D&D 5E Countering Rest Spells (Tiny Hut, Rope Trick, et al)

[Oofta]

To throw another spanner into the mix, Jeremy Crawford Tweeted about the spell way back in 2015.


I really wish this answer was in the Sage Advice Compendium, but this is enough for me to discard the idea of tiny hut as a bunker without feeling like I'm spoiling designer intent or something. You've got to jump in and out of it now in order to make your attacks.

Sounds like a reasonable ruling, although one I'd cover with my group when they get the spell. I'd personally describe it as requiring a bit of a "push" to get through the wall. Fire an arrow? Well, it hits the wall, slows down and falls harmlessly to the floor.

 

[Derren]

To throw another spanner into the mix, Jeremy Crawford Tweeted about the spell way back in 2015.


I really wish this answer was in the Sage Advice Compendium, but this is enough for me to discard the idea of tiny hut as a bunker without feeling like I'm spoiling designer intent or something. You've got to jump in and out of it now in order to make your attacks.

Doesn't change much. Just have your arrow poke out of the hut before firing. And if you are married to the 5 ft. grid and dont allow deviations from it you can move out, fire and move back in which still works as long as the enemy doesn't have much more archers than you to use a readied action.

Or you run out of spell slots, which is just as likely.

Which spell? The cleaning cantrip? Rope Trick lasts for an hour so is good for at least 6 of your patrols if there even are that many. The only problem is dealing with all the bodies as the rope trick will be rather cramped after doing this twice.

 

[Bacon Bits]

Doesn't change much. Just have your arrow poke out of the hut before firing. And if you are married to the 5 ft. grid and dont allow deviations from it you can move out, fire and move back in which still works as long as the enemy doesn't have much more archers than you to use a readied action

If you are far enough outside of the dome to fire an arrow, you are far enough outside to be attacked. Sure, you don't have to rule that way, but you can't exactly complain about the results if you don't.

 

[Oofta]

You will fight this battle anyway, no matter if you get interrupted while casting the hut or not. So it is only a missed chance and no disadvantage.

But when you really have someone pass that area every 10 minutes its perfect for a rope trick ambush. Wait till they pass, cast rope trick, wait till the next patrol comes to get a drop o them, possibly quite literary.
After that stuff the bodies into the rope trick, clean up with a cantrip and repeat till they notice that something is wrong or run out of patrols.

If you could get away with that* then you could probably do it more simply with a minor illusion to hide the bodies.

*The sounds of combat don't carry? Patrols don't yell out warning? Have one scout run while holding off the rest?

 

[doctorbadwolf]

You don't need hallways to control an area with a hut. They don't have to be casted in the middle of a room but can also be right in front a door.
And if walls are that easy to be knocked down its another thing the PCs can exploit. If not then it will take a while until they are through. Enough time for the PCs to deal with the split forces and wait for the others to arrive (Or they put another hut right were they try to bring down the wall).
Even if there is a way around it, it gives the PCs a shortcut and forces the enemy to engage the PCs at a time of their choosing.

Casting the spell right before the BBEGs room is situational. A silence spell to keep him unaware of the ritual is likely required or the ritual caster being a sorcerer with the subtle metamagic for example. You might also need the 1 minute spell slot version if you are really sure. But if you can manage it you have a huge advantage in the upcoming battle.
Waiting out the PCs? For all 8 hours during which he can be attacked at any point by a pre buffed party without any warning? In that situation he basically already lost.

Starving out enemies in a world with easily accessible magic to create food and water is a gamble. And when you attack the hut lets you repair a breach in the wall within 10 minutes. Or better, cast the spell before the wall is breached. the gate also is no weak point in the defenses any more with a hut right behind it.

The counters in your first post all assume that the hut is used for resting. Time pressure doesn't work very well when the casting time is just 10 minutes and you cant surround someone when the hut is placed at strategic intersections inhibiting your movement. Sure, you can set up defenses away from the hut (so that you are not shot at while building them) and wait, but you might setup yourself to be ambushed as the adventurers are not even in the hut or left it on the other side while you were working.

Enemies can “pre-buff”, too.

And raise fortifications.

And seal off a room the PCs are in fromthe outside and go do something else.

And 1 minute is ten rounds of combat. The likelihood of being able to use it just outside the BBEGs room, without alerting anyone to their presence, and the BBEG doesn’t just cast dispel Magic or create a meat grinder for the PCs when they come out, is exceptionally small.

Small enough that, yeah, go ahead and do that. It will be a cool story the one time in a campaign that it works.

 

[Derren]

If you are far enough outside of the dome to fire an arrow, you are far enough outside to be attacked. Sure, you don't have to rule that way, but you can't exactly complain about the results if you don't.

It still requires the enemy to use a readied action and if you rule that hitting two hands sticking out of a wall are as easy to hit than a full person standing before the wall don't be surprised if your players will have fits of laughter or stare at you in disbelieve.
And if you are using a crossbow its hard to explain why you would need to expose your hands at all.

 

[doctorbadwolf]

It still requires the enemy to use a readied action and if you rule that hitting two hands sticking out of a wall are as easy to hit than a full person standing before the wall don't be surprised if your players will have fits of laughter or stare at you in disbelieve.
And if you are using a crossbow its hard to explain why you would need to expose your hands at all.

Lightning Lure.

 

[Arilyn]

Also, the wizard cannot leave the spell, so if you're leaving to deal with a threat outside, you're doing it without the wizard.

Yes, I think this point is being missed a lot. Caster has to stay within 10 ft? Close by, anyway. So it's not like little huts can be cast all over as walls, etc.

 

[Oofta]

It still requires the enemy to use a readied action and if you rule that hitting two hands sticking out of a wall are as easy to hit than a full person standing before the wall don't be surprised if your players will have fits of laughter or stare at you in disbelieve.
And if you are using a crossbow its hard to explain why you would need to expose your hands at all.

We have periscope hand crossbows now? That's new. Even if you could have just the "top" of the crossbow sticking out, I have no idea how you would aim.

D&D doesn't really map getting your hand cut off, so I would rule that the enemies are allowed to attack which could include a grapple followed by pulling the owner of the hand out of the hut. Many attacks/spells would work just fine even if only the hand is exposed.

I'd probably just rule that it doesn't work because of the simplified nature of the rules don't cover it.

 

[Derren]

Enemies can “pre-buff”, too.

And raise fortifications.

And seal off a room the PCs are in fromthe outside and go do something else.

And 1 minute is ten rounds of combat. The likelihood of being able to use it just outside the BBEGs room, without alerting anyone to their presence, and the BBEG doesn’t just cast dispel Magic or create a meat grinder for the PCs when they come out, is exceptionally small.

Small enough that, yeah, go ahead and do that. It will be a cool story the one time in a campaign that it works.

They can pre buff, but u less the buffs last 8 hours the ones in the hut can wait till they run out. To raise fortifications you need tools and materials which most of the time are not at hand and to even begin to think about sealing the PCs in they have to first get past the PCs to get the word out, if the PCs left anyone alive.

Catching the BBEG this way is hard, but not impossible. One is usually not interrupted every minute and with a silence or subtle spell its quite possible to cast the 1, mabe even the 10 minute version without noticing.
And even if you make a commotion you can still get the 1 minute version of the hut to complete as the ones i side are at first suprised and usually don't instantly rush out and then you need to hold the door shut for a few rounds. It possible but not guranteed.

Lightning Lure.

Casted as a readied action so the archer still has his movement to walk right back into the hut.