Forums of the Megaverse®

Does magic attacks (Spells and Spell like abilities) automatically bypass A.R.? Wouldn't they still need a D20 roll to see if they bypass A.R.? (Even though they may have a set # needed to dodge.)

Thanks, I just don't have my books with me and I needed to know.

Hmm, I can't find anywhere in the book that this problem is addressed, but I would think those spells that have strike rolls and/or can be dodged would be affected normally by armor. Spells that never miss such as Call Lightning probaby strike the target rather than the armor, unless the armor provides full body coverage and is made of materials that won't conduct the damaging energy to the wearer. Non-damaging spells would generally ignore armor entirely, affecting the mind or some other property of the target.

Thanks, I figured something like Energy Bolt or Fireball needed to roll to penetrate the A.R., but may have a set # (an 18 for EBolt) to dodge the attack. I was basically making them roll to penetrate, not strike.

Thanks again.

If it states that the attack "can only be dodged" then I'd say it automatically ignores AR.

If it states "roll to strike," I'd say it is self explanitory. Anything else, I'd say use your judgement.

Life Drain (for example), affects you regardless of your AR.

Fire Bolt (for example) will hit if it is not (successfully) dodged (roll to strike at +4), and will hit YOU if the roll is over your armour's AR, or toast your armour if not.

Fire Ball automatically damages you, if you don't dodge, regardless of your AR (but if you're wearing environmental armour, YOU are safe, your armour on the other hand... ).

For anything else, go by the spell description and/or use common sense.

I e-mailed Rodney Scott this question some time ago. His response was spells like
Fireball which require a dodge of 18 or higher, means the spell has an 18 to
strike. So any NAR or artifical armor is automatically by-passed if its AR is under 18.
However, if the NAR was 19, then it wouldn't do anything. So spells like Firebolt
which have a +4 to strike, means you roll the dice and add +4. Normal rules for
NAR apply. Call Ligthning (depending on which one) usually says dodge on a
natural 20 dice roll or on 24 with modified, bonuses. So this means it has a 24 to
strike. It was really greatful to learn this because it helped solve some major issues
my players were having with spell magic.

Reagren Wright wrote:I e-mailed Rodney Scott this question some time ago. His response was spells like
Fireball which require a dodge of 18 or higher, means the spell has an 18 to
strike. So any NAR or artifical armor is automatically by-passed if its AR is under 18.
However, if the NAR was 19, then it wouldn't do anything. So spells like Firebolt
which have a +4 to strike, means you roll the dice and add +4. Normal rules for
NAR apply. Call Ligthning (depending on which one) usually says dodge on a
natural 20 dice roll or on 24 with modified, bonuses. So this means it has a 24 to
strike. It was really greatful to learn this because it helped solve some major issues
my players were having with spell magic.

Yeah - that's basically the answer I got when I E-Mailed palladium about this very issue years ago.

Cardiac wrote:

Reagren Wright wrote:I e-mailed Rodney Scott this question some time ago. His response was spells like
Fireball which require a dodge of 18 or higher, means the spell has an 18 to
strike. So any NAR or artifical armor is automatically by-passed if its AR is under 18.
However, if the NAR was 19, then it wouldn't do anything. So spells like Firebolt
which have a +4 to strike, means you roll the dice and add +4. Normal rules for
NAR apply. Call Ligthning (depending on which one) usually says dodge on a
natural 20 dice roll or on 24 with modified, bonuses. So this means it has a 24 to
strike. It was really greatful to learn this because it helped solve some major issues
my players were having with spell magic.

Yeah - that's basically the answer I got when I E-Mailed palladium about this very issue years ago.

Probably because Rodney was the Q&A guy at the time

I don't generally make magic attacks subject to AR, which I find makes magic more effective, (something for which my magic loving players adore me for). Anything to help out the mages of the Megaverse.