Omnis

Yes what I'm trying to do is figure out the cost levers...and hopefully have just a couple easy ones I can use and they can understand. For 5e it seems like: - roll with disadvantage - increased DC to succeed - opponents gains advantage rest of round - AOO

This is what I'm trying to avoid, I think. If players are being tactical, they will attempt to maximize their advantage when it comes to actions. The way this connects with "boring combat" is that "hit with sword" ends up being the most optimal way to dispatch an opponent...vs taking other actions like pushing, making prone, etc... So a creative action that attempts to do damage (more than say the sword) or combine damage with some other effect...should be balanced by being difficult / roll at disadvantage to allow but not make a player want to do the action EVERY time. I was just looking for a simple blanket rule to adhere to... 😄 🤷‍♂️

I've been out of dnd DM mode for a bit but I'm now DMing a 5e game for a group of kids. Been pouring over rules, as one does, but I'm getting hung up on something... A DM is encouraged to allow players to do creative things in combat (swing across the room on chandelier, etc). That's great but there also an action economy (move, action, bonus action if allowed, reaction) that exists. And you also have class features and feats which basically codify one kind of "creative action" or another. So at level 1, in combat, you have to weigh "I swing my sword" actions...which directly harm an opponent, with other actions. Is it WORTH doing something else just to end up "swinging my sword" a round later? Ok to my question/point: what if a player wants to do something in combat that mimics a feat or class feature and they don't HAVE that feat/feature? Say something like sweep the leg of an opponent, harm them and cause them to go prone (essentially 2 base actions in combo). Is there some basic standing rule I could adopt in such cases...like "roll at disadvantage" and feel safe in knowing I haven't broken the balance of the game while still being able to say "yes" to players?

Sorry I wasn't clear. 😄 I more meant Alex joining Charles.

/ It looks like Alex is finished with his library investigation and Charles is really just starting to get to the interviews. Anyone have a problem if we merge Alex and Charles prior to lunch?

CHARLES Agnes seems to squint at Charles for a moment, then gives Clarence a quick look before looking back to Charles and sighing, "Yes, of course I will speak with you...answer what I can." She takes sip of the water, "We've been expecting someone to come asking about Dr. Roades. We know the official story is he isn't missing, but...that's not the truth now is it..." It wasn't a question. Alex Prior to the librarian finding him, Alex tries to find any additional information on any historical information on the colonial period specifically about Cade's Rest or the Natives that lived in the upper Miskatonic Valley...but is not successful. The librarian finds him as he exhausts his search and hands him a slip of paper. It is a library transfer receipt. It seems that Dr. Roades had tracked down the Confessions of Ezekiel Cade at the Boston Public Library and had them loan the document to Miskatonic, where he signed in out in March, last Spring semester. Lucas The first floor is neat, tidy, and clean...with nothing amiss nor anything particularly relevant to Dr. Roades' disappearance on the shelves. The garage, on the other hand, is a different story. Winston unlocks the garage, commenting that no one had been in there since Henry and Abigail left, and at first Lucas finds nothing amiss. A single car garage, with a small workbench and tools at one side, it was fairly standard. Then Lucas notices a drape, strung up across the back wall. Behind it is a door. One that probably goes to a storage closest. But the door is painted black...and around it the wall is painted black as well...in a rough ovoid shape, a slit like a cat's pupil. The brush strokes have a wild and frenzied look to them.

