Questions tagged [spells]

For questions about specific manifestations of magic that we generically call "spells." Use the [magic] tag for more generic questions about magic, and [spellcasting] for questions specifically about the process of spellcasting.

Filter by
Sorted by
Tagged with
7 votes
1 answer
367 views

What statistics are exactly eligible for polymorph?

This question came from trying to understand if you can polymorph someone into an armored sabre-tooth tiger, if that creature has no explicit printed stat block. It's clear that an actual stat blocks, ...
7 votes
2 answers
2k views

Can you polymorph to a creature that is wearing armor?

Can you polymorph to a creature that is wearing armor? In game GM polymorphed an NPC to an armored sabretooth tiger (plate armor). Is that legal?. The NPC would turn into a regular sabretooth with no ...
9 votes
2 answers
411 views

How can I avoid paying for costly material components?

Create Magic Tattoo (SC p55) looks like a great spell, but it is very pricy at 100gp per casting. Is there a way to avoid/reduce the cost? The solution should be official, at least from Dragon ...
7 votes
4 answers
1k views

Does Psionic Minor Creation require material component?

The arcane (A) Minor Creation spell notes that in order to create stuff, you need a little bit of it as a Material Component. The psionic (P) one tells that it OS the same as arcane except some stuff ...
3 votes
0 answers
108 views

How do cantrip improvements work when multiclassing? [duplicate]

I'm currently playing a D&D 5e campaign. My character is an Artificer/Cleric multiclass. I was wondering if cantrips work off of a character's class level, or a character's total level, since ...
14 votes
4 answers
21k views

Why use the Conjure Minor Elemental spell when its results are so unpredictable?

The conjure minor elemental spell states: You summon elementals that appear in unoccupied spaces that you can see within range. You choose one the following options for what appears: One elemental ...
42 votes
13 answers
8k views

How do I deal with instant-solution spells like Comprehend Languages?

I'm DM-ing an upcoming campaign and am considering banning or nerfing spells like Comprehend Languages because they can be used to instantly solve potentially interesting problems like reading an ...
5 votes
1 answer
245 views

Does Contact Other Plane allow the contacted entity to be targeted by other spells such as Sending and Dream?

Relevant text from Contact Other Plane: You mentally contact a demigod, the spirit of a long-dead sage, or some other mysterious entity from another plane. ... you can ask the entity up to five ...
12 votes
2 answers
5k views

Can a ghost or other incorporeal creature be polymorphed?

While researching this question about polymorphing a paladin's steed, I had a realization. Polymorph specifies a creature you can see as a target, and as answered here, "creature" essentially refers ...
7 votes
2 answers
941 views

How does Unleash Psyche interact with amped Produce Flame?

A level 1 Oscillating Wave Psychic uses Unleash Psyche. He then casts an amped Produce Flame as a ranged attack. On a success, how much damage does the target of Produce Flame take? On a critical ...
4 votes
1 answer
140 views

Can a summon monster type spell be made permanent?

Is there a RAW way to summon a monster of some variety and make it permanent? In my scenario I'm thinking of Oozes specifically, in case that makes a difference.
0 votes
0 answers
115 views

Spike Growth on man made flooring [duplicate]

Can you cast Spike Growth spell on a normal hardwood or marble floor. if yes, Do you see the spikes or they are 'invisible' and a perception check need to be rolled to detect the area as hasardous ...
6 votes
1 answer
460 views

What planar traits prevail in extradimensional spaces?

The great wizard Mordenkainen creates himself a fast-time demiplane, and makes 1 day in the demiplane take 1 minute on the Prime Material Plane. He invites his friends over to a housewarming party. ...
14 votes
1 answer
2k views

What's the orientation of the Rope Trick hole?

The Rope Trick spell specifies Holding one end of a 60-foot or shorter rope causes the other end to rise up until the rope is fully perpendicular to the ground. At the high end, a portal opens to an ...
12 votes
1 answer
6k views

By RAW, does Astral Projection allow you to keep your astral body when you leave the Astral Plane?

This spell honestly has me scratching my head with the way it's worded. Astral Projection states the following: If you enter a new plane or return to the plane you were on when casting this spell, ...
11 votes
1 answer
2k views

Can the Faerie Fire spell be oriented in a small space to not affect allies?

Many AOE spells use a point as their origin, and from this point, area is calculated. Faerie Fire doesn't state where spells start. Often, AOE spells are cast in rooms near walls to avoid friendly ...
8 votes
5 answers
2k views

What is the point of origin for a square area of effect?

