I'm working on some Class Features that are triggered when the PC is targeted and/or damaged by "...a Spell or Magical Effect..."
Now: The reason why this is important is because in one Class Feature, exactly what it does depends on the severity of the Spell or Magical Effect. For Spells, that's easy - the effects of the Class Feature will depend on the level at which the Spell was cast. But for Magical Effects, I'm not so sure.
Is there an actual definition of Magical Effects that might help me with this?
There is no general definition of magical effect. The game relies on the specific feature/trait to determine what is magical. So, if a feature/trait has the words magic, magical or magically, then you have the magical effect. Or, if the DM says so.
The only way I can suggest to determine the potency of a magical effect is its DC.
This. There's no definition beyond "an effect that's magical."
The only way I can suggest to determine the potency of a magical effect is its DC.
DCs don't correlate well with potency; they correlate more with the ability scores of the creator of the effect. If a 12 INT wizard casts Wall of Fire and a 14 INT wizard casts Flaming Sphere, the Wall of Fire is still considered more potent in most contexts (e.g.counterspell, dispel magic, limited magic immunity...) Also, a magical effect might not allow a saving throw.
This probably isn't the answer you're looking for but you shouldn't create a class feature that hinges on the potency of a non-spell magical effect. You won't find a nice way to define that potency and you'll find that none of the official class features, spells, feats, racial traits, magic items or monster traits are designed that way either. Look at a Rakshasa's Limited Magic Immunity: it blocks spells below a certain level but doesn't distinguish between magical effects at all.
If the class feature only works with damaging effects, you have something to work with there, but effects that spread their damage over multiple turns or attacks will still be problematic.
Hey guys,
I'm working on some Class Features that are triggered when the PC is targeted and/or damaged by "...a Spell or Magical Effect..."
Now: The reason why this is important is because in one Class Feature, exactly what it does depends on the severity of the Spell or Magical Effect. For Spells, that's easy - the effects of the Class Feature will depend on the level at which the Spell was cast. But for Magical Effects, I'm not so sure.
Is there an actual definition of Magical Effects that might help me with this?
Cheers
There is no general definition of magical effect. The game relies on the specific feature/trait to determine what is magical. So, if a feature/trait has the words magic, magical or magically, then you have the magical effect. Or, if the DM says so.
The only way I can suggest to determine the potency of a magical effect is its DC.
This. There's no definition beyond "an effect that's magical."
DCs don't correlate well with potency; they correlate more with the ability scores of the creator of the effect. If a 12 INT wizard casts Wall of Fire and a 14 INT wizard casts Flaming Sphere, the Wall of Fire is still considered more potent in most contexts (e.g.counterspell, dispel magic, limited magic immunity...) Also, a magical effect might not allow a saving throw.
This probably isn't the answer you're looking for but you shouldn't create a class feature that hinges on the potency of a non-spell magical effect. You won't find a nice way to define that potency and you'll find that none of the official class features, spells, feats, racial traits, magic items or monster traits are designed that way either. Look at a Rakshasa's Limited Magic Immunity: it blocks spells below a certain level but doesn't distinguish between magical effects at all.
If the class feature only works with damaging effects, you have something to work with there, but effects that spread their damage over multiple turns or attacks will still be problematic.
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