Questions tagged [area-of-effect]
For questions which ask primarily about effects that affect a large zone or have multiple targets.
204
questions
3
votes
1answer
37 views
Can someone use the Telekinesis power with an Area modifier to attempt an Area Grapple?
If I have the Telekinesis power with an Area modifier (also Selective and Damaging, why not?), can I attempt grappling multiple opponents in the area with it like an enraged Sith Lord?
5
votes
1answer
32 views
How do Patterns and Cover Interact?
I am having trouble finding a confirmation one way or another in relation to how cover does or doesn't affect Pattern attacks, and if it does, when and how. I suspect that it's actually spelled out ...
asked May 4 at 14:52
vicky_molokh- unsilence Monica
11.1k3 gold badges26 silver badges69 bronze badges
1
vote
0answers
105 views
Does an enemy have to make the save against the Spirit Guardians spell if the caster moves within 15 feet of the enemy? [duplicate]
Does the Spirit Guardians spell trigger its saving throw if you, as the caster, close the 15-ft. gap?
Or only when the enemy uses its movement to come into the spell's radius? Spirit Guardians says:
...
8
votes
0answers
107 views
When using the Template variant rule from Xanathar's Guide to Everything, do 5 foot wide Lines actually affect a 10 foot wide row of grid squares? [duplicate]
Xanathar's Guide to Everything has a few variant options for playing on a Grid.
XGtE, Page 86:
... Choose an intersection of squares as the point of origin of an area of effect ...
... If any part of ...
-9
votes
2answers
254 views
Do features that let you see things within your “line of sight” let you see invisible creatures and objects?
The 2020 Sage Advice Compendium has the following question & answer:
The frightened condition says “while the source of its fear is within line of sight.” Does that mean you have dis-advantage on ...
10
votes
1answer
362 views
Can an area of effect spell be cast through total cover?
Wall of Ice was cast across a field. My player wanted to cast Storm Sphere on the other side, even though there was no clear path to the target.
I told her that as there was no clear path, so she ...
6
votes
1answer
153 views
How exactly do you calculate changing a Line into a Cone?
How exactly do you calculate changing a Line into a Cone?
I am asking for the purposes of the Shape Breath Metabreath feat. As the feat says:
If you have a line-shaped breath weapon, you can opt to ...
8
votes
3answers
403 views
Can the Erupting Earth spell be cast somewhere that isn't on “ground”?
The description of the spell Erupting Earth says:
Choose a point you can see on the ground within range.
Does the use of the word "ground" limit this spell to floors that would be ...
7
votes
3answers
79 views
Size alteration while under a spell effect that is a radius centred on you
If I am under the effect of a spell effect that extends in a radius centred on me and then my size is altered to the next larger size category or next smaller size category, is the spell effect radius ...
-1
votes
1answer
235 views
How does Hunger of Hadar behave in confined space?
Hunger of Hadar has a curious wording:
A 20-foot-radius sphere of blackness and bitter cold appears, centered on a point with range and lasting for the duration.
Compare this to Fireball:
A bright ...
3
votes
3answers
204 views
What is the sound's origin of an audible Alarm targeting a cubic area?
The Alarm spells reads as (emphasis mine)
You set an alarm against unwanted intrusion. Choose a door, a window, or an area within range that is no larger than a 20-foot cube. Until the spell ends, an ...
15
votes
4answers
2k views
Does a Bugbear PC take damage when holding an enemy on the other side of a Wall of Fire with Grapple?
Bugbears have long arms, allowing them to grapple enemies 10 ft. away.
The Bugbear's square is not in the effect range of the Wall of Fire.
However, about 5 ft. worth of one of the Bugbear's hands is ...
1
vote
0answers
25 views
How does “Sympathetic Magic” mecurial work with area of affect spells
I have a wizard who rolled 22 "Sympathetic Magic" on the Mecurial Magic table for an area of affect spell. Is there any ruling documented how that works?
For those without the book:
22 ...
3
votes
1answer
335 views
Does Arms of Hadar hit the caster?
The text is unclear to me.
Tendrils of dark energy erupt from you and batter all creatures within 10 feet of you.
I assume I'm a creature within 10 feet of me, so am I also a target of this spell?
...
8
votes
5answers
460 views
What is the point of origin for a square area of effect?
The spellcasting rules for areas of effect state:
A spell's description specifies its area of effect, which typically has one of five different shapes: cone, cube, cylinder, line, or sphere. Every ...
7
votes
2answers
92 views
Can I use area of effect targetting rules to Entangle a target 105 feet away from me?
Entangle is a spell with a range of 90 feet. But, the wording of it...
Grasping weeds and vines sprout from the ground in a 20-foot square starting from a point within range.
Can I orient the square ...
