Meets or Beats – DM’s Pocket Guide

It took us years to keep this rule straight, despite it being in the first few pages of the Player's Handbook!  It took this catchy phrase to nail it down:  "Meets or beats."  Listen today and make sure you're managing dice rolls correctly and consistently! Please like, review, and share to support DM’s Pocket Guide! We’re Tricia and Rachel from Roar Cat Reads.  If you would like to learn about a specific D&D rule or spell, send us a request at roarcatreads@gmail.com.  Transcripts of every episode are available!   If you want more rules, buy a copy of the Player’s Handbook! Follow us on Twitter and Instagram  Artwork by Haley Boros DM’s Pocket Guide is unofficial Fan Content permitted under the Fan Content Policy. Not approved/endorsed by Wizards. Portions of the materials used are property of Wizards of the Coast. ©Wizards of the Coast LLC.

Transcription

Welcome to DM’s Pocket Guide, where we discuss the rules, spells, and monsters of Dungeons and Dragons, 5th edition.

Tricia: Today, we’re going to talk about the rule Meets or Beats. 

Rachel: The AC/DC rule.

T: This is one that tripped us up for a long time, which is kind of embarrassing now, because it’s so basic.

R: Yeah, once you’ve had it explained to you in a way that you can remember it, it is quite easy. So what we’re talking about is when you are rolling an ability check or an attack roll or trying to make a saving throw, if your roll meets the armor class or the difficulty class that’s set out – what happens in that circumstance.

T: So, we are looking at page seven of the Player’s Handbook, which we just found now, we didn’t know it’s very early in the book. And so, I just tend to assume, oh, that stuff is all obvious, I don’t need to look at it very often. It turns out pretty helpful.

R: Yeah. I mean it’s under a section called the D20. So me and my flippant way was just like, I had to roll the d20. I don’t need to know this. Well, yeah, actually there was something in there that took me two and a half, three years to fully get my head around and yeah, okay. So what is the rule? 

T: Well, the rule is if you roll and the number meets or beats the person’s armor class or difficulty class then it succeeds. 

R: Yeah, that’s correct. 

T: It’s very simple actually. 

R: It’s yeah, it’s super simple but it’s one of those moments where as a DM, your player rolls and if you don’t have this firmly in your mind, your player will roll and meet the armor class or the difficulty class and you will have this moment of what happens? And the player is going to look at you expectantly and say what happens and if you don’t have this rule in your mind, the way I always used to treat it was, oh if I don’t know, I’ll just roll in favor of my player and then they’re happy. Okay. Well there’s a motivation for me to change that behavior. 

T: Yeah, but the reason that became a problem was ruling in the player’s favor meant that in different situations we were doing different things which kind of just became this weird conglomeration of players, just being like, sure, whatever you say in this moment is true and there was no consistency. And so then how did you end up hearing the term meets or beats?

R: I think just from talking to more people about it and playing with experienced players, that knew the rule or playing in more games as a player. And sort of how coming into contact with it and then having this lovely phrase meets or beats. That is much easier to remember than the actual rule as it’s written. 

T: Yeah, that has been a nice thing that when we started playing D&D we were in this very lovely little group of people who had never played D&D before. And so in that way it led to a lot of really fun like role playing and like the sense of anything’s possible, but we did kind of miss some very basic fundamental rules. And so if that is the case for you, that’s why we’re sharing this one. And so what are some examples of how this would play out? 

R: Okay, so if I am a player and I am rolling to attack your monster, and I roll a 15.

T: Oh my armour class is 15. 

R: Do I succeed. 

T: You do because you meet or beat it. 

R: Okay, I roll 14. One less than the armour class. I would fail. If I rolled over I’m going to hit. If I meet it I succeed.

T: Yeah. What about an ability check?

R: Similar kind of thing. If I’m trying to scale my way up a mountain and I roll a 17 on my ability check, it’s a very steep mountain.

T: Yes, your athletics check of it was a 17 ability check to climb this mountain. You rolled a 17, you meet or beat it. So, you succeed to me, and the last is with saving throws. This is kind of where we would get tripped up. Mmm. But so in this case, if I as a monster am casting a spell at you that requires a wisdom saving throw roll of 14, and you roll a 14–

R: Then I would meet the saving throw and therefore succeed.

T: Yes. 

R:Yeah.

T: So I mean, it’s, it’s actually so simple.  

R: It’s the person that’s rolling the dice that has to meet. Because with that last example of the saving throw, ok well if it meets your monster saving throw so does that mean it’s succeeded or not? Maybe that’s where we got tripped up a lot? 

T: Yeah, I think so. 

R: If you’re rolling the dice, you are the one that has to meet in order to succeed.

T: Yes. 

R: That’s maybe a key point there.

