D&D 5E Dispute about Rings of Elemental Command

[jasper]

It says

It says you can use this on fire elementals, not on any elemental creature native to the plane of fire.

But this part

works against any elemental type from the right plane, IMO.

I will disagree since it is a legendary. So you have a legendary ring which only helps against 1 CR 5 creature. So let the rule mud wrestling been. I choose you "Mud Mephit" (small elemental cr 1/4.

 

[Satyrn]

I will disagree since it is a legendary. So you have a legendary ring which only helps against 1 CR 5 creature. So let the rule mud wrestling been. I choose you "Mud Mephit" (small elemental cr 1/4.

Well, it does more a lttle more than that (and quite a bit more once you slay an elemental, anyway), And I figure it's those features that make it legendary.


But if it makes sense to you to run it that way, go for it.

Same for the OP, use whichever interpretation you prefer (if you're the DM! )

 

[ccs]

Btw, who are we disputing here?
Just quibbling about the printed word because the day ends in a Y & we're on-line? Or is this trying to prove something to someone?

Easy solution:
Ask your DM, follow thier interpretation.
If YOU are the DM, just decide how it'll be.

 

[Satyrn]

But this part

While wearing this ring, you have advantage on attack rolls against elementals from the linked plane, and they have disadvantage on attack rolls against you.

works against any elemental type from the right plane, IMO.

Hey, I've found a spot where D&D Beyond deviates from the DMG! I've been going off of this page, which says

While wearing this ring, you have advantage on attack rolls against air elementals, and they have disadvantage on attack rolls against you.

 

[jaelis]

Ooh, stealth errata? But I got the text from the SRD, that should be up to date.

 

[Satyrn]

Ooh, stealth errata? But I got the text from the SRD, that should be up to date.

Well, the DMG and SRD describes that part of all 4 rings at once, which is why they say "elementals from the linked plane."

D&D Beyond, in describing that part separately for each ring rewords it as "air elemental."

I'd call it an interpretation rather than errata. But it looks to me like the way it ought to be interpreted, mostly because creatures of the elemental type don't specify an elemental plane they're linked to in their statblock.

 

[CapnZapp]

Related question:

Once you have "helped slay an Elemental", how long do you enjoy the benefits?

Until you de-attune the Ring? (That is, practically forever?)

 

[TaranTheWanderer]

I don't know if this is helpful but, in previous editions, it differentiated

"Elementals of the plane to which the ring is attuned can't attack or even approach within 5 feet of the wearer. If the wearer desires, he may forego this protection and instead attempt to charm the elemental (saving throw applicable with a -2 penalty to the die). If the charm fails, however, total protection is lost and no further attempt at charming can be made, but the secondary properties given below will then function with respect to the elemental."

and

"Creatures, other than normal elementals, from the plane to which the ring is attuned attack with -1 penalties to their attack rolls"

(emphasis mine)

Which leaves me to believe that, if they are trying to make it similar to how it's been traditionally, [MENTION=60210]jaelis[/MENTION] has the correct interpretation.

 

[lkj]

The SRD is not up to date with errata. See here:

https://twitter.com/JeremyECrawford/status/1075888185714962432

In response to a question about whether the SRD would incorporate errata, Jeremy replied:

"I'll check with the SRD keepers to see if they'd like it updated. The last time I checked, they wanted to wait.

Updated or not, the SRD is not an official rules source for D&D. It's a tool for individuals and other companies who are doing D&D-derived work."


AD