Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 theStinkingYeti Jul 18, 2014 6:54:42	Ok, so i've gone through the basic rules and i bought the starter set, but i cannot for the life of me seem to find what a spellcaster is meant to roll against when attack with a spell. Is it vs AC? Cause that just seems weird to me.
#2 mellored Jul 18, 2014 7:01:43	AC
#3 iserith Jul 18, 2014 7:04:19	Yes, AC unless the spell specifies that the target makes a saving throw rather than the spellcaster making an attack roll.
#4 alienux Jul 18, 2014 7:53:17	From page 73 of the free Basic PDF (also on page 11 of the Starter Set rulebook):   Making an Attack Whether you’re striking with a melee weapon, firing a weapon at range, or making an attack roll as part of a spell, an attack has a simple structure. 1. Choose a target. Pick a target within your attack’s range: a creature, an object, or a location. 2. Determine modifiers. The DM determines whether the target has cover and whether you have advantage or disadvantage against the target. In addition, spells, special abilities, and other effects can apply penalties or bonuses to your attack roll. 3. Resolve the attack. You make the attack roll. On a hit, you roll damage, unless the particular attack has rules that specify otherwise. Some attacks cause special effects in addition to or instead of damage. If there’s ever any question whether something you’re doing counts as an attack, the rule is simple: if you’re making an attack roll, you’re making an attack. Attack Rolls When you make an attack, your attack roll determines whether the attack hits or misses. To make an attack roll, roll a d20 and add the appropriate modifiers. If the total of the roll plus modifiers equals or exceeds the target’s Armor Class (AC), the attack hits. The AC of a character is determined at character creation, whereas the AC of a monster is in its stat block.   The bolded parts discuss spell attack rolls and how any attack roll is resolved.
#5 Hailrobonia Jul 18, 2014 7:59:31	Remember that AC is a combination of physical toughness (armor, shield, thick skin) and other factors such as dexterity, somtimes magical protection, etc.   So when you zap a fighter in plate armor with a ray of frost and miss, maybe you just make his breastplate chilly... when you were trying to hit him in the codpiece.
#6 Mephi1234 Jul 18, 2014 8:44:37	Mike, on the twitter, once described a spell attacking AC as something like this:   The wizard physically creates an object, or fireball, or whatever, and physically throws it at the target.   Its like a glorified vial of acid, or alchemists fire, you're throwing.   It can be deflected by shields, bounce off armor, glancing blows, etc, just like any other attack.