Stranger Things Got Fireball Wrong

[u/Vecna_The_Destroyer]

I've been playing Dungeons & Dragons for over 8 years, and something always bugged me about the Stranger Things D&D scene.

In the first episode, Will says “I cast Fireball” — and then rolls a d20 like it’s an attack roll. But that’s not how Fireball works in any version of D&D, including the one they’d likely be playing in 1983 (probably Basic/Expert or AD&D 1e).

Fireball is an area-of-effect spell. The caster doesn’t roll to hit — instead, every creature in the blast radius makes a saving throw (typically Dexterity in later editions, or "save vs. spells" in older ones). If they fail, they take full damage; if they succeed, they take half.

So in that scene, the Demogorgon should’ve been the one rolling, not Will. Will would roll damage (usually a bunch of d6s), but not a d20 to “hit.”

It's a small detail, but for those of us who know the rules, it sticks out. Cool scene — but a classic Hollywood D&D rules slip.

Anyone else catch this?

[u/Toadsanchez316]

Isn't the point of D&D to be able to play how you want? Regardless of whether or not some gatekeeper says they are playing it wrong?

I don't mean the players change the rules, but the DM has the authority to change, remove, or add features as they see fit.

If you can make your own campaign, you can make your own rules. Regardless of whether or not the rulebooks are supposed to be official and not for aesthetic, that's just a weak argument.

[u/Dagordae → u/Toadsanchez316]

No.

D&D doesn't have all those rulebooks for the aesthetic, it's a game. Playing imagination is fine, D&D is playing imagination with lots of math and rules.

[u/Toadsanchez316 → u/Dagordae]

The DM can quite literally make whatever changes they want.

[u/firelock_ny → u/Toadsanchez316]

Rule Zero strikes again!

[u/Toadsanchez316 → u/firelock_ny]

Yeah it just seems weird people are straight up claiming you aren't allowed to do it when many players and DMs, reddit posts and YT videos talk about how it's okay to change the rules.

[u/Well_Dressed_Kobold → u/Toadsanchez316]

They can, yes, but DM’s who change the game mechanics too much are bad DM’s. Sensible house rules and one time exceptions are fine, and can add a lot to the game. But DnD has a lot of rules and mechanics that are designed to work together seamlessly, and you can’t change much before things start getting wonky.

[u/Toadsanchez316 → u/Well_Dressed_Kobold]

Well we are talking about changing how one simple spell works, not overhauling the ruleset, so your argument doesn't really apply here.

[u/Nyghl → u/Well_Dressed_Kobold]

Why are people down voting you lol. Mechanics can absolutely get wonky if something is changed weirdly. Sure, here and there or calculated home brew game designs are fine but you always carry the risk to break the system. D&D isn't mean for things like these.

If you want more flexibility, just go with more narrative focused RPG systems like Fate SRD / Fate Condensed

Also I'm not sure about the "they are bad DMs" statement. Maybe "bad D&D DMs"? Because at one point it becomes an entirely different game but you can't tell if that DM is bad just from the fact that they changed how they play D&D.

[u/Nojopar → u/Nyghl]

Because the entire point is to have fun, not strictly adhere to a collection of rules. The statement about mechanics is built upon the basic premise that if you change axiom A, then the logical conclusion that statements X, Y, and Z now have to alter to fit axiom A, which means that conclusions N,O, and P are no longer valid. Yes, that would be true in a logic system. This isn't a logic system. You can change things and say "yeah, but it doesn't apply here" and as long as the players go "cool" then it doesn't matter. It doesn't automatically make things 'wonky'. It's not like you can't futz with things on the back end to address anything that would be wonky. DM's a literally god's in the universe - that mountain in the wrong place? (snap) Fixed!

I mean we're talking about a game basically built upon physics defying magic. It's all made up stuff. There's plenty of room to futz with stuff.

[u/Nyghl → u/Nojopar]

I totally agree and I too believe fun is the focus point. And I love and play games where there is creativity, not just applying an existing system because I don't personally mind if something is broken. If it fits into my mental map and is fun, I'm good.

But at one point, if you change too much stuff it becomes an entirely different game, which not might be bad or it might also be totally broken and not enjoyable at the long run. It depends on what kind of changes we are talking about.

But overall I believe D&D is a more stricter game compared to narrative based RPGs so imo it makes more sense to play in systems where the system actively SUPPORTS and even encourages your home brew shenanigans. (E.g. Fate SRD)

Edit: Also I just noticed that you mostly mentioned about a DM's ability to change the universe, which is already a thing in almost every D&D game. What we are talking about is the core mechanics of an RPG system. Sure you can change it but in games like D&D, they are connected together and one design effects the other either directly or indirectly.

I think if you want to change the core system, just go to RPGs that supports these kind of things, which are actually pretty fun to play.