Spell success?

[Ravenna]

Hi there,

This may be an entirely stupid question but....I've played P&P D&D for years, but only switched over to 3.5 a couple of years ago. Now, I am DMing for the first time in 3.5 and I've realized that I've never much paid attention to the Rules before, and neither have my PCs! (2 of them are newbies, though one is getting startlingly close to obsession these days....and knows the PH better than my old DM )

So, I'm finding it hard to believe, for instance, that a 3rd-level character's magic missile will always unerringly hit say a 12th-level fighter or cleric and do damage. I understand how a dispel will roll off against a spell, but not how to figure out spell resistance in 3.5. Any tips?

Cheers,

Ravenna

 

[Loonook]

Some spells have no save, some spells require saves, some spells bypass spell resistance... others don't. Magic Missile is one of those wonderful no-save but Spell Resistible spells.

Spell Resistance is a special ability, granted by many different means. It serves as a sort of 'spell AC'; if the spell says it can be resisted, a Caster Level Check is made (d20 + Level + any number of modifiers that are available) against the SR of the opponent. If failed, no effect; if passed, he shot... and he scored.

For quick and dirty explanations of these sorts of things (at least those in Core) just check out the Hypertext SRD.

Slainte,

-Loonook.

 

[the Jester]

Hi there,

This may be an entirely stupid question but....I've played P&P D&D for years, but only switched over to 3.5 a couple of years ago. Now, I am DMing for the first time in 3.5 and I've realized that I've never much paid attention to the Rules before, and neither have my PCs! (2 of them are newbies, though one is getting startlingly close to obsession these days....and knows the PH better than my old DM )

So, I'm finding it hard to believe, for instance, that a 3rd-level character's magic missile will always unerringly hit say a 12th-level fighter or cleric and do damage. I understand how a dispel will roll off against a spell, but not how to figure out spell resistance in 3.5. Any tips?

Cheers,

Ravenna

Spells pretty much always hit unless they say that you have to make an attack roll; however, see rules for line of sight/line of effect.

Only creatures listed as having SR actually have spell resistance. If a creature does have SR, a caster has to roll 1d20 + caster level + any Spell Penetration or similar bonuses. If the roll equals or exceeds the SR, the spell works. For instance, my 5th-level wizard casts magic missile at a goat demon with SR 15. If I roll a 9 on my 1d20 roll, I fail to penetrate (9+5 = 14) unless I have a bonus or two (Spell Penetration or something similar).

 

[djdaidouji]

Magic Missile's unerring strike is part of the spell. In fact, a level 1 wizard could hit a god with it. The problem is that it doesn't do much damage. A 3rd level magic missile hits for an average of, lets say 6 damage (I don't know the actual specs), but for a 12th level fighter, thats the damage he takes when eating breakfast. A magic missile is a ball of pure force that will go directly to a target (though it can move and bend around things.)

The way to deal with rules that seem stupid is to just make something up. Why would that Magic Missile not hit the ally in the way of you and the orc? Well, the wizard is smarter then that, she aims it well and it weaves around the ally.

I am in no way a veteran, its only been a few years for me. But basically the rules, for me, say mathematically what you can and cannot do, and you're free to fill in whatever reasons you want for it. Maybe instead of a ball of force, that magic missile actually summons a giant meteor down from the heavens. It will still only do 6 damage.

 

[Ravenna]

Thanks everyone for all your help! This is very helpful. Have a great week!

Ravenna

 

[Qualidar]

Ess. You. See. See. Eee. Ess. Ess.

"success".

what?

 

[Arkhandus]

Deities have a base Spell Resistance of 32. + Divine Rank. So, a level 1 wizard never hits a deity with Magic Missile.


Spell Resistance can be gained by a high-level spell of the same name, and from some magic items, but is otherwise only possessed by certain creatures, such as Drow.