It seems pretty unclear what happens when an unconscious PC gets hit with a Magic Missile. Our Dungeon Master, Matt, had to do extensive research. Here’s what he came up with in regards to Magic Missile and Death Saving Throws.
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I am impressed with the research and am happy with the ruling.
Can't wait to see the backup character… Maybe in a one shot?
😂😂😂😂 would love to have an npc with your backup character voice lol
The designers of 5th edition made the rules a bit loose so that dms can interpret the rules in their own way. So the answer to the question is whatever the dm says.
This was wotc's attempt to swing people over to 5th edition from pathfinder and 3rd edition because 4th edition wasn't selling well (amongst various other things.)
What level is the game at? Just curious. Great ruling.
Not me missing the last few episodes because it was Ramadan and coming back to maybe a PC DEATH?!
DMing is tough because of situations like this, and I am loath to tell any DM they're wrong in a game with so much room for interpretation (unless I feel like they're doing something genuinely damaging to other players). Matt clearly has no ill intent, and so either interpretation would be fair in this instance.
But I'm glad this is how he chose to handle it.
Still, waiting two weeks to find out was BRUTAL. =)
It is a hard ruling but DM is being fair with research put in. Safe to say other dms might rule it the other way
I've researched this before. Magic Missile explicitly says all of them hit at the exact same time it's only one death save.
However this also means if magic missile does enough damage it can very much instakill you with overkill damage.
Magic missile only triggers multiple death or concentration saves if you attack multiple targets that all are either concentrating or unconscious.
Okay, so heres the thing magic missile is 3/4/5 etc separate missiles it says so in its description. "You create three glowing darts of magical force. Each dart hits a creature of your choice that you can see within range. A dart deals 1d4 + 1 force damage to its target. The darts all strike simultaneously, and you can direct them to hit one creature or several." They just hit you at the same time. This would literally be like 3 people standing over you and at the same time they just all swing their dagger. Each counts as a separate hit, but still a hit meaning you took 3 hits and fail 3 death saves – you die.
She lives!!!!
Ultimately ruled correctly
I love you guys! You are the light of my depressed times. Watching your story makes me happy.
I know Matt made the correct decision because it is the same decision that I would make, and I am always correct.
The "sorcerer" rule clarification from Jeremy was probably about the Evocation Wizard's ability to add their intelligence modifier to damage rolls of spells. Jeremy specifically stated that because magic missile only rolls one d4 and all the darts hits simultaneously, the Evocation Wizard would add their damage to all the darts because, in terms of damage, it's one dart.
GMing is tough. DMing even more so. D&D is complicated and things happen. I would have killed the character just because that's what makes spells like magic missile and eldritch blast very, very useful. Concentration checks and death saving throws. That's how a wizard can kill someone, permanently. However, this isn't my table at all and I'm glad everyone (hopefully) survived.
If Magic Missile forces to make three separate Concentration checks it means they are three separate hits, so they would have to work the same way with Death Sving Throws. Jeremy Crawford is being too soft here. I don't like that ruling and I won't use it on my games.
Poor Orba… she was so young… she hadn't even grown into her horns yet. 😂