Frequent Questions
13,986 questions
176
votes
7
answers
29k
views
What is the source of the "spells do only what they say they do" rules interpretation principle?
Every time somebody asks a question like "can I use X spell for doing Y" the answer is usually "no" because spell descriptions are very short in 5e, and usually they don't ...
- 71.5k
450
votes
6
answers
189k
views
What is "my guy syndrome" and how do I handle it?
I've been reading forum posts and blogs who mention "my guy" syndrome as a specific type of difficult player, but I can't seem to find a solid definition for the term. Can someone explain this ...
- 7,049
58
votes
2
answers
26k
views
With the 2019 Sage Advice Compendium release, are Jeremy Crawford's tweets considered to be "official rulings"?
The 2019 Sage Advice Compendium has been released. Previously, the SAC has indicated that Jeremy Crawford's tweets were considered to be official rulings. Is this still true?
- 96.3k
128
votes
6
answers
75k
views
What is a session 0?
What is a "Session 0"?
When is it done?
What does it contain?
Is it recommended, if not mandatory?
What is each person's role (DM/GM, players, etc.)?
What topics are best discussed there?
Usually with ...
- 7,159
79
votes
5
answers
12k
views
What is wrong with the D&D 3.5 FAQ?
I've heard from several places that the D&D 3.5 FAQ is generally a bad place to find information about the rules of the game. I don't really understand this distrust, since it's an official ...
- 49.2k
554
votes
30
answers
73k
views
How do I get my PCs to not be a bunch of murderous cretins?
Most RPGs teach you that casual violence is the best solution to all your in-game problems. This is so well established a part of the vast majority of RPGs that there are entire satire RPGs like Greg ...
- 177k
63
votes
2
answers
18k
views
How do I know if an ability is magical?
Often confusion arises when the Antimagic Field spell is used, an Armor of Invulnerability is worn, or the Beholder's anti-magic ray is employed, whether a given character's ability will still ...
- 32.4k
73
votes
5
answers
13k
views
Is there “flavor text” in D&D 5e spells?
Is there any evidence, in the rules or from developer comments, that parts of the description of a D&D 5e spell is “only flavor text” and should be ignored for determining what happens in-game?
...
- 17.1k
151
votes
19
answers
39k
views
How can I find other RPG players?
I'd really like to learn how to play pen-and-paper RPGs. I know that it takes a few players to actually sit down and play, but I'm not at all sure where to find more gamers.
How do I find existing ...
- 1,619
93
votes
3
answers
15k
views
What does upper-case-A-Attack action vs. lower-case-a-attack mean?
What exactly is the difference between Attack action and attack?
It seems each time a question regarding this pops up, there's always somebody arguing they are not different. I feel there should be a ...
- 78.2k
37
votes
7
answers
22k
views
What is considered an object?
In the PHB, on page 193, the Use an Object action is described:
Use an Object
You normally interact with an object while doing something else, such as when you draw a sword as part of an attack....
- 619
25
votes
1
answer
33k
views
What counts as an attack?
I was looking over the class feature of the 'fiend' patron warlock in 5e. I'm a bit confused on what actions the player needs to take before they can use the 'Hurl Through Hell' ability on an enemy. ...
- 695
213
votes
10
answers
104k
views
How does rolling two d20 and taking the higher affect the average outcome?
D&D 5E has an "advantage" concept where instead of rolling 1d20, you roll 2d20 and take the higher. Likewise, disadvantage means rolling 2d20 and taking the lower.
How does this affect ...
- 3,144
28
votes
1
answer
35k
views
If I multiclass into 2 or more spellcasting classes, how do I determine my known/prepared spells?
If I multiclass into 2 or more classes/subclasses that can cast spells, how do I determine what spells I know or can prepare?
For instance, if I am playing a multiclassed character with 1 level in ...
- 50.9k
27
votes
3
answers
10k
views
What all is included in a creature's game statistics?
Many features and rules refer to a creature's "game statistics".
For example, True Polymorph says:
The target's game statistics, including mental ability scores, are replaced by the statistics of ...
- 96.3k
197
votes
10
answers
86k
views
I'm at a loss with “Dungeons and Dragons.” How does one play it, anyway?
I'm no gamer at all, so this could be like a very silly, basic question for you guys. The thing is that I always read about "Dungeons and Dragons" game (not the video game, but the normal game to play ...
- 2,121
81
votes
2
answers
83k
views
What are "tiers", and what tier is each class?
