Simple RAW for 5e V: The Disadvantage Strikes Back

[Chronos]

Q 71 A:

A natural 1 or natural 20 on a saving throw is no longer an auto-fail/auto-success, correct?

Q 71 B:
Assuming that's correct, what happens when a character with +9 or more to death saves (such as a high-level monk allied with a nearby charismatic paladin) rolls a natural 1 on a death save? Does it count as a success (because the total meets the DC of 10), two failures (because it's a natural 1), or both? And if both, what if that's enough to simultaneously get the monk to 3 of each?

[E’Tallitnics]

Q 71 A:

A natural 1 or natural 20 on a saving throw is no longer an auto-fail/auto-success, correct?

Q 71 B:
Assuming that's correct, what happens when a character with +9 or more to death saves (such as a high-level monk allied with a nearby charismatic paladin) rolls a natural 1 on a death save? Does it count as a success (because the total meets the DC of 10), two failures (because it's a natural 1), or both? And if both, what if that's enough to simultaneously get the monk to 3 of each?

A71a+b: https://www.dndbeyond.com/sources/basic-rules/combat#DeathSavingThrows

Of Note:
“Unlike other saving throws, this one isn't tied to any ability score. You are in the hands of fate now, aided only by spells and features that improve your chances of succeeding on a saving throw.” (Underlined text is my emphasis.)

“Rolling 1 or 20. When you make a death saving throw and roll a 1 on the d20, it counts as two failures. If you roll a 20 on the d20, you regain 1 hit point.”

So a character's ability modifiers do not come into play, unless a specific ‘feature’ states otherwise. A Paladin's Aura would added to their roll, unless it’s a 1 or 20.

[Chronos]

Re 71:
But both a monk's Diamond Soul and a paladin's Aura of Protection are features that improve all saving throws (not just those associated with ability scores). Between them, it's possible to get a total bonus of +11 to death saves, and I don't see anything that says that that bonus wouldn't apply to a natural roll of 1 (for a total of 12, exceeding the 10 DC).

[E’Tallitnics]

Re 71:
But both a monk's Diamond Soul and a paladin's Aura of Protection are features that improve all saving throws (not just those associated with ability scores). Between them, it's possible to get a total bonus of +11 to death saves, and I don't see anything that says that that bonus wouldn't apply to a natural roll of 1 (for a total of 12, exceeding the 10 DC).

R71: Note that Death Saves are a specific subset of the rules where specific beats general. Also note that in this section it specifically mentions allowing class features before it specifies what happens on a 1 or 20. (So they're even more specific beats general within the same section.)

For both ends of the spectrum it states "on the d20" and nothing else. There's no allowance there to modify the die roll. The moment a 1 or 20 happens on a Death Saving Throw something specific happens.

If you don't roll a 1 or a 20 then those class features would indeed kick in.

[TheCleverGuy]

Q72

Does a character need to make a new saving throw for every round that they remain in the area of a Zone of Truth spell?

[Chrizzt]

Q73:

Does the spell foresight also give you advantage on counterspell/dispel magic checks and on iniative?

[Chronos]

A 72:
One of the conditions under which a creature must roll a save is starting their turn in the area, and failing such a save has a described effect, but there is no effect (such as immunity to future saves) given for a successful save. Therefore, yes, a creature must save repeatedly if they stay in the area.

A 73:
Initiative rolls and dispel checks are both kinds of ability checks, which is one of the categories of rolls on which Foresight grants advantage (it also grants it on attack rolls and saving throws, which between them cover almost all d20 rolls in the game).

[Chrizzt]

Q74:
Can a sorcerer with the ritual caster feat and the "extend spell" metamagic extend spells cast by ritual caster (supposed the spell cast by ritual caster would be eligible for extend spell if cast normally via a slot)? e.g. shadow steed or detect magic?

[DevilMcam]

A74 :
The extended spell metamagic reauire neither the spell being cast trhough a spell slot nor being a sorcerer spell.
So you can absolutely extend a wizard ritual for which the duration qualifies.

[No brains]

Q75

If I'm reading the spell correctly, when a creature is using magic to be Invisible, Detect Magic can detect that there is magic nearby, but no amount of focus would pinpoint the creature or identify the school of magic, correct?

It seems like you can detect any magic nearby, but you can only see auras on visible articles.

[Dmdork]

Q76 does bless, lucky feat, halfling luck racial feature, and a Pally's aura of protection help with death saves?

[leogobsin]

Q76 does bless, lucky feat, halfling luck racial feature, and a Pally's aura of protection help with death saves?

A76 Yes to all. Death saving throws are saving throws, anything that affects saving throws affects them.

