Simple RAW for 5e 4: Smackdown v. RAW

[Dmdork]

Q250 Is a Shield +2 rare?

[Eriol]

A250: Yes a +2 Shield is Rare. The DMG on page 200 is quite explicit that the +1 is Uncommon, +2 is Rare, and +3 is Very Rare (for shields, for other + armor/weapons, see their own entries)

[VelociRapture12]

Q251 Are spell slots determined by total character level while what level spells you can know are determined by class level?
Ex) Wizard5/Cleric5 can up cast 3rd level spells at 5th level.

[Man_Over_Game]

Q251 Are spell slots determined by total character level while what level spells you can know are determined by class level?
Ex) Wizard5/Cleric5 can up cast 3rd level spells at 5th level.

A251 That is correct.

Warlocks are different, as their caster levels don't combine with other classes to determine what level spell slots you can cast, so Warlocks and Non-Warlocks are counted seperately. However, you CAN spend Warlock spell slots for other classes' spells, and you can use other classes' spell slots for Warlock spells.

[Myth27]

Q252 with the clockwork amulet can you decide to use it after you roll the d20 and see the number?

“When you make an attack roll while wearing the amulet, you can forgo rolling the d20 to get a 10 on the die. Once used, this property can’t be used again until the next dawn.”

[Man_Over_Game]

Q252 with the clockwork amulet can you decide to use it after you roll the d20 and see the number?

“When you make an attack roll while wearing the amulet, you can forgo rolling the d20 to get a 10 on the die. Once used, this property can’t be used again until the next dawn.”

A252 No.

It does specifically say "You can forgo rolling the d20", not "You can forgo the result of the attack roll".

Any ability that allows you to roll after the result (such as with the Lore Bard's Cunning Action) says so.

The wording of the amulet is similar to the Divination Wizard feature Portent, which also does not allow you to roll first.

[Mr. Crowbar]

Q253 Where is the side bar with rules for variant familiars?

I swear I read a rule somewhere, maybe in the MM or Volo's, that stated that any tiny beast with a CR under a certain limit could qualify as a variant familiar. Does anyone know what book/page this is or was I dreaming?

[Millstone85]

A253 MM p347 and VGtM p213.

No CR limit, it just has to be size Tiny.

I choose you, Demilichu!

[Bellin878]

Q254a A halfling in my party has the Bountiful Luck feat from Xanathar's.

I make an attack roll with advantage, but roll a 1 and a 4. This would normally give me a 4 - can he use his reaction to allow me to reroll the 1 and keep the higher value, or am I stuck with the 4?

Q254b

The same situation, but I am making an attack with disadvantage. I once more roll a 1 and a 4. This gives me the 1 - do I still reroll in this case? If I roll >4 on the reroll, do I keep the new value, the 4, or do I reroll the entire roll (both dice, select lowest)?

[E’Tallitnics]

Q254a A halfling in my party has the Bountiful Luck feat from Xanathar's.

I make an attack roll with advantage, but roll a 1 and a 4. This would normally give me a 4 - can he use his reaction to allow me to reroll the 1 and keep the higher value, or am I stuck with the 4?

Q254b

The same situation, but I am making an attack with disadvantage. I once more roll a 1 and a 4. This gives me the 1 - do I still reroll in this case? If I roll >4 on the reroll, do I keep the new value, the 4, or do I reroll the entire roll (both dice, select lowest)?

A254a: You can re-roll and use the new number.
A254b: You can re-roll but must use the lowest value of any of the rolls. In your example the 4.

[Dmdork]

Q255

Can I cast shield as a reaction on my turn?

[E’Tallitnics]

Q255

Can I cast shield as a reaction on my turn?

A255: You sure can!

[Dmdork]

Q256 When casting Simulacrum do you need the whole body or just some hair, fingernail clips, etc?

[E’Tallitnics]

Q256 When casting Simulacrum do you need the whole body or just some hair, fingernail clips, etc?

A256: You only need what the spell description states. I does not state that you need the whole body.

[Dalebert]

A 256 the very first sentence explains that you need to be touching the creature you're copying for the entire casting time of 12 hours.

"You shape an illusory duplicate of one beast or humanoid that is within range for the entire casting time of the spell."

Note that range is Touch.

[Dmdork]

A256 so you need the whole body?

[Millstone85]

A256 You make a snowman that also incorporates a piece of the creature, like hair, and 1500 gp worth of powdered ruby. Then you touch both the snowman and the creature for 12 hours.

So yeah, you need "the whole body". Actually, I don't know if this is supposed to work with a dead creature.

[No brains]

A256 You make a snowman that also incorporates a piece of the creature, like hair, and 1500 gp worth of powdered ruby. Then you touch both the snowman and the creature for 12 hours.

So yeah, you need "the whole body". Actually, I don't know if this is supposed to work with a dead creature.

re256Something something, dead creatures are objects... except for 'specific exceptions'... so ask your dm... unless you're the dm then you decide what makes the story fun. Sage advice gives us the 'best' answers to this.

https://twitter.com/JeremyECrawford/...21259108474880
https://mobile.twitter.com/JeremyECr...77875049635840

This isn't in the books, so it's not RAW. I still hope it helps.

[th3g0dc0mp13x]

Q257.

Does the spell sniper feat interact with a sorcerer's distant metamagic on touch spells?

Example for clarification, my Divine soul sorcerer has the spell sniper feat and distant metamagic. I use distant metamagic on inflict wounds. Is it's range now 30' or 60'?

[Man_Over_Game]

Q257.

Does the spell sniper feat interact with a sorcerer's distant metamagic on touch spells?

