had this debate about if normally means without the effects.
Sculpt Spells
Class: School of Evocation
Beginning at 2nd level, you can create pockets of relative safety within the effects of your Evocation Spells. When you cast an Evocation spell that affects other creatures that you can see, you can choose a number of them equal to 1 + the spell’s level. The chosen creatures automatically succeed on their Saving Throws against the spell, and they take no damage if they would normally take half damage on a successful save.
to me, "if normally" means without the effects of the spell. so if normally, without the effects of the spell, you would succeed and take half, you take none. meaning if without the ability, you take the full, you automatically succeed.
the other guy believes that "if normally" the automatic succeed given by the ability would result in half damage (meaning the spell is save for half) you take no damage.
my question is, does "if normally" mean completely without the effect, or does it mean with the affect?
to me, "if normally" means without the effects of the spell. so if normally, without the effects of the spell, you would succeed and take half, you take none. meaning if without the ability, you take the full, you automatically succeed.
the other guy believes that "if normally" the automatic succeed given by the ability would result in half damage (meaning the spell is save for half) you take no damage.
my question is, does "if normally" mean completely without the effect, or does it mean with the affect?
There are two separate clauses to the feature that essentially result in two benefits. First: "The chosen creatures automatically succeed on their Saving Throws against the spell," That's the first benefit. Done, if the spell doesn't say anything about taking half damage, then read no further. The chosen creatures succeeded on the saving throws.
The second clause states that, "They take no damage if they would normally take half damage on a successful save." So if the spell the wizard cast has a clause about dealing half damage on a successful save, the creature doesn't take that damage. That is the second benefit of the class feature.
In this case the effect is saying that nothing happens to those that you choose. What you are thematically doing is forming your Area of Effect Spells around people so they don't get hurt. I feel that the 3rd edition version of this effect was better worded, but to be honest carefully reading "and they take no damage if they would normally" should be all that's needed to understand this effect.
I feel this other guy is reading it as: "they automatically succeed on their Saving Throws against the spell and they take half damage." Did he skip the part that says: "and they take no damage"?
The key point of this feature is: "and they take no damage".
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had this debate about if normally means without the effects.
There are two separate clauses to the feature that essentially result in two benefits. First: "The chosen creatures automatically succeed on their Saving Throws against the spell," That's the first benefit. Done, if the spell doesn't say anything about taking half damage, then read no further. The chosen creatures succeeded on the saving throws.
The second clause states that, "They take no damage if they would normally take half damage on a successful save." So if the spell the wizard cast has a clause about dealing half damage on a successful save, the creature doesn't take that damage. That is the second benefit of the class feature.
In this case the effect is saying that nothing happens to those that you choose. What you are thematically doing is forming your Area of Effect Spells around people so they don't get hurt. I feel that the 3rd edition version of this effect was better worded, but to be honest carefully reading "and they take no damage if they would normally" should be all that's needed to understand this effect.
I feel this other guy is reading it as: "they automatically succeed on their Saving Throws against the spell and they take half damage." Did he skip the part that says: "and they take no damage"?
The key point of this feature is: "and they take no damage".