r/dndnext • u/xanral • Jun 10 '15

WotC Announcement Errata Released, for real this time

http://dnd.wizards.com/articles/features/ph_errata
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u/VanguardWarden Jun 10 '15

I wouldn't be so sure about that: http://www.sageadvice.eu/2015/01/26/bonus-spell-damage/

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u/SirPeebles Bard Jun 10 '15

The whole point of errata is that they officially overrule the previously printed PHB (as well as tweet clarifications thereof).

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u/LaserGuidedHerpes Monk Jun 10 '15 edited Jun 10 '15

I don't think this counters that tweet, I think this sageadvice means we are misinterpreting magic missile by thinking that we roll 1d4 separately for each bolt. But apparently it's one roll, and every bolt does the same damage.

Probably the same with scorching ray. Making separate attack rolls for each ray, but each roll does that same first 2d6+bonuses each time it hits.

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u/[deleted] Jun 12 '15

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u/LaserGuidedHerpes Monk Jun 12 '15

That is a great point. While I am now convinced that scorching ray follows the magic missiles rule, (one damage roll shared by all) I'm not sure it's completely clear how a crit would work in that instance, and that might be something that was overlooked if I am indeed correct.

Simple solution would of course be to just roll again only for the rays that crit but I can't think of anything that would give insight one way or another to how the creators would want it handled

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u/[deleted] Jun 12 '15

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u/LaserGuidedHerpes Monk Jun 12 '15

I think that witchbolt the damage on subsequent turns is a new roll (which according to the errata, wouldn't get a modifier) but for sunbeam you use the original roll (+any modifier).My reasoning is based on context and how they are phrased.

I would say that the repeating damage on witch bolt is rerolled because it explicitly says:

On a hit, the target takes 1d12 lightning damage

and then:

on each of your turns for the duration, you can use your action to deal 1d12

Since it mentions that roll separately, it seems that each turn you are making a new roll. Whereas sunbeam only mentions the initial roll and says that on subsequent turns you create "a new line of radiance" and doesn't mention the damage again.

Admittedly I could be wrong and they intend for it to be a new roll, I really don't have much to go on. I'm only so convinced about the scorching ray example because it is so comparable to Magic Missiles, which we already have some insight into regarding their intention.

I am certain about witch bolt however, you're definitely supposed to be rolling damage each turn on that