T: Yes, owner of the dice rolls meets or beats, you succeed. And that is the meet or beat rule on page seven of the Player’s Handbook.

Thanks for listening!  If you have something you’d like us to cover, email it to roarcatreads@gmail.com or find us on Twitter and Instagram @roarcatreads.  

Concentration – DM’s Pocket Guide

"I hate this. This is my brain just literally turns off, reading the Player's Handbook." Can you relate?  The rules for maintaining spell concentration can be tedious, but we break it down for you in this week's episode of DM's Pocket Guide!  Please like, review, and share to support DM’s Pocket Guide! We’re Tricia and Rachel from Roar Cat Reads.  If you would like to learn about a specific D&D rule or spell, send us a request at roarcatreads@gmail.com.  Transcripts of every episode are available!   If you want more rules, buy a copy of the Player’s Handbook! Follow us on Twitter and Instagram  Artwork by Haley Boros DM’s Pocket Guide is unofficial Fan Content permitted under the Fan Content Policy. Not approved/endorsed by Wizards. Portions of the materials used are property of Wizards of the Coast. ©Wizards of the Coast LLC.

Transcription

Welcome to DM’s Pocket Guide, where we discuss the rules, spells, and monsters of Dungeons and Dragons, 5th edition.

Tricia: Hello. Today, we are going to talk about Concentration.

Rachel: *straining to concentrate noise*

T: Specifically, concentrating on spells that require concentration. 

R: So, this rule is on page 203 of the Player’s Handbook. And it says that some spells require you to maintain concentration in order to keep their magic active, if you lose concentration, that spell will end. If a spell must be maintained with concentration, that fact appears in its duration entry. So on your spell description it’s going to say whether or not it’s a concentration spell and the spell specifies how long you can concentrate on it. You can end the concentration that any time it doesn’t require an action and and normal activity such as moving or attacking doesn’t appear interfere with concentration.

T: So as we go through this, let’s think about Call Lightning. It’s a spell that a druid in a game that we play together uses often and we have only realized that it’s a concentration spell that would have significant effect upon the use of this spell because he was extremely powerful at a very low level calling lightning, which is basically just like calling lightning from above but it’s a concentration cell up to 10 minutes that was just like boom more lightning, boom, more lightning, boom more lightning and not losing any spells slots and I was so pissed about it, but didn’t bother to look in to what concentration was. So let’s keep that in mind 

R: There’s a couple of things that could have ended that spell.

T: Great. 

R: The first one is casting another spell that requires concentration. Something that this player certainly did. So you lose concentration on spell if you cast another spell that requires concentration. You can’t concentrate on two spells once, 

T: Right? I try so hard in daily life to concentrate on multiple things at once and I can’t. And if I can, they’re not, they’re not good enough to make magic 

R: The Player’s Handbook agrees, it’s impossible to do two things at once.

T: Excellent. 

R: The next thing that will break your concentration is taking damage but it’s not a you take damage and it’s done. 

T: Yeah. So the one time I thought I understood concentration I thought it was just once you take damage then it’s done. 

R: No. No. If you take damage and while you’re concentrating on a spell you must make a constitution saving throw to maintain your concentration. Similar words that I stumble over all of the time. 

T: You did great, baby, 

R: The DC equals 10 or half the damage that you take. 

T: I hate this. This is my brain just literally turns off, reading the Player’s Handbook. 

R: Yeah, which one is depends on which one is higher. So it’s always 10. Remember 10 is your good baseline and unless you dealt a bunch of damage, like, the anytime it’s gonna be more than 10 is if you’ve dealt over 20 points of damage. So if you deal 30 points of damage to a player, the save DC now becomes 15 because that’s the higher. 

T: Because you’ve taken a lot of damage you have concentrate even harder. 

R: Yeah. 

T: Okay. 

R: So a big, if you really want to end a players concentration like drop a mountain them, that’ll do it. 

T: Yeah, well it has the 40 points of damage. assuming that they don’t have a bonus. To their constitution.

R: I mean you might as well just do 60 just to be sure.

*Laughter* 

R: I mean she’s only trying to break your concentration but oh, she seems to broken your spine. 

T: Yeah,

R: So way that you might try and do this as well is by having multiple attacks going in at the player to break their concentration, which means they make individual roles for each attack. You can’t like cumulative the damage and then have them try and meet half that amount of damage. 

T: Yeah, that makes sense to if a bunch of things are coming at me. I have to individually be able to be like I’m not bothered by you,  I’m not bothered by you, I’m not bothered by you. 

R: And I push my glasses at my nose and say, well technically speaking, it’s not to the players advantage to be making multiple roles one mega success would be better. 

T: More statistically advantageous. 

