Why even have Sage Advice when a DM can just make a ruling?
Rules are a big part of what makes D&D a game, rather than simply improvised storytelling. The game’s rules are meant to help organize, and even inspire, the action of a D&D campaign. The rules are a tool, and we want our tools to be as effective as possible. No matter how good those tools might be, they need a group of players to bring them to life and a DM to guide their use.
The DM is key. Many unexpected things can happen in a D&D campaign, and no set of rules could reasonably account for every contingency. If the rules tried to do so, the game would become unwieldy. An alternative would be for the rules to severely limit what characters can do, which would be counter to the open-endedness of D&D. The direction we took for fifth edition was to lay a foundation of rules that a DM could build on, and we celebrate the DM as the bridge between the things the rules address and the things they don’t.
In a typical D&D session, a DM makes numerous rules decisions—some barely noticeable and others quite obvious. Players also interpret the rules, and the whole group keeps the game running. There are times, though, when the design intent of a rule isn’t clear or when one rule seems to contradict another.
Dealing with those situations is where Sage Advice comes in. It doesn’t replace a DM’s adjudication. Just as the rules do, this FAQ is meant to give DMs, as well as players, tools for tuning the game according to their tastes.
We often approach rules questions from one to three different perspectives: RAW (Rules as Written), RAI (Rules as Intended), and RAF (Rules as Fun). We recommend a mix of RAW, RAI, and RAF!
Please use this space to discuss and ask questions about Sage Advice and Errata. While we do not have a method for players to submit Sage Advice questions at this time, we will be sure to let you know if and/or when that avenue opens.
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The sage advice needs a point about the hide action, as there is a contentious debate about how the rule works.
Specifically about what constitutes the "a creature finds you".
Some read it as just going outside of cover and entering a creatures line of sight, thus you can never actually benefit from hiding for anything, as you would always be in line of sight, as you have to be in line of sight to do anything, especially in context to rogues.
The other read it as a game term, where "find you" is related to the search action and passive perception, not mere line of sight.
The sage advice needs a point about the hide action, as there is a contentious debate about how the rule works.
The sage advice needs more points about the hide action. The general questions about the hide action, which are not resolved by anything in this sage advice, are:
How can you hide with 3/4 cover, when you cannot hide while in line of sight, and 3/4 cover does not block line of sight?
If you lose the requirements for the hide action (likely because you or an enemy moved), do you lose the hidden condition, or are those requirements only to start hiding?
If an enemy's passive perception matches or exceeds your hide check, do they find you automatically, or do they still need to make a search check?
If an enemy can see invisible, do they automatically succeed on their rolls to see you?
Does hiding make you unheard (and thus location unknown), or just unseen?
I'm surprised it has nothing about true strike other than a very obvious rule explanation.
Would have been nice to have confirmation whether it works with innate sorcery. Seems clear to me that it should, but I know there are those who disagree.
Is there a way to submit a question to SAC? I feel like I have some questions that need to be addressed to Sage.
From the first post:
While we do not have a method for players to submit Sage Advice questions at this time, we will be sure to let you know if and/or when that avenue opens.
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Your Friendly Neighborhood Community Manager (she/her) You can call me LT. :)
CM Hat On| CM Hat Off Generally active from 9am - 6pm CDT [GMT-5]. Thank you for your patience if you message me outside of those hours!
As others have already posted, the Stealth/Invisibility/Hiding thing seems to be the most commonly confusing part of the rules. If we could get some detailed examples of how it's intended to work, that would be great.
For example:
If I hide around the corner from a creature, then step out into its LoS to shoot it or stab it (neither of which I can do from total cover), can I do that with advantage, or is there an automatic creature check to "find me", or does the creature need to take an action to "find me", etc.
Here, I even made a visual aid y'all can use - of the most common stealth scenario that happens in virturally every game. It has original hiding poisition (rogue mini), position required to make ranged attack (A), and position required to make a melee attack (B).
Is there a way to submit a question to SAC? I feel like I have some questions that need to be addressed to Sage.
From the first post:
While we do not have a method for players to submit Sage Advice questions at this time, we will be sure to let you know if and/or when that avenue opens.
well, how about this very thread? Since it is the official thread for sage advice, it could be easily a repository for questions too.
