D&D General "Effect as per the spell"

[MarkB]

In Icewind Dale: Rime of the Frostmaiden, there's a Mirror of the Full Moon in a tomb, the description of which is that it functions like an ordinary crystal ball. So then you go to the DMG and look up Crystal Ball, which states that it allows you to cast the scrying spell with a save DC of 17. So finally you go and find scrying in the PHB to see what the mirror lets you do.

Now, I don't expect an adventure to reprint an entire spell description, but was there any point in referring to the crystal ball? It could've just said "While touching this mirror you can cast the scrying spell with a save DC of 17" and have had basically the same word count.

 

[aco175]

I do not mind. Saves having arguments about something that is the same as a fireball, but not listed as the spell fireball. There is no need to explain the range, duration, casting time, effect, damage, etc...

 

[Reynard]

Or they want to keep the word count low.

So "as spell X" is very short.

Overly long spell descriptions are also a problem. I still have nightmares about the 3.5 polymorph revision.

 

[Reynard]

I do not mind. Saves having arguments about something that is the same as a fireball, but not listed as the spell fireball. There is no need to explain the range, duration, casting time, effect, damage, etc...

Activation: Action. Effect: 8d6 fire damage. Range 120 feet. Area: 20 ft radius. Save: Dex 15 (half).

Versus

This item allows the user to cast fireball as an action. The save DC is 15.

I'll take the not having to flip pages.

 

[FitzTheRuke]

I do not mind. Saves having arguments about something that is the same as a fireball, but not listed as the spell fireball. There is no need to explain the range, duration, casting time, effect, damage, etc...

There IS need. I don't know off the top of my head what any of those things are for Fireball. Even a spell as common and easy to remember as Fireball. I'd rather it was just on the page. It's not like you can't come up with a shorthand for it to save space. Space is wasted for all sorts of unnecessary things as it is.

EDIT: As the above post shows, beautifully.

 

[GMMichael]

One of the (many) things I really like about Shadowdark is that feature of the monsters section: everything is right there, even for the casters.

Looks like you solved your own problem, here: use a better product.

Alternatively, what I do is run games that are simple enough to not need complex references.

 

[Lanefan]

Activation: Action. Effect: 8d6 fire damage. Range 120 feet. Area: 20 ft radius. Save: Dex 15 (half).

Versus

This item allows the user to cast fireball as an action. The save DC is 15.

I'll take the not having to flip pages.

Fair point, but the first write-up needs more words to indicate that it's a direct replication of the spell (thus triggering whatever interactions the spell itself triggers) as opposed to something different that's not a spell that just happens to do the same thing.

Relevant if you're dealing with things like spell immunity.

 

[Reynard]

Fair point, but the first write-up needs more words to indicate that it's a direct replication of the spell (thus triggering whatever interactions the spell itself triggers) as opposed to something different that's not a spell that just happens to do the same thing.

Relevant if you're dealing with things like spell immunity.

I think we can presume ground rules in the system. And maybe it isn't a spell. Is a necklace of fireballs a "spell"?

 

[Joshua Randall]

Believe me, I miss the days of actually including all of the information you need to run a monster in the monster's statblock.

You're not alone.

4e stat blocks wonder why no one will return their calls.

 

[Umbran]

It is lazy and it makes my life harder to use the thing...

It also typically saves column inches, and allows for more content in the product overall.