The spellcasting rules for areas of effect state: A spell's description specifies its area of effect, which typically has one of five different shapes: cone, cube, cylinder, line, or sphere. Every ...
18 votes
2 answers
4k views

Casting a spell in a smaller space than the spell itself?

What happens with a spell when it is cast in a smaller space/area than the actual spell itself? Does it simply not work? Does it adapt to the size of the room etc? For example: Ice Storm casts at a ...
35 votes
3 answers
4k views

Casting wall of fire in a T-shaped corridor

In D&D 5e, is casting wall of fire like this allowed, or would I need to have line of sight for the entire corridor? Assume my wizard knows that the corridor extends both ways and how long it is.
4 votes
1 answer
135 views

Are non-damaging effects obvious in combat without a check?

This question came about in response to a debate relating to this answer, wherein I stipulated that the effects of the Warp Mind spell are not immediately obvious to your allies. The reasoning I had ...
4 votes
3 answers
265 views

Is this Visions of Danger spell balanced for level 7?

So I am looking to homebrew a 7th level sorcerer spell because I am not entirely happy that the options match my characters theme. I have seen Visions of Danger in Pathfinder 2e and have made an ...
11 votes
3 answers
2k views

What is the etymology of Mind Blank?

The spell mind blank protects you from divinations. For most spells, I can figure out how their name reflects what they do: mind fog produces fog that makes your mind foggy; meteor swarm creates a ...
11 votes
3 answers
270 views

Can Warp Mind's effect be mitigated just by hitting your friend?

The Warp Mind spell says the following: You scramble a creature's mental faculties and sensory input. The target must attempt a Will saving throw. Regardless of the result of that save, the target is ...
43 votes
3 answers
47k views

Is a concentration check required when temporary hit points absorb all the damage?

A spellcaster with 6 temporary hit points is hit for 3 damage. Do they have to make a concentration check?
1 vote
2 answers
156 views

Do bonus rolls, like guidance and Bardic Inspiration, affect a passive check? [duplicate]

After reading this question: Bless/Bane and their effects on Passive checks, I want to ask about the general bonus rolls to passive ability checks. The description for passive check is: A passive ...
3 votes
1 answer
805 views

What level should this version of Warp Mind be?

I have taken this spell from Pathfinder 2e, where it is a level 7 spell (I think here are 10 levels there though), and converted it into a 5e spell. I think it is still around the correct power level ...
7 votes
1 answer
388 views

Charm a previously charmed NPC

Let's say a PC casts charm person on the town's sheriff. One hour later, the spell ends and the sheriff realizes he has been charmed, and is now furious and out to arrest the PC. During the ...
10 votes
1 answer
652 views

Is a container full of objects a valid target for the Enlarge/Reduce spell?

In the last session, my party and I had to rob the major of a city. We needed to retrieve a particular object that proves his actual corruption by the local thieves' guild. We managed to get into the ...
8 votes
2 answers
314 views

How can an unwilling Elemental planar ruler be drawn into the Material Plane?

Gate would normally be the answer, but if the planar ruler is unwilling, they would prevent this spell from opening near them: You conjure a portal linking an unoccupied space you can see within ...
3 votes
3 answers
532 views

Is this Electrifying Body spell thematic and balanced? (V2)

Stark Rost, look away! Version 2 of this question. I've omitted most of the redundant discussion from this iteration of the question and instead focused on what changes I made and why. For the ...
0 votes
1 answer
235 views

Can a dispelled zombie's remains be reanimated? [closed]

How the animate dead spell works in the video game Baldur's Gate 3 has me wondering: Can I reanimate the remains of a dispelled zombie? Does it remain a zombie (undead creature) after dispelling, and ...
11 votes
2 answers
2k views

Can you do anything other than dashing while affected by Fear?

The spell fear forces those affected by it to take the dash action on their turn. Can they do anything else besides that? Could a rogue dash with cunning action and still attack for example? Are they ...
5 votes
1 answer
151 views

Does Shielded Arm require a free hand to raise/block?

The description of Shielded Arm reads (emphasis mine): Reinforcing veins of ore run through the target's arm, letting it ward off blows with its bare skin. It can use the Raise a Shield action to ...
11 votes
2 answers
2k views

If a druid uses Wild Shape to turn into a Cranium Rat, and has the Pass Without Trace spell active, do they become effectively untraceable?

