Some rules questions [Archive] - Wizards Community

Some rules questions [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Han Duo
04-24-05, 04:25 AM I just DM'd my first session of DnD, and a couple of questions came up during play. I tried frantically to look them up while the action was going on, but could not find the answer. If anyone could answer them for me:

1) The spell "Web" states that you can avoid some of its effects by making a reflex saving throw. However, nowhere in the text does it say what the DC for such a roll is.

2) The description of wands in the dungeon master guide, page 245, states that you can use wands by simply pointing them. However in the Player's handbook, page 86, in the description for use magic device skill, it is stated that 'to use a wand you must have the wand's spell on your class spell list', and on page 85, in the table at the bottom of the page the 'use wand' task gets a DC of 20. I have a couple of questions:
Do you need to be able to cast the spell that's in a wand to use it?
Do you need the use magic device skill to be able to use a wand?
How many times must you do the use magic device skill on the same wand (every time you use it?, once?, never?).

3) Is it possible to move through an occupied square, without using tumble? For example if an ally bloks the square by standing in a doorway, can you move past him into the room?

Thanks in advance for answering any questions!
Myssa Rei
04-24-05, 08:30 AM *Snips*

1) The spell "Web" states that you can avoid some of its effects by making a reflex saving throw. However, nowhere in the text does it say what the DC for such a roll is.

Any spell or effect that generally deals with avoiding direct damage through movement are assumed to be Reflex saves. The DC for the spell is always assumed to be 10 + the Intelligence modifier of the caster + the spell level. In the case of a wizard with 18 Intelligence, the save would be: 10 + 4 + 2 = 16.

2) The description of wands in the dungeon master guide, page 245, states that you can use wands by simply pointing them. However in the Player's handbook, page 86, in the description for use magic device skill, it is stated that 'to use a wand you must have the wand's spell on your class spell list', and on page 85, in the table at the bottom of the page the 'use wand' task gets a DC of 20. I have a couple of questions:
Do you need to be able to cast the spell that's in a wand to use it?
Do you need the use magic device skill to be able to use a wand?
How many times must you do the use magic device skill on the same wand (every time you use it?, once?, never?).

The Use Magic Device skill is something for non-spellcasters. Thus the DCs you see listed are for those who would try to emulate some sort of spellcasting ability (such as Rogues) to be able to make a magical item work... In this case the wand. Every time a wand is triggered, the character must roll his Use Magic Device check.

A wizard or sorcerer (or a cleric in the case of a divine-created wand) would be able to use a wand without Use Magic Device, as wands are merely spell-completion items.

3) Is it possible to move through an occupied square, without using tumble? For example if an ally bloks the square by standing in a doorway, can you move past him into the room?

Thanks in advance for answering any questions!

Ach, this tricky question. From a roleplayer's standpoint, I guess it's possible to shove past your companion, but I don't know how this works from the rules standpoint. I guess you'll need to wait for the other people here to reply, as there are more knowledgeable souls here than me.
RogerWilco
04-24-05, 08:37 AM I can't answer your questions any better, but yo might try asking your question in the:
"What's a DM to do?" http://boards1.wizards.com/forumdisplay.php?f=24
or
"D&D General" http://boards1.wizards.com/forumdisplay.php?f=42
boards. Those are more geared to this kind of question, as this is a FR specific forum. You will probably get more answers on the above forums.
ClobberinTime
04-24-05, 12:09 PM Just to clarify again-

from #2, just remember that wizards can only use wand with spells that are on their spell list, and clerics can only use ones that are on their spell lists too. One good thing is that Rangers and Paladin's can use wand's of cure moderate wounds, since that is on their spell list.

