D&D 5E RAW Shield activation

[WilliamCQ]

My question is for RAW (rule as written). How is the spell Shield, 1st-level abjuration, activated? Do you need to let know of your intention of it to be used beforehand, not knowing if the attack would hit or not? Can you wait for the attack to be done so the Shield caster can know that it would hit, that is let know the GM know you're going to shield after the attack is made? If you can wait to know that the attack would hit, can you also wait to know if using the shield would make no difference (ie: 16 AC regular, attack of 16 is worth using shield, attack of 21 isn't) ? Thank you kindly

 

[Prakriti]

What cbwjm said. Some abilities activate before an attack is resolved, but shield activates on a hit, i.e. after the attack has been resolved and the player knows they've been hit.

 

[WilliamCQ]

Would you address this part of the OP?

[...] can you also wait to know if using the shield would make no difference (ie: 16 AC regular, attack of 16 is worth using shield, attack of 21 isn't) ?

 

[Horwath]

Would you address this part of the OP?

I would not tell if extra AC would work, but I would tell is the attack is critical hit, because it is obvious so the players don't waste 100% the shield.

All else is gamble.

 

[Sorcerers Apprentice]

If you can wait to know that the attack would hit, can you also wait to know if using the shield would make no difference (ie: 16 AC regular, attack of 16 is worth using shield, attack of 21 isn't) ? Thank you kindly

The rule for Shield doesn't explicitly allow you to know the actual result of the attack roll, so it depends on how the DM handles it.

Personally I always tell my players the attack roll totals. As DM I know if an NPC mage will benefit from casting shield or not, so it's only fair that the players get the same opportunity.

 

[Lucas Blackstone]

To my knowledge unknown attack roll results is a total houserule, held over from previous editions I guess. There is nothing in the Combat section of the rules that suggests that attack roll results be hidden from player or DM.

Most Bardic Inspiration revolves around adding and subtracting values from attack rolls ( amongst other things ) and become random crap shoots if you just have to blindly guess if a roll hits or misses. Shield falls into this same category. You shouldn't have to hope you aren't throwing a spell away.

Combat Inspiration ( College of Valor, Level 3 ability ) even says you get to see the roll. It doesn't say see if the roll hits or misses, but actually see the roll. The way the ability is phrased, it does not seem to make reference to seeing the roll as a special ability. That ability along with the total absence of a rule saying that attack roll results are to be hidden is why I believe there is no reason to do so.

 

[Iry]

I always tell my players if Shield would make a difference. It makes for happier players.

And it is only fair, because I always know if NPC Shields would make a difference when the PC's attack them.

 

[CapnZapp]

To my knowledge unknown attack roll results is a total houserule, held over from previous editions I guess. There is nothing in the Combat section of the rules that suggests that attack roll results be hidden from player or DM.

Most Bardic Inspiration revolves around adding and subtracting values from attack rolls ( amongst other things ) and become random crap shoots if you just have to blindly guess if a roll hits or misses. Shield falls into this same category. You shouldn't have to hope you aren't throwing a spell away.

Combat Inspiration ( College of Valor, Level 3 ability ) even says you get to see the roll. It doesn't say see if the roll hits or misses, but actually see the roll. The way the ability is phrased, it does not seem to make reference to seeing the roll as a special ability. That ability along with the total absence of a rule saying that attack roll results are to be hidden is why I believe there is no reason to do so.

Sure, but you are probably aware scores of gamers feel revealing numbers is abhorrent meta and that any game that relies on it is anathema.

That is, please consider that this can be a very sensitive subject. The way you turn things around when you claim the ones keeping rolls unknown are the houserulers risks pissing off a lot of gamers.

You really could qualify a statement such as "I believe there is no reason" with "...in the rules", because there certainly is a lot of emotional reason not to do it.

Cheers!

 

[marcelvdpol]

Some abilities that allow rerolls or addition of dixe specifically mention you should decide to use that ability BEFORE knowing if the result is a success or not. Shield doesn't mention this, thus i would rule that the Shield spell allows knowing the exact result of its use ie you know the attack roll total and therefore knownif casting Shield would allow you to change the result from a hit into a miss.

Shield also works against Magic Missile, thus you know when a Magic Missile is being used to against you.

Shield is a very good spell for a level 1 spell; its one of those spells that should be in any Wizard spellbook.

 

[ThePolarBear]

To my knowledge unknown attack roll results is a total houserule

Total interpretation, as it's yours. If something is not there at all it's not possible to know which way is the intended one until there's a clarification on RAI. Now, on this particular subject i have no idea if there's a rule somewhere that i just always skimmed over and would like knowing something more if someone has somewhere to point me to.