Is there a way to submit a question to SAC? I feel like I have some questions that need to be addressed to Sage.
From the first post:
While we do not have a method for players to submit Sage Advice questions at this time, we will be sure to let you know if and/or when that avenue opens.
well, how about this very thread? Since it is the official thread for sage advice, it could be easily a repository for questions too.
-taps finger to nose- you've solved my question collation puzzle!
Yes, the idea is that when it becomes known to me how the Sages will take questions for future updates, y'all will have filled this thread chock full of the stuff you want answered and I just give it right to them, but I can't call this the "Official Questions Thread" because I don't know if that's really true, y'know? And it would be a disservice to y'all if I said that and then none of your questions ended up in the next update.
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Your Friendly Neighborhood Community Manager (she/her) You can call me LT. :)
CM Hat On| CM Hat Off Generally active from 9am - 6pm CDT [GMT-5]. Thank you for your patience if you message me outside of those hours!
Could we also get a deep-dive into two-weapon fighting, dual wielder, Nick, and so on, please. :)
A ruling on weapon juggling, using the same hand, because you have a shield don on the other hand. Is weapon juggling intentional with the new weapon mastery?
Could we also get a deep-dive into two-weapon fighting, dual wielder, Nick, and so on, please. :)
A ruling on weapon juggling, using the same hand, because you have a shield don on the other hand. Is weapon juggling intentional with the new weapon mastery?
It doesn't fully answer your question about nick/dw (which i also would love an SA on), but fyi, Jeremy Crawford answered the juggling being intentional question in one of his videos on 2024. (Yes, it is.)
Does using the Nick Weapon Mastery require using your Bonus Action to make the additional/extra attack leaving your bonus action still available?
And
If I wield Two Light property Weapons do I have to have one different weapon in each hand to gain the bonus extra attack?
( Note: I know a previous question asked about the other hand, but it was far too broad in the answer to justify as clarification. Errata might be helpful? )
" Darkvision doesn’t work in Magical darkness, and if something is magical, Never Trust it acts the same way as a non-magical version of that same thing!”- Discotech Mage over a cup of joe.
Mike Mearls asked for questions to answer on Twitter. I submitted them to him a while back and he still hasn't answered. How can Sage answer my question(s)?
Edit: disregard I see the submission for Sage has been adressed.
It seems D&D has way too many rules that limit your actions.
This "one thing at a time Rule" is a huge limitation to play. There's a game that uses Action, On Turn and Instant (equivalent to Reaction). I don't think I can mention it here, but just because it's how the rules have always been, doesn't mean they have to stay that way. Sometimes Change is good.
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D&D StaffSage Advice for the new Core Rules is now live!
From the Sage Advice Compendium:
Please use this space to discuss and ask questions about Sage Advice and Errata. While we do not have a method for players to submit Sage Advice questions at this time, we will be sure to let you know if and/or when that avenue opens.
Your Friendly Neighborhood Community Manager (she/her)
You can call me LT. :)
CM Hat On | CM Hat Off
Generally active from 9am - 6pm CDT [GMT-5].
Thank you for your patience if you message me outside of those hours!
Useful Links: Site Rules & Guidelines | D&D Educator Resources | Change Your Nickname | Submit a Support Ticket
I love this. Errata date stamps are fantastic additions.
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D&D StaffThat little feature was a surprise to me! I didn't know we were adding the errata to the page like that; it's a very cool touch
Your Friendly Neighborhood Community Manager (she/her)
You can call me LT. :)
CM Hat On | CM Hat Off
Generally active from 9am - 6pm CDT [GMT-5].
Thank you for your patience if you message me outside of those hours!
Useful Links: Site Rules & Guidelines | D&D Educator Resources | Change Your Nickname | Submit a Support Ticket
I'm surprised it has nothing about true strike other than a very obvious rule explanation.
The sage advice needs a point about the hide action, as there is a contentious debate about how the rule works.
Specifically about what constitutes the "a creature finds you".
Some read it as just going outside of cover and entering a creatures line of sight, thus you can never actually benefit from hiding for anything, as you would always be in line of sight, as you have to be in line of sight to do anything, especially in context to rogues.
