Magic and Spells

Post/Author/DateTimePost
#1

MasterNamer

Jun 04, 2015 8:01:48		What makes magic, magical effects, spells, and spell like effects different? It seems like magic is the larger category that spells and spell like effects fall under, but how do magical effects fit in? Are all things not mundane magical, or do they have to be described specifically as magical? Are effects and conditions imposed by unnatural or magical creatures inherently magical? I'm mostly curious to figure out how the mantle of spell resistance and gnome cunning interact with creatures, objects, and effects in the world, but any clarity is always nice.
#2

jaelis

Jun 04, 2015 8:52:02

In general a magical effect will say that it is magical. For instance:

"A spell is a discrete magical effect..." (PHB Chapter 10)

"The golem targets one or more creatures it can see within 10 feet of it. Each target must make a DC 17 Wisdom saving through against this magic." (Monster Manual, stone golem)

 

A spell is a particular type of magic effect governed by the spell casting rules. An effect is a spell if it says it is. For instance, a flameskull has the spellcasting ability and can cast spells. A wand of magic missiles lets its user cast a spell.

 

I didn't think spell-like effects were part of the 5e rules, are you seeing that somewhere?

 

#3

Tempest_Stormwind

Jun 04, 2015 9:48:07

Spell-like effects aren't in the rules; generally speaking, spells use magic, but not all magic consists of spells. However, most magic is actually a spell (for instance, instead of going through a song and dance where some ability has an effect like a spell, that ability instead casts the spell itself).

 

In the case of Gnome Cunning and the Mantle of Spell Resistance, that applies specifically to spells, not to any magical effect.

#4

jaelis

Jun 04, 2015 11:32:29

Tempest_Stormwind wrote:
#5

Tempest_Stormwind

Jun 04, 2015 12:04:12

jaelis wrote:
#6

MasterNamer

Jun 05, 2015 8:11:47 		Would this mean that the only hope a Dragon has against a Golem is to retreat, as they are immune to non magical damage?
#7

jaelis

Jun 05, 2015 8:21:15

Golems are immune to non-magical weapon damage, not all non-magical damage. I don't recall whether dragon's breath is a magical effect or not, but it doesn't matter since it isn't a weapon attack.