Oofta, I think the rules call out melee weapon attacks the way you're doing for melee spell attacks, which should mean melee attack includes longsword and shocking grasp. I think. I don't trust my rules knowledge anymore.
I hate to correct you but a melee spell attack is indeed a melee attack, and I'm unsure how you could possibly say otherwise. It's literally in the name. It'd be like saying a melee spell attack isn't a spell, or isn't an attack.
Nope. The rules specifically state melee attack. See my other response though to yunru
Sorry, you are incorrect. A melee attack is just that - any melee attack. It could be a melee weapon attack or a melee spell attack.
By your logic, you couldn't knock someone out with a melee weapon attack, since it is obviously different than a melee attack.
Which ... if you look at post #14 you will note that I agreed that I was incorrect.
Reading your words literally, if the hostage was "in tow" and thus slightly behind his/her/its captors, all that's needed is some very careful aiming by the fireball's caster, to hit the captors and miss the hostage...this would absolutely IMO require an aiming roll, with a poor roll possibly either hitting the hostage as well or missing some (or all?) of the captors.I had this scenario just happen to the group I run on Saturday nights. They encountered a group of baddies with a hostage (being mind controlled and attacking as well) in tow, and the wizard wanted to cast a fireball that deals non lethal damage to protect the controlled hostage.