In the descriptions of monster action options, what's the difference between “one target” and “one...
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Something I have been wondering about since I started DM'ing: in the Monster Manual, most actions specify "one target", while some have "one creature".
Example with Ghouls & Ghasts: Bite specifies one creature, Claws specify one target.
What is the difference? Does it matter for regular play?
dnd-5e monsters targeting
edited Dec 18 '18 at 1:54
V2Blast
20.7k360131
asked Dec 17 '18 at 10:15
Thijs B.Thijs B.
148127
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add a comment |
$begingroup$
Something I have been wondering about since I started DM'ing: in the Monster Manual, most actions specify "one target", while some have "one creature".
Example with Ghouls & Ghasts: Bite specifies one creature, Claws specify one target.
What is the difference? Does it matter for regular play?
dnd-5e monsters targeting
edited Dec 18 '18 at 1:54
V2Blast
20.7k360131
asked Dec 17 '18 at 10:15
Thijs B.Thijs B.
148127
$endgroup$
2
$begingroup$
+1, Nice find. Welcome to the stack. We look forward to your next questions (and answers too!)
$endgroup$
– Mindwin
Dec 17 '18 at 13:52
add a comment |
$begingroup$
Something I have been wondering about since I started DM'ing: in the Monster Manual, most actions specify "one target", while some have "one creature".
Example with Ghouls & Ghasts: Bite specifies one creature, Claws specify one target.
What is the difference? Does it matter for regular play?
dnd-5e monsters targeting
edited Dec 18 '18 at 1:54
V2Blast
20.7k360131
asked Dec 17 '18 at 10:15
Thijs B.Thijs B.
148127
$endgroup$
Something I have been wondering about since I started DM'ing: in the Monster Manual, most actions specify "one target", while some have "one creature".
Example with Ghouls & Ghasts: Bite specifies one creature, Claws specify one target.
What is the difference? Does it matter for regular play?
dnd-5e monsters targeting
dnd-5e monsters targeting
edited Dec 18 '18 at 1:54
V2Blast
20.7k360131
asked Dec 17 '18 at 10:15
Thijs B.Thijs B.
148127
edited Dec 18 '18 at 1:54
V2Blast
20.7k360131
asked Dec 17 '18 at 10:15
Thijs B.Thijs B.
148127
edited Dec 18 '18 at 1:54
V2Blast
20.7k360131
edited Dec 18 '18 at 1:54
V2Blast
20.7k360131
edited Dec 18 '18 at 1:54
V2Blast
20.7k360131
20.7k360131
asked Dec 17 '18 at 10:15
Thijs B.Thijs B.
148127
asked Dec 17 '18 at 10:15
Thijs B.Thijs B.
148127
asked Dec 17 '18 at 10:15
Thijs B.Thijs B.
148127
148127
2
$begingroup$
+1, Nice find. Welcome to the stack. We look forward to your next questions (and answers too!)
$endgroup$
– Mindwin
Dec 17 '18 at 13:52
add a comment |
2
$begingroup$
+1, Nice find. Welcome to the stack. We look forward to your next questions (and answers too!)
$endgroup$
– Mindwin
Dec 17 '18 at 13:52
2
2
$begingroup$
+1, Nice find. Welcome to the stack. We look forward to your next questions (and answers too!)
$endgroup$
– Mindwin
Dec 17 '18 at 13:52
$begingroup$
+1, Nice find. Welcome to the stack. We look forward to your next questions (and answers too!)
$endgroup$
– Mindwin
Dec 17 '18 at 13:52
add a comment |
1 Answer
1
active
oldest
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A target includes: creatures, objects, and locations.
The PHB p194 states:
Pick a target ...: a creature, an object or a location.
For spells, PHB p204 states:
A spell's description tells you whether the spell targets creatures, objects, or a point of origin...
The Ghoul can use its Bite Action to target only other creatures, e.g. PCs, NPCs, beasts and other monsters. It cannot use the Bite action to target an object, e.g. a door.
