Simple RAW for 5e 4: Smackdown v. RAW

[Galithar]

Q292 can Sleep spell work on a wraith?

A292
No. Sleep doesn't work on undead or creatures that are immune to charm. A wraith is both of those things.

[E’Tallitnics]

As Galithar just pointed out, The Sleep spell itself specifically says it doesn't work on undead.

Post deleted.

[Dmdork]

Q292 sorry but you've confused me. I'll ask again. Does the Sleep spell work on a wraith?

[Galithar]

Q292 sorry but you've confused me. I'll ask again. Does the Sleep spell work on a wraith?

As before, no.
The sleep spell cannot affect undead or creatures that are immune to being charmed.
A wraith is undead AND immune to bring charmed.

A wraith cannot be affected by the sleep spell.

[airless_wing]

Can a Kensei monk use the versatile property on a weapon's (assume the 1d8 spear) and make an unarmed strike?

[LtPowers]

Can a Kensei monk use the versatile property on a weapon's (assume the 1d8 spear) and make an unarmed strike?

A293

Yes. Quarterstaves too.


Powers &8^]

[Millstone85]

Can a Kensei monk use the versatile property on a weapon's (assume the 1d8 spear) and make an unarmed strike?

A293 Yes. Quarterstaves too.

I would add that:

• Making an unarmed strike does not require a free hand, as it can be a kick or a head-butt.
• Switching between holding a weapon with one or two hands shouldn't hurt your action economy anyway.
• The greatclub and the longbow can be selected as kensei weapons, and henceforth count as monk weapons despite being two-handed. This allows you to take the Attack action with them and make an unarmed strike as a bonus action.

[No brains]

Q 294: As a DM, is a Glyph of Warding containing a 9th level spell cleric spell an appropriate form for a Divine Intervention to take? I am unclear if it falls in like with 'the effect of any cleric spell' as suggested by the PHB.

[PhoenixPhyre]

Q 294: As a DM, is a Glyph of Warding containing a 9th level spell cleric spell an appropriate form for a Divine Intervention to take? I am unclear if it falls in like with 'the effect of any cleric spell' as suggested by the PHB.

A 294 The only rule for Divine Intervention is that you consider it appropriate for the situation and the god in question. Don't read the "effect of any cleric spell" as being restrictive rather than being just suggestive.

[Makorel]

This came up in our game tonight: How many mage hands can a single user have on at once? From the description it seems the only limiter is the 1 minute duration, so we figured it was 10 mage hands.

[E’Tallitnics]

This came up in our game tonight: How many mage hands can a single user have on at once? From the description it seems the only limiter is the 1 minute duration, so we figured it was 10 mage hands.

A295: One. From the description, “The hand vanishes if it is ever more than 30 feet away from you or if you cast this spell again.”

[Emongnome777]

Q296

From Dispel Magic: "For each spell of 4th level or higher on the target, make an ability check using your spellcasting ability."

Does this ability check use your proficiency bonus?

[th3g0dc0mp13x]

Q296

From Dispel Magic: "For each spell of 4th level or higher on the target, make an ability check using your spellcasting ability."

Does this ability check use your proficiency bonus?

A296

No, however some class features allow you to add it such as jack of all trades for a bard, or the abjuration wizard ability improved abjuration.

[Koury]

Q297

Cloud of Daggers deals damage to enemies “when it enters the spell’s area for the first time on a turn or starts its turn there.”

Just to be clear, if I cast this spell, they take damage right away because their now in the spells area, then they again take damage upon their turn beginning, correct? It triggers twice before they really get to act?

Does it also double trigger like this when a foe is forced into the area?

[E’Tallitnics]

Q297

Cloud of Daggers deals damage to enemies “when it enters the spell’s area for the first time on a turn or starts its turn there.”

Just to be clear, if I cast this spell, they take damage right away because their now in the spells area, then they again take damage upon their turn beginning, correct? It triggers twice before they really get to act?

Does it also double trigger like this when a foe is forced into the area?

A297: No, they do not take damage when you cast the spell. In that case they've not entered the AoE nor have they started their turn within the AoE. They do take damage if they're forced into the AoE any time after the spell is cast.

EDIT: Note the wording, "...for the first time on a turn...". That means that if you force them into the AoE, then drag them back out and force them into it again they only take the damage once.

[Koury]

A297:

I guess I’m confused then. Is “entering an area” defined somewhere? How is the spell being dropped on your head different from being forced into it?

[E’Tallitnics]

I guess I’m confused then. Is “entering an area” defined somewhere? How is the spell being dropped on your head different from being forced into it?

R297: It’s the difference between entering a house or having the house built around you. The end result is the same, but how you got there is different.

In game meta it’s there to cut down on spell abuse.