I tend to play Wizards, almost exclusively, though I have branched out and played Clerics, Druids, Sorcerers, and, at some point each other core class. I would like to play something different for my ...
- 1,149
47
votes
6
answers
37k
views
Is a dead creature's body considered an "object"?
I never really gave this much thought until this question brought it up: Is a dead creature's body considered to be an object? And is it still a creature?
My initial reaction was that it would not ...
- 57.5k
61
votes
7
answers
27k
views
How do you tell if a D&D book is 3.0 or 3.5?
I'm new to d20. I recently acquired a bunch of D&D books and I'm sure they are all either 3.0 or 3.5, but it doesn't say in the book which version it is. How can I tell which version the book is?
...
- 2,383
49
votes
2
answers
104k
views
What is the definition of "creature" and is it used consistently?
In the Starter set and Basic Rules, it mentions "character", "non-player character", "player character", "monster", "creature", and maybe other terms I've missed. Which of these terms are ...
- 601
35
votes
7
answers
14k
views
What counts as a target for a spell?
There have already been several questions regarding what counts as a target for a spell; some, such as this Q/A, are regarding glyph of warding as it states:
The spell must target a single creature ...
- 78.2k
95
votes
7
answers
61k
views
Can you choose to fail a saving throw?
(Yet another) follow-up from this question:
As someone mentioned in the question above, some 'friendly' spells (Calm Emotion, IIRC) specify that one can choose to fail the saving throw. In this case,...
- 13.5k
51
votes
3
answers
6k
views
Does the Rules Compendium overrule the core books?
The comment below was originally posted on another answer:
Furthermore, from a super-strict RAW perspective, it has been argued (not by me!) that the Errata rules don’t actually let a book claim ...
- 605
46
votes
2
answers
5k
views
What is the source for defaulting to plain English readings of non-game terms?
In many discussions involving rules interpretations the meaning of words is often called into question. Often, people will claim that if the game doesn't define the term that it defaults to the plain ...
- 96.3k
123
votes
2
answers
380k
views
What are the most and least-resisted damage types?
Inspired by these related questions, as well as my previous question on the matter, I'm curious what the most and least resisted damage types are in DnD 5e? Ideally I am looking for a list similar to ...
- 9,094
65
votes
3
answers
413k
views
How does extra damage work for critical hits?
I'm a bit confused on how extra damage works for critical hits. Let's take the following example:
A thief with sneak attack rolls a crit. I'm under the impression he rolls double his normal attack ...
- 1,401
82
votes
1
answer
12k
views
Where do I find the "official" rules for D&D 5e?
I play D&D 5e and sometimes come here with questions. But sometimes I see things referenced here as sources that I don't have or am not aware of....
Which are the "official rules" for D&...
- 104k
12
votes
2
answers
4k
views
Where are the rules about what sources are primary?
Maybe it's just too early in the morning and my brain does not properly connect with the rest of the body, but...
...yes, this is a question about primary sources.
What happened is I was talking with ...
- 36.2k
119
votes
2
answers
94k
views
What do the terms "lines" and "veils" mean?
I have seen the terms "lines" and "veils" used on this SE (including on the chat) a number of times, especially in terms of social contracts between players.
What do these terms mean?
What is ...
- 5,476
96
votes
4
answers
21k
views
Why does dandwiki have a poor reputation?
Dandwiki has a markedly poor reputation in the online RPG community; material from it is often dismissed out of hand, and users are encouraged to avoid it and to not incorporate work posted there into ...
- 28.2k
79
votes
3
answers
51k
views
What is Player Agency and what is it good for?
Agency, specifically player agency, is a term that frequently comes up as a reason for why a particular rule or GM decision is better than another. How is agency defined in this context and why is it ...
- 9,850
44
votes
7
answers
137k
views
Can you cast spells with a Somatic component if you're holding a two-handed weapon?
I have a halfling cleric of Bahamut who wears his holy symbol as an amulet around his neck as a spellcasting focus (so material components are not an issue).
However, as per this question, this does ...
- 11.2k
34
votes
4
answers
10k
views
Is there a citation for "D&D is not a physics simulation"?
In multiple questions that deal with how the rules lead to outcomes that differ from what one would expect from real-world physics, answers make the point that "D&D is not a physics ...
- 167k
77
votes
6
answers
9k
views
What is role-playing, and where do I start?