ALEX Alex emerges from the Archaeology department of Miskatonic University into the gray, overcast morning of Arkham. The gentle patter of rain accompanies his steps along the cobblestone path, its surface glistening with moisture under the muted light. Towering oak trees line the campus, their branches swaying gently in the breeze as if whispering ancient secrets. As Alex approaches the library, its imposing facade looms ahead, its Gothic architecture a testament to the university's storied past. Pushing open the heavy wooden doors, he steps into the warmth and dimly lit interior, greeted by the comforting scent of old books and the soft murmur of scholarly activity. OOCProvide a Library Use roll please, and since this is a rush job...it'll be a hard difficulty. CHARLES Fifteen minutes pass as Charles waits in Eudora Thorn's office. The sound of rain hitting the window panes begins to lull Charles off to sleep when the door opens and Eudora enters followed by two students. The first to enter is a small, intense woman, obviously Miss Agnes Soames, in her early 20s with short hair and thick glasses. Her jaw is clenched and she all but glares at Charles as she moves to take a seat across from him. The other is a slim, dreamy young man with messy straw-colored hair. Clarence Welliver, since McTavish said that Walt Rerig had taken a leave of absence. Eudora makes quick introductions as Sarah brings in three cups of water, and then they depart, leaving Charles alone with the two. LUCAS There is a sense of melancholy and under it anger as Winston marches up the porch steps, unlocks the door, and ushers Lucas inside. The interior of the Roades' home clearly reflects Abigail's tastes, with floral wallpaper and upholstery, embroidered doilies, and antique mahogany furnishings. The living room has a stone fireplace and built-in bookshelves packed with artifacts and texts related to Henry's work. The place looks clean and tidy although an air of emptiness hangs over it. Winston knocks the rain off his boots and frowns as he regards the place. "Well here it is. There's just this floor and the upper, a small basement and a crawl space...no attic. And the garage of course, but they took their car with them on Henry's damned foolish expedition." His knuckles crack as a hand tenses into a fist for a moment. "I told Abigail not to go traipsing around in the hinterlands. Damned odd folks inland." He sighs, "Anything you need, Lucas you let me know. I'll let you get to your business."

LOL...ok, I'll get posts up ASAP.

Any of you guys watching True Detective: Dark Country (Season 4)?

ALEX Renewing his efforts, Alex continues his search of the office and comes across a journal of Henry's. Most of the entries are of the mundane sort but one stands out. Henry mentions reading of the "confessions of Ezekiel Cade" but Alex can find no papers, books, or other mention of these "confessions" there in the office. Henry Roades' Journal April 7, 1926 The tale of Cade's Rest has consumed my thoughts of late. Most dismiss it as folklore, but I am convinced there is truth to the stories of the lost Quaker settlement and its mysterious demise. The conflicting accounts and fanciful details only spur me to learn what truly transpired there. My colleagues call it an unhealthy fixation, but I cannot shake the feeling that unraveling the riddle of Cade's Rest will lead to revelations beyond our comprehension. If the legends hold any fact, there are artifacts and records waiting to be unearthed that will reshape our understanding of early colonial history and native cultures in the Miskatonic Valley. But it is more than academic curiosity that drives me. Since first reading the confessions of Ezekiel Cade, I have felt an inexplicable connection to his tale. I have been haunted by vivid dreams of darkness where formless shadows writhe. A woman's voice calls to me, saying I must find her so we can be reborn. I do not know what meaning these dreams hold, if any. But I am convinced my fate is intertwined with Cade's Rest, for good or ill. I must find it, or the mystery will torment me to the end of my days. Perhaps there I will find answers - about the lost settlers, about the native tribes, and perhaps about myself. I cannot turn back now. The truth is out there, waiting.

LUCAS 14 Miskatonic Avenue. It isn't a long walk, and not difficult to find, even in the rain. Coming to the address, Lucas finds a tidy two-story Colonial house with white clapboard siding, green shutters, and a covered front porch. There is a small front yard with a low stone wall bordering the sidewalk. A gravel driveway leads to a detached garage at the rear of the property. A search...as much as one can really do with the current weather...of the exterior of the house, the yard, driveway, and around the garage yields no indication that there was any abnormal entry into the property or its buildings. Fairly drenched at this point, as Lucas finishing his investigation he hears the sound of a powerful vehicle pull smoothly into the drive way. A dark red Pierce-Arrow Model 66, which commands attention with its imposing size. Its long hood, sweeping fenders, and gracefully sloping roofline exude a sense of sophistication and opulence. Gleaming chrome accents adorn the car's exterior, from the radiator grille and hood ornaments to the door handles and trim pieces. The car stops and out steps Winston Matthews, an imposing, barrel-chested man in his late 60s. His hair has turned steel gray and his bushy mustache is flecked with touches of white. He has piercing slate blue eyes and stands ramrod straight despite his age. He is, as always, dressed impeccably in a fine dark three-piece suit. Holding an umbrella in one hand he strides up to Lucas and holds out a hand. "Lucas...good to see you again. I hope your last hunt went successfully." He pauses a moment, his eyes flickering toward his granddaughter's home. His voice pitches low. "I'm glad you're helping out on this. I told McTavish we needed someone with your expertise. Come...come."

