Simultaneous means roll same damage for all spells: Fireball, check. Magic Missile, check.
Multiple hits on one creature means roll multiple concentration checks: Fireball, not check. Magic Missile, check if you send multiple missiles at one creature.
You can have multiple simultaneous hits on a creature, or a single simultaneous hit on a creature. Rolling same damage and multiple hits are not exclusive. Just because someone takes 4 + 4 damage vs 1d4 + 1d4 damage doesn't change the fact it's multiple hits.
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if I edit a message, most of the time it's because of grammar. The rest of the time I'll put "Edit:" at the bottom.
Is it 1 per pillar or just 1 if all the pillars hit?
If a creature is large enough to be hit by multiple pillars, it tales damage for each pillar that hits it.
[EDIT] Although, re-reading the description, that’s not actually possible. You can only target the ground under a creature if the creature is Medium or smaller. So your scenario isn’t actually possible.
Is it 1 per pillar or just 1 if all the pillars hit?
Unless I've misread something, it's 1 per pillar, but you can only hit the same target once because the pillars must erupt "from the ground", so I'm not certain where the confusion would be.
It would trigger concentration checks the same way that Steel Wind Strike would.
A "pillar" is defined as a vertical structure, so I would say, by a strict reading, yes. The idea of something more chaotic is compelling, but does not fit within the RAW description.
If a DM allows for more creativity, then they'll have to figure out the complications that result.
A "pillar" is defined as a vertical structure, so I would say, by a strict reading, yes. The idea of something more chaotic is compelling, but does not fit within the RAW description.
If a DM allows for more creativity, then they'll have to figure out the complications that result.
Also, the spell text is clear that each pillar is a cylinder, and cylinders are very well-defined in the rules as being strictly vertical.
I had always assumed that forcing multiple saving throws is the intent of Magic Missile at higher levels of play. Once you hit level 10 MM loses a ton of value as a means of dealing damage, but it's still worth holding on to for a few specialty uses, including giving yourself a nearly-guarantreed 3+ concentration checks on a target.
I would disagree, once you reach lvl 10 as a wizard, you gain the Empowered Evocation ability: "Beginning at 10th level, you can add your Intelligence modifier (minimum of +1) to the damage roll of any wizard evocation spell that you cast. The damage bonus applies to one damage roll of a spell, not multiple rolls." Since you only roll the damage die (d4) once to determine the damage dealt each time, the total damage will be: (1d4+1+5[int]) x 7 [number of darts at 5th level] for an average of 56-63 points of force damage. This is not bad for a 5th level spell, and it would cause either multiple instances of concentration checks, or one very difficult concentration check (whichever your DM house rules)
I had always assumed that forcing multiple saving throws is the intent of Magic Missile at higher levels of play. Once you hit level 10 MM loses a ton of value as a means of dealing damage, but it's still worth holding on to for a few specialty uses, including giving yourself a nearly-guarantreed 3+ concentration checks on a target.
I would disagree, once you reach lvl 10 as a wizard, you gain the Empowered Evocation ability: "Beginning at 10th level, you can add your Intelligence modifier (minimum of +1) to the damage roll of any wizard evocation spell that you cast. The damage bonus applies to one damage roll of a spell, not multiple rolls." Since you only roll the damage die (d4) once to determine the damage dealt each time, the total damage will be: (1d4+1+5[int]) x 7 [number of darts at 5th level] for an average of 56-63 points of force damage. This is not bad for a 5th level spell, and it would cause either multiple instances of concentration checks, or one very difficult concentration check (whichever your DM house rules)
The empowered evocation only works for evocation wizards. For every other wizard, MM at high levels is almost strictly for forcing concentration checks since the max amount of damage is 5 per dart meaning that the max damage is (spell slot level +2)×5 and capping at 55 damage with a 9th level spell slot. The average damage isn't much lower simply change the 5 with 3.5, making a 9th level shot 38.5.
Ring of resistance (force) can half the damage is atleast one sore off top my head. Other things in the game can give you resistance to force as well nit to mention crafting a homebrew item/skill/feat etc.
I like to view the MM spell working similar to a salvo of missiles each one striking individually.
but a salvo of missiles would hit at different times. Think Scorching Ray, each additional rays is a whole other attack roll and damage as they go off one right after another, like a machine gun.
Magic Missile would not be a machine gun, each dart hitting one after another, it would be like a shotgun blast. All the darts hit you at the exact same time. If you split the darts to hit 3 individuals at level 1, then a single dart will hit each individual target at the same time for 1d4+1.
Jeremy Crawford is the Lead Rules Designer for Wizards of the Coast. If you consider his words with respect to the core content he produced "opinion", then the books themselves may as well be published "opinion".
yes, but even WoTC have said dozens of times that his tweets are NOT the canon for the rules, so if even WoTC says "Dont listen to our idiot brother, because he's an idiot", doesn't that scream of a bigger freaking problem. Tells me his title is mainly just that, a title. He really has no say without a lot of other rules lawyers at his back to point out when he says something, its more than likely a stupid thing to say.