[BeefGood]

Q77 Can a character climb a wall of thorns without taking damage? On the one hand, the wording seems to allow this, because the wording says that the damage is taken when the character "enters the wall" and climbing the wall wouldn't count as entering it (in my opinion). On the other hand, it doesn't seem right that a 6th level spell can be so easily circumvented.

[Dmdork]

Q78 can pretty much anyone use a scroll?

[Chronos]

A 78:

For scrolls in general, as described on DMG 139, the only requirement is understanding a written language, which almost all PCs do. However, for spell scrolls specifically, the most common type, more specific rules on DMG 200 specify that the spell must be on your class spell list. So far as I know, the only other type of magic scroll is the scroll of protection (DMG 199), which can be used, again, by almost anyone.

[Gigaria]

Q75

If I'm reading the spell correctly, when a creature is using magic to be Invisible, Detect Magic can detect that there is magic nearby, but no amount of focus would pinpoint the creature or identify the school of magic, correct?

It seems like you can detect any magic nearby, but you can only see auras on visible articles.

A75 Yes.

Detect magic detects the "presence of magic within 30 feet of you" which includes a creature under the invisibility spell. However, "you can use your action to see a faint aura around any visible creature or object in the area that bears magic" since it is not visible you can't detect an aura around it. (Emphasis mine)

[Necrosnoop110]

Q78 Does 5E have creature templates and/or monstrous progressions that PCs could use? If so where are they located?

[Necrosnoop110]

Q79 Is there such a thing as spellcraft? If and how can you identify spells being cast?

[E’Tallitnics]

Q79 Is there such a thing as spellcraft? If and how can you identify spells being cast?

A79: “Xanathar’s Guide to Everything” has those rules. A reaction + Arcana check (DC 15 + Spell’s Level) as it’s being cast, or an Action afterwards (same DC formula).

[E’Tallitnics]

Q78 Does 5E have creature templates and/or monstrous progressions that PCs could use? If so where are they located?

A78: The DMG has a Half-dragon template example + stat block. I’m not aware of any monstrous progressions other than giving that creature a class.

[Chronos]

A 78 continued:
Volo's Guide to Monsters and Mordenkainen's Tome of Foes, between them, contain rules for using most humanoid monsters as PC races. These races work like any other race, which often involves a significant decrease in power level from the default version of that monster (you need not and cannot level up in a "monster class" to get more of the monster's abilities).

[Dmdork]

Q80 Ravnica. Centaur. Weight 600lbs x2d12? How does that make sense for a medium sized creature?

[E’Tallitnics]

Q80 Ravnica. Centaur. Weight 600lbs x2d12? How does that make sense for a medium sized creature?

A80: Sorry DM Dork but that’s not a RAW question. Best to create your own thread in the main forum if you wish to discuss what’s ‘sensible’ in D&D.

Also: https://horserookie.com/how-much-do-horses-weigh/

[BloodSnake'sCha]

Q81

What is the formula to calculate CR?
I searched the DMG and wasn't able to find it.
All I found was a table with defensive and offensive CR, not how to calculate the CR of a monster based on her stats.

[Kracky]

Q82

Can a Kobold be affected by Lycanthropy ?

IE given the variant humanoid rule and the Kobolds description of Humanoid/Reptilian

Thanks

[Chronos]

A 81:
That table (on pg. 274) is how you calculate the challenge rating. You use the HP (as modified by AC, as described in "Step 4. Final Challenge Rating") to look up the defensive CR, and you use the damage/round (as modified by attack bonus, as described in that section) to look up the offensive CR, and then you average t defensive and offensive CR together. There is no formula (though you may be able to fit one from the data); you just have to do the table lookup. Also note, of course, that like everything in the DM's purview, these "rules" are only guidelines.

A 82:
By the standard RAW, any humanoid can contract lycanthropy, and kobolds are humanoids. The rules for lycanthropes suggest, as a variant rule, that lycanthropes of non-human origin might retain some of their racial features. Absent this variant rule, nonhuman lycanthropes are still possible; they just have the same stats as human lycanthropes.

[BeefGood]

Does anyone have thoughts on Q77 ? Thanks in advance.

[E’Tallitnics]

Q77 Can a character climb a wall of thorns without taking damage? On the one hand, the wording seems to allow this, because the wording says that the damage is taken when the character "enters the wall" and climbing the wall wouldn't count as entering it (in my opinion). On the other hand, it doesn't seem right that a 6th level spell can be so easily circumvented.

A77: “Wall” is nothing more than the shape of the spell to help define its area. The actual text is, “…pliable brush…” and since it doesn’t mention either way if it can, or cannot, be climbed it’ll be up to the DM.

[Dmdork]

Q83 can a barbarian benefit from Mage armor?

[Millstone85]

A83 Yes, if their Constitution modifier is less than 3, making it so 13 + Dex > 10 + Dex + Con.