I am getting back into playing again and this time around I am giving a go at DM. It's been a long time. Does magic armor, rings of protection or magic shields give a plus to checks like they used to? Would a ring +2 give a player +2 to saves/checks?
Read it's description. It does what it says there.
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There are no general rules here; each magic item tells you what it does. The two most common are +1/2/3 weapons which add to attack and damage rolls with that weapon, while +1/2/3 shields and armor increase AC while equipped. Most other items don't have +X and if it does, it probably does something different with that bonus than the ones just discussed.
These 'weaknesses' are part of the general design of the current edition of D&D. Bounded accuracy (the principle that bonuses don't grow as fast, meaning AC, saving throws, ability check modifiers etc cap out at lower values) means that a +3 bonus can have a much larger impact (statistically speaking) than it might in previous editions.
The three attuned item limit is to balance that due to bounded accuracy, the ability for items to dramatically swing the odds is higher. As such, there's a cap on how many items (that require attunement) you can have active at once.
This means that a cloak "of protection" does not stack with a ring "of protection."
This isn't true, the same type of bonus can stack, just not the same source of bonus.
For example, wearing two rings of protection won't give you an AC bonus for each, you'll just get the one.
However, a ring of protection and a cloak of protection, being two different sources of AC bonus, will stack.
It's the same as how a +1 bow used with a +1 arrow gives you +2 to hit and damage, because although it's the same type of bonus, they come from different sources.
Bless won't stack with Bless, but it would stack with Bardic Inspiration, even though they're both allow you to add a dice roll to an attack roll
I am getting back into playing again and this time around I am giving a go at DM. It's been a long time. Does magic armor, rings of protection or magic shields give a plus to checks like they used to? Would a ring +2 give a player +2 to saves/checks?
Only if it specifies that it gives a bonus to a certain save or check.
Depends on the item.
Read it's description. It does what it says there.
Click ✨ HERE ✨ For My Youtube Videos featuring Guides, Tips & Tricks for using D&D Beyond.
Need help with Homebrew? Check out ✨ this FAQ/Guide thread ✨ by IamSposta.
There are no general rules here; each magic item tells you what it does. The two most common are +1/2/3 weapons which add to attack and damage rolls with that weapon, while +1/2/3 shields and armor increase AC while equipped. Most other items don't have +X and if it does, it probably does something different with that bonus than the ones just discussed.
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Note, RAW the items tend to be a bit weaker than before. No +5 items, and the Ring of Protection is only +1, not 2.
The most glaring 'weakness' is that people can only use 3 attuned magic items and trust me, most of the stuff you want will be attuned.
These 'weaknesses' are part of the general design of the current edition of D&D. Bounded accuracy (the principle that bonuses don't grow as fast, meaning AC, saving throws, ability check modifiers etc cap out at lower values) means that a +3 bonus can have a much larger impact (statistically speaking) than it might in previous editions.
The three attuned item limit is to balance that due to bounded accuracy, the ability for items to dramatically swing the odds is higher. As such, there's a cap on how many items (that require attunement) you can have active at once.
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I agree, they solved a lot of abuses and problems by lowering the power.
Thank you for replying. Appreciate it
Great! Thank you
Good to know these things. Glad I asked. Thank you
Note also the stacking limit.
If 2 characters cast bless only the strongest applies. This means that a cloak "of protection" does not stack with a ring "of protection."
This isn't true, the same type of bonus can stack, just not the same source of bonus.
For example, wearing two rings of protection won't give you an AC bonus for each, you'll just get the one.
However, a ring of protection and a cloak of protection, being two different sources of AC bonus, will stack.
It's the same as how a +1 bow used with a +1 arrow gives you +2 to hit and damage, because although it's the same type of bonus, they come from different sources.
Bless won't stack with Bless, but it would stack with Bardic Inspiration, even though they're both allow you to add a dice roll to an attack roll
Find my D&D Beyond articles here