D&D 5E Dispel Magic vs buffs - does the caster know what target has active?

[HawaiiSteveO]

First off, description says "any spell of 3rd level or lower ends. For each spell of 4th level or higher on the target . . ." etc.

Does spell end all active spells on target or just 1? It can be read both ways. Dispelling all seems pretty powerful IMO, although it is 3rd level spell.

That naturally begs the question of caster choice, and if they are aware of what target of dispel has active. Is it just fluff / flavor?

Rupert the Wizard is buffed with say dark vision, detect magic, mage armor, fly, etc. Evil Sorcerer Outlaw Pete casts dispel magic at Rupert - what happens? Random dispel, all? Can Outlaw Pete target the one obvious spell (fly) because he can see it?

This is a whole can of worms - protection from evil is great example. A (disadvantaged) intelligent undead creature is going to know their target is magically protected somehow. If possible creature would want to dispel that effect rather than something irrelevant like mage hand?

 

[MonkeyWrench]

For one, all the spells you listed are 3rd level or lower, so wouldn't they all be dispelled? If we're talking multiple 4th+ level spells, I'd say it's either random or the spells are dispelled in the order they were cast. This is assuming the dispeller does have detect magic active so they can see the spells.

 

[KahlessNestor]

First off, description says "any spell of 3rd level or lower ends. For each spell of 4th level or higher on the target . . ." etc.

Does spell end all active spells on target or just 1? It can be read both ways. Dispelling all seems pretty powerful IMO, although it is 3rd level spell.

That naturally begs the question of caster choice, and if they are aware of what target of dispel has active. Is it just fluff / flavor?

Rupert the Wizard is buffed with say dark vision, detect magic, mage armor, fly, etc. Evil Sorcerer Outlaw Pete casts dispel magic at Rupert - what happens? Random dispel, all? Can Outlaw Pete target the one obvious spell (fly) because he can see it?

This is a whole can of worms - protection from evil is great example. A (disadvantaged) intelligent undead creature is going to know their target is magically protected somehow. If possible creature would want to dispel that effect rather than something irrelevant like mage hand?

A lot of spells are concentration, so he isn't going to have so many up. Seems to me like it ends all spells lower than 3, but you need to roll off on each higher spell

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[Tormyr]

Dispel magic works on all the spells on a target. Any spell that used a 3rd-level slot or lower is instantly dispelled. Spellcasting ability checks are used for all effects that used a 4th-level slot or higher.

Identify​ tells you what spells are active on a creature.

 

[HawaiiSteveO]

Dispel magic works on all the spells on a target. Any spell that used a 3rd-level slot or lower is instantly dispelled. Spellcasting ability checks are used for all effects that used a 4th-level slot or higher.

Identify​ tells you what spells are active on a creature.

No sensible creature is going to stand there for a minute and let the caster use identify on them. No caster is going to use this in combat.

Let's look at protection from evil - great spell! What flavor (if any) would a DM use to illustrate it?

Strahd von Zarovich would not need identify to recognize this spell on a PC after attacking once? It doesn't make sense to me that people would be oblivious to buffs.

 

[MonkeyWrench]

Strahd von Zarovich would not need identify to recognize this spell on a PC after attacking once? It doesn't make sense to me that people would be oblivious to buffs.

Are characters (PCs/NPCs) aware of the dice rolls? How do the mechanics of the game translate into the in-game world? Are magical buffs in your game always visible to an observers?

I think once you've answered these questions for your game, you'll have a better idea of how NPCs will react to magical effects.

 

[Tormyr]

No sensible creature is going to stand there for a minute and let the caster use identify on them. No caster is going to use this in combat.

Let's look at protection from evil - great spell! What flavor (if any) would a DM use to illustrate it?

Strahd von Zarovich would not need identify to recognize this spell on a PC after attacking once? It doesn't make sense to me that people would be oblivious to buffs.

Sure, the creature is not going to sit still while identify is cast. My point was more that there is a spelled out way for determining magical effects through identify that is not spelled out elsewhere. Which leaves a DM with describing the interaction between things or by what is detectable through the senses:

* A creature realizing that something is holding them back from attacking efficiently
* Thin, wispy flames surrounding a creature's body
* A creature always is one step ahead of everyone else in everything it does
* A creature has a wasting disease
* A creature is doing a little bit better than usual at attacking and avoiding magical effects.
* A storm cloud appears above a creature and obeys the creature's commands
* A wall of water appears out of nowhere and advances before crashing down in a wave
* A floating, glowing weapon appears near a creature and does its bidding
* A group of creatures work together as a cohesive team without needing to speak with one another.

So each spell is different. Whether a spell is discernible to a creature depends on whether it figures out that something is afoot (obviously easier with the visible effects) and what experience it might have previously with the specific spell. The creature also would not necessarily know if the effect was coming from an active spell or a magic item.

EDIT: But going back to your final question in your original post, Strahd's dispel magic would wipe out the target's protection from evil and good as well as its mage hand​.

 

[HawaiiSteveO]

Are characters (PCs/NPCs) aware of the dice rolls? How do the mechanics of the game translate into the in-game world? Are magical buffs in your game always visible to an observers?

I think once you've answered these questions for your game, you'll have a better idea of how NPCs will react to magical effects.

That's the reason I'm posting - to get some ideas!

 

[jaelis]

I would say that if a spell has visible or perceptible effects, then an observer can know about it. I'd think that a caster should be able to automatically identify a spell on his list of a level he can cast, and maybe use Int (arcana) checks to identify other spells based on what is observed.

Protection from Evil and Good doesn't suggest any visible effect, but I'd say that if you observe an attacker take disadvantage due to the spell, then you could try to identify what spell is responsible.

 

[thalmin]

Protection from Evil and Good doesn't suggest any visible effect, but I'd say that if you observe an attacker take disadvantage due to the spell, then you could try to identify what spell is responsible.

How do you observe an attacker take disadvantage? The character does not roll 2 dice, the player does. All the observer would see is the the attacker hitting or missing, or the defender getting out of the way or not.