Flanking Damage

What if flanking did extra damage instead of causing advantage? Methods, pitfalls, and an exercise in implementation.

Steady Aim

How strong is the Rogue's new Steady Aim optional class feature?

5 Skill D&D

Why have 18 skills when you can have FIVE?

We’re giving D&D players more agency over the narrative implementation of their skillsets by streamlining a bloated system and highlighting a popular variant rule.

That Broken GWM/SS “Fix”

The most notorious feats in 5th Edition D&D are Sharpshooter (SS) and Great Weapon Master (GWM). These feats are considered the most powerful because of a mechanic they share in common. Yet, a common "fix" to nerf them does not have the intended result! Let's run the numbers.

Design Tips: Trap Features

We used to build characters a different way. Back in 3.x, the splat got so numerous that you were practically forced to "work backwards from 20." In other words, you would build your ultimate character concept and work backwards to see what you needed to take at each level. For example, failure to properly plan … Continue reading Design Tips: Trap Features →

Druid Wild Shape Options by CR

If you run Druids by-the-book, then they can only Wild Shape into a limited number of forms that the Druid has seen: DMs have a lot of control over Wild Shape. Since the Druid doesn't get Wild Shape until Level 2, you aren't committed to allowing the player a certain number of Wild Shape options … Continue reading Druid Wild Shape Options by CR →

Greatsword vs. Greataxe

Conventional wisdom holds that a Barbarian is better wielding a Greataxe (1d12 damage) over a Greatsword (2d6 damage), due to the extra damage that results on a critical hit. Maybe we’re just used to it: the d12 is the die of the Barbarian. However conventional it may be, this idea is frequently wrong and may lead to using an inferior weapon, depending on your character’s loadout. Let’s dive into the numbers and see what kind of weapon your Barbarian should be using.

Weapon Mods: +1d4 damage

Tired of the same old +1 weapons? Consider adding a more magical touch! For the low cost of one d4, you can add a little elemental spice to your next homebrew magic item! After all, players love rolling dice. We're taking a look at the power of a +1d4 modification, compared to standard +1/+2/+3 weapons.

Flanking: A Side View

Flanking is an optional rule in the D&D Dungeon Master's Guide that grants players advantage when their characters attack opposite sides of an enemy. This optional rule can enhance tactical aspects of your game. Understanding more about how this affects different characters can help you decide when to use flanking in your campaign. If you're a player who knows your DM employs the flanking rule, this may help you avoid some pitfalls.

How Strong is Elven Accuracy?

Elven Accuracy gives you "super advantage" via a mechanic that lets you select the best of three dice rolls when you have advantage on an attack. This is widely regarded as a very strong, if not broken, feat. The truth is that the "super advantage" part of the feat doesn't do that much, because already having advantage is normally good enough.