"You make this choice after you see the roll, but before the DM says whether the attack hits or misses." 🤮 I try not to be negative, but this D&D rule and its like in other RPGs are garbage. They're unnecessary for balance and unnecessarily sad-making overall.
— Chris Sims (@ChrisSSims) September 8, 2018
In most cases seeing your roll first gives you a pretty good idea if it’s time to use that feature, but I feel you.
Which is why I let players know if shield will be effective or not, I don’t force them to guess and gamble a spell slot. True but not true enough. The rule is in no way worth the space it takes up in the book, the game, or anyone's brain.
— Chris Sims (@ChrisSSims) September 8, 2018
Agreed, and horrible for table flow.
— Mike Mearls (@mikemearls) September 8, 2018