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Friday, November 16, 2012

#050



I'm not a doctor or anything, but I'm pretty sure you don't want to punch a shield. Lyle's shield is oak, and I know a lot of players favor steel, but just try punching a tree.

Angering an orc is a pretty bad idea, but in D&D terms it has its uses. Supposing this orc is a barbarian, it is now raging, charging, and delivering a power attack. That's pretty bad news for a lone fighter, but Lyle is taking a total defense action, which effectively negates any bonuses the orc receives to its melee attacks. A raging, charging character also receives a -4 penalty to their armour class, which will work to Lyle's advantage in the next round.

I don't expect the players at my table to know that. In fact, the general assumption seems to be that as soon as a player sights an enemy, they go in charging themselves. But as a DM I tend to think about these little rules and what sort of implications they have, just in case the group decides to play things tactically.

Orcs totally Waaauuugghhh!! That's not just because I'm a big Warhammer fan, it just seems like an appropriate response to embarrassment.