D&D (2024) Magic Missile is saved! Hooray!

[payn]

Magic Missile was good for guaranteed damage in earlier editions and then if you really wanted to accentuate its use, you counted each missile as a separate attack or missile, so in 2e, if someone was using Stoneskin, you could rule that each missile whittled away at then Stoneskin spell, just as in 5e, you could rule that each one means a Concentration check. But that’s dependent on your read of the spell’s effects and not every table can be counted to treat it the same (which to me is fine.)

MM always been more of a utility spell then a sure fire damage bet. Turning it into a low level blast misses the point.

 

[TiQuinn]

MM always been more of a utility spell then a sure fire damage bet. Turning it into a low level blast misses the point.

It’s both imo. It hits and it can have greater utility against certain defenses, again if you choose to treat them as separate strikes. Also its usefulness decreased as HP grows. If a target has 60 to 80 HP as opposed to say, 20 to 30 HP, it’s less useful as a spell.

 

[Sword of Spirit]

I don't think I would let any single casting of a spell force a creature to make more than one concentration save per turn. That seems to not be intended in the overall way the rules all fit together, even if the strongest interpretation of the rules would make it work that way with eldritch blast and scorching ray.

 

[TiQuinn]

I don't think I would let any single casting of a spell force a creature to make more than one concentration save per turn. That seems to not be intended in the overall way the rules all fit together, even if the strongest interpretation of the rules would make it work that way with eldritch blast and scorching ray.

I think that's fair - I think it's an interesting dial to potentially turn on or off in say, a pair of one shots, to see how that impacts play overall.

 

[cbwjm]

I actually quite like the idea of magic missile being a concentration breaker forcing multiple rolls (I've never actually run it that way but would be willing to give it a go if I ever run a 5e game again). It also gives another good reason for the development of the shield spell as a preventative measure.

 

[Voadam]

I think of eldritch blast and magic missile like shooting off multiple arrows (perhaps because I started with Moldvay Basic where magic missiles were called out as such). Each one that hits is a separate hit and the damage is separate which means extra concentration checks on separate hits but also lower concentration DCs than if you summed up all the damage in the round into one blast.

 

[Parmandur]

When your homebrew rule, that you didn't realize was a homebrew rule, is no longer a homebrew rule.

To be honest, a lot of the rule changes in 2024 fit in that bucket.

 

[Reynard]

I actually quite like the idea of magic missile being a concentration breaker forcing multiple rolls (I've never actually run it that way but would be willing to give it a go if I ever run a 5e game again). It also gives another good reason for the development of the shield spell as a preventative measure.

Having a concentration breaker is an important tool in the kit.

 

[Chaltab]

I think of eldritch blast and magic missile like shooting off multiple arrows (perhaps because I started with Moldvay Basic where magic missiles were called out as such). Each one that hits is a separate hit and the damage is separate which means extra concentration checks on separate hits but also lower concentration DCs than if you summed up all the damage in the round into one blast.

Thing about that is probability indicates that any monster with less than a +9 save is is more likely to fail if they role 5 or 6 DC 10 Con saves than a single con save with a maximum possible DC of 15.

 

[TiQuinn]

Thing about that is probability indicates that any monster with less than a +9 save is is more likely to fail if they role 5 or 6 DC 10 Con saves than a single con save with a maximum possible DC of 15.

In the case of Magic Missile though, you have the Shield spell and the Brooch of Shielding as defenses too.