The fix should address only the narrow scope of the problem, else it may upset the balance of other design elements. The only practical way to increase Tortle Armor Class is by using a shield (+2 AC). You don't use both. If you need to run, you should just be running. Do you wish you had kept 3e's Ex/Su/Sp ability descriptors? Ranger Beast Master: 'Tasha's Cauldron of Everything' Official Fix! Change ), You are commenting using your Google account. 17+(con or wis)? Shell Defense works at range, where being prone is actually a benefit: Example: Level 1 Attacker; 16 DEX; Longbow (+5 attack, 1d8+3 damage): So you can hunker in a bunker under your shell. 17+(con or wis)? As you can see, you would actually be taking more damage/round if you used Shell Defense. This is an unofficial D&D site made by Zoltar to collect designer tweets and help players of the best game ever created. However, that raises concerns that it may begin to interact with other design elements. Change ), You are commenting using your Facebook account.
Here are some more test cases: Example. Ranger Beast Master: 'Tasha's Cauldron of Everything' Official Fix! Especially not enough here. Enter the spellcaster maintaining concentration. If you boost to 19 Armor Class, you can achieve a small benefit from Shell Defense. What is the familiar sitting on the War Mage's shoulder. Tortle vs. Young Red Dragon (Claw): Melee Damage Reduction per Attack (Summary of Test Cases): Good fixes for game design problems are elegant but simple. However, this is not the case for the Tortle, who is in its best defensive position and covering its weaknesses while in its shell.
This is an unofficial D&D site made by Zoltar to collect designer tweets and help players of the best game ever created. Simply stated: “While in your shell, attack rolls made against you do not have advantage normally granted by the prone condition.”. Having that natural AC means that you don’t need to spread your stats so thin, also a natural weapon is always nice to have. Consider this: the baseline for comparison shouldn’t be “doing nothing.” The rules already allow you to burn your action to achieve a defensive benefit with the Dodge action. 10+dex+(c or w)? Offense can be the best defense. @JeremyECrawford How does Tortle nat armor and Unarmored Defence (monk or barbarian) work? Blame @ChrisPerkinsDnD. Like many things in D&D, it is situationally good.
( Log Out / The thing that breaks Shell Defense is the fact that being prone grants melee attackers advantage. In achieving simplicity, it’s important not to paint with too broad of a brush. We don’t want to remove being prone, because the Tortle should be on the ground if it’s in its shell. 10+(c or w)? Let’s look deeper. A ranged damage cantrip is often going to be a better use of a turn.
Do you wish you had kept 3e's Ex/Su/Sp ability descriptors? Fill in your details below or click an icon to log in: You are commenting using your WordPress.com account. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Included in this class was a mechanic called Shell Defense. — Shawn Banerjee (@ShawnBanerjee) September 16, 2017, If you have Natural Armor & Unarmored Defense, choose 1 to use. Why does being prone grant advantage to an attacker? Tortuga Fairbanks: Tortle Barbarian – Misanthropester, You Can Fit 100 Intellect Devourers on the Outside of Leomund’s Tiny Hut. At the Tortle’s base 17 Armor Class (AC), using Shell Defense is worse than doing nothing against a melee attacker. The problem with Shell Defense is that it is inferior by a basic game mechanic: Dodge. Make sure to keep the scope narrow; and carefully consider any such sweeping changes. You could rule that attackers against a Tortle in its shell never gain advantage under any circumstance. Shell Defense works especially well for maintaining concentration, because it grants advantage on Constitution saving throws. ( Log Out / Racial bonuses should provide a greater benefit than players can realize from the basic rules. Elegance is fitting the narrative of how the mechanic works without changing its spirit. 10+dex+(c or w)? However, this benefit will erode against higher level monsters, and Shell Defense will again fall behind doing nothing in damage reduction. See SA Compendium for more: https://t.co/nlIvbEC7D7 #DnD https://t.co/vXfEujqtfL, — Jeremy Crawford (@JeremyECrawford) September 16, 2017. But you cant do anything else. Tortle ( ++ ) TTP – Tortles gain a bonus to str and wis which are solid ability bumps, but the shell is nice.
@JeremyECrawford How does Tortle nat armor and Unarmored Defence (monk or barbarian) work? 10+(c or w)? In melee, you’re better dodging.
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Everything we know about 'Tasha's Cauldron of Everything' - Reddit, 'Tasha's Cauldron of Everything' Index Revealed and an exclusive early look with Jeremy Crawford. Support ThinkDM on Patreon for exclusive content, sneak previews, and custom classes. That in itself is a sign of good design, but not enough. That would be an inelegant solution. Change ). Over a long enough run, attacking becomes a better defensive strategy because eventually ranged attackers will crack the Tortle’s Shell Defense, if our reptilian friend decides to stay shelled-up forever.
This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Simplicity is the ability to state the rule in a brief sentence. You can calculate the effectiveness of Tortle Shell Defense against various foes by using the calculator linked in the heading of this section. @ChrisPerkinsDnD @mikemearls do the tortles in The Tortle Package receive Unarmored Defense benefits from monk and barbarian classes?
That’s where you will see the comparison at 17 Armor Class. The Barbarian and Monk’s Unarmored Defense do not stack with the Tortle’s natural armor; the rules require the player to select one method of calculating Armor Class.
Learn how your comment data is processed. @ChrisPerkinsDnD @mikemearls do the tortles in The Tortle Package receive Unarmored Defense benefits from monk and barbarian classes?— Alan … — Shawn Banerjee (@ShawnBanerjee) September 16, 2017 If you have Natural Armor & Unarmored Defense, choose 1 to use. ( Log Out / Tiefling ( — ) PHB – Base tiefling has very little to offer the Barbarian nor do any of the subraces. Especially something as iconic as a turtle hiding in its shell. Boosting your Armor Class to 19 will allow you to achieve a marginal damage/round benefit over doing nothing. The Shell Defense mechanic provides as follows: Being prone gives melee attackers advantage, which counteracts the Armor Class bonus. critical hit). If focused on utility for a character expected to be played for a prolonged time, I would rather play a cleric, barbarian, fighter, druid, or paladin as a Tortle. You’re going to need a reason to stay in battle (at range), and a method to remain effective without taking any actions.