4
votes
2answers
102 views
Can an Elder Oblex be subject to an AoE more than once?
The Elder Oblex has the Sulfurous Impersonation feature which lets it create an impersonation of a creature in another space. The feature goes on to state:
For all practical purposes, the simulacrum ...
9
votes
2answers
497 views
Can two spells with AOEs intersect each other?
If my Triton character casts Wall of Water and my friend who is a Warlock casts Hunger of Hadar, can both of these spells intersect one another? My DM does not know to how to respond to this question. ...
1
vote
1answer
227 views
How does the Distant Spell Metamagic interact with the Thunderclap spell?
The Thunderclap spell has a range of 5 feet and states (emphasis mine):
You create a burst of thunderous sound that can be heard up to 100 feet away. Each creature within range, other than you, must ...
12
votes
1answer
1k views
The Gust of Wind spell creates a 10-foot-wide line of wind originating from the caster; how do I center it on a 5-foot grid?
Characters are on a grid where every square is 5 feet on each side.
The description of the gust of wind spell says:
A line of strong wind 60 feet long and 10 feet wide blasts from you in
a direction ...
19
votes
2answers
2k views
What are the permitted shapes of a Wall of Fire?
The text of the Wall of Fire spell is found on page 285 of my printing of the Fifth Edition Player's Handbook. The following is all the text states regarding how the wall is shaped:
[...] You can ...
10
votes
4answers
430 views
Can players choose specific points in space, down to the inch, to cast a spell so as to avoid hitting a prone character?
Say there is a character that is prone, such as if they were unconscious, and they are surrounded on all 8 square grids (assuming that a grid is being used) by other creatures. Can a player cast a ...
2
votes
2answers
145 views
How exactly do cylinder spells and effects “ignore obstructions” in their areas? Or what kinds of obstructions they can realistically ignore?
So, Spell descriptions on Area entry says:
When casting a cylinder-shaped spell, you select the spell’s point of origin. This point is the center of a horizontal circle, and the spell shoots down ...
2
votes
1answer
420 views
How do I adjudicate the impact radius of the Melf's Minute Meteors spell? [duplicate]
The description of the Melf's Minute Meteors spell states, in part:
[...] you can expend one or two of the meteors, sending them streaking toward a point or points you choose within 120 feet of you. ...
10
votes
1answer
1k views
Are the insects from the Insect Plague spell affected by other damaging spells?
Are the locusts created by the Insect Plague spell affected by other spells like Fireball, Cloudkill, Abi-Dalzim’s Horrid Wilting or similar spells? By similar spells I mean spells that deal damage on ...
10
votes
1answer
952 views
How do the cover rules interact with the Flaming Sphere spell?
The rules for cover state:
A target with half cover has a +2 bonus to AC and Dexterity saving throws.
Let's say a wizard casts flaming sphere. They can then move the sphere as a bonus action to ram ...
10
votes
1answer
388 views
Does the Evard's Black Tentacles spell affect the 5-foot cubes above its area?
I'm playing in a Tomb of Annihilation game, and there were some succubi that we were fighting. We had information ahead of time that a lot of them were grouped up together talking to someone, and so I ...
0
votes
0answers
68 views
How does Moonbeam work? [duplicate]
So, I saw a similar question explaining that Moonbeam and other similar hazard spells don't deal damage when they attack. However, since moonbeam is able to be moved, are the enemies considered '...
3
votes
2answers
176 views
For areas of effect, what is the difference between “each creature in blast” and “each creature in area”?
What is the difference between "each creature in blast" and "each creature in area"?
I noticed that the dragon breath power said "all creatures in area", and was curious ...
6
votes
1answer
78 views
Number of saves vs lingering clouds of poison doses
If someone were to use either the toxic censer or alchemical wax to create long duration clouds of poison, how many times do creatures within those clouds have to save against the poison dose?
Are ...
0
votes
2answers
267 views
What is the interaction between Thunderwave and being required to target your own space? [duplicate]
The spell Thunderwave has the rather unusual target area of a 15-foot cube, the point of origin for which is the caster, which is generally understood to mean you can either position the cube anywhere ...
10
votes
1answer
227 views
Can the area of the additional spell effect of Druid Grove extend outside the area of Druid Grove?
The spell druid grove (XGtE, pg. 154) lists several effects that the caster may impose on the spell's area (30-90 ft. cube). The spell also comes with an "Additional Spell Effect"; this ...
8
votes
1answer
168 views
Does the Hallow spell remove an existing charm/fear/possession effect from creatures that are already in its area when the spell is cast?
Part of the description of the hallow spell includes the following effect (emphasis mine):
First, celestials, elementals, fey, fiends, and undead can't enter the area, nor can such creatures charm, ...
