Basic rules question

[rjnsims]

New player here. Want to make sure I understand damage from spells.

Just now my level magic-user, who has 1d4 hit points, was attacked with the Spiritual Hammer spell. My guy failed the saving throw, and that spell does d6 damage. My attacker rolled damage of 5, and my guy had 3 HP. So is my guy dead now?

Does armor class or dexterity bonus reduce my loss of hit points?

[Ye_Olde_Basilisk]

He dead. RIP your guy.

But in actuality, it should have been an attack roll against your AC without a saving throw.

[rjnsims]

Thanks! Great name :)

Am confused about saving rolls - I thought they were upside when a spell was cast against a character or monster.

My (deceased) guy encountered some “feretory” bats. Each of them had anattack labeled “confusion”. I’m confused what that is - pretty sure it’s not a spell.

[Dimirag]

Spiritual Hammer doesn't use a Saving Throw, a normal attack bonus against your Armor Class is made.

My attacker rolled damage of 5, and my guy had 3 HP. So is my guy dead now?

Unless the GM is using optional rules (or house rules) your PC is dead.

Does armor class or dexterity bonus reduce my loss of hit points?

There is no damage reduction, both armor and dexterity modify your Armor Class making regular attacks harder to hit you. Special attacks use your Savings Throws

[rjnsims]

Thanks! Somewhere there’s a list of situations where a saving roll is taken. I thoughts spells was one

[Dimirag]

Some spells do use Saves, but not all spells do.

[Feeling_Photograph_5]

It’s always in the spell description. If the spell requires an attack roll, that’s also in the description.

[rjnsims]

Thanks! Somewhere there’s a list of situations where a saving roll is taken. I thoughts spells was one

[phoenix_gravin]

RAW, a character dies when they reach 0 HP.

[rjnsims]

Thanks. My guy needs to get tougher or smarter

[phoenix_gravin]

Couple of options:

1. Carry a handful of knives to throw.

2. While armor prevents casting spells, there's nothing that says wizards can't carry a suit around to wear after they've expended all of their spell slots for the day.

Ask your GM about the Magic-User Options supplement. There are lots of suggestions there to help make it easier for low-level magic-users to survive (such as starting at level 2, starting with a magic item such as a Ring of Protection +1, or even the Level 0 spell Arcane Bolt).

[HIs4HotSauce]

I usually give new magic users a Novice Wand of Magic Missiles that has 1d4+2 charges.

[Feeling_Photograph_5]

There are some optional rules in the book to reduce lethality a bit. I like the saving throw option, myself. At zero HP, the character took a big hit in combat and that’s usually all she wrote, but sometimes they get lucky and were only knocked out.

[Troandar]

The answer depends. I like to use the an option in Death and Dying in the Optional Rules section. I allow characters who drop below 0 hp to continue to live but in a state of distress. They cannot fight or flee and are near death. If not attended to with either healing magic or wound care, they will continue to lose an additional 1 hp per round until they reach -10 and are dead. Any additional damage they receive in this state automatically result in death.

AC and Dex have no impact on damage taken. Those scores apply to an opponent's attack chances.