The Ghoul can use its Claws Action to target a creature or an object. For example, to do damage to a door.
answered Dec 17 '18 at 10:46
Richard SmithRichard Smith
35629
$endgroup$
12
$begingroup$
The ghoul can, in a 10 wide by 10 tall long corridor, bite a 10x10 gelatinous cube whose corners are not reachable, but it cannot bite the door (unless it is a mimic... good for detecting mimics). Oh, 5e, what realism. Lolz. +1'd
$endgroup$
– Mindwin
Dec 17 '18 at 13:51
4
$begingroup$
@davidrice From the makers of "Magic the Lawyering..."
$endgroup$
– Mindwin
Dec 17 '18 at 17:39
7
$begingroup$
@Mindwin It can still probably bite the door (and a real treasure chest), it just can't do so as an attack in RAW... now I have the image of a random ghoul just curiously gnawing on everything around it to see if it should scratch it or bite it harder...
$endgroup$
– MrSpudtastic
Dec 17 '18 at 17:47
1
$begingroup$
Spells often have similar restrictions. Most can only target creatures while only a few can target objects. For example, fire bolt can target a creature or object while eldritch blast can only target creatures.
$endgroup$
– Allan Mills
Dec 17 '18 at 21:15
1
$begingroup$
@MrSpudtastic RAW you cannot perform an action on an invalid target, it fails. Mimic or bust. Of course we are not OCD DMs.
$endgroup$
– Mindwin
Dec 18 '18 at 14:28
add a comment |
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1 Answer
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active
oldest
votes
1 Answer
1
active
oldest
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$begingroup$
A target includes: creatures, objects, and locations.
The PHB p194 states:
Pick a target ...: a creature, an object or a location.
For spells, PHB p204 states:
A spell's description tells you whether the spell targets creatures, objects, or a point of origin...
The Ghoul can use its Bite Action to target only other creatures, e.g. PCs, NPCs, beasts and other monsters. It cannot use the Bite action to target an object, e.g. a door.
The Ghoul can use its Claws Action to target a creature or an object. For example, to do damage to a door.
answered Dec 17 '18 at 10:46
Richard SmithRichard Smith
35629
$endgroup$
12
$begingroup$
The ghoul can, in a 10 wide by 10 tall long corridor, bite a 10x10 gelatinous cube whose corners are not reachable, but it cannot bite the door (unless it is a mimic... good for detecting mimics). Oh, 5e, what realism. Lolz. +1'd
$endgroup$
– Mindwin
Dec 17 '18 at 13:51
4
$begingroup$
@davidrice From the makers of "Magic the Lawyering..."
$endgroup$
– Mindwin
Dec 17 '18 at 17:39
7
$begingroup$
@Mindwin It can still probably bite the door (and a real treasure chest), it just can't do so as an attack in RAW... now I have the image of a random ghoul just curiously gnawing on everything around it to see if it should scratch it or bite it harder...
$endgroup$
– MrSpudtastic
Dec 17 '18 at 17:47
1
$begingroup$
Spells often have similar restrictions. Most can only target creatures while only a few can target objects. For example, fire bolt can target a creature or object while eldritch blast can only target creatures.
$endgroup$
– Allan Mills
Dec 17 '18 at 21:15
1
$begingroup$
@MrSpudtastic RAW you cannot perform an action on an invalid target, it fails. Mimic or bust. Of course we are not OCD DMs.
$endgroup$
– Mindwin
Dec 18 '18 at 14:28
add a comment |
$begingroup$
A target includes: creatures, objects, and locations.
The PHB p194 states:
Pick a target ...: a creature, an object or a location.
For spells, PHB p204 states:
A spell's description tells you whether the spell targets creatures, objects, or a point of origin...
The Ghoul can use its Bite Action to target only other creatures, e.g. PCs, NPCs, beasts and other monsters. It cannot use the Bite action to target an object, e.g. a door.
