I mean, I roll for every missile because rolling dice is part of what makes D&D fun. And there is no harm in rolling for each missile. But it's pretty well established that, officially, it's a single die roll.
I just can’t wrap my head around one die roll. Why would it specifically mention A dart does 1d4+1 if it didn’t want you to roll for each. At the very least, I’d roll one die and use that number +1 for each dart…
I just can’t wrap my head around one die roll. Why would it specifically mention A dart does 1d4+1 if it didn’t want you to roll for each. At the very least, I’d roll one die and use that number +1 for each dart…
Imagine it is an aoe, but only hits whoever you target with it, and it can double/triple tap people.
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I'm probably laughing.
It is apparently so hard to program Aberrant Mind and Clockwork Soul spell-swapping into dndbeyond they had to remake the game without it rather than implement it.
Why would it specifically mention A dart does 1d4+1 if it didn’t want you to roll for each.
At the very least, I’d roll one die and use that number +1 for each dart…
It’s because each dart strikes “simultaneously,” so it gets treated the same way damage for fireball gets rolled. Only instead of 8d6 fire damage, it’s 1d4+1 force damage, and instead of an AoE, the targets are determined by which creatures get hit and by how many darts.
It said “a dart,” not “each dart.” If it had said “each dart,” then you would roll for each dart.
That’s exactly how it does work, you roll 1d4, add 1 to the result, and every dart does that much damage. If you roll a 2, then every dart does 3 damage. If you roll a 4, then every dart deals 5 damage. The minimum is 2 damage, the average is 3.5, the max is 5 damage. With 3 darts @ 1st-level, that’s a minimum of 6 damage (an average of 10.5 damage, and a maximum of 15 damage, across 1–3 creatures and each dart can force a concentration saving throw.
So if a 3rd level Wizard casts a 2nd-level magic missile and directs 1 dart against goblin #1, another 1 dart against goblin #2, and the last 2 darts against hobgoblin #1, then each dart deals this much damage: (5).
I would say roll the damage for each dart. It didn't really affect gameplay all that much other than the darts doing a more average amount of damage. Plus it's just fun to steal (borrow) everyone's D4s and chuck them at the table.
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Hollow unbreakable arrows are the most OP common magic item, and my current method of coming up with insane combat shenanigans.
if you make a steel pipe with one end closed and a nozzle on the other, you can enlarge it, fill with any liquid, and then drop concentration, creating a high pressure squirt gun. (or a pipe bomb, depending if it holds)
I got shuffled over to this thread from one in artificers. I know this is probably retreaded, but who wants to wade through 12 pages of backlog.
General: PHB p196 1 roll if targeting multiple enemies. 3 x (1d4+1+buff) (evoker, transmuted alchemist, etc.). Carry that through and if you target multiple enemies then it reverts back to (1d4+1 3 times and the buff is added to 1 roll)
Now since specific beats general the spell itself states you create 3 darts, each dart deals 1d4+1. The buff is applied to one role leaving with (1d4+1 3 times and the buff is added to 1 roll)
You create three glowing darts of magical force. Each dart hits a creature of your choice that you can see within range. A dart deals 1d4 + 1 force damage to its target. The darts all strike simultaneously, and you can direct them to hit one creature or several.
RAW for the Magic Missile spell for 5e is the same as it has been throughout the history of the MM spell, each missile/dart created does 1dX+1 damage. [ I say this because in researching the history of the spell, early editions of D&D had the damage at 1d6+1 ]
the 1d4+1 single roll for all missiles/darts created was and is a cravat that is used to expedite combat, to keep the number of rolls one would have to make when the spell is cast to a minimum, and where the number of missiles/darts begins to become excessive to keep track of.
Everyone should agree that even before any damage is rolled, each and every missile/dart created should be given a single creature to target, and if needed both caster and DM should create a missile/dart# to target creature list. That way, whether the quick roll option or the per missile/dart roll option is used both DM and caster can keep track of whatever damage is dealt to whichever target(s).
As for the word " simultaneously", that is used for several DM purposes. This does not imply the general rule given from p.196 of the PHB applies, or makes the MM spell an AOE.
The first is for target concentration rolls, as only one roll is made regardless of the number missile(s)/dart(s) the target is hit with.
The second is for target Death Saves, again same as first, only one roll is made regardless of the number missile(s)/dart(s) the target is hit with.
the third is if the target creature has some sort of ability, feature, and whatnot that the total damage to target may trigger.
" Darkvision doesn’t work in Magical darkness, and if something is magical, Never Trust it acts the same way as a non-magical version of that same thing!”- Discotech Mage over a cup of joe.
Frankly, I don't understand why so many people are afraid that M.M is only one damage roll, it is true that in 3.X it was rolled separately but this also applies to Fireball (in case there was more than one creature in the area). I understand that with E.E. the damage is increased, but let's face the true, no one chooses the School of Evocation and at those levels caster don't need to deal damage to "end" a encounter.
Frankly, I don't understand why so many people are afraid that M.M is only one damage roll
People aren't afraid that it's one damage roll. They just don't like it.
