D&D Next Spellcasting

I'm new to Roll20 and I'm trying to make a D&D Next campaign for my friends and I. The problem I'm having is making macros for spells. What I want to be able to do is click a macro (for example: Cast-ShockingGrasp) that will then give a description that explains how the person prepares to cast the spell, then I want it to roll 1d20 to see if the spell hits (rollresult<SaveDc = hit, rollresult>SaveDC=miss). If it does hit then I want it to roll for the amount of damage that the spell does, take the damage result from the targets health attribute, and give a description as to how it effected the target. If it doesn't hit then I want it to describe how the person failed. If possible I'd like to have a different description for each possible roll result (if they rolled a 1 I want that description to be different to when they roll a 10). So my question is: Is this possible, and if so how? Also is there any way I can set an attacks range?

Most of what you want is not possible without scripting it in the API.

I had assumed as much, and unfortunately I know nothing about Java Script, and I was unable to find a API that does all this...

Macro's dont really have conditionals, you'd probably only be able to do this via the API. There is still quite a bit you can do with existing API and character sheets, since you are Mentor. Take a look at Actoba's D&D Next character sheet. His sheet has capability of custom attacks that require attack rolls or abilities that only require save DC's. Now while you may not be able to do all the calculations automatically, I prefer to do all the modifications myself, as there is not a lot of protection to prevent players from taking advantage of this scenario. ie: They could hit a macro multiple times , out of turn, send their own custom inline commands , etc. My macro's end up looking like this for D&D Next: Character Name Attack Name | Attack Type [ Standard Roll ] | [ Advantage/Disadvantage Roll ] [ Damage ] [ Damage Type ]

It looks like it would work for what I want to do, however how do I use it? Is it an API? How do I apply it?

/roll [[1d20<saveDC]] * damageDice can be used to determine the damage automatically. I haven't used attributes and such in my campaign much, but that might help you on your way.

Campaign Settings, scroll all the way down. I believe his character sheet became the "Default" for D&D Next, otherwise you will have to copy / paste it in from the Git repository. Honestly his sheet is very well done, I think it got overlooked in the voting process.. I also highly recommend HoneyBadger's Custom Power Card API. If you like, I can invite you to my campaign and give you a demo if it them working together. I modified the character sheet so all the rolls use HB's script, rather than emotes. It looks much cleaner. PM me if interested.

Thanks for the compliment :) As Feltz mentioned the sheet does support attacks based off attack rolls and those that require saving throws but not to the level of your original post without some API support. I dont plan to update the sheet at all before the full Next/5e release (now that it's scheduled) as the sheet right now is very much designed for use with the last publicly available playtest and I'd rather not have to do multiple updates between now and the full release. If anyone has any feedback about the sheet though i'd love to hear it so that I can update (or more likely replace) the sheet with a new version once we have the full Next/5e release. I'm already considering some simplifications for the future to bring things more in line with what a player/character would do (weapon attacks, spell attacks, etc...) rather than the current split based around the mechanics for the action (attack rolls/save throw for the target, etc..)...blame that on my logical way of breaking down things in my head if it's confusing for you or your players ;) I'll probably look to make a non-API basic version and then probably look to build one with support for some API scripting too but we'll see how things look in a few months time and what the final ruleset is :)

I'm also a fan of HB power cards script though and here's an example of a macro i setup in my previous (and very first on roll20!) brief campaign for Shocking Grasp - The code to get that was (with of course some basic attributes setup to power it) - !power --format|ddn --emote|@{selected|token_name} casts a spell --bgcolor|#406 --name|Shocking Grasp --leftsub|Evocation, Cantrip, 1 action, --rightsub|Touch range --DEX save DC| [[8+ @{Intelligence} + @{Proficiency} + @{Spellcast Magic Bonus} ]] | [[8+ @{Intelligence} + @{Spellcast Magic Bonus} ]] w/o focus --Special|Targets wearing Heavy armour made of metal make the save with disadvantage --On a failed save| [[2d8]] lightning damage and the target cannot take reactions until it's next turn --On a successful save|Half damage but no additional effect.

I'd like to thank you all for your support. With it I was able to create a method of portraying actions. I wasn't able to set-up a way for it to automatically damage a target if the player successfully landed the attack, which I don't mind because that means I'll just have to do it myself. I'm learning Java Script now and my plan is that if I can get good enough at it I (and hopefully some of my friends) will be able to create a API that includes EVERYTHING required for Dungeons and Dragons Next. Since that won't happen for a incredibly long time, if at all, I will use my current method. Thanks again to all of you who assisted!