The other read it as a game term, where "find you" is related to the search action and passive perception, not mere line of sight.
This needs an urgent Sage Advice.
The sage advice needs more points about the hide action. The general questions about the hide action, which are not resolved by anything in this sage advice, are:
Would have been nice to have confirmation whether it works with innate sorcery. Seems clear to me that it should, but I know there are those who disagree.
Could we also get a deep-dive into two-weapon fighting, dual wielder, Nick, and so on, please. :)
Is there a way to submit a question to SAC? I feel like I have some questions that need to be addressed to Sage.
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D&D StaffFrom the first post:
Your Friendly Neighborhood Community Manager (she/her)
You can call me LT. :)
CM Hat On | CM Hat Off
Generally active from 9am - 6pm CDT [GMT-5].
Thank you for your patience if you message me outside of those hours!
Useful Links: Site Rules & Guidelines | D&D Educator Resources | Change Your Nickname | Submit a Support Ticket
As others have already posted, the Stealth/Invisibility/Hiding thing seems to be the most commonly confusing part of the rules. If we could get some detailed examples of how it's intended to work, that would be great.
For example:
If I hide around the corner from a creature, then step out into its LoS to shoot it or stab it (neither of which I can do from total cover), can I do that with advantage, or is there an automatic creature check to "find me", or does the creature need to take an action to "find me", etc.
Here, I even made a visual aid y'all can use - of the most common stealth scenario that happens in virturally every game. It has original hiding poisition (rogue mini), position required to make ranged attack (A), and position required to make a melee attack (B).
(can't seem to get pic attachment to work): https://drive.google.com/file/d/1YxtBkxIXi7bfSL7ASYT_Keh3xuOKtNPK/view?usp=drive_link
well, how about this very thread? Since it is the official thread for sage advice, it could be easily a repository for questions too.
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D&D Staff-taps finger to nose- you've solved my question collation puzzle!
Yes, the idea is that when it becomes known to me how the Sages will take questions for future updates, y'all will have filled this thread chock full of the stuff you want answered and I just give it right to them, but I can't call this the "Official Questions Thread" because I don't know if that's really true, y'know? And it would be a disservice to y'all if I said that and then none of your questions ended up in the next update.
Your Friendly Neighborhood Community Manager (she/her)
You can call me LT. :)
CM Hat On | CM Hat Off
Generally active from 9am - 6pm CDT [GMT-5].
Thank you for your patience if you message me outside of those hours!
Useful Links: Site Rules & Guidelines | D&D Educator Resources | Change Your Nickname | Submit a Support Ticket
A ruling on weapon juggling, using the same hand, because you have a shield don on the other hand. Is weapon juggling intentional with the new weapon mastery?
It doesn't fully answer your question about nick/dw (which i also would love an SA on), but fyi, Jeremy Crawford answered the juggling being intentional question in one of his videos on 2024. (Yes, it is.)
Where is a question for the Sages:
Does using the Nick Weapon Mastery require using your Bonus Action to make the additional/extra attack leaving your bonus action still available?
And
If I wield Two Light property Weapons do I have to have one different weapon in each hand to gain the bonus extra attack?
( Note: I know a previous question asked about the other hand, but it was far too broad in the answer to justify as clarification. Errata might be helpful? )
" Darkvision doesn’t work in Magical darkness, and if something is magical, Never Trust it acts the same way as a non-magical version of that same thing!”- Discotech Mage over a cup of joe.
Since this may potentially actually be answered, here are some specific questions about true strike:
Mike Mearls asked for questions to answer on Twitter. I submitted them to him a while back and he still hasn't answered. How can Sage answer my question(s)?
Edit: disregard I see the submission for Sage has been adressed.
https://x.com/mikemearls/status/1876833360099577867
Seconding the request for a deep dive on Two Weapon Fighting.
It seems D&D has way too many rules that limit your actions.
This "one thing at a time Rule" is a huge limitation to play. There's a game that uses Action, On Turn and Instant (equivalent to Reaction). I don't think I can mention it here, but just because it's how the rules have always been, doesn't mean they have to stay that way. Sometimes Change is good.