OK, I know this is probably basic 101 stuff for 5th Ed. so I'll be watching some youtube videos tonight to figure it out but I wanted to attempt DM'ing a small campaign with a couple of friends and haven't played D&D tabletop since 2nd Ed. The spell attack vs the spell save is confusing to me. Don't get me wrong I know what a spell save is, but in the Players Handbook it gives you the DC for a creature to save vs a spell then other times you use an attack roll but with spells I can't always tell which is used. At least when I make a character in this tool, everything just says <STAT> Save = ##, but that one is really low.
So to give you an example of my confusion. Say I have a level 1 Sorcerer who learns the cantrip Ray of Frost the character sheet in here already applies the modifier and character bonuses and with my Charisma score that spell is a +5 "to hit". So in this scenario I'm assuming that PC would just roll to hit against an AC and if they beat that roll with their +5 modifier then Ray of Frost would do damage. But what if they picked up a level 1 Magic Missile spell, this doesn't even show up in the "Attacks" section of the character sheet and in reading the description I don't know if its a creatures Save vs a attack roll (obviously I know that magic missile is shooting 3 ranged darts). Just not sure when you are supposed to have the target "save" vs the magic vice doing the attack roll??? And that's even after having read the section explaining it and the spells themselves (which I know is sad).
Any of you real DMs out there have time to school me? Thanks!
I believe that's because Magic Missile doesn't require an attack or saving throw roll. Spells are generally pretty clear about which type of roll they require, but MM says the darts automatically hit.
Yes, a spell require an attack or a save when the description say so. Otherwise, like in the case of Magic Missile, neither of those are required. They just always strike.
Thanks guys, I went back and started actually paying attention to the differences and found a few that required saves so it started to become clearer. When I was looking at just Magic Missile to start out with it threw me off.
Side note: does anyone think this makes MM a little OP? I mean I know you can re-actively cast Shield as a deterrent but then in my Sorcerer example these would be the 2 first level spells that would seem kind of goto. An auto hit damager and then a shield if someone uses the same thing against me.
Anyway, I'm still learning a lot so thanks for the feedback and happy adventures!
OK, I know this is probably basic 101 stuff for 5th Ed. so I'll be watching some youtube videos tonight to figure it out but I wanted to attempt DM'ing a small campaign with a couple of friends and haven't played D&D tabletop since 2nd Ed. The spell attack vs the spell save is confusing to me. Don't get me wrong I know what a spell save is, but in the Players Handbook it gives you the DC for a creature to save vs a spell then other times you use an attack roll but with spells I can't always tell which is used. At least when I make a character in this tool, everything just says <STAT> Save = ##, but that one is really low.
So to give you an example of my confusion. Say I have a level 1 Sorcerer who learns the cantrip Ray of Frost the character sheet in here already applies the modifier and character bonuses and with my Charisma score that spell is a +5 "to hit". So in this scenario I'm assuming that PC would just roll to hit against an AC and if they beat that roll with their +5 modifier then Ray of Frost would do damage. But what if they picked up a level 1 Magic Missile spell, this doesn't even show up in the "Attacks" section of the character sheet and in reading the description I don't know if its a creatures Save vs a attack roll (obviously I know that magic missile is shooting 3 ranged darts). Just not sure when you are supposed to have the target "save" vs the magic vice doing the attack roll??? And that's even after having read the section explaining it and the spells themselves (which I know is sad).
Any of you real DMs out there have time to school me? Thanks!
~Jer
"Fumble! Roll d20 to see if you hit yourself."
I believe that's because Magic Missile doesn't require an attack or saving throw roll. Spells are generally pretty clear about which type of roll they require, but MM says the darts automatically hit.
Yes, a spell require an attack or a save when the description say so. Otherwise, like in the case of Magic Missile, neither of those are required. They just always strike.
Thanks guys, I went back and started actually paying attention to the differences and found a few that required saves so it started to become clearer. When I was looking at just Magic Missile to start out with it threw me off.
Side note: does anyone think this makes MM a little OP? I mean I know you can re-actively cast Shield as a deterrent but then in my Sorcerer example these would be the 2 first level spells that would seem kind of goto. An auto hit damager and then a shield if someone uses the same thing against me.
Anyway, I'm still learning a lot so thanks for the feedback and happy adventures!
~Jer
"Fumble! Roll d20 to see if you hit yourself."
Magic Missile has always been good for a 1st level spell, ever sinced 1st edition D&D.
It's an iconic spell. :)
Pun-loving nerd | Faith Elisabeth Lilley | She/Her/Hers | Profile art by Becca Golins
If you need help with homebrew, please post on the homebrew forums, where multiple staff and moderators can read your post and help you!
"We got this, no problem! I'll take the twenty on the left - you guys handle the one on the right!"🔊