chapter 2: running the game

running social interaction

it is perfectly acceptable to say what your character is trying to accomplish and then roll the skill check

for example you can say you are going to lie about the value of an item and make the persuasion check

attitude

allied, friendly, indifferent, hostile, enemy

allied is obviously more friendly than friendly

enemy is more hostile than hostile

running exploration

resolving outcome

consequences

degree of failure

failing the dc by 5 or more may have an additional effect

degree of success

exceeding the dc by 5 or more may have an additional effect

critical success or failure

rolling a 20 or a 1 on an ability check doesn't normally have any special effect

rolling a 20 or a 1 on an saving throw results in a normal success on a 20 and a normal failure on a 1 unless it would have resulted is a greater degree of success or failure

running combat

miniatures

tactical maps

the maps are 1.25 feet per square

creature size and space

tiny 1 square

small 2x2 square

medium 4x4 square

large 8x8 square

huge 16x16 square

gargantuan 32x32 square

areas of effect

an area of effect must be translated onto squares to determine which potential targets are in the area

if the area has a point of origin, choose an intersection of squares or hexes to be the point of origin, then follow its rules as normal

if an area of effect covers at least half a square or hex, the entire square or hex is affected

line of sight

to determine whether there is line of sight between two spaces, pick a corner of one space and trace an imaginary line from that corner to any part of another space

if you can trace a line that doesn’t pass through or touch an object or effect that blocks vision—such as a stone wall, a thick curtain, or a dense cloud of fog—then there is line of sight

cover

to determine whether a target has cover against an attack or other effect, choose a corner of the attacker’s space or the point of origin of an area of effect

then trace imaginary lines from that corner to every corner of any one square the target occupies

if one or two of those lines are blocked by an obstacle (including a creature), the target has half cover

if three or four of those lines are blocked but the attack or effect can still reach the target (such as when the target is behind an arrow slit), the target has three-quarters cover

diagonal movement

the first diagonal square counts as 5 feet, but the second diagonal square counts as 10 feet

this pattern of 5 feet and then 10 feet continues whenever you’re counting diagonally, even if the creature moves straight between different bits of diagonal movement

for example, a character might move 1 square diagonally (5 feet), then 3 squares straight (15 feet), and then another square diagonally (10 feet) for a total movement of 30 feet

flanking

flanking gives combatants a simple way to gain advantage on attack rolls against a common enemy

a creature can’t flank an enemy that it can’t see

a creature also can’t flank while it is incapacitated

a creature is flanking as long as at least one square of its space qualifies for flanking

when a creature and at least one of its allies are adjacent to an enemy and on opposite sides or corners of the enemy’s space, they flank that enemy, and each of them has advantage on melee attack rolls against that enemy

when in doubt about whether two creatures flank an enemy on a grid, trace an imaginary line between the centers of the creatures' spaces, if the line passes through opposite sides or corners of the enemy’s space, the enemy is flanked

facing

whenever a creature ends its move, it can change its facing

each creature has a front arc (the direction it faces), left and right side arcs, and a rear arc

a creature can also change its facing as a reaction when any other creature moves

a creature can normally target only creatures in its front or weapon side arcs and it can’t see into its rear arc, his means an attacker in the creature’s rear arc makes attack rolls against it with advantage

shields apply their cover bonus only against attacks from the front arc or the same side arc as the shield, for example, a fighter with a shield on the left arm can use it only against attacks from the front and left arcs

feel free to determine that not all creatures have every type of arc, for example, an amorphous ochre jelly could treat all of its arcs as front ones, while a hydra might have three front arcs and one rear one

on squares, you pick one side or corner of a creature’s space as the direction it is facing, draw a diagonal line outward from each corner, or a horizontal line from the center of the square if the creature is facing a corner, this side to determine the squares in its front arc, the opposite side of the space determines its rear arc in the same way, the remaining spaces to either side of the creature form its side arcs

a square might be in more than one arc, depending on how you draw the lines from a creature’s space, if more than half of a square lies in one arc, it is in that arc, if it is split exactly down the middle, use this rule: if half of it lies in the front arc, it’s in that arc, if half of it is in a side arc and the rear arc, it’s in the side arc

chapter 3: dm's toolbox

death

scaling lethality

defeated, not dead

a player can chose to become defeated, not dead at any time before it fails its third death saving throw

comatose

the character has 1 hit point and the unconscious condition, the character can regain hit points as normal, but the character remains unconscious until they are targeted by a greater restoration spell or experience a sudden awakening (see below)

sudden awakening

after finishing a long rest, the character makes a dc 20 constitution saving throw, on a successful save, the unconscious condition ends on the character, on a failed save, the condition persists

marks of prestige

training

training takes all day meaning the character can do nothing else but a long rest but is otherwise free

300 days of training earns you a feat for levels 1-4

600 days of training earns you a feat for levels 5-8

900 days of training earns you a feat for levels 9-12

1,200 days of training earns you a feat for levels 11-16

1,500 days of training earns you a feat for levels 17-20

nonplayer characters

npc's as party members

loyalty

loyalty score

npc's hired to the group will work on the groups average charisma score, those hired by individuals will go off the individuates charisma score

poison

purchasing poison

poison is forbidden in a lawful areas, available on the black market in true areas, and openly available in chaotic areas

sample poisons

all poisons listed are available for one percent of the listed prices

renown

gaining renown

your renown always equals your level

benefits of renown

recognition

when identified people know of you

at level 1-4 on a dc:30 history (intelligence) check

at level 5-8 on a dc:25 history (intelligence) check

at level 9-12 on a dc:20 history (intelligence) check

at level 13-16 on a dc:15 history (intelligence) check

at level 17-20 on a dc:10 history (intelligence) check

at level 21+ on a dc:5 history (intelligence) check

rank

if you join an organization you can earn rank based on that organization's guidelines

perks

renown can get you various perks especially when combined with rank in an organization

losing renown

you can't lose renown unless you lose your levels but you can lose rank in an organization

chapter 7:treasure

magic items

magic item rarity

if a magic item incorporates an item that has a purchase cost in the player's handbook (such as a weapon or a suit of armor), add that item’s cost to the magic item’s value

for example, +1 armor (plate armor) has a value of 11,500gp, which is the sum of a minor rare magic item’s value (10,0000gp) and the cost of plate armor (1,500gp)

magic item values and rarity

minor common 100gp

major common 400gp

minor uncommon 1,000gp

major uncommon 4,000gp

minor rare 10,000gp

major rare 40,000gp

minor very rare 100,000gp

major very rare 400,000gp

minor legendary 1,000,000gp

major legendary 4,000,000gp

minor artifact 10,000,000gp

major artifact 40,000,000gp

crafting magic items

time and cost

raw materials

to make an item you need raw materials worth one quarter of the purchase cost

time

to determine how many hours it takes to make an item, divide its purchase price in gold pieces by one quarter

a craftsman can do it's proficiency bonus in copper pieces per hour of work