The sleep spell description says:
Casting Time: 1 action
Range: 90 feet
Creatures within 20 feet of a point you choose within range are affected... (Basic Rules p. 101)
Why is the radius only 20 feet if the range is 90 feet?
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asked Dec 19, 2016 at 14:21
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\$\begingroup\$ At this point, your question has been heavily edited. Please make sure that it is still a meaningful question to you, the asker. \$\endgroup\$– tillmasCommented Dec 19, 2016 at 14:58
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2\$\begingroup\$ What's the deal with VtC as opinion-based? I see no opinion in the answer to this question, unless interpreting the question as "what is the design intent?" which I think we can all agree is not what is being asked. \$\endgroup\$– LegendaryDudeCommented Dec 19, 2016 at 15:15
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\$\begingroup\$ @AugnarRoinstoff no worries--nobody's expected to know everything, and that's part of the reason almost everyone's empowered to make edits to any post--to benefit from the accumulation of wisdom! This meta is worth reading for some context, and welcome to the site! \$\endgroup\$– nitsua60Commented Dec 19, 2016 at 16:24
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5 Answers
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The range indicates how far you can target the centre point of the area of effect. The area of effect has its own range of 20' meaning any creature within that radius can be affected.
In the image below, all the blue circles are valid areas of effect. But the orange circle is centred outside the 90' range and so is invalid.
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1\$\begingroup\$ +1: this answer actually adds something new (a graphical representation) as opposed to the many other duplicate answers this question has garnered. \$\endgroup\$– nitsua60Commented Dec 20, 2016 at 14:56
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That's because your chosen point can be anywhere within 90 feet, could be right in front of you, or up to 90 feet away.
Once this point is chosen, anyone within 20 feet of it is affected by the spell.
answered Dec 19, 2016 at 14:26
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The spell's range is defining where you can originate the area of effect for the spell. Similar to how fireball has a radius of 20' within a range of 150'.
From the Range section on page 202 of the PHB, "The target of a spell must be within the spell's range...For a spell like fireball, the target is the point in space where the ball of fire erupts."
answered Dec 19, 2016 at 14:26
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When you cast sleep, you target a point. That point can be anywhere you can see, up to 90 feet from you. The radius of the spell effect (20'), which determines which creatures are caught in the effect, originates at that point.
answered Dec 19, 2016 at 14:26
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Like fireball, you select a location, but the magic doesn't take affect until it reaches there. The spell isn't powerful enough to put 90ft of creatures to sleep, but it is versatile enough that you could hit an area that far away.
answered Dec 19, 2016 at 14:39