What are your favorite silly interactions of rules?

[questionmark693]

My current favorite is from the thread about upcasting fog cloud. Ranged attacks at long range incur disadvantage. Placing a fog cloud between you and the target incurs disadvantage (you can't see them) and also advantage (they can't see you), and everything cancels out - resulting in it being easier to shoot through a fog cloud than it is to shoot without it being there.

Obviously I don't expect these rules to act this way in actual play, that's why we have a DM - but they're funny to talk about regardless!

[Azuresun]

The Goblin Boss can use a reaction to make a nearby goblin take an attack aimed at them....but it doesn't say it needs to be a friendly goblin! Obviously, this was before goblins were PC options, but it's such a funny visual.

[questionmark693]

The Goblin Boss can use a reaction to make a nearby goblin take an attack aimed at them....but it doesn't say it needs to be a friendly goblin! Obviously, this was before goblins were PC options, but it's such a funny visual.

That would be such a mean thing to do as a DM!

takes notes

[Damon_Tor]

In Ghosts of Salt Marsh, ship collision rules make no distinction between ships moving under their own power and ships being moved by other means, and the damages being dealt by these collisions are... quite high. The core implication of this: by simply carrying a basic rowboat into another creature's space, you can deal that creature more damage than you would by actually attacking them.

[Damon_Tor]

The Goblin Boss can use a reaction to make a nearby goblin take an attack aimed at them....but it doesn't say it needs to be a friendly goblin! Obviously, this was before goblins were PC options, but it's such a funny visual.

If a PC goblin attacks a Goblin Boss, the Goblin Boss can actually switch places with that same goblin, and make it get hit by its own attack.

[stoutstien]

Before the printing of demon lords there wasn't a NPC you couldn't kill with enough caltrops and forced movement. slamming a ghost into them worked as wall as taking out big T.

[Keltest]

Before the printing of demon lords there wasn't a NPC you couldn't kill with enough caltrops and forced movement. slamming a ghost into them worked as wall as taking out big T.

The Tarrasque is immune to nonmagical piercing damage though.

[stoutstien]

The Tarrasque is immune to nonmagical piercing damage though.

Nope. Immunity from non magical piercing attacks which caltrops don't use. Also can be repeatedly proned with ball bearings thanks to it's dismal dex.

Speaking of prone. The faster you are the "longer" it takes you to stand up.

[RazorChain]

My current favorite is from the thread about upcasting fog cloud. Ranged attacks at long range incur disadvantage. Placing a fog cloud between you and the target incurs disadvantage (you can't see them) and also advantage (they can't see you), and everything cancels out - resulting in it being easier to shoot through a fog cloud than it is to shoot without it being there.

Obviously I don't expect these rules to act this way in actual play, that's why we have a DM - but they're funny to talk about regardless!

When I DM I usually count disadvantages and advantages. So if you have 2 sources of disadvantage and 1 source of advantage the advantage cancels out just one source of disadvantage.

[Sigreid]

In Ghosts of Salt Marsh, ship collision rules make no distinction between ships moving under their own power and ships being moved by other means, and the damages being dealt by these collisions are... quite high. The core implication of this: by simply carrying a basic rowboat into another creature's space, you can deal that creature more damage than you would by actually attacking them.

But a rowboat is not a ship. Throwing a folding boat and speaking the command word though...

[Greywander]

The Rune Knight's Giant's Might feature makes you Large. It doesn't matter what size you were before, you are now large. This makes small races viable grapplers, whereas before they weren't a good choice due to size restrictions on grappling.

But wait. The fairy gets Enlarge/Reduce as a racial spell, which makes you Huge while Giant's Might is active. And they can fly, which is great for killing via fall damage (especially against other flying creatures, which are a traditional weakness of melee combatants, which grapplers are). And they're a small race.

A 5th level fairy Rune Knight already has everything they need to be a monstrous grappler, able to grapple literally anything (that isn't expressly immune to being grappled). You can even dip out of fighter after 3rd level, going into monk or rogue (or both) for more speed or other interesting features. Sticking with fighter does have benefits, such as a 3rd and 4th attack, and the ability to grow to Huge without Enlarge/Reduce.

And all of this only works because Giant's Might just straight up makes you Large. Without that, fairies would be suboptimal grapplers. Better to just take a flying race that is already Medium sized without needing to use a 1/day racial spell.

[RSP]

An un-classed human with Str 9 or less cannot injure anything with its unarmed strikes. They can stand there all day whaling on someone, punching and kicking, and not actually physically damage them at all.

[kingcheesepants]

My favorite silly rule is the RAW for Revivify. The spell reads "Touch a creature that has died within the last minute." However corpses are objects and not creatures. Therefore RAW Revivify would be more accurately named as Diamond Eater or something.

