Hey all. This is something I've seen coming up quite a lot recently. I wanted to get a few other people's takes on it. Apologies if this is the wrong place to ask. This is my first ever post because it'll likely occur in my campaign very soon. I'm the DM in it.
So, I'm going to use fireball for this example because everyone knows fireball. A multiclass sorc/warlock casts fireball and has elemental affinity to fire. However, this particular enemy is immune to fire, so they use metamagic to transmute the damage to lightning. Do they still get the elemental affinity bonus, or do they lose it because it no longer has the fire damage? I'd, personally, say it no longer applies, but in fairness for my players, I want to see public opinion on it so I don't nerf damage or builds unfairly.
I'm certian the opposite would be true; turning lightning bolt into fire damage would allow elemental affinity to occur, but I'm stuck in a loop here because, on a big technicality, it's still "fireball" as a spell. I guess my main question is; if the spell specifically says something like "fire" or "lightning," do I account that as part of the elemental affinity, or just the end damage?
Like you, I'd say 'it's no longer fire, of course the non-fire doesn't get the fire bonus!!'
On the other hand, I know I'd be wrong: If there's nothing to indicate the bonus goes away - it doesn't. Also, there's the investment thing: You paid for this ability at character creation - you should be allowed to use it.
But ... all of that's not really an answer. Sorry =D
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Blanket disclaimer: I only ever state opinion. But I can sound terribly dogmatic - so if you feel I'm trying to tell you what to think, I'm really not, I swear. I'm telling you what I think, that's all.
Elemental Affinity says you get a damage bonus "when you cast a spell that deals damage of that type". It doesn't say "when you cast a spell that has that type in the name or description".
So, the way I see it, if your Elemental Affinity is fire, and the spell is dealing fire damage, you get that bonus, even if the spell normally does some other damage type. If the spell is not dealing fire damage, you don't get that bonus, even if the spell normally does fire damage.
Yeah, I'd say no. On the bright side it goes the other way so if he casts cone of cold at a cold immune enemy and turns it to fire his fire affinity would kick in.
The most important part is to be consistent. If you rule that the damage the spell says it does is what matters, stick to that. If you say it's what the actual damage dealt that matters, then stick to that.
Personally, I'd say damage dealt. It gives them a motive to spend their sorcery points to change the spells from damage types to align with their own. They can also cause dilemmas - do I change it to fire so I get my bonus and risk them having a fire resistance or forgo the bonus but have a type that's unlikely to be resisted? Etc. if it's based on the original damage, then it doesn't matter and just do a very unlikely to be resisted damage even if it isn't your affinity one.
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If you're not willing or able to to discuss in good faith, then don't be surprised if I don't respond, there are better things in life for me to do than humour you. This signature is that response.
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Hey all. This is something I've seen coming up quite a lot recently. I wanted to get a few other people's takes on it. Apologies if this is the wrong place to ask. This is my first ever post because it'll likely occur in my campaign very soon. I'm the DM in it.
So, I'm going to use fireball for this example because everyone knows fireball. A multiclass sorc/warlock casts fireball and has elemental affinity to fire. However, this particular enemy is immune to fire, so they use metamagic to transmute the damage to lightning. Do they still get the elemental affinity bonus, or do they lose it because it no longer has the fire damage? I'd, personally, say it no longer applies, but in fairness for my players, I want to see public opinion on it so I don't nerf damage or builds unfairly.
I'm certian the opposite would be true; turning lightning bolt into fire damage would allow elemental affinity to occur, but I'm stuck in a loop here because, on a big technicality, it's still "fireball" as a spell. I guess my main question is; if the spell specifically says something like "fire" or "lightning," do I account that as part of the elemental affinity, or just the end damage?
Like you, I'd say 'it's no longer fire, of course the non-fire doesn't get the fire bonus!!'
On the other hand, I know I'd be wrong: If there's nothing to indicate the bonus goes away - it doesn't. Also, there's the investment thing: You paid for this ability at character creation - you should be allowed to use it.
But ... all of that's not really an answer. Sorry =D
Blanket disclaimer: I only ever state opinion. But I can sound terribly dogmatic - so if you feel I'm trying to tell you what to think, I'm really not, I swear. I'm telling you what I think, that's all.
Elemental Affinity says you get a damage bonus "when you cast a spell that deals damage of that type". It doesn't say "when you cast a spell that has that type in the name or description".
So, the way I see it, if your Elemental Affinity is fire, and the spell is dealing fire damage, you get that bonus, even if the spell normally does some other damage type. If the spell is not dealing fire damage, you don't get that bonus, even if the spell normally does fire damage.
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Yeah, I'd say no. On the bright side it goes the other way so if he casts cone of cold at a cold immune enemy and turns it to fire his fire affinity would kick in.
The most important part is to be consistent. If you rule that the damage the spell says it does is what matters, stick to that. If you say it's what the actual damage dealt that matters, then stick to that.
Personally, I'd say damage dealt. It gives them a motive to spend their sorcery points to change the spells from damage types to align with their own. They can also cause dilemmas - do I change it to fire so I get my bonus and risk them having a fire resistance or forgo the bonus but have a type that's unlikely to be resisted? Etc. if it's based on the original damage, then it doesn't matter and just do a very unlikely to be resisted damage even if it isn't your affinity one.
If you're not willing or able to to discuss in good faith, then don't be surprised if I don't respond, there are better things in life for me to do than humour you. This signature is that response.