Group 1: OOC I

[dmw71]

Okay, let's officially kick things off.

Each group should now find their own 'action' thread:

• Group 1, Episode 0: Dahyrst
• Group 2, Episode 0: Breburh

Please at least attempt to refrain from reading in the thread from the opposite group.


Thanks!

[Computer +1]

I already looked. I am sorry. Once you said not to I had to.

[dmw71]

I already looked. I am sorry. Once you said not to I had to.

Lol

No worries. I almost didn't say anything, thinking that might tempt people, but I'd prefer that players not read across groups.

[drpete]

I peeked, too. I will restrain myself in the future

[dmw71]

It's honestly not a huge deal, but the two groups will be facing similar situations, and I'd like for them to be played out separately, and not influenced by what the other group is doing/has done.

[GreyWolfVT]

ha more like spies i refrained from looking (for now)

[drpete]

Technical question I'm thinking about, since we're obviously bad "picks" for these tasks...

I see stuff about helping and group checks... can we "help" each other with things like deception and slight of hand, and do we need to be proficient at it or just willing, or close, or whatever?

Also, if we need a group check (for a group deception, maybe), what would that look like?

[dmw71]

Technical question I'm thinking about, since we're obviously bad "picks" for these tasks...

I see stuff about helping and group checks... can we "help" each other with things like deception and slight of hand, and do we need to be proficient at it or just willing, or close, or whatever?

Also, if we need a group check (for a group deception, maybe), what would that look like?

I moved this post from the separate group 1 discussion thread to here in the main OOC I topic since they're good questions, and the answers will be applicable to everyone.

Expect answers from me soon.

[dmw71]

The rules guiding both the below situations are actually pretty straight forward, which is something I really appreciate about 5e.

• Question #1: Working Together

  I see stuff about helping and group checks... can we "help" each other with things like deception and slight of hand, and do we need to be proficient at it or just willing, or close, or whatever?

  When it comes to helping each other, there are a few general things to consider:
  • Only one character will make the actual check;
  • The character that does make the check gains advantage on their roll;
  • A person can only help with a task if it's a task they could complete by themselves.
    ---
  • Official Rule: Working Together
    Note: Emphasis mine.

    Sometimes two or more characters team up to attempt a task. The character who's leading the effort — or the one with the highest ability modifier — can make an ability check with advantage, reflecting the help provided by the other characters. In combat, this requires the Help action (see chapter 9, “Combat”).
    
    A character can only provide help if the task is one that he or she could attempt alone. For example, trying to open a lock requires proficiency with thieves' tools, so a character who lacks that proficiency can't help another character in that task. Moreover, a character can help only when two or more individuals working together would actually be productive. Some tasks, such as threading a needle, are no easier with help.

• Question #2: Group Checks

  Also, if we need a group check (for a group deception, maybe), what would that look like?

  As for group checks, essentially:
  • Every character in the group will roll to make the check.
  • If at least half the members succeed, everyone succeeds.
  • Conversely, the entire group will fail if more than half the party fails.
    ---
  • Official Rules: Group Checks
    Note: Again, emphasis mine.

    When a number of individuals are trying to accomplish something as a group, the DM might ask for a group ability check. In such a situation, the characters who are skilled at a particular task help cover those who aren't.
    
    To make a group ability check, everyone in the group makes the ability check. If at least half the group succeeds, the whole group succeeds. Otherwise, the group fails.
    
    Group checks don't come up very often, and they're most useful when all the characters succeed or fail as a group. For example, when adventurers are navigating a swamp, the DM might call for a group Wisdom (Survival) check to see if the characters can avoid the quicksand, sinkholes, and other natural hazards of the environment. If at least half the group succeeds, the successful characters are able to guide their companions out of danger. Otherwise, the group stumbles into one of these hazards.

[dmw71]

Characters with Darkvision would be able to see in the dim light as if it were bright light out to 60'.

Great reminder! I totally forgot that darkvision steps up the level of obscurement by one.

"...a creature with darkvision can see in dim light as if it were bright light and in darkness as if it were dim light, so areas of darkness are only lightly obscured as far as that creature is concerned..."

[drpete]

I have a technical question about inspiration, here...

If a character has disadvantage, they roll two dice and take the lowest. Imagine that this has happened, and I roll... a 15 and a 3, say.

What happens if I then want to use an inspiration? Do I get to unwind the 3 roll and take the 15? Is that "as intended", or is that a feature of doing this in a pbp environment? Something about getting to pick what to do after seeing the rolls seems a little ... suss.

[dmw71]

If a character has disadvantage, they roll two dice and take the lowest. Imagine that this has happened, and I roll... a 15 and a 3, say.

What happens if I then want to use an inspiration? Do I get to unwind the 3 roll and take the 15? Is that "as intended", or is that a feature of doing this in a pbp environment? Something about getting to pick what to do after seeing the rolls seems a little ... suss.

Regarding inspiration, I will say that you can use it to add a roll (if your initial roll is low), but not remove a roll after it has already been made.

[dmw71]

Regarding:

Working Together

Note: Emphasis mine.

Sometimes two or more characters team up to attempt a task. The character who's leading the effort — or the one with the highest ability modifier — can make an ability check with advantage, reflecting the help provided by the other characters. In combat, this requires the Help action (see chapter 9, “Combat”).

A character can only provide help if the task is one that he or she could attempt alone. For example, trying to open a lock requires proficiency with thieves' tools, so a character who lacks that proficiency can't help another character in that task. Moreover, a character can help only when two or more individuals working together would actually be productive. Some tasks, such as threading a needle, are no easier with help.

Okay, so I'm watching the new 'Starters Kit' video on Geek & Sundry and the DM, Jason Charles Miller, kind of caught me off guard with his explanation of how this 'working together' works.

At the 4:27 mark, he says that the assisting character rolls first. If they roll a 10 or higher, then the primary character attempting the task rolls with advantage.

Scott (or anyone, really), is that how it works? Because this new video series is called the 'Starter Kit,' and they're really explaining how the game works at a basic level and in a high level of detail, my assumption is that he's playing strictly by the rules in the PHB... but I don't see that stated anywhere.

I'm going to search around a bit to see if I can find something on it, but that was new information for me.

[dmw71]

At the 4:27 mark, he says that the assisting character rolls first. If they roll a 10 or higher, then the primary character attempting the task rolls with advantage.

I'm officially convinced this is not a real thing.

False alarm.

[drpete]

Is this a 3e holdover? I see it in the d20SRD for aid another....

http://www.d20srd.org/srd/skills/usingSkills.htm

[dmw71]

Is this a 3e holdover? I see it in the d20SRD for aid another....

http://www.d20srd.org/srd/skills/usingSkills.htm

Ahh, interesting. Good find.

Edition creep is real.

[BearSiren817]

It just came out in the new PHB. Are you in the Chums of Chance Facebook group. Someone just posted this similar question/explanation referencing that video.

[dmw71]

It just came out in the new PHB. Are you in the Chums of Chance Facebook group. Someone just posted this similar question/explanation referencing that video.

Yep, that's me.

[dmw71]

Sorry, guys, but my weekend turned unexpectedly busy.

I'll have an update for both groups tomorrow.

[Gerrin]

All good, stuff happens