😒That’s only because arithmetic is “hard” and they know if they upcast it at 9th-level they’ll have to take their shoe off to find out how much damage they did. 🙄
I mean, I roll for every missile because rolling dice is part of what makes D&D fun. And there is no harm in rolling for each missile. But it's pretty well established that, officially, it's a single die roll.
"Not all those who wander are lost"
I just can’t wrap my head around one die roll. Why would it specifically mention A dart does 1d4+1 if it didn’t want you to roll for each. At the very least, I’d roll one die and use that number +1 for each dart…
Imagine it is an aoe, but only hits whoever you target with it, and it can double/triple tap people.
I'm probably laughing.
It is apparently so hard to program Aberrant Mind and Clockwork Soul spell-swapping into dndbeyond they had to remake the game without it rather than implement it.
It should just say it does 1d4+1 damage then and not mention the part about one missle does 1d4+1 damage.
So if a 3rd level Wizard casts a 2nd-level magic missile and directs 1 dart against goblin #1, another 1 dart against goblin #2, and the last 2 darts against hobgoblin #1, then each dart deals this much damage: (5).
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The reason for rolling once is that it's a valid interpretation of poorly written rules. Also because physical d4s are very annoying to roll.
I would say roll the damage for each dart. It didn't really affect gameplay all that much other than the darts doing a more average amount of damage. Plus it's just fun to steal (borrow) everyone's D4s and chuck them at the table.
Hollow unbreakable arrows are the most OP common magic item, and my current method of coming up with insane combat shenanigans.
if you make a steel pipe with one end closed and a nozzle on the other, you can enlarge it, fill with any liquid, and then drop concentration, creating a high pressure squirt gun. (or a pipe bomb, depending if it holds)
By only rolling 1 die for all darts, all darts can benefit from a Shavarran Birch Focus, which is RAW.
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under that ruling you would only have 1 death save, since by only being 1 damage roll then you only take damage from the spell once...
That could be equally true while rolling separately for each dart as they all hit simultaneously.
I got shuffled over to this thread from one in artificers. I know this is probably retreaded, but who wants to wade through 12 pages of backlog.
General: PHB p196 1 roll if targeting multiple enemies. 3 x (1d4+1+buff) (evoker, transmuted alchemist, etc.). Carry that through and if you target multiple enemies then it reverts back to (1d4+1 3 times and the buff is added to 1 roll)
Now since specific beats general the spell itself states you create 3 darts, each dart deals 1d4+1. The buff is applied to one role leaving with (1d4+1 3 times and the buff is added to 1 roll)
Magic Missile
You create three glowing darts of magical force. Each dart hits a creature of your choice that you can see within range. A dart deals 1d4 + 1 force damage to its target. The darts all strike simultaneously, and you can direct them to hit one creature or several.
RAW, you roll 1d4+1 once and all darts deal identical amounts of damage.
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That's a general rule and specfic overrides general. Specific there are 3 darts. Each dart does 1d4+1.
Your specific rule doesn't specify whether you roll once or multiple times, so it defaults to the general rule.
RAW for the Magic Missile spell for 5e is the same as it has been throughout the history of the MM spell, each missile/dart created does 1dX+1 damage. [ I say this because in researching the history of the spell, early editions of D&D had the damage at 1d6+1 ]
the 1d4+1 single roll for all missiles/darts created was and is a cravat that is used to expedite combat, to keep the number of rolls one would have to make when the spell is cast to a minimum, and where the number of missiles/darts begins to become excessive to keep track of.
Everyone should agree that even before any damage is rolled, each and every missile/dart created should be given a single creature to target, and if needed both caster and DM should create a missile/dart# to target creature list. That way, whether the quick roll option or the per missile/dart roll option is used both DM and caster can keep track of whatever damage is dealt to whichever target(s).
As for the word " simultaneously", that is used for several DM purposes. This does not imply the general rule given from p.196 of the PHB applies, or makes the MM spell an AOE.
The first is for target concentration rolls, as only one roll is made regardless of the number missile(s)/dart(s) the target is hit with.
The second is for target Death Saves, again same as first, only one roll is made regardless of the number missile(s)/dart(s) the target is hit with.
the third is if the target creature has some sort of ability, feature, and whatnot that the total damage to target may trigger.
" Darkvision doesn’t work in Magical darkness, and if something is magical, Never Trust it acts the same way as a non-magical version of that same thing!”- Discotech Mage over a cup of joe.
Frankly, I don't understand why so many people are afraid that M.M is only one damage roll, it is true that in 3.X it was rolled separately but this also applies to Fireball (in case there was more than one creature in the area).
I understand that with E.E. the damage is increased, but let's face the true, no one chooses the School of Evocation and at those levels caster don't need to deal damage to "end" a encounter.
People aren't afraid that it's one damage roll. They just don't like it.
😒That’s only because arithmetic is “hard” and they know if they upcast it at 9th-level they’ll have to take their shoe off to find out how much damage they did. 🙄
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Not an additional rule. It is literally the spell description. 3 darts, each dart does 1d4+1. You can have one or multiple targets.
It doesn’t say “each dart deals,” it says “a dart deals.” That’s part of the difference.
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