I guess the easiest and consistent way to think about this is if you would apply Damage Reduction to each Magic Missile or the damage as a whole. If you apply DR individually then a Concentration check for each missile is warranted. If you decide that a single DR applies to all the damage of a Magic Missile attack then a single Concentration check is warranted. The key is to be consistent.
There is nothing in the game that reduces Force damage. In addition, Magic Missile states that each dart does its damage “simultaneously” meaning that every dart does the exact same damage, you roll 1d4+1 once, and they all deal that number of damage like an AoE.
You’re also forgetting Broach of Shielding. Resistance to force damage and immunity to Magic Missile.
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How many concentration saves for that?
"Sooner or later, your Players are going to smash your railroad into a sandbox."
-Vedexent
"real life is a super high CR."
-OboeLauren
"............anybody got any potatoes? We could drop a potato in each hole an' see which ones get viciously mauled by horrible monsters?"
-Ilyara Thundertale
Maybe you mean a different spell? Bones of the Earth Only does damage once, and only if a target is smashed against an obstacle.
So, anywhere from 0-1 per target.
A DM could request addition checks for related distractions, but that's separate from the conversation.
Is it 1 per pillar or just 1 if all the pillars hit?
"Sooner or later, your Players are going to smash your railroad into a sandbox."
-Vedexent
"real life is a super high CR."
-OboeLauren
"............anybody got any potatoes? We could drop a potato in each hole an' see which ones get viciously mauled by horrible monsters?"
-Ilyara Thundertale
Remember:
Simultaneous means roll same damage for all spells: Fireball, check. Magic Missile, check.
Multiple hits on one creature means roll multiple concentration checks: Fireball, not check. Magic Missile, check if you send multiple missiles at one creature.
You can have multiple simultaneous hits on a creature, or a single simultaneous hit on a creature. Rolling same damage and multiple hits are not exclusive. Just because someone takes 4 + 4 damage vs 1d4 + 1d4 damage doesn't change the fact it's multiple hits.
if I edit a message, most of the time it's because of grammar. The rest of the time I'll put "Edit:" at the bottom.
If a creature is large enough to be hit by multiple pillars, it tales damage for each pillar that hits it.
[EDIT] Although, re-reading the description, that’s not actually possible. You can only target the ground under a creature if the creature is Medium or smaller. So your scenario isn’t actually possible.
Unless I've misread something, it's 1 per pillar, but you can only hit the same target once because the pillars must erupt "from the ground", so I'm not certain where the confusion would be.
It would trigger concentration checks the same way that Steel Wind Strike would.
Do the pillars have to go straight up?
"Sooner or later, your Players are going to smash your railroad into a sandbox."
-Vedexent
"real life is a super high CR."
-OboeLauren
"............anybody got any potatoes? We could drop a potato in each hole an' see which ones get viciously mauled by horrible monsters?"
-Ilyara Thundertale
A "pillar" is defined as a vertical structure, so I would say, by a strict reading, yes. The idea of something more chaotic is compelling, but does not fit within the RAW description.
If a DM allows for more creativity, then they'll have to figure out the complications that result.
Also, the spell text is clear that each pillar is a cylinder, and cylinders are very well-defined in the rules as being strictly vertical.
I would disagree, once you reach lvl 10 as a wizard, you gain the Empowered Evocation ability: "Beginning at 10th level, you can add your Intelligence modifier (minimum of +1) to the damage roll of any wizard evocation spell that you cast. The damage bonus applies to one damage roll of a spell, not multiple rolls." Since you only roll the damage die (d4) once to determine the damage dealt each time, the total damage will be: (1d4+1+5[int]) x 7 [number of darts at 5th level] for an average of 56-63 points of force damage. This is not bad for a 5th level spell, and it would cause either multiple instances of concentration checks, or one very difficult concentration check (whichever your DM house rules)
The empowered evocation only works for evocation wizards. For every other wizard, MM at high levels is almost strictly for forcing concentration checks since the max amount of damage is 5 per dart meaning that the max damage is (spell slot level +2)×5 and capping at 55 damage with a 9th level spell slot. The average damage isn't much lower simply change the 5 with 3.5, making a 9th level shot 38.5.
We've lost the plot.
"Not all those who wander are lost"
Ring of resistance (force) can half the damage is atleast one sore off top my head. Other things in the game can give you resistance to force as well nit to mention crafting a homebrew item/skill/feat etc.
but a salvo of missiles would hit at different times. Think Scorching Ray, each additional rays is a whole other attack roll and damage as they go off one right after another, like a machine gun.
Magic Missile would not be a machine gun, each dart hitting one after another, it would be like a shotgun blast. All the darts hit you at the exact same time. If you split the darts to hit 3 individuals at level 1, then a single dart will hit each individual target at the same time for 1d4+1.
yes, but even WoTC have said dozens of times that his tweets are NOT the canon for the rules, so if even WoTC says "Dont listen to our idiot brother, because he's an idiot", doesn't that scream of a bigger freaking problem. Tells me his title is mainly just that, a title. He really has no say without a lot of other rules lawyers at his back to point out when he says something, its more than likely a stupid thing to say.
You’re also forgetting Broach of Shielding. Resistance to force damage and immunity to Magic Missile.