Can the spell Shocking Grasp damage more than one target at the same time?

Question

I am curious about the extent of damage from the spell Shocking Grasp. According to the spell it targets the person touched. This is clear to me. The questions I have are:

1. Does the electricity from this spell act like regular electricity? (example: i step on a live electrical wire and touch a metal bench and shock someone who is sitting on the bench)
2. If it does work the same as normal electricity, could you electrocute multiple people at the same time if they are all in contact when one of them is touched with this spell?

Common sense, in the realm of real life, would tell me yes. However, this is magic, it is a first level spell, and real life common sense is not always applicable to the D&D world. If you can answer this with some links to back it up that would be great. But, I have looked around and can't find anything on this.

Answer 1

As you said, this is magic. So no. The effects of the spell are clear in that the target touched is the one affected. It does not carry to additional targets even if the entire chain should be conductive (say metal elementals).

Answer 2

How a spell works is exactly as it is written in nearly all scenarios.

However your DM has a large amount of influence over what actually happen.

An example from my own experience;

My table once had a trio of aquatic creatures coming out of a dirty lake and I told my DM I cast shocking grasp with my hand in the water and hit all 3 of them from 10 feet away. One of the other players mentioned how he liked the idea a lot and how he'd start trying to use that kind of creative thinking. In response to this, I elaborated on how water is a better conductor with more impurities in it and the reverse being the cleaner it is.

A few sessions later, this player tries to cast Lightning Bolt(lv 3) at a large aquatic creature in a crystal clear lake. The DM ruled that the spell did not affect it. When asked why, the DM quoted my older comment about pure water being an insulator.

If you and your DM decide to apply science and logic, do keep it to simple and common science, much less of a headache.

Answer 3

As raw, Fering answer it.

I would like to add another point. Lets the see, in your own homerule table.

As a DM, I will allow it. I will allow it, because I do not want to see my players hampered by the rules. Rules are here to support the game, not to limit it. I want to see them thinking out of the box. I want them to think and show creativity. Your case is a borderline move, but a logical and out of the box one. By rewarding them, I send a message. Do it more!

It is like the question of using Grease with fire.

Also, this kind of move can bring unbalance to the game. As which each unbalance problem, you will have to handle it. Basically, you are not saying "No", you are saying "Yes, but".

For example, a nd6 Shocking Grasp could become \$\frac{n}{2^x}\times\text{d}6\$ where \$x\$ is the iterator of the target. Each target become a kind of resistance.

So for 3d6, \$\frac{3}{2^0}\times\text{d}6 = 3\text{d}6\$ for the first target, then \$\frac{3}{2^1}\times\text{d}6 = 1\text{d}6\$ for the second target, then \$\frac{3}{2^2}\times\text{d}6 = 0\text{d}6\$ so nothing for the third one.

Another kind of rule could be to split the damage and each target take half the damage each time (8d6 = 4d6 + 2d6 + 1d6 + 1d6 or 3d6 = 2d6 + 1d6). You could even add modifiers (bonus or malus) for whatever.

Demo: Scamage (build it myslef. Any input is welcome :3)

Caster tends to be top tier. Be careful with balance. Find one logic for your table and go for it. We are here to have fun.