The Ghoul can use its Claws Action to target a creature or an object. For example, to do damage to a door.
answered Dec 17 '18 at 10:46
Richard SmithRichard Smith
35629
$endgroup$
12
$begingroup$
The ghoul can, in a 10 wide by 10 tall long corridor, bite a 10x10 gelatinous cube whose corners are not reachable, but it cannot bite the door (unless it is a mimic... good for detecting mimics). Oh, 5e, what realism. Lolz. +1'd
$endgroup$
– Mindwin
Dec 17 '18 at 13:51
4
$begingroup$
@davidrice From the makers of "Magic the Lawyering..."
$endgroup$
– Mindwin
Dec 17 '18 at 17:39
7
$begingroup$
@Mindwin It can still probably bite the door (and a real treasure chest), it just can't do so as an attack in RAW... now I have the image of a random ghoul just curiously gnawing on everything around it to see if it should scratch it or bite it harder...
$endgroup$
– MrSpudtastic
Dec 17 '18 at 17:47
1
$begingroup$
Spells often have similar restrictions. Most can only target creatures while only a few can target objects. For example, fire bolt can target a creature or object while eldritch blast can only target creatures.
$endgroup$
– Allan Mills
Dec 17 '18 at 21:15
1
$begingroup$
@MrSpudtastic RAW you cannot perform an action on an invalid target, it fails. Mimic or bust. Of course we are not OCD DMs.
$endgroup$
– Mindwin
Dec 18 '18 at 14:28
add a comment |
$begingroup$
A target includes: creatures, objects, and locations.
The PHB p194 states:
Pick a target ...: a creature, an object or a location.
For spells, PHB p204 states:
A spell's description tells you whether the spell targets creatures, objects, or a point of origin...
The Ghoul can use its Bite Action to target only other creatures, e.g. PCs, NPCs, beasts and other monsters. It cannot use the Bite action to target an object, e.g. a door.
The Ghoul can use its Claws Action to target a creature or an object. For example, to do damage to a door.
answered Dec 17 '18 at 10:46
Richard SmithRichard Smith
35629
$endgroup$
A target includes: creatures, objects, and locations.
The PHB p194 states:
Pick a target ...: a creature, an object or a location.
For spells, PHB p204 states:
A spell's description tells you whether the spell targets creatures, objects, or a point of origin...
The Ghoul can use its Bite Action to target only other creatures, e.g. PCs, NPCs, beasts and other monsters. It cannot use the Bite action to target an object, e.g. a door.
The Ghoul can use its Claws Action to target a creature or an object. For example, to do damage to a door.
answered Dec 17 '18 at 10:46
Richard SmithRichard Smith
35629
edited Dec 17 '18 at 11:14
answered Dec 17 '18 at 10:46
Richard SmithRichard Smith
35629
answered Dec 17 '18 at 10:46
Richard SmithRichard Smith
35629
answered Dec 17 '18 at 10:46
Richard SmithRichard Smith
35629
35629
12
$begingroup$
The ghoul can, in a 10 wide by 10 tall long corridor, bite a 10x10 gelatinous cube whose corners are not reachable, but it cannot bite the door (unless it is a mimic... good for detecting mimics). Oh, 5e, what realism. Lolz. +1'd
$endgroup$
– Mindwin
Dec 17 '18 at 13:51
4
$begingroup$
@davidrice From the makers of "Magic the Lawyering..."
$endgroup$
– Mindwin
Dec 17 '18 at 17:39
7
$begingroup$
@Mindwin It can still probably bite the door (and a real treasure chest), it just can't do so as an attack in RAW... now I have the image of a random ghoul just curiously gnawing on everything around it to see if it should scratch it or bite it harder...
$endgroup$
– MrSpudtastic
Dec 17 '18 at 17:47
1
$begingroup$
Spells often have similar restrictions. Most can only target creatures while only a few can target objects. For example, fire bolt can target a creature or object while eldritch blast can only target creatures.
$endgroup$
– Allan Mills
Dec 17 '18 at 21:15
1
$begingroup$
@MrSpudtastic RAW you cannot perform an action on an invalid target, it fails. Mimic or bust. Of course we are not OCD DMs.