R: Yes. And oh, you get to push your glasses up you nose too now. Excellent. And the last condition that can break your concentration is being incapacitated or killed. You can’t concentrate, if you’re dead. 

T: You know what? I agree with that. Actually, you know what? We don’t know. I guess D&D does.

R: yeah D&D has called it on this one. And the last part of the entry in the players handbook, and just simply says that the DM might decide that other things break your concentration. And the example, it gives is a wave crashing over the side of a ship and knocking you flat. You know, it’s, it’s that kind of thing. Like, if it’s conceivable that it would break your concentration, then the DM might ask you to roll for it. 

T: Yeah. Doesn’t have to do damage but it cold glass of water to the face is hard to concentrate through 

R: Why do I feel like next time we play my character’s gonna get cold glasses of water thrown

T: Oh, I thought you meant in real life. I was like yeah, let’s show how hard it is. 

R: Oh yeah, I think that would work. 

T: That is concentration specifically with spell casting on players handbook, what page?

R: 283 and slightly 284. 

Thanks for listening!  If you have something you’d like us to cover, email it to roarcatreads@gmail.com or find us on Twitter and Instagram @roarcatreads. 

Perytons – DM’s Pocket Guide

Perytons are the perfect low-level monster to throw at your party and genuinely freak them out!  A bird with a humanoid shadow and a skull face with antlers, this creature will pursue a chosen victim until they've eaten their heart.  Learn more about this monstrosity in today's episode! Please like, review, and share to support DM’s Pocket Guide! We’re Tricia and Rachel from Roar Cat Reads.  If you would like to learn about a specific D&D rule or spell, send us a request at roarcatreads@gmail.com.  Transcripts of every episode are available!   If you want more rules, buy a copy of the Player’s Handbook! Follow us on Twitter and Instagram  Artwork by Haley Boros DM’s Pocket Guide is unofficial Fan Content permitted under the Fan Content Policy. Not approved/endorsed by Wizards. Portions of the materials used are property of Wizards of the Coast. ©Wizards of the Coast LLC.

Transcription

Welcome to DM’s Pocket Guide, where we discuss the rules, spells, and monsters of Dungeons and Dragons, 5th edition.

Tricia:  Today we are going to talk about the creature Perytons… or peritons, paratons?

Rachel:  I think you were right the first time: Perytons. 

T:  These are found on page 251 of the Monster Manual and they’re truly terrifying.  I suggest that you look at the book for this one. It is like a giant bird with a stag’s head and antlers, but also like a bonehead with giant teeth. 

R:  Yeah, I mean, that’s not a stag’s head. That’s a terrifying Halloween version of a stag’s head. 

T:  Yes, yes, it is.  It is awful. But these are actually kind of like lower level monsters. It’s only a CR2.  They’ve got an armor class of 13 and only 33 hit points. So, these are a great creepy thing to throw at a level 3 group of adventurers.

R: Can my druid become a peryton?

T:  It cannot, because these are monstrosities.  Chaotic evil monstrosities, not beasts.  

R:  Hah hah!  No perytons for you, Druid.

T: These have a speed of 20 on the ground and a fly speed of 60, so –

R:  That makes sense.  Faster in the air, they sort of waddle around on the ground. 

T:  Yeah, it’s a bird.

R: When you’re playing this monster, it’s probably gonna be in the air most of the battle. 

T:  Yes. And as far as different attributes, it’s strong, but not very intelligent and it particularly has a really good perception skill of +5.

R:  Like when it’s rolling to try and see you?

T:  Yes. And additionally, with its Keen Sight and Smell, it has advantage on perception checks that rely on sight or smell. 

R:  Oh, wait. So it’s gonna roll twice, it’s gonna add five–

T:  Yeah. It’s gonna find you!

R:  Oh man, I feel hunted already. 

T:  Good!  As far as the damage resistances go, it is resistant to all bludgeoning, piercing and slashing damage from non-magical weapons.

R:  Oh okay, so your regular village folk aren’t gonna have the means to drive a peryton – or not as effective at driving a peryton away. 

T:  Exactly.  And some of the flavor text actually mentions that.  That this is a good way for adventures to be summoned, that perytons will be attacking villages and oh no, these villagers don’t have magical weapons.  So they’re gonna hire you!

R: Yeah, of course, because they also have an unnatural hunger for humanoid flesh – elves, half elves, humans. 

T:  So yeah, I can’t get enough of them.

R:  Particularly enjoys the heart part of the human as I understand. 

T:  Yes, yes. We’ll get there.  It does speak – nope, just kidding. It understands common and elvish, but it cannot speak it. So it will listen in on what you’re saying– 

R:  And understand it. 

T:  Yeah. Yeah. But it won’t speak back. 

R:  No. No, with that mouth it won’t.