Obviously RAI everyone knows exactly what the spell does and it works just fine. I've never seen or heard of anyone actually seriously advocating that it doesn't work. And I would be absolutely shocked if a real DM tried to pull the corpse is an object not a creature BS during actual play. But in terms of needing to cleanup rules language and put in consistency, it's a great example.

[icedraikon]

Super advantage with Lucky.

1. Close your eyes and attack.
2. You have disadvantage from not being able to see the target.
3. Use Lucky. You roll another d20 and get to pick any of them.
4. You can now replicate Elven Accuracy on demand 3x per day.

Does not work with Rogue since it is still disadvantage, but still a hilarious combo.

[strangebloke]

vehicle proficiencies are tool proficiencies
warforged and artificers both have options to integrate a tool they're proficient with into their armor.

Oh yeah. It's time.

Tool proficiency: WATER VEHICLES. You now have a boat up your sleeve. Or perhaps more accurately, you're a transformer.

[greenstone]

Things I find silly:

A familiar can't attack but it can help attack. That's stupid. If you can't do a thing then you aren't going to be any help in doing the thing.

Naps heal serious wounds. Impaled by a sword? Nap. Horribly burnt? Nap. Trod on by an elephant? Nap.

Fall damage is capped. Fall from an airship at 10,000ft? Get up and walk away. Have a nap to recover.

Lucky feat and disadvantage.

Quarterstaff works with polearm mastery.

Darkvision is magic.

resulting in it being easier to shoot through a fog cloud than it is to shoot without it being there.

I'm not seeing that. Shooting normally is at, well, normal. Shooting through a fog cloud is at normal. No difference.

Here's an experiment to try. Get a mate and a couple of newspaper swords. Spend 30 seconds having a combat and count how many serious hits both of you land. Now blindfold both of you, and repeat the combat. How different is the number?

[georgie_leech]

I'm not seeing that. Shooting normally is at, well, normal. Shooting through a fog cloud is at normal. No difference.

Shooting at long range, however, is at disadvantage. Shooting at long range through a fog cloud is back to normal. Do you think your long range accuracy at a shooting/archery range would improve via blindfolds?

[Damon_Tor]

Naps heal serious wounds. Impaled by a sword? Nap. Horribly burnt? Nap. Trod on by an elephant? Nap.

This bothers me less: your current physical health is represented by your HP+HD, so as long as the HD are still missing the "wound" is still there, you just aren't in danger of going into shock and passing out because of it.

[Keltest]

Shooting at long range, however, is at disadvantage. Shooting at long range through a fog cloud is back to normal. Do you think your long range accuracy at a shooting/archery range would improve via blindfolds?

This of it this way: Your accuracy is already low. Fog cloud isnt affecting your aim, sine youre already guessing a bit. Its affecting your target's ability to dodge.

[Tanarii]

Naps heal serious wounds. Impaled by a sword? Nap. Horribly burnt? Nap. Trod on by an elephant? Nap.

Impaled by a sword? Dead. Horribly Burnt? Dead. Trod on my an elephant? ... not sure, maybe broken bones.

Your problem is you're representing the loss of hit points as something horrifically traumatic. Horrifically traumatic things occur when you die. Not when you take damage or for PCs even when you drop to 0 hps.

Lucky feat and disadvantage.

Thats just SAC being wrong.

Quarterstaff works with polearm mastery.

Quarterstaffs being versatile weapons instead of 2H weapons. For that matter, spears shouldn't be possible to use effectively one handed in skirmish combat, unless they're supposed to represent half-spears or something.

[Selion]

Shooting at long range, however, is at disadvantage. Shooting at long range through a fog cloud is back to normal. Do you think your long range accuracy at a shooting/archery range would improve via blindfolds?

There are some silly interactions which has become the actual way the game is played.
The worst IMHO being crossbow expert, i read and re-read the feat, and its absolutely clear to me that they wanted to implement a sword and crossbow close combat style of fighting (which would have been awesome), but the feats is written so badly that now we have
"When you use the Attack action and attack with a one handed weapon, you can use a bonus action to attack with a hand crossbow you are holding."
With one handed weapon -> the very same crossbow with which it's referred in the second part of the phrase.
The way the phrase is worded, its is clear that the "one handed weapon" and "a hand crossbow you are holding" are supposed to be two different weapons, but RAW the only way to make this mess work is
"When you use the Attack action and attack with a one handed weapon a hand crossbow, you can use a bonus action to attack with a the hand crossbow you are holding."
So now we get hand crossbows being special weapons shooting faster than short bows for some reasons, the very game developers confirmed that (IMHO just because of laziness on changing the rules), and the result is one of the most abused feats in optimized play.
Tell me if it doesn't sound silly

[Keravath]

Shooting at long range, however, is at disadvantage. Shooting at long range through a fog cloud is back to normal. Do you think your long range accuracy at a shooting/archery range would improve via blindfolds?

No :) ... but the target can't see that arrow coming now :)

Is the disadvantage for long range due to reduced accuracy or because the creature can't see the attack coming and move aside? Or a combination of both?