$endgroup$
– Mindwin
Dec 18 '18 at 14:28
add a comment |
12
$begingroup$
The ghoul can, in a 10 wide by 10 tall long corridor, bite a 10x10 gelatinous cube whose corners are not reachable, but it cannot bite the door (unless it is a mimic... good for detecting mimics). Oh, 5e, what realism. Lolz. +1'd
$endgroup$
– Mindwin
Dec 17 '18 at 13:51
4
$begingroup$
@davidrice From the makers of "Magic the Lawyering..."
$endgroup$
– Mindwin
Dec 17 '18 at 17:39
7
$begingroup$
@Mindwin It can still probably bite the door (and a real treasure chest), it just can't do so as an attack in RAW... now I have the image of a random ghoul just curiously gnawing on everything around it to see if it should scratch it or bite it harder...
$endgroup$
– MrSpudtastic
Dec 17 '18 at 17:47
1
$begingroup$
Spells often have similar restrictions. Most can only target creatures while only a few can target objects. For example, fire bolt can target a creature or object while eldritch blast can only target creatures.
$endgroup$
– Allan Mills
Dec 17 '18 at 21:15
1
$begingroup$
@MrSpudtastic RAW you cannot perform an action on an invalid target, it fails. Mimic or bust. Of course we are not OCD DMs.
$endgroup$
– Mindwin
Dec 18 '18 at 14:28
12
12
$begingroup$
The ghoul can, in a 10 wide by 10 tall long corridor, bite a 10x10 gelatinous cube whose corners are not reachable, but it cannot bite the door (unless it is a mimic... good for detecting mimics). Oh, 5e, what realism. Lolz. +1'd
$endgroup$
– Mindwin
Dec 17 '18 at 13:51
$begingroup$
The ghoul can, in a 10 wide by 10 tall long corridor, bite a 10x10 gelatinous cube whose corners are not reachable, but it cannot bite the door (unless it is a mimic... good for detecting mimics). Oh, 5e, what realism. Lolz. +1'd
$endgroup$
– Mindwin
Dec 17 '18 at 13:51
4
4
$begingroup$
@davidrice From the makers of "Magic the Lawyering..."
$endgroup$
– Mindwin
Dec 17 '18 at 17:39
$begingroup$
@davidrice From the makers of "Magic the Lawyering..."
$endgroup$
– Mindwin
Dec 17 '18 at 17:39
7
7
$begingroup$
@Mindwin It can still probably bite the door (and a real treasure chest), it just can't do so as an attack in RAW... now I have the image of a random ghoul just curiously gnawing on everything around it to see if it should scratch it or bite it harder...
$endgroup$
– MrSpudtastic
Dec 17 '18 at 17:47
$begingroup$
@Mindwin It can still probably bite the door (and a real treasure chest), it just can't do so as an attack in RAW... now I have the image of a random ghoul just curiously gnawing on everything around it to see if it should scratch it or bite it harder...
$endgroup$
– MrSpudtastic
Dec 17 '18 at 17:47
1
1
$begingroup$
Spells often have similar restrictions. Most can only target creatures while only a few can target objects. For example, fire bolt can target a creature or object while eldritch blast can only target creatures.
$endgroup$
– Allan Mills
Dec 17 '18 at 21:15
$begingroup$
Spells often have similar restrictions. Most can only target creatures while only a few can target objects. For example, fire bolt can target a creature or object while eldritch blast can only target creatures.
$endgroup$
– Allan Mills
Dec 17 '18 at 21:15
1
1
$begingroup$
@MrSpudtastic RAW you cannot perform an action on an invalid target, it fails. Mimic or bust. Of course we are not OCD DMs.
$endgroup$
– Mindwin
Dec 18 '18 at 14:28
$begingroup$
@MrSpudtastic RAW you cannot perform an action on an invalid target, it fails. Mimic or bust. Of course we are not OCD DMs.
$endgroup$
– Mindwin
Dec 18 '18 at 14:28
add a comment |
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+1, Nice find. Welcome to the stack. We look forward to your next questions (and answers too!)
$endgroup$
– Mindwin
Dec 17 '18 at 13:52