#3, you can move through a spot occupied by an ally without using tumble, I don't remember if you can charge through that square or if it costs you extra movement, i.e. are you impeded. You definitley cannot move through an enemy square except for using tumbling or overrun, or grappling that opponent.
Savras
04-24-05, 02:49 PM *Snips*
Any spell or effect that generally deals with avoiding direct damage through movement are assumed to be Reflex saves. The DC for the spell is always assumed to be 10 + the Intelligence modifier of the caster + the spell level. In the case of a wizard with 18 Intelligence, the save would be: 10 + 4 + 2 = 16.
Correct... yet incorrect. Save DCs for spells are 10+relevent ability mod+spell level- that is, for Wizards it will be indeed Int, while for Sorcerers it'll be Cha, for Clerics Wis and so on.

Ach, this tricky question. From a roleplayer's standpoint, I guess it's possible to shove past your companion, but I don't know how this works from the rules standpoint. I guess you'll need to wait for the other people here to reply, as there are more knowledgeable souls here than me.

Allow me to quote the SRD:
Moving through a Square
Friend: You can move through a square occupied by a friendly character, unless you are charging. When you move through a square occupied by a friendly character, that character doesn’t provide you with cover.
Opponent: You can’t move through a square occupied by an opponent, unless the opponent is helpless. You can move through a square occupied by a helpless opponent without penalty. (Some creatures, particularly very large ones, may present an obstacle even when helpless. In such cases, each square you move through counts as 2 squares.)

Happy posting!

Savras
WizO_BigSister
04-26-05, 11:10 AM RogerWilco beat me to it. These forums are only for Forgtten Realms specific issues. The links he gave you are correct. You might find it better to only ask one question per topic, and to choose a name that tells you what the question is about. this makes it easier for you to find the right forum to post each question, and easier for those who are experts in that subject to see your question.
Ainaelin
04-27-05, 08:21 AM Still, to answer the only issue that has not been completely clarified (I think), which would be #2 :

Any character that has the spell on his spell list, however removed from his present level, can use the appropriate wand. Which means a 1st-level Ranger can use a wand of Nondetection (a 4th level Ranger spell) with no problem. He only has to use the proper Command Word for the wand.

Savras gave the appropriate correction to #1 and #3. ;)

Happy playing!

