These are the sorts of things that you might do when thinking out of the box.
Here are the general rules for Improvised Actions:
- You must explain the improvised action to the DM.
- The DM may rule that what you want to do will require more than one Round, or that it is simply impossible (you can’t fire an arrow into the sky and hit the moon). He may ask you to be more specific regarding the Action you want to take and how the Action will achieve the results you want.
- The Improvised Action can also include all or part of your move.
- Successfully jumping on – or diving into a creature will give you Advantage on the Attack roll. A failed attempt results in your Move stopping at the point there the Attack takes place and may grant your opponent an Advantage on his next attack against you.
- To perform the improvised action the DM will normally have you make an ability check.
- The DM will assign an appropriate Difficulty Class and will explain possible consequences if the attempted Action fails. For example, if you attempt to jump off of the balcony onto the monster in the center of the room and miss you may end up prone.
- Most improvised actions can be resolved as simple contests:
- Player: “I want to try to [describes some form of physical contest other than an Attack roll].”
- DM: “Okay, make a Strength (Athletics) check.”
- DM compares result to opponent’s Strength (Athletics) or Dexterity (Acrobatics) check, perhaps giving someone advantage or disadvantage.
Some examples of Improvised Actions:
- “I want to pull the rug out from under that guy.”
- “I want to jump on the monster and attack him with my sword while I ride on to his back.”
- “I want to talk them into surrendering.”
- “I want to break that flask the bad guy is holding.” (attack an object)
- “I want to slide down the stairs on my shield while I fire arrows at the enemy.”
- “I want to intimidate then into running away.”
- “I want to grab that piece of folded parchment that is sticking out of his vest pocket.”
- “I want to slide under the table and stab that guy in his ankle with my dagger.”
- “I want to sheath my sword and walk up to that guy and tweak his nose.”
- “I want to hit that rope with my arrow in such a way as to cut the rope and let the body that is hanging from it fall to the ground.”
- “I want to disarm my opponent.”
- This could be a called shot to the hand, shattering an opponent’s weapon, severing a spear shaft, entangling a sword arm, or using the flat of a blade to smack a weapon from an enemy’s hand.
- ”I want to push him into the pit.”
- Here we would use the rules for “Shoving a Creature” — any attempt to use brute strength to move an opponent requires the opponent to make a Dex save.
- “I want to trip that guy.”
- This could be any attempt to knock an enemy off its feet. Whether by hooking an enemy’s leg, stabbing a kneecap, knocking an opponent off-balance, hurling an enemy away, sweeping an enemy’s legs, or some other maneuver, this would allow a warrior to knock an enemy prone