use it as an implement while holding it using two hands?

[Highborne]

Originally Posted by lumisphere902

Quick question. So a staff (implement) can be used one-handed as an implement and two-handed as a weapon (essentially a quarterstaff), right? So my question is, while using the staff as a weapon, do you need to spend a minor action or something to change it back to one-handed, or can you just directly use it as an implement while holding it using two hands?

No, just let go with the other hand or grab with the other hand. I am assuming the "other hand" is not otherwise occupied (shield/another implement/grabbing someone/etc.).

There isn't a clear rule I think, but you should be able to do this as much as you want in a round since you aren't technically drawing/stowing anything but just grasping something, there are only a few times this would even matter...actually, only one that I can think of, being a spell caster of some form and having an enemy walk through your space/provoking an opportunity attack (namely you are a dragonborn sorcerer ) which you could them whack them on the back of the head and still cast spells no issue later.

DM likely would need to determine if it takes an action to do so though.