Upgrade your account to a Community Supporter account and remove most of the site ads.
Rocket your D&D 5E and Level Up: Advanced 5E games into space! Alpha Star Magazine Is Launching... Right Now!

Reply to thread

Message: <blockquote data-quote="Journeyman" data-source="post: 2659185" data-attributes="member: 9958">I think the apparent imbalance between Resist and Protect is one of those things that is a lot more apparent on paper than it is in actual play.  Resist looks terribly tempting simply because there's no limit to how much damage in can absorb.  At level 11 a wizard could theoretically stand in a Wall of Fire punching a cleric with a Fire Shield, while a dozen sorcerers cast Scorching Ray and their pet 12-headed pyrohydra breathes on him, taking no damage.  Meanwhile, the poor chump with Protection from Elements is reduced to a cinder.In terms of actual play, however, Resist never seems to work quite as well.  In order for it to really out perform Protection, it has to absorb at least 120 points of damage without any individual source doing more than 30 points, which rarely seems to happen.The fact is, in game 120 of damage is a lot to take from one element, particuarly if you're playing a wizard or sorcerer.  Even spread over multiple encounters that's probably only going to happen if the adventure has a strong elemental theme, in which case the dm is likely counting on you to have some sort of protection.  Or if the dm is really trying to kill you.On the other hand, at 10th level an empowered fireball does an average of 52.5 damage on a failed save.  Best case scenario, the wizard with Resist Elements takes some damage.  Worst case scenario, this happens when you aren't prepared, and you're casting a spell to protect you from the next fireball, in which case the wizard with Resist prepared instead of Protection could very well die.  All requiring nothing but a piddly CR 10 kobold sorcerer.Overall, I think that Resist is great for the front-lines fighters, who are a lot more likely to be dealing with hydras and Fire Shields and flaming weapons, and who can take a little extra damage if they have to.  For a spell caster, though, Protection is often more useful to have prepared, just in case.Mass Resist is too powerful, though.  Maybe it's meant to balance out the Orb spells.</blockquote>

Verification