The pass without trace spell description says: A veil of shadows and silence radiates from you, masking you and your companions from detection. For the duration, each creature you choose within 30 ...
15 votes
2 answers
69k views

Does the Hex spell give disadvantage to saving throws and attacks?

The Warlock Spell 'Hex' (PHB 251) gives Disadvantage on ability checks. Does this include saving throws and attacks? That is, in this context, are saving throws and attacks 'ability checks'?
9 votes
2 answers
1k views

What is the AoE of Acid Splash?

The description of Acid Splash says (emphasis mine): Range 30 feet; Targets 1 creature You splash a glob of acid that splatters your target and nearby creatures. Make a spell attack. If you hit, you ...
20 votes
4 answers
2k views

Can Wind Wall block a Cone of Cold?

Wind Wall says: "The strong wind keeps fog, smoke, and other gases at bay." Cone of Cold says: "A blast of cold air erupts from your hands." Given Cold of Cold is cold air, and air ...
10 votes
2 answers
2k views

Can a College of Swords bard use the Slashing Flourish option to apply a Smite spell to all creatures in range?

The description of the Wrathful Smite spell says (PHB, p. 289): The next time you hit with a melee weapon attack during this spell's duration, your attack deals an extra 1d6 psychic damage. ...
5 votes
1 answer
149 views

Ways to expand a Beguiler's spell list?

Which options exist for a Beguiler in an E6 campaign to expand their spell list? I'm aware of the Beguiler’s own class feature Advanced Learning the feat Arcane Disciple from Complete Divine and the ...
70 votes
6 answers
16k views

Does Burning Hands really require touching thumbs?

The D&D 5E spell Burning Hands has verbal and somatic components, and is described like this: As you hold your hands with thumbs touching and fingers spread, a thin sheet of flames shoots forth ...
17 votes
5 answers
4k views

In D&D 3.5, are there any spells that can do simple work?

As the title says... are there any spells that can do simple work, such as pulling on a rope or turning a capstan? The work would be simple and constant, and would require no decisions other than to ...
1 vote
0 answers
261 views

Is there a statement from Gygax on the origin of the Unseen Servant spell?

Poul Anderson's Three Hearts and Three Lions is is cited in Appendix N of the original Dungeon Master's Guide as one of the inspirations for D&D, and is an influential source that contributed to ...
11 votes
2 answers
2k views

What would happen if somebody raises someone whose soul has become a demon?

Assuming there's a party fighting that demon, they failed to kill it and let it escape several times. The spellcaster comes up with the idea that they can just resurrect that demon's original creature'...
31 votes
4 answers
6k views

Can a Necromancer reuse the corpses left behind from slain undead?

I’ve recently been doing some builds for Necromancers for a one-shot we’ll be doing. I have been struggling to find anything that mentions how to keep up with all of the corpses you will need for the ...
3 votes
1 answer
72 views

What class defaults for Improved Strength/Cat's Grace Spells for Psionicist?

In Spells & Magic, only four class categories – Priest, Warrior, Wizard, Rogue – are used for defaults for calculating how much Strength or Dexterity is gained when using these buffs. These class ...
4 votes
2 answers
215 views

Can the current HP of a damaged Construct/Simulacrum be increased by spells or class features that don't specify "Healing"?

As of the 2018 PHB errata, the creature generated by Simulacrum is a construct. Constructs cannot be healed by many spells or features, such as Cure Wounds or a Paladin's Lay on Hands (that ...
4 votes
1 answer
208 views

How many spell-bearing items can you activate in a turn?

In the Prometheum Exxet, there are two means of creating an item that can cast a spell: Items with the Automatic Spells power, which require no Zeon and have to recharge, and items with the ...
3 votes
1 answer
317 views

How does the Dream Spell manipulate the target?

One of my players uses the Dream spell regularly as pretty much a visual telephone. He casts it to contact people he wants/ needs to talk to, who are otherwise unavailable due to distance. This has ...
3 votes
1 answer
88 views

Is this Thaumatology: Ritual Path Magic casting cost calculation correct?

I'm looking at the example spells in Thaumatology: Ritual Path Magic and the very first example, Air Jet, seems to have an error in the calculation of casting cost. I'm aware that SJG sources often ...
4 votes
1 answer
221 views

Can a lvl 20 CoC Bard waive the spell cost to cast and sustain the spell, Imprisonment, for six hours?

The relevant quotes are as follows: Performance of Creation. Also at 3rd level, as an action, you can channel the magic of the Song of Creation to create one nonmagical item of your choice in an ...