I have been told that roleplaying is great fun. I've looked and looked and it all seems so complicated. Could anyone tell me a good place to start, and what sort of things you end up doing in ...
- 879
63
votes
5
answers
52k
views
Does casting a spell from an item allow you to apply class abilities that are used when casting a spell?
This question is updated to request additional answers and details in light of information now available in the Dungeon Master's Guide.
In the released DM basic rules, Lost Mine of Phandelver, Hoard ...
- 6,058
61
votes
5
answers
64k
views
Can a multiclass character with 1 level of wizard copy any wizard spell they find into their spellbook?
The "Your Spellbook" sidebar for the wizard includes the following line:
Copying a Spell into the Book. When you find a wizard spell of 1st level or higher, you can add it to your spellbook ...
- 146k
166
votes
13
answers
22k
views
How can DMs effectively telegraph specific dangers in D&D?
There are some play-styles of D&D in which the spectre of player-character death is considered a feature of the game rather than a bug. For my own reasons (which aren't the point of the question), ...
- 246k
61
votes
9
answers
133k
views
Can spells be cast through a Wall of Force?
The spell description of wall of force is silent on the question of whether spell effects can pass through the wall. The semi-relevant part of the description states:
Nothing can physically pass ...
- 24.2k
53
votes
5
answers
149k
views
Is an Unarmed Strike considered a Weapon attack?
For the purposes of the fighter Battle Master archetype, whenever a maneuver calls for a "weapon attack" does that include an unarmed strike?
- 2,188
52
votes
1
answer
91k
views
Can I trigger an Opportunity Attack by forcing an opponent to move out of my reach?
If I cause an opponent to leave my reach with an ability, spell, or effect can I use my reaction to take an Opportunity Attack against them?
- 96.3k
48
votes
4
answers
38k
views
How loud/obvious is a wizard casting a spell?
Some spells have somatic and vocal components, that's well known.
How loud must a wizard talk? How obvious/wide should his gestures be?
Some spells that would be awesome would be fairly limited if ...
- 3,385
36
votes
3
answers
31k
views
Are Improvised Weapons used in melee actually melee weapons?
There are a lot of questions on this site that rely on whether Improvised Weapons are actually melee Weapons or not. This affects many things such as dual wielding, weapon bonding, magic spells, monk ...
- 8,302
30
votes
3
answers
7k
views
Do you lose your prestige class features when you no longer meet its requirements?
Certain prestige classes detail a list of requirements that are possible for the player to lose (alignment, casting at a certain level), but not what happens if you no longer meet those requirements (...
- 15.8k
247
votes
16
answers
131k
views
Without a magic item economy, what is gold for?
PHB page 144, Equipment, Wealth, Selling Treasure
Magic Items. Selling magic items is problematic. Finding someone to buy a potion or a scroll isn’t too hard, but other items are out of the realm of ...
- 3,201
102
votes
5
answers
209k
views
Do Cantrips use your character level or class level?
Cantrips seem to be the only type of spell that cares only about your class level.
However, in the multiclassing section they are not mentioned, does this mean that cantrips use your character level, ...
- 66.8k
24
votes
7
answers
6k
views
What makes a spell being cast considered to be a {class} spell?
My understanding is that when a spell is known or prepared via one of your class features, or if you cast it via a class feature, it's considered a "class spell" (sorcerer spell, cleric spell, etc.) ...
- 19.7k
11
votes
3
answers
16k
views
How many rounds does the average combat encounter last?
I am trying to create a simple way to track ammunition for my upcoming sandbox game. In this system, players will buy ammunition in (for lack of a better word) "packets". One packet of ammunition ...
- 9,019
44
votes
3
answers
11k
views
What happens when a caster targets an object that looks like a creature with a spell that targets only creatures?
There are many spells which explicitly target creatures:
Choose one creature within range
The target creature is normally supposed to make a saving throw in this case.
What happens when the caster ...
- 71.5k
115
votes
2
answers
36k
views
What is E6? Why would I use it?
I've heard a number of people reference an apparently common set of houserules for D&D 3.5e and Pathfinder called E6.
What do these variant rules entail? What problems are they intended to solve?
...
- 56.3k
40
votes
6
answers
124k
views
What advantages does hiding have?
It is possible to use the stealth skill to "hide" in D&D 5e. But are there any mechanical benefits to doing so?
In combat, you gain advantage on an attack if your target can't see you, and confer ...
- 3,227