Being able to see an incoming attack wouldn't have any effect on attacks if the target wasn't able to react to what they see in some way ...

[georgie_leech]

No :) ... but the target can't see that arrow coming now :)

Is the disadvantage for long range due to reduced accuracy or because the creature can't see the attack coming and move aside? Or a combination of both?

Being able to see an incoming attack wouldn't have any effect on attacks if the target wasn't able to react to what they see in some way ...

YMMV, but if I were aiming at a target that may or may not be moving, not being able to see it probably hurts more than it helps

I can understand the justification, I just agree with the OP in that the way the rules are presented, mutual blindness can have some weird edge cases.

[RSP]

Elves can’t train at what’s represented by the Perception skill.

All other races can train at it, and get better at it. Elves can’t. They’re born with an innate ability in it; but, regardless of them living 700 years, they can’t train at it.

[Psyren]

Elves can’t train at what’s represented by the Perception skill.

All other races can train at it, and get better at it. Elves can’t. They’re born with an innate ability in it; but, regardless of them living 700 years, they can’t train at it.

Remember that both calling for a check and the meaning of success are up to the DM. You can make your elves see further than any other race in the party if you want to.

[Phhase]

Elves can’t train at what’s represented by the Perception skill.

All other races can train at it, and get better at it. Elves can’t. They’re born with an innate ability in it; but, regardless of them living 700 years, they can’t train at it.

I don't understand what you mean?

[LudicSavant]

Fall damage is capped.

Hey now, that one's in real life (via terminal velocity).

[sithlordnergal]

Darkness, both magical and non-magical: By RAW, regular old darkness is treated the same way as a thick fog. Makes for some long discussion threads here on the forum.

Surprise and Initiative: Because surprise is now a condition instead of a surprise round, and due to how combat encounter rules work, you can surprise a creature, have them go first in combat, and stop being surprised before they even know you're there.

Invisibility: You know where an invisible creature is, unless they hide. You have disadvantage to attack them if you can't see them, even if they're grappled by you.

Grappling: According to RAW, you can only grapple a creature no more than 1 size category larger than you. Additionally, there are no penalties for trying to grapple a larger creature than you. If you successfully grapple a creature, you can drag them at half your movement speed. This means a regular old Spider, which is a Tiny beast, can technically grapple a Halfling, which is a small Humanoid, and potentially drag them off, provided the Spider succeeds in its Athletics check with a -4.


As for the Fog Cloud...I mean, when I DM I allow it. Its an odd strategy, but its a strategy that works XD I've used it on players, and players have used it on me.


EDIT: So, I'm pretty sure this one was fixed, or was clarified to not work, but Sharpshooter has an odd thing, specifically with its final point. "Before you make an attack with a ranged weapon that you are proficient with, you can choose to take a -5 penalty to the attack roll. If the attack hits, you add +10 to the attack's damage."

Now, do you see the important bit? Here, let me contrast it with Great Weapon Master, "Before you make a melee attack with a heavy weapon that you are proficient with, you can choose to take a -5 penalty to the attack roll. If the attack hits, you add +10 to the attack's damage."

Do you see it? Here, let me highlight it "Before you make an attack with a ranged weapon that you are proficient with" versus "Before you make a melee attack with a heavy weapon that you are proficient with". Sharpshooter doesn't, or didn't, require you to make a Ranged attack for its -5/+10. Heavy and Ranged are both weapon properties, which technically remain even if you use them as an improved weapon. Tavern Brawler gives you proficiency in Improvised Weapons.

So for a little while at least, you could bash someone over the head for a -10 to hit and +20 to damage. Not at all intended by the way, and there have been many clarifications that it does not work...but by RAW, it technically works. Or worked, if they changed RAW.

[Greywander]

Invisibility: You know where an invisible creature is, unless they hide. You have disadvantage to attack them if you can't see them, even if they're grappled by you.

It's worse than that, I'm afraid. You have disadvantage even if you can see them. Being invisible makes it so you can't be seen, but it also as a completely separate effect imposes disadvantage on attacks against you (and grants advantage on your attacks). Any ability that allows you to see invisible creatures but doesn't fully remove the invisible condition still has you making attacks at disadvantage against them. By the way, the blinded condition works the same way. I have a strong suspicion that these conditions were written before the rules for being unseen, and so those effects were baked into those conditions despite them being redundant with the rules for being unseen.

If your DM doesn't look at that and immediately say, "That's dumb, we're not doing that," then you might consider finding a new DM.

[Psyren]

Hey now, that one's in real life (via terminal velocity).

While that's true, the cap itself is the issue, i.e. falling from orbit is easily survivable by most high-level characters. I think the Improvising Damage rules work a bit better as they scale more strongly with tier. I would use the listed fall damage or the Deadly damage for that tier for an extreme fall, whichever is higher.