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[satori01]

The Ritual is very poorly written, and probably should be errata'd or clarification given on the intent. Every DM is going to have to make some rullings about this.

Now Magic Circles in past editions have had 2 main effects, that are often seperate...to keep things out, and to keep something in.

Obviously an clear use of this spell is to make a safe haven for a group while in a dungeon, except for the problem that you theoretically can not get out. Many other Rituals allow the caster to designate people to be able to pass through other defensive Rituals....so not hard to add that house rule.

As to the trapping part...that becomes a little more complicated.
Teleportation I believe clearly works to get in or out of the Ritual, as you do not need line of Effect to Teleport and one can make a cogent arguement that Teleportation does not have you pass thru anything (eg you do not take damage when teleporting to the other side of a damage dealing zone etc).

The other question is how far does the Magic Circle's protection extend?
Does it extend infinitely upwards or downwards? Would a sufficently powerful Magic Circle prevent birds from flying overhead, animals from grazing, or Dwarves mining underneath the Magic Circle?

I think on the surface of it you can rule out a Magic Circle interfering with Extra Planar travel. If a creature has a personal plane shift they can utilize the power to escape. Likewise the same for Teleportation, so this spell has some clear limits to the type of enemies in can hinder and the levels of which it will be trivial for enemies to bypass.

The trickier question for me is how far does the Magic Circle effect extend to?
Would it extend up through the roof of a building? if for example, a King has a Magic Circle protecting a sacred chalice in the basement would the castle be inaccesable above the Magic Circle no matter how high the Castle goes up? I think that strains credulty.

Thus I think you can reasonably fly out of, (if you destroy a roof over you, outdoors a DM will have to decide how far up the Magic Circle extends or if the Magic Circle domes over), and dig out of a Magic Circle.

This seems in line with a 5th level Ritual....creatures that can Fly, that can Burrow, or that can Teleport will be only slightly inconveinced. Other creatures will be blocked dependent upon the power level of the Magic Circle.