D&D (2024) Multiclassing and ability score drain?

TheSword said:
Can you elaborate on the circumstances of how you lost it? If the DM is putting in place special circumstances to reduce your intelligence you might want to have an OOG conversation to see if the disapprove of the character choices.
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It is the central plot element in the campaign. We were part of a mass ritual sacrifice for a Sorcerer-King trying to turn himself into a Dragon. He got attacked during the ritual but the spell was already in effect. As he drained our life force we lost one point in every ability every minute until we escaped the area where the sacrifices were being sacrificed (which took 2 minutes).

Think of it like the scene in Honor Among Thieves where the Red Wizard lady is trying to suck the life out of everyone in the arena in Neverwinter ... it was a lot like that, but in a Darksun campaign. We were even in an arena watching Gladiators when it started, very similar to HAT.

We believe greater restoration will heal it .... but that is a long way off.
 
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Distracted DM said:
2

New spell slot rule- What interaction are you referring to?
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In the PHB it is in the casting time section and labeled "One Spell with a Spell Slot per turn"

This eliminates the "I cast Banishment" and then when the BBEG makes his save - "I cast Silvery Barbs" That would be two spell slots on the same turn and is not allowed in the new rules.
 

ECMO3 said:
It is the central plot element in the campaign. We were part of a mass ritual sacrifice for a Sorcerer-King trying to turn himself into a Dragon. He got attacked during the ritual but the spell was already in effect. As he drained our life force we lost one point in every ability every minute until we escaped the area where the sacrifices were being sacrificed (which took 2 minutes).

Think of it like the scene in Honor Among Thieves where the Red Wizard lady is trying to suck the life out of everyone in the arena in Neverwinter ... it was a lot like that, but in a Darksun campaign. We were even in an arena watching Gladiators when it started, very similar to HAT.

We believe greater restoration will heal it .... but that is a long way off.
Click to expand...
Interesting approach. Sounds like he’s running his own version of Freedom. Also sounds debilitating. Particularly at level four. Not sure the virtue of not having it return on long rest is, but that’s one hell of a doom clock. Thanks for explaining.
 

I know the conversation has shifted away from the original question, but for those of you who are saying that you can't continue to gain levels in an existing class if you drop below 12 in the primary ability in this situation, what happens if you drop below 12 in the primary ability for all your classes? Say you're a fighter/wizard, and the same BBEG as the OP encountered dropped you below 12 INT, while they have shadow minions that also drop you below 12 STR? You won't be able to multiclass into a third class at that point, obviously, but for those claiming you wouldn't be able to gain a level in an existing class in a multiclass if you're below 12, is this character permanently stuck and unable advance forever (or at least until the drain is healed)?
 

Demetrios1453 said:
I know the conversation has shifted away from the original question, but for those of you who are saying that you can't continue to gain levels in an existing class if you drop below 12 in the primary ability in this situation, what happens if you drop below 12 in the primary ability for all your classes?
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Sounded like they were saying no leveling period, and potentially even losing class abilities for their existing levels. Obviously that's all just homebrew modifications and not the Rules As Written so the DM can always homebrew any tweaks they want
 

ECMO3 said:
Bard 12 would not have divine smite and on a melee character CME does not come close in play to divine smite in terms of damage due to the action economy and concentration.
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Ok so Valor 10/Paladin 1/warlock 1 (blade)

2d6+5
+Truestrike 4d6+5
+5th level searing smite 10d6
= 66, more if they fail their save and don't die next round.
ECMO3 said:
No it is a Rogue 11/Paladin 1. He gets to prepare two Paladin spells as a first level Paladin one is Divine Smite and he has a 2nd spell to go along with that. Probably not another smite if he is allowed to dump Charisma, but another spell just the same.
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Ah. Thought you ment 2nd level spells.
Probably best to grab cure wounds. Bless is also good.

And just to check.
Level 3 divine smite = 4d8 = 18
Level 3 searing smite = 6d6 = 21

Level 2,
ds= 13.5
Ss= 14

Probably want to prepare searing smite for your rogue, at least at level 12.
 

Demetrios1453 said:
I know the conversation has shifted away from the original question, but for those of you who are saying that you can't continue to gain levels in an existing class if you drop below 12 in the primary ability in this situation, what happens if you drop below 12 in the primary ability for all your classes? Say you're a fighter/wizard, and the same BBEG as the OP encountered dropped you below 12 INT, while they have shadow minions that also drop you below 12 STR? You won't be able to multiclass into a third class at that point, obviously, but for those claiming you wouldn't be able to gain a level in an existing class in a multiclass if you're below 12, is this character permanently stuck and unable advance forever (or at least until the drain is healed)?
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Create a new Character and/or Find a new DM.
I’m not really interested in playing with a masochist.

I think permanently impinging on a class’s ability to do its job should be handled with extreme caution if performed at all. I can’t think why I would do it as a DM unless the player was pushing the boundaries and I tried to fix in game (never a good idea).
 

TheSword said:
I think permanently impinging on a class’s ability to do its job should be handled with extreme caution if performed at all. I can’t think why I would do it as a DM unless the player was pushing the boundaries and I tried to fix in game (never a good idea).
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It could work ok if the PCs have someone who can cast Greater Restoration, or the DM plants a conveniently available NPC not too far away who can be convinced to cast the spell. I'd still stick with Rules as Written, but there would be ways to pull this off without it being permanent
 

mellored said:
Ah. Thought you ment 2nd level spells.
Probably best to grab cure wounds. Bless is also good.

And just to check.

Level 2,

ds= 13.5

Ss= 14


Probably want to prepare searing smite for your rogue, at least at level 12.
Level 3 divine smite = 4d8 = 18
Level 3 searing smite = 6d6 = 21
Click to expand...

I've never really seen people do Searing Smite over divine smite, partially because half the damage comes on their turn. Like the Green Flame Blade damage, it is situational .... usually if the BBEG is right after you it will work and if he is not right after you it won't work nearly as often.

I just finished a game with a 20th level 8 Warlock/10 Arcane Trickster/1 Paladin/1 Bard. The Paladin spells I used were Wrathful Smite and Divine Smite (but I was also playing with a 22 Charisma and an 8 Intelligence at games end).
 

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