D&D 5E AoE spells: Do you play by RAW or RAI?

[tetrasodium]

I agree that there shouldn't be a loophole, but combining spells that have both immediate as well as end of torn with 5e's cutesy voluntary movement only AoO minimization sets up a rules lawyering mincing of words discussion that I can completely circumvent by moving any end of turn effects to immediately or start of turn as appropriate.

 

[Shiroiken]

Not saying you are wrong but on a side note, isn't it crazy that the freaking damage beam can pass right over top of them and do nothing?

A bit yeah, but if you consider how quickly it would be moving over them, perhaps it doesn't stay long enough to do any damage. Think of it like moving your hand through/over an open flame; if you do it quickly enough, it doesn't hurt much.

 

[Flamestrike]

Not at all. It’s a beam of light. There’s no particular reasons that it can’t take a few second to deal damage.

Does it take a few seconds though?

Actions inside combat are happening simultaneously (despite the turn based nature of the combat round).

Its not like the spell is cast on the wizards turn (time passes while you stand there) and it deals damage on your turn.

What's really happening is you're doing your thing, while he's doing his thing, and you get hit by the beam (his turn ends) and immediately take damage (your turn starts).

 

[dave2008]

Alice casts spell.... bob thornwhips an extra baddie into the spell.... cindy took the telekinesis feat and punts yet another baddie in on her turn. Dave uses his gusto cantrip(?) To shove yet another baddie in. It's not that much of an edge case

Unless I am missing something that is both RAW and RAI. The issue the OP is asking about is casting the spell on a creature, but not giving them damage until they start their turn. So the issue is not pushing a creature into the area, but pushing them out of it.

 

[Greg Benage]

Theory of Relativity = there is no fixed/preferred frame of reference. Therefore, it is just as true that you moved. Therefore, you entered the ocean.

Do not try and move the ocean; that's impossible. Instead, only try to realize the truth...there is no ocean. Then you will see it is not the ocean that moves, it is only yourself.

 

[tetrasodium]

Unless I am missing something that is both RAW and RAI. The issue the OP is asking about is casting the spell on a creature, but not giving them damage until they start their turn. So the issue is not pushing a creature into the area, but pushing them out of it.

I'm on my phone right now so we could both me wrong. I think that is what the op brought up, but it gets complicated with certain spells when players interact with them by pushing or pulling opponents into spells with a persistent effect.

 

[Oofta]

Do not try and move the ocean; that's impossible. Instead, only try to realize the truth...there is no ocean. Then you will see it is not the ocean that moves, it is only yourself.

Hey, man, that's deep.

The ocean I mean. And, like, wet.

 

[CleverNickName]

RAW. Well, mostly.

We typically play "rules as written, unless the DM decides otherwise." Exceptions can arise depending on circumstances and timing, and we try to adjust as needed.

 

[jmartkdr2]

Thinking back, I realized that in practice, we're about 50/50 with when we resolve the initial damage. So long as you don't double-dip it rarely matters.

 

[doctorbadwolf]

Does it take a few seconds though?

Why does it matter?

Actions inside combat are happening simultaneously (despite the turn based nature of the combat round).

Its not like the spell is cast on the wizards turn (time passes while you stand there) and it deals damage on your turn.

What's really happening is you're doing your thing, while he's doing his thing, and you get hit by the beam (his turn ends) and immediately take damage (your turn starts).

Well, no, because you can potentially be moved by another character in between the beam and the damage. So clearly a few seconds pass.

Combat is not fully simultaneous, turns just overlap.