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Han Duo 04-24-05, 04:25 AM	I just DM'd my first session of DnD, and a couple of questions came up during play. I tried frantically to look them up while the action was going on, but could not find the answer. If anyone could answer them for me: 1) The spell "Web" states that you can avoid some of its effects by making a reflex saving throw. However, nowhere in the text does it say what the DC for such a roll is. 2) The description of wands in the dungeon master guide, page 245, states that you can use wands by simply pointing them. However in the Player's handbook, page 86, in the description for use magic device skill, it is stated that 'to use a wand you must have the wand's spell on your class spell list', and on page 85, in the table at the bottom of the page the 'use wand' task gets a DC of 20. I have a couple of questions: Do you need to be able to cast the spell that's in a wand to use it? Do you need the use magic device skill to be able to use a wand? How many times must you do the use magic device skill on the same wand (every time you use it?, once?, never?). 3) Is it possible to move through an occupied square, without using tumble? For example if an ally bloks the square by standing in a doorway, can you move past him into the room? Thanks in advance for answering any questions!
Myssa Rei 04-24-05, 08:30 AM	Snips 1) The spell "Web" states that you can avoid some of its effects by making a reflex saving throw. However, nowhere in the text does it say what the DC for such a roll is. Any spell or effect that generally deals with avoiding direct damage through movement are assumed to be Reflex saves. The DC for the spell is always assumed to be 10 + the Intelligence modifier of the caster + the spell level. In the case of a wizard with 18 Intelligence, the save would be: 10 + 4 + 2 = 16. 2) The description of wands in the dungeon master guide, page 245, states that you can use wands by simply pointing them. However in the Player's handbook, page 86, in the description for use magic device skill, it is stated that 'to use a wand you must have the wand's spell on your class spell list', and on page 85, in the table at the bottom of the page the 'use wand' task gets a DC of 20. I have a couple of questions: Do you need to be able to cast the spell that's in a wand to use it? Do you need the use magic device skill to be able to use a wand? How many times must you do the use magic device skill on the same wand (every time you use it?, once?, never?). The Use Magic Device skill is something for non-spellcasters. Thus the DCs you see listed are for those who would try to emulate some sort of spellcasting ability (such as Rogues) to be able to make a magical item work... In this case the wand. Every time a wand is triggered, the character must roll his Use Magic Device check. A wizard or sorcerer (or a cleric in the case of a divine-created wand) would be able to use a wand without Use Magic Device, as wands are merely spell-completion items. 3) Is it possible to move through an occupied square, without using tumble? For example if an ally bloks the square by standing in a doorway, can you move past him into the room? Thanks in advance for answering any questions! Ach, this tricky question. From a roleplayer's standpoint, I guess it's possible to shove past your companion, but I don't know how this works from the rules standpoint. I guess you'll need to wait for the other people here to reply, as there are more knowledgeable souls here than me.
RogerWilco 04-24-05, 08:37 AM	I can't answer your questions any better, but yo might try asking your question in the: "What's a DM to do?" http://boards1.wizards.com/forumdisplay.php?f=24 or "D&D General" http://boards1.wizards.com/forumdisplay.php?f=42 boards. Those are more geared to this kind of question, as this is a FR specific forum. You will probably get more answers on the above forums.
ClobberinTime 04-24-05, 12:09 PM	Just to clarify again- from #2, just remember that wizards can only use wand with spells that are on their spell list, and clerics can only use ones that are on their spell lists too. One good thing is that Rangers and Paladin's can use wand's of cure moderate wounds, since that is on their spell list. #3, you can move through a spot occupied by an ally without using tumble, I don't remember if you can charge through that square or if it costs you extra movement, i.e. are you impeded. You definitley cannot move through an enemy square except for using tumbling or overrun, or grappling that opponent.
Savras 04-24-05, 02:49 PM	Snips Any spell or effect that generally deals with avoiding direct damage through movement are assumed to be Reflex saves. The DC for the spell is always assumed to be 10 + the Intelligence modifier of the caster + the spell level. In the case of a wizard with 18 Intelligence, the save would be: 10 + 4 + 2 = 16. Correct... yet incorrect. Save DCs for spells are 10+relevent ability mod+spell level- that is, for Wizards it will be indeed Int, while for Sorcerers it'll be Cha, for Clerics Wis and so on. Ach, this tricky question. From a roleplayer's standpoint, I guess it's possible to shove past your companion, but I don't know how this works from the rules standpoint. I guess you'll need to wait for the other people here to reply, as there are more knowledgeable souls here than me. Allow me to quote the SRD: Moving through a Square Friend: You can move through a square occupied by a friendly character, unless you are charging. When you move through a square occupied by a friendly character, that character doesn’t provide you with cover. Opponent: You can’t move through a square occupied by an opponent, unless the opponent is helpless. You can move through a square occupied by a helpless opponent without penalty. (Some creatures, particularly very large ones, may present an obstacle even when helpless. In such cases, each square you move through counts as 2 squares.) Happy posting! Savras
WizO_BigSister 04-26-05, 11:10 AM	RogerWilco beat me to it. These forums are only for Forgtten Realms specific issues. The links he gave you are correct. You might find it better to only ask one question per topic, and to choose a name that tells you what the question is about. this makes it easier for you to find the right forum to post each question, and easier for those who are experts in that subject to see your question.
Ainaelin 04-27-05, 08:21 AM	Still, to answer the only issue that has not been completely clarified (I think), which would be #2 : Any character that has the spell on his spell list, however removed from his present level, can use the appropriate wand. Which means a 1st-level Ranger can use a wand of Nondetection (a 4th level Ranger spell) with no problem. He only has to use the proper Command Word for the wand. Savras gave the appropriate correction to #1 and #3. ;) Happy playing!