CHARLES As Charles speaks Eudora Thorn's face softens the barest touch and at the mention of the Roades' she shakes her head slightly and Charles can hear the silent "tsk tsk" of disapproval of their disappearance. "Of course I will assist you." She says as if it were never a question. "Sarah go fetch Miss Somes and Mr. Welliver. Be sure to check the dining hall if they aren't at their rooms." As the girl hurries out into the rain, Thorn calls after her, "Bring them back here to my office." A moment passes as she frowns at the girl's back and then she turns to Charles. "Mr. Avebury, please, wait in my office." As you step into her office, you're greeted by the scent of aged wood and polished brass. The door, adorned with a polished brass plaque inscribed with the title "Headmistress of Student Housing," swings open to reveal your sanctuary of order and authority. Thorn's office is furnished with heavy, mahogany desks and bookcases, each meticulously arranged to convey an aura of scholarly refinement. Her desk, positioned at the center of the room, commands attention with its imposing presence, its surface adorned with neat stacks of paperwork and a gleaming brass lamp casting a warm glow over the polished wood. A row of tall windows, draped with heavy velvet curtains, allows filtered light to cascade into the room, casting long shadows across the hardwood floor. She leads Charles to one corner of the office, where a small sitting area invites visitors to linger, its plush armchairs and intricately woven rugs offering respite from the rigors of academic life. OOC I'll pause here in cased you want to do anything prior to Sarah returning.

go ahead and provide a charm roll.

Hey all apologies for the delay. Been a bad weather week and so kids have been home and thing a got busy. I'll get posting ASAP!

ALEX The leather of the wingback chair sighs as Alex perches on it, its creak a spectral welcome in the quiet office. The scent of ink and aged paper hangs heavy, a familiar comfort that now feels laced with unease. Henry's absence, so sudden and uncharacteristic, was a gaping hole in the usual rhythm of academic life. He starts with the most visible pile on the desk, a jumble of handwritten notes and newspaper clippings, each meticulously labeled in Henry's precise script. He sifts through the clippings, a name jumping out – Oliver Stansfield. He vaguely recalls Henry mentioning the name...an eccentric historian, obsessed with the darker corners of Massachusetts lore. A folder titled "From Myth and Legends of Old Massachusetts: Stansfield Collection" sits tucked beneath a pile of books. Stansfield's handwriting, spidery and manic, fills the pages with tales of forgotten gods, whispered cults, and ancient rituals veiled in myth. Then Alex finds a reference to Cade's Rest and a small handwritten note. From Myth and Legends of Old Massachusetts: The Miskatonic Valley One less sinister and undoubtedly less puzzling mystery of the Miskatonic Valley is the fate of the settlement known as Cade’s Rest. Historical record shows that following the hanging of Mary Dyer on Boston Common in 1660, a group of Quakers left Boston, fearing persecution at the hands of the Puritans. This group was led by the tailor Ezekiel Cade, and included as many as ten other families. After some months of travel, they settled by the banks of the Miskatonic River, not far from the spot that would one day become Dunwich. While records from this point are scant, the folk story holds that the settlement thrived once Cade and his followers made contact with a local Indian tribe known as the People of the Black Earth. Where the tale turns to folklore is in the demise of the settlement. Some stories have the earth opening and swallowing the settlers’ whole. Others tell of them being snatched away by the Devil himself. Even the more mundane details are contradictory, with some describing the discovery of empty homes on the site, and others saying that even the buildings had vanished. Given that there are mentions of Cade being spotted in Boston a few years later, the most likely explanation is that the settlers simply moved again, possibly spreading the rumours of their disappearance themselves to secure their privacy. Alternatively, they may have come into conflict with the Black Earth tribe and been killed. Regardless of the truth, the legend is a minor one at best. Handwritten Note (Henry Roades hand) Cade's Rest...near Dunwich...west up the Miskatonic River. Could it be near the village of Blackwater Creek? Who where the "People of the Black Earth"?