[Koury]

R297

So then there is no RAW answer, it seems? I looked at a few other Wall and Cloud spells and they all act slightly differently. The best I can find supporting no initial damage is Wall of Fire specifically includes an initial damage clause. On the other hand, Stinking Cloud only triggers when they start their turn in the area.

I still believe both readings are valid, RAW. I’m open to more evidence or any actual rules. As far as abuse, do we just mean “20 damage is a lot” or is there something actually abusable enabled by allowing initial damage?

[Man_Over_Game]

R297

So then there is no RAW answer, it seems? I looked at a few other Wall and Cloud spells and they all act slightly differently. The best I can find supporting no initial damage is Wall of Fire specifically includes an initial damage clause. On the other hand, Stinking Cloud only triggers when they start their turn in the area.

I still believe both readings are valid, RAW. I’m open to more evidence or any actual rules. As far as abuse, do we just mean “20 damage is a lot” or is there something actually abusable enabled by allowing initial damage?

For further evidence, Sage Advice has this to say:

"Our design intent for such spells is this: a creature enters the area of effect when the creature passes into it. Creating the area of effect on the creature or moving it onto the creature doesn't count. If the creature is still in the area at the start of its turn, it is subjected to the area’s effect. [...]

In summary, a spell like moonbeam affects a creature when the creature passes into the spell’s area of effect and when the creature starts its turn there. You’re essentially creating a hazard on the battlefield.
"

[E’Tallitnics]

R297

So then there is no RAW answer, it seems? I looked at a few other Wall and Cloud spells and they all act slightly differently. The best I can find supporting no initial damage is Wall of Fire specifically includes an initial damage clause. On the other hand, Stinking Cloud only triggers when they start their turn in the area.

I still believe both readings are valid, RAW. I’m open to more evidence or any actual rules. As far as abuse, do we just mean “20 damage is a lot” or is there something actually abusable enabled by allowing initial damage?

R297: When talking about spells it's important to remember that they're always an exception to the general rules. The spell description tells you exactly how the spell works. If the spell has any relation to another spell, and/or game feature and/or game mechanic (etc.) it'll tell you how they interact.

So each spell description is literally the RAW for that spell.

[Koury]

So each spell description is literally the RAW for that spell.

Agreed, and this question mostly centered around “does an AoE appearing on space you occupy count as you “entering” that area?” I believe the RAI is pretty clear.

That said, I asked in a RAW thread, hoping for clarification. It seems there is none, so I’ve spoken with my players, explained the issue and we came to a solution together (We went with RAI, for what it’s worth).

I appreciate everyone’s efforts and time here.

[Chronos]

The rules can't define every term used in the rules, because then you'd need to define the terms used in the definitions. At some point, you have to go by what the words ordinarily mean. And "enter" does not ordinarily mean "stay in the same place while something happens there".

[Koury]

And "enter" does not ordinarily mean "stay in the same place while something happens there".

It doesn’t have to mean anything more than normal for the question to be valid. If you are in an empty pool that is magically filled with water, most people would say yes when asked if you entered the water.

If someone is placed in the AoE through pretty much any other means it would trigger, and excluding on-cast is unintuitive. If you spend half a percent of half a second in the area you take damage at all other times. That’s likely why this very question has been asked enough that the Sage had to clarify the RAI.

[Chronos]

They would?

[Dalebert]

Re: Q 297 I respectfully suggest that this topic is probably worthy of its own thread. It's no longer simple RAW.

[Dmdork]

Q298. Can True Seeing see through Fog Cloud?

[leogobsin]

Q298. Can True Seeing see through Fog Cloud?

A298 No. The Monster Manual description of Truesight reads:

A creature with truesight can, out to a specific range, see in normal and magical darkness, see invisible creatures and objects, automatically detect visual illusions and succeed on saving throws against them, and perceives the original form of a shapechanger or a creature that is transformed by magic. Furthermore, the creature can see into the Ethereal Plane.

Fog cloud isn't normal or magical darkness, does not make creatures and objects invisible, and is not an illusion: it's a heavily obscured area.

[E’Tallitnics]

Q298. Can True Seeing see through Fog Cloud?

R298: Neither the spells description nor the description of Truesight state that they can see through areas that are heavily obscured nor negate the Blinded condition.

But Blindsight can.

[Zuras]

Q299. Is the Mind Flayer’s Mind Blast blocked by total cover? Per the “Areas of Effect” rules in the PHB, it clearly would be blocked if it was a spell, but I cannot find text indicating whether non-spell abilities follow the same rules.

[Potato_Priest]

Q300
If eldrich knights a and b both use weapon bond to bond to the same weapon, which a is currently wielding, can eldrich knight b use a bonus action to teleport it into his hand? I’m mostly curious how this interacts with the portion of the weapon bond feature that prevents A from being disarmed while not incapacitated.