Example for clarification, my Divine soul sorcerer has the spell sniper feat and distant metamagic. I use distant metamagic on inflict wounds. Is it's range now 30' or 60'?

A257

• Distant Metamagic: When you cast a spell that has a range of touch, you can spend 1 sorcery point to make the range of the spell 30 feet.
• Spell Sniper: When you cast a spell that requires you to make an attack roll, the spell’s range is doubled.

There is no mention of "order of operations" when considering scenarios like this, and the only restriction on duplicate effects is that they cannot come from the same source (so you cannot enhance a spell's range twice with Distant Metamagic by using it again on the same spell).

I cannot find any restriction or clarification on this. While your DM may decide otherwise, the most reasonable outcome I can see is that the Player chooses the order in which their features are used, and that there is no reason the two features cannot both extend the range.

[Dualswinger]

Q.258, some questions about Abjurers

A. If an Abjurer learnt the Armor of Agathys spell, would their arcane ward or their temporary hit points be the first to be lost?

B. If the ward tanks the damage, would the retaliation damage from AoA still trigger?

C. If a level 18 Wizard chose an Abjuration spell as their Spell Mastery option, can they spend a few out of combat rounds to reset their Arcane Ward to max HP at will?

[E’Tallitnics]

Q.258, some questions about Abjurers

A. If an Abjurer learnt the Armor of Agathys spell, would their arcane ward or their temporary hit points be the first to be lost?

B. If the ward tanks the damage, would the retaliation damage from AoA still trigger?

C. If a level 18 Wizard chose an Abjuration spell as their Spell Mastery option, can they spend a few out of combat rounds to reset their Arcane Ward to max HP at will?

A258

A: According to “Simultaneous Effects” from Xanathar’s Guide the player chooses.

B: No. AoA processes on a hit from a melee weapon. The Arcane Ward / THP process upon taking damage.

C: Yes. Also a 2nd level Abjurer ritual casting the [i]Alarm[\i] spell, A Deep Gnome (Svirfneblin) with the Svirfneblin Magic feat from the Sword Coast Guide.

[Dualswinger]

A258

A: According to “Simultaneous Effects” from Xanathar’s Guide the player chooses.

B: No. AoA processes on a hit from a melee weapon. The Arcane Ward / THP process upon taking damage.

C: Yes. Also a 2nd level Abjurer ritual casting the [i]Alarm[\i] spell, A Deep Gnome (Svirfneblin) with the Svirfneblin Magic feat from the Sword Coast Guide.

Thanks for the reply.

Sorry, not quite understanding your answer to B. Lemme write it out clearly so that I can process your answer better:

Character has both Arcane Ward and Armor of Agathys active on their person. They are stabbed by a Goblin. The character chooses for the damage to be taken by the Arcane Ward. Does the Goblin take Cold damage?

[E’Tallitnics]

Thanks for the reply.

Sorry, not quite understanding your answer to B. Lemme write it out clearly so that I can process your answer better:

Character has both Arcane Ward and Armor of Agathys active on their person. They are stabbed by a Goblin. The character chooses for the damage to be taken by the Arcane Ward. Does the Goblin take Cold damage?

R258: Yes, AoA triggers because of the Goblin's "to hit" attack.

I'm sorry I didn't elaborate before that my answer was due to your phrasing of "takes damage" and that it didn't reference "a hit".

In your prior example AoA doesn't trigger just from damage, like a Fireball. In your current example AoA does trigger because the dagger attack is the "hit by a melee weapon" that it requires.

[Erys]

Thanks for the reply.

Sorry, not quite understanding your answer to B. Lemme write it out clearly so that I can process your answer better:

Character has both Arcane Ward and Armor of Agathys active on their person. They are stabbed by a Goblin. The character chooses for the damage to be taken by the Arcane Ward. Does the Goblin take Cold damage?

R258.b Probably not.

The character actually cannot choose which defensive buff works first; they way both spells are written the Arcane Ward will absorb damage first and Armor of Agathys takes over once the ward runs out.

So long as the Arcane Ward is up, Armor of Agathys damage shield does not proc.

However, say the Arcane Ward only had 2 points left and the PC is struck for 4. Then the Ward would absorb 2 points, Armor of Agathys absorbs 2 more (lose 2 THP, technically) and would proc cold damage as usual.

Cite

[Pharaon]

R258.b Probably not.

The character actually cannot choose which defensive buff works first; they way both spells are written the Arcane Ward will absorb damage first and Armor of Agathys takes over once the ward runs out.

So long as the Arcane Ward is up, Armor of Agathys damage shield does not proc.

However, say the Arcane Ward only had 2 points left and the PC is struck for 4. Then the Ward would absorb 2 points, Armor of Agathys absorbs 2 more (lose 2 THP, technically) and would proc cold damage as usual.

Cite

R258 That tweet says the Arcane Ward comes first, but doesn't clarify the interaction with armor of Agathys.

If a creature hits you with a melee attack while you have these hit points, the creature takes 5 cold damage.

AoA's THP do not need to be affected to trigger the retaliation damage. If the Arcane Ward is reduced due to being hit with a melee attack while you have AoA THP, the attacker would take cold damage.

[Erys]

Good catch Pharaon.

[Dualswinger]

Q259. A tabaxi uses his ability to double his speed for the turn. He then uses an action to cast polymorph. Does the new form have the standard or double speed?

[Erys]

Q259. A tabaxi uses his ability to double his speed for the turn. He then uses an action to cast polymorph. Does the new form have the standard or double speed?

A259: Tabaxi use their ability Feline Grace "on their move".

If you are polymorphed before your move- you would be unable to use your Tabaxi ability.

[Dmdork]

Q260 Can my wizard cast Simulacrum on himself, making an illusory duplicate of me?