4
votes
2answers
156 views
How does the Dimensional Loop's Fold Space ability interact with areas of effect?
The magic item Dimensional Loop (Acquisitions Incorporated, pg. 220) has an ability called Fold Space which says:
Choose a space you can see within 60 feet of you (no action required). You treat that ...
18
votes
1answer
781 views
Can Cloudkill deal damage twice in a turn?
The spell Cloudkill has the following effect:
When a creature enters the spell's area for the first time on a turn or starts its turn there, that creature must make a Constitution saving throw. The ...
8
votes
1answer
369 views
Is it reasonable to think that most magic users would be familiar with the spell Silence and thus know easy ways to counter it?
The spell Silence as described in the PHB:
For the Duration, no sound can be created within or pass through a 20-foot-radius Sphere centered on a point you choose within range. Any creature or ...
12
votes
1answer
2k views
Can the Silence spell be cast on a character or object that can then be moved?
A PC Cleric wants to cast the silence spell on one of the two PC Fighters in their party so that the Fighters can enter a room to kill orcs without having the noise of the battle alarm orcs in other ...
13
votes
2answers
986 views
Does an aura affect all creatures including ones only partially in the aura?
In the image below, I have a paladin with a 10 foot aura of protection. I have three characters labelled 1, 2 and 3.
We have been playing that character 2 and 3 would be in the aura, but character 1 ...
13
votes
2answers
2k views
Does activating the Instant Fortress magic item always harm the activator due to being in the area where the fortress appears?
The Instant Fortress magic item has the potential to deal a great deal of damage (~55 on a failed save, more than a 9th level Fireball spell). Many adventurers who acquire this item attempt to ...
7
votes
1answer
402 views
Can the Gaseous Form spell be used to expand the area affected by the warlock's Cloak of Flies eldritch invocation?
The warlock's Cloak of Flies eldritch invocation (XGtE, p. 56) says:
As a bonus action, you can surround yourself with a magical aura that looks like buzzing flies. The aura extends 5 feet from you ...
3
votes
2answers
927 views
Can Create Bonfire be placed in a way that affects multiple squares? [duplicate]
The Create Bonfire cantrip creates a bonfire which "fills a 5 foot cube". It deals comparable damage to other cantrips, making one assume it's meant to only deal it (reliably) to a single target. But, ...
0
votes
1answer
81 views
Can you turn a spell into an area spell?
Let me preface this by saying I'm pretty much a complete newb when it comes to the Vancian spellcasting subsystem, so sorry if this one has an obvious answer I just don't know about.
Is there a way ...
2
votes
1answer
94 views
Does the spell Snowsong move with me once cast?
The area of the snowsong spell (Frostburn, p. 105) is listed as "30-ft. radius centered on you". Does this mean that the spell moves with me once cast?
This seems like an amazing spell, but only if ...
2
votes
1answer
93 views
Why is targeting an adjacent attacker with a 5 foot cube area attack considered a ranged attack?
An opponent has moved adjacent up into a character's face and swung at them. On their turn, in retaliation, the character would like to attack back with their favoured cube area attack, made at the ...
2
votes
3answers
222 views
How do I handle targeting and areas of effect in 3-D?
I'm totally OK with regular grid and counting squares for purposes of movement, spell and weapon targeting, and determining areas of effect. Area shapes neatly match with measurements made square-by-...
3
votes
1answer
406 views
How do we determine circular AoE areas on grid? [closed]
I don't know how to explain it, but I have a question about spells areas, imagine a spell has a 10´radius circle area, which one work better?
I'm confused because the lower option its not 10´foot ...
4
votes
1answer
300 views
If you center the Cloudkill spell on yourself, does the fog expand outward from you on subsequent turns?
The description of the cloudkill spell says (emphasis mine):
You create a 20-foot-radius sphere of poisonous, yellow‑green fog centered on a point you choose within range. The fog spreads around ...
8
votes
3answers
786 views
When using the Wall of Fire spell, what shape is a ringed wall on a grid?
I was looking at wall of fire and realized I wasn't sure how to represent the ringed version when on a grid. The spell states (emphasis mine):
You create a wall of fire on a solid surface within ...
5
votes
1answer
271 views
After a creature makes a Dex save from Wall of Fire, does it end up inside or outside the ring?
Let's say a Wizard casts Wall of Fire in the ring shape, choosing the inside of the wall as the side that does damage.
An enemy is in one of the squares on the edge of the ring (ie. one of the 8 ...
3
votes
1answer
1k views
On a grid, what is the area of effect of Spirit Guardians?
I'm unclear on what the area of effect of Spirit Guardians is on a grid.
The spell has a range of Self (15-foot radius).
Additionally, the description of the ...