T:  Some of its special attacks: It has a Dive attack which is a bit like hooves with your horses,  if it is flying and dives at least 30 feet in order to make its melee attacks on you, it can deal an extra 9 damage or 2d8. 

R:  Oh, okay. Like charging with a horse. 

T:  Yeah. 

R:  Okay cool. 

T:  Also, this one is a really good one. It has Flyby. This is when the peryton does not provoke an opportunity attack when it flies out of an enemy’s reach.

R:  Oh, that’s so cool. Yes, I can imagine myself in a combat that I swooped by with this thing, and then one of my players would be like, “Wait, don’t I get enough opportunity attack?” and I will be like, “Ah ah ah maybe. Yeah, sure, go ahead.”  But no, because this creature has the feature Flyby.

T:  Yeah, that’s great. And when it does attack you, it has a multi-attack. It can both gore you and talon you. So beak and the claws!!  To reference our owlbears. 

R:  Oh, maybe the horns? Gore you with the horns? 

T:  Yeah, that’s great. I think you should gore with whatever you got. 

R:  Yeah.  We’re all about gore positivity on this podcast. 

T:  When it does gore you, it will do 1d8 +3 piercing damage and when it talons you, it will do 2d4+3 piercing damage.

R:  Okay, that’s not the most damage ever. 

T:  No.  What really makes this monster creepy is what you referenced earlier. It loves hearts.

R:  Oh that’s cute. Valentine’s Day is its favorite? 

T:  Oh my gosh. We should definitely make a Valentine’s Day peryton adventure because it requires hearts in order to reproduce. 

R:  Oh, cool. 

T:  So female perytons literally cannot reproduce unless they have ingested a humanoid heart. And once they like, latch on to the heart that they want, they will not stop until they get it. 

R:  Adorable!  I mean, horrifying.

T:  Horrifying and adorable, the D&D sweet spot. And so yeah, it’s going to pursue creatures until either it dies or the creature dies. But I do think this is a good monster to use at like circling back around.  Make it leave before it dies the first time and pursue you.

R:  Yeah, it does say if the peryton is driven away, it’ll wait for its opportunity to come back, which I love that. I think these guys’ terrain is like mountain, like high mountain ridges. So if you’re doing a big travel episode, just having this peryton just come back again and again and again– 

T:  Yes!

R:  Just choose one player in the party, and it’s like, “That. I want that one.” It just keeps coming after them. 

T:  Yes. So creepy. What also is creepy is the very weird fact that its shadow does not look like a bird. It looks humanoid. 

R:  Oh, interesting.  So like if they were, if the players were seeing the shadow, the pictures like up above–

T:  Oh, there’s someone up there?  Oh, it’s a bird!  It’s gonna eat you!  Except for when it has just ingested a heart.  It’s shadow will appear in its true form.

R:  Oh, cool. 

T:  So really weird stuff that would be fun to play with.

R:  Yeah, I can imagine trying to work that into a session. 

T:  Yeah. So one last creepy thing is about its origin story of how perytons were created. Yeah there’s the boring version which is just, oh maybe humans were transformed by a hideous curse or magical experiment. 

R:  Gah!! Not a hideous curse!

T:  Yeah.  Or the bards tell a different story, a different story that is a little bit sexist and a lot stereotypical.  In which a woman finds out her husband has been cheating on her and cuts out the heart of the younger, more beautiful lady. 

R:  Oh, is that in there?

T:  Yes it’s literally in there.  The ritual succeeded, but the woman was exposed and hung for her villainy and then all of the little like, carrion birds nipped at her, and turned into perytons.

R:  The story leading up to that is terrible, but the idea of creatures being transformed by the thing that they feed on, I could really see working out into a session. 

T:  Yeah, well, I mean, I honestly just, I just think it’s lazy storytelling of like, oh, women’s vanity!  Women’s blah blah, you know?  But if you genderswap it and turn it into a man who thinks that his wife is cheating on him and so he cuts out the heart of the younger, more beautiful man, I’m way more into that. 

R:  I mean I guess so!  Any kind of any kind of crime of passion, I think.

T:  Yeah. 

R:  Anything that involves the heart is the food for a potential peryton. 

T:  Yeah, yeah. It’s a very good story. I just get a little tired of older women being jealous of younger women. 

R:  Oh yeah. It’s always about, you know, oh you’re more beautiful and like, that’s not the only thing that matters.

T:  Yeah. What if it was a younger woman being like “Oh, that older woman is so experienced and majestic. I’m so jealous.” 

R:  I think that’s how you get zombies.  Brains!  Brains!

T:  We’ll look at that a different time. For now, this has been Perytons on page 251 of the Monster Manual.

Thanks for listening!  If you have something you’d like us to cover, email it to roarcatreads@gmail.com or find us on Twitter and Instagram @roarcatreads.