D&D 5E How would you rule on this Dispell Magic?

[Maxperson]

If she said dispel the wand, there would be no effect since the wand is exhibited no magic of its own.
In first post, wizard said she wanted to cast dispel to "stop it." I wouldn't allow her to dispel invisibility because dispelling invisibility wouldn't stop it.

Whereas I would have asked for clarification, rather than just assumed that the dispel would be on the wand. There could be magic propelling it, as well as someone invisible. Let's just say she wanted to cast dispel on the effect propelling the wand in order to "stop it", well the only effect going on would be invisibility, so that would be targeted.

 

[plisnithus8]

If a PC wants to attack someone who doesn't expect it (either because the PC is hidden, or because they don't think the PC is hostile), then you roll initiative before the attack roll instead of giving the PC a free shot outside of the initiative order. Anyone who rolls higher than the PC, in that case, doesn't know what's going to happen and essentially loses their first turn (which is considered an acceptable loss in order to make the game playable, much like not being able to delay your initiative). At least nominally, the PC will get a free shot in essence, because the enemies will be surprised and just stand around on their first turns.

It sounds like you are describing Surprise, but from my reading (PHB p.189) initiative isn't rolled for Surprise (it's Stealth vs. Perception).
And I'm not sure why "Anyone who rolls higher than the PC, in that case, doesn't know what's going to happen and essentially loses their first turn" - wouldn't the lower roll be the loser of that?

 

[plisnithus8]

Whereas I would have asked for clarification, rather than just assumed that the dispel would be on the wand. There could be magic propelling it, as well as someone invisible. Let's just say she wanted to cast dispel on the effect propelling the wand in order to "stop it", well the only effect going on would be invisibility, so that would be targeted.

I would think the fly spell on the knight carrying the wand would be condidered as much of an effect as the invisibility from the armor.

If the DM allows her to clarify that she wants to dispel the magical effect instead of the magic of the wand, because she already specified "stop it" I would think that there is no reason to let her end the invisibility effect.
IMHO, in this case the only positive outcome from the wizard's perspective would be for the fly spell to end.

Dispel Magic says caster may choose 1 magical effect. This was clarified by Sage Advice on 8-2-17 by Jeremy Crawford to "Dispel Magic ends a spell" so technically the invisibility from the armor isn't a spell that could be dispelled.

 

[Maxperson]

It sounds like you are describing Surprise, but from my reading (PHB p.189) initiative isn't rolled for Surprise (it's Stealth vs. Perception).
And I'm not sure why "Anyone who rolls higher than the PC, in that case, doesn't know what's going to happen and essentially loses their first turn" - wouldn't the lower roll be the loser of that?

Initiative is rolled during a surprise round. That's why those rules talk about when creatures can react based on initiative.

 

[Maxperson]

I would think the fly spell on the knight carrying the wand would be condidered as much of an effect as the invisibility from the armor.

Then you can have it target one or the other, randomly since the exact effect wasn't called out.

If the DM allows her to clarify that she wants to dispel the magical effect instead of the magic of the wand, because she already specified "stop it" I would think that there is no reason to let her end the invisibility effect.

I've just stated the reason. There is at least an equal chance that the invisibility would be targeted in such a situation. Fly shouldn't just automatically be the one targeted.

Dispel Magic says caster may choose 1 magical effect. This was clarified by Sage Advice on 8-2-17 by Jeremy Crawford to "Dispel Magic ends a spell" so technically the invisibility from the armor isn't a spell that could be dispelled.

It is a magic effect, though. Not allowing it would contrary to what the spell has stood for since 1e.

 

[Elon Tusk]

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[plisnithus8]

There is at least an equal chance that the invisibility would be targeted in such a situation. Fly shouldn't just automatically be the one targeted.

The wizard sees a flying wand and casts dispel magic to stop it.
Ending invisibility isn't a possible way to stop the flying wand.

It is a magic effect, though. Not allowing it would contrary to what the spell has stood for since 1e.

I'm talking about 5th edition rules in a 5th edition forum quoting the 5th edition lead game designer.

BTW, 1st edition Dispel Magic (PHB p. 47) states: "A dispel magic will not affect a specially enchanted item such as a scroll, magic ring, wand, rod, staff, miscellaneous magic item, magic weapon, magic shield, or magic armor."

 

[Elon Tusk]

A note, since the flyer specified that they wanted to dash for the 120' movement, they obviously were not taking an action to stealth. The action had already been declared to be used for dash. So by their choice of actions it is already clear that they were not trying to be stealthy. A DM might still double-check if that is what they really want, but I think it tends more towards the assumption of no stealth.

I don't think Stealth is an action: Attack, Cast, Dash, Disengage, Dodge, Help, Hide, Ready, Search, or Use Object.
Of those Hide is the closest but doesn't seem quite right.
While there are Improvised Actions, Stealth is already described as a Wisdom ability check and seems to be covered in the Surprise section.
If the DM decides surprise is in effect, then it seems the flyer should get his movement and action to Dash.

 

[KahlessNestor]

Stealth is a Dex ability check. And there is no surprise round. Surprise is a condition imposed on the first round of combat. So that will require initiative to be rolled.

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[Elon Tusk]

Stealth is a Dex ability check. And there is no surprise round. Surprise is a condition imposed on the first round of combat. So that will require initiative to be rolled.

Aenorgreen said the Stealth action was not possible since Dashing would take that action.
If Stealth isn't an action, then by the flyer turning invisible could the DM decide he might get to surprise the others?