<br />Shocking Grasp - Token vs. Guide vs. DM<br />The guide says must be slid to Hit AC-15, token does not (unlike the Scroll of Scorching Ray).<br />During our Run, I asked a DM and he said it does not require a slide.<br />So which is it, slide (and thus future reprints should include this), or no slide (and as such the guide needs to be corrected).<br /><br />Ring of Wizardry - does it work on spells only, or spells and scrolls? If it is spells only it should probably say Spells Only, much like the wording on the Ring of Focus which says "It does not apply to scrolls or other artifacts." Otherwise it should have wording that makes it clear that scrolls can benefit from this item.<br />
<br /><br />Two things to note here.<br /><br />
Shocking Grasp: <br />The Wooden Shocking Grasp tokens do not indicate the need for a slide. The DM would have to have memorized the Token Guide (which, IMO, they should make an attempt to do) in order to handle the wooden SG the way the token guide indicates, which is the need for a AC 15 slide.<br />In other words, per the token guide, all Shocking Grasps (wooden or chippie) require the AC 15 slide. It's a matter of DM and Coach training (people need ot read the guides and, it can be difficult to retain all that one reads).<br /><br /><br />
Ring of Wizardry: <br /><br />
From the v7.0 Token Guide: <br />Ring of Wizardry: This ring, usable by a Wizard only, increases a Wizard's prowess when casting a spell that requires a to hit slide to be made. This ring adds +2 damage dealt by these spells, and any natural "20" will do double the indicated damage (and +4 more damage since the normal +2 to damage is also doubled.<br /><br />Apparently, that text was scrapped (whether intentionally or accidently) for the <br />
text found on the token: <br />+2 to hit with spells requiring slides - double damage on a natural "20"<br />
<br /><br />
Defining "Spells:" <br />Let's go back to the "old school" D&D for a moment. Spells are spells, whether memorized or in the form of a scroll.<br />Keeping that in mind, unless the text states "memorized" or "scroll," I assume the word "spell" to mean either/both.<br /><br />As neither the ring nor the token guide state whether the ring affects spells from memorization or scrolls, but simply states "spells," IMO, the ring should affect both spells cast from memory and from scrolls.<br /><br /><br />
The bigger question is, what +to hit and + to damage bonuses affect which spells? <br /><br />Token Guide v7.0<br />
Page 33, under the "Scrolls:" heading: <br />Scrolls that cause a ranged weapon to be created and hurled toward an enemy (specifically Melf's Acid Arrow and Flame Arrow) fall under the same rules as ranged weapons in combat.<br />I think this sentance pretty much sums up the answer as it should relate to all the itmes I list below.<br /><br />
Melf's Acid Arrow: This ragned attack spell conjures and fires an arrow that causes 8 points of acid damage to an enemy of the caster's choice if the caster can hit AC 15 or better. If the caster fails to hit AC 15, the spell fails. Bracers of Archery and Dexterity bonuses apply to the attempt.<br /><br />
Flame Arrow: This ranged attack does 14 points of fire damage to one creature of the caster's choice provided the caster hits an AC 15 or better. This spell is not augmented by the Wizard's skills test, however dexterity bonuses, such as that from Bracers of Archery, do apply.<br /><br />
Bless: This spell provides +1 to the entire group's to-hit bonus until the group moves to the next room. This includes ranged weapons. IMO, this means this should include Melf's Acid Arrow and Flame Strike (per the text on page 33).<br /><br />
Bard's Song: during the con, I asked for a ruling on this and the answer was, "no, the Bard's Song (+ to hit and + to damage) does not affect Spells."<br />Per the text on page 33, however, it would appear that any spell falling under the same rules as ranged weapons in combat, should receive these bonuses. IMO, this means this should include Melf's Acid Arrow and Flame Strike (per the text on page 33).<br /><br /><br /><br />Summurization: (my opinion and understanding...would need official ruling/confirmation from a Director)<br />Spells (wether cast from memory or a scroll) "that cause a ranged weapon to be created and hurled toward an enemy (specifically Melf's Acid Arrow and Flame Arrow) fall under the same rules as ranged weapons in combat."<br />As such, such spells would be affected by: Bard's Song, Bless, Dexterity, and Bracers of Archery.<br /><br /><br />With the Ring of Wizardry in play:<br />Spells not affected by the rules of ranged weapons combat: +2 to Hit, double damage on a Natural 20 (AC 13 for many of the spells, such as Shocking Grasp and Scorching Ray!)<br /><br />Spells affected by the rules of ranged weapons: (Possibly Bonuses)<br /> +2 to hit from Ring of Wizardry<br /> +1 to hit and +1 to Damage from Bard's Song (or +1 to hit and +2 to Damage with Masterwork Bard's Instrument or Widseth's Lute)<br /> +1 to hit from Bless<br /> +1 to hit from Gloves of Dexterity<br /> +2 to damage from Bracers of Archery<br />
for a whoping potential of +5 to hit and +4 to damage (not including any Dexterity bonus that a Bard might have (don't think they have any, but thought I'd note the exception just in case)<br /><br /><br />