D&D 5E Please Put Spell Blocks in all Modules

[ren1999]

Given that logic, why are weapon stat blocks listed at all? Shouldn't people remember that "simple weapons" are dex or strength based? They should memorize the damage of each weapon and just look it up on the weapons table every time. Right? Don't waste valuable storytelling space listing weapons you should easily be able to look up. Just list Longsword and Dagger for a particular monster and let the DM do the research and figure it out. This seems silly when I apply your logic to weapons. Not all weapons do the same damage. Not all spells do the same damage when they are used in higher spell slots. As said, I have to choose the spell and the spell slot of the monster spell caster during combat and it feels like a competition. I should be neutral. If the guy or gal designing the module would just pre-select what spells and spell slots and list the spell stat blocks, it would make my job of preparing the module much easier.

 

[Charles Wright]

Since listing a weapon's damage more often than not fits on the same line as the weapon, then no. It has minimal effect.

Thanks for your attempt at absurdity through hyperbole, though.

 

[ren1999]

Since listing a weapon's damage more often than not fits on the same line as the weapon, then no. It has minimal effect.

Thanks for your attempt at absurdity through hyperbole, though.

No thanks for your verbal attack. Asking for spell blocks is not absurd.

 

[Charles Wright]

Also, comparing weapons and spells is a complete non-starter. They aren't anywhere near the same thing.

If you want a fair comparison then use complex magical weapons. They aren't fully detailed in a stat blcok for the very same reason that spells aren't fully detailed.

I'm also having problems equating "look at a page in a book I should have handy" and the term "research"..

 

[Charles Wright]

No thanks for your verbal attack. Asking for spell blocks is not absurd.

Absolutely not a verbal attack. It's a simple description of your method of argument. You drew absurd conclusions through use of hyperbole.

 

[Charles Wright]

And for those who think it's minimal, I would like a one-sentence description of the following spells -

Symbol
Teleport
Thaumaturgy
True Polymorph


I didn't cherry pick, I went to the spell section and picked four non-evocation spells that you want fully described in stat blocks so as to be usable without looking them up in the PHB.

If you can completely and totally describe each of these spells in 1 or 2 lines that answers any and all questions about them that will arise in combat, I will concede.

 

[Dalamar]

Symbol

1 minute casting time.

And if the creature in question has inscribed the symbol somewhere, I do expect to find details of that in the adventure.

Teleport

The creature teleports to the teleportation circle in area X/ to place Y where it has object Z from.

Even teleporting to somewhere you can see has a 25% chance to not be on target. So it is not likely to see use other than for escape.

Thaumaturgy

The creature causes a minor, harmless wonder, such as rumbling earth or booming voice.

True Polymorph

I'm not sure if this can be summarised, mostly because it has three distinct uses. It is possible to summarise any one of those and hopefully the adventure writer had an idea for giving this creature one of the spells from the highest level in existence.

I didn't cherry pick, I went to the spell section and picked four non-evocation spells that you want fully described in stat blocks so as to be usable without looking them up in the PHB.

If you can completely and totally describe each of these spells in 1 or 2 lines that answers any and all questions about them that will arise in combat, I will concede.

Are you also of the opinion that an adventure should not reprint the stats of monsters found in the Monster Manual? Since it's equally easy to look those up as it is to look up spells. I'm honestly interested, because to me they are equal.

Though, instead of spell descriptions, I could also use a good overview of tactics the spellcaster is likely to use. That tells me that I only need to familiarise myself with the spells there.

 

[pming]

Hiya.

*shrug* I'm still of the opinion that it's not needed. I'd be quite happy just to see a page number...

"Produce Flame (p269)"

Even if/when they do reprinting of the PHB, the chances are the pages will be close at any rate (plus or minus a page, I'd wager)...it would still save time if/when you had to look up a spell.

Seeing as WotC is on a "lets encompass everything" kick for 5e, maybe they could come up with an online data base of their adventures where you could log on, go to the adventure you have, and then pick and choose what you need/want. They could have spells for creatures/NPC's in the book done as "simple" (a simple spell description for each spell the creature has), or "detailed" where it gives all the other info as well. Then you could just print it or save it as a PDF or something. That way they still save space in the printed product, engage customers online (where they may be tempted to spend money on something else, like a "recommended book for this adventure...", etc.), and make everyone happy.

^_^

Paul L. Ming

 

[aramis erak]

Since listing a weapon's damage more often than not fits on the same line as the weapon, then no. It has minimal effect.

Thanks for your attempt at absurdity through hyperbole, though.

Your hyperbole isn't appreciated...

Most combat spells can fit on a single line.

For example:

Fire bolt: +6 to hit, 120' range, 1d10 Fire.
Magic Missile: (2+SL)x 1d4+1 Force bolts

 

[Tormyr]

While these are 1 sentence, they certainly would not fit on one line in the book.
Symbol

1 minute casting time.

And if the creature in question has inscribed the symbol somewhere, I do expect to find details of that in the adventure.

While I agree that any uses of Symbol set up in an adventure ahead of time would be described, just stating "1 minute casting time" does not help a DM who wants to use it to set another trap.

Teleport

The creature teleports to the teleportation circle in area X/ to place Y where it has object Z from.

Even teleporting to somewhere you can see has a 25% chance to not be on target. So it is not likely to see use other than for escape.

While uses of teleport in combat are probably limited to escape, the description seems to require a teleportation circle or object, when the spell does not.

Thaumaturgy

The creature causes a minor, harmless wonder, such as rumbling earth or booming voice.

The list of effects possible is limited to 1 of 6 specific effects. It does not let the caster do any minor, harmless wonder. It also allows up to 3 to be running at a time, each for up to a minute.

True Polymorph

I'm not sure if this can be summarised, mostly because it has three distinct uses. It is possible to summarise any one of those and hopefully the adventure writer had an idea for giving this creature one of the spells from the highest level in existence.

Yeah, I don't think it really can be effectively summarized in one sentence either.

I really don't think many of the spells could accurately be summarized in such a way that a DM could look at it and use the spell with the fluency that the caster who actually knew the spell would be able. After going through several pages of the PHB, my best guess is that less than 40% of the spells could be effectively communicated in two lines. It just seems like something gets left out or misconstrued in short descriptions of spells so that the result can be quite different from the actual spell.

Are you also of the opinion that an adventure should not reprint the stats of monsters found in the Monster Manual? Since it's equally easy to look those up as it is to look up spells. I'm honestly interested, because to me they are equal.

Absolutely the are equal, and if you look at HotDQ, the MM creatures are not in the book. The only things in the appendices are the backgrounds, NPCs, creatures and magic items that are unique to the story.

Though, instead of spell descriptions, I could also use a good overview of tactics the spellcaster is likely to use. That tells me that I only need to familiarise myself with the spells there.

That would be really useful. I imagine those would be in the description of the encounter. Tactics would change somewhat from encounter to encounter.

It kind of fell off the previous page of this thread, but I made a spell card generator. You have to type in the spells you need once, but after that you can print them out and place them on a page behind the page that holds the stat block for the creature. It's not the same as being inline, but for people like me, it helps.
http://www.enworld.org/forum/showthread.php?361942-Make-your-own-spell-cards