I have a rule interpretation question regarding the Precognition spell in 5E.
The descriptions for two of the four possible spell effects read as follows in the Campaign Setting book:
Quote:
• Avoid the Blow: If you are attacked, as a reaction you can end this spell to force your attacker to re-roll their attack with disadvantage.
• Avoid Disaster: If you fail a saving throw, as a reaction you can end this spell to re-roll your saving throw with advantage.
One of my game groups is confused over the language that calls for a “re-roll ... with” either disadvantage or advantage. We’re not sure if this means the die is rolled a total of 2 times or 3 times. What is the game designers’ intent here?
So, for example, let’s say the attacker’s initial attack roll was a 20. A hit.
Interpretation #1: Ending the spell forces the attacker to add disadvantage to the
initial roll. One additional attack is rolled, this time a 17. Still a hit.
OR
Interpretation #2: Ending the spell forces the attacker to
re-roll the initial attack, this time rolling with disadvantage. The initial 20 attack is subject to a re-roll, and — because disadvantage is now imposed — two attacks are rolled. One is 17, a hit. The other is 3, a miss. So the disadvantaged attack result is 3, a miss.
Interpretation 1 does not seem to “force your attacker to re-roll their attack with disadvantage.” Rather, it seems to force disadvantage after-the-fact on the initial roll. Interpretation 2 has an explicit “re-roll with disadvantage,” but we’re worried that it might mistakenly apply advantage/disadvantage one too many times.
I guess we’re getting a little hung up on the use of “re-roll” versus just “roll” in the text. We could see how it could imply either interpretation.
Any guidance?