MarkB
Legend
That's not what the spell description says.
Which is why, when a spell specifies the fastest means available, it really means it - because there is no default forced movement rule for it to revert to.
D&D 5E Command and spike growth
Lyxen
Great Old One
Yes, it does. It does not force you along one path or another, and if one is without danger and the straightest path is harmful, I doubt that you would have the spell fail. Or if you have a ground speed faster than a fly speed, it will not force you to run if the floor is lava, you will use your fly speed. And it will not force you to use powers or spells to go faster even though they might be available, etc.
The fastest available without harm, otherwise the spell just fails.
BTW, I have looked for the JC tweet and could not find it from a quick search, I think it would be interesting to look at it in detail.
plisnithus8
Adventurer
It doesn’t say the fastest without harm. It says the spell fail if direct harm. If not, the target uses their entire turn to move in the fastest way possible away from the caster. Fastest is one way (not a choice of paths based on decisions) that would be most obvious to the caster based on what they know about themselves. Just like Grovel forces the target into a dangerous prone position or Drop to disarm during combat. This enchant doesn’t allow the target to resist in order to make themselves more comfortable.
I did quote Crawford’s tweet early in this thread.
ad_hoc
(they/them)
I think that is another good point.
Is the target forced to cast expeditious retreat if they have it?
What about a Monk spending a Ki to get more movement?
A Rogue using Bonuses Action dash?
Is the dash action forced when available?
These are all questions without answer.
The literal and direct interpretation of the spell would have them teleport away if able.
I think most people would argue against that. So the question becomes where is the line where a specific action is forced if available?
MarkB
Legend
I was wondering about teleportation myself. The only reason I'd rule it out is that it's technically not movement.
Everything else you mentioned - the only question to ask is, would using it result in moving away faster, without taking direct harm? If yes, then you use it.
ad_hoc
(they/them)
If the only path is through swinging scythes that make attack rolls to hit is that direct or indirect damage?
What if there are 2 levers the character can pull to stop the scythes? Do they take their action to pull the levers or do they dash or does the spell fail?
What if the scythes are not swinging by themselves but are operated by people? What if they are spears instead and people are thrusting them in and out of the space?
What does the disengage action represent? Is it not some kind of movement to avoid danger? It is allowed to use movement to avoid danger in the Flee command so why is disengage not allowed?
The spell doesn't say the target spends their movement it just says that the target moves away as fast as possible. That would include teleportation.
What if there are 2 levers the character can pull to stop the scythes? Do they take their action to pull the levers or do they dash or does the spell fail?
What if the scythes are not swinging by themselves but are operated by people? What if they are spears instead and people are thrusting them in and out of the space?
What does the disengage action represent? Is it not some kind of movement to avoid danger? It is allowed to use movement to avoid danger in the Flee command so why is disengage not allowed?
The spell doesn't say the target spends their movement it just says that the target moves away as fast as possible. That would include teleportation.
ad_hoc
(they/them)
This is my ruling:
1. The target does nothing that could cause them direct harm. They do not take the disengage action, they simply don't move in a way that would put them into danger of taking damage on their turn which includes OAs.
2. They do not use extraordinary abilities. Only their own movement speed or that of a mount and using the one that moves them farthest. They Dash if able.
I realize #2 is not RAW but I don't know how else to prevent Command: Flee from being a 1st level Banishment. Thematically I think it works. Command is just so simple and the action that it causes should be simple too.
1. The target does nothing that could cause them direct harm. They do not take the disengage action, they simply don't move in a way that would put them into danger of taking damage on their turn which includes OAs.
2. They do not use extraordinary abilities. Only their own movement speed or that of a mount and using the one that moves them farthest. They Dash if able.
I realize #2 is not RAW but I don't know how else to prevent Command: Flee from being a 1st level Banishment. Thematically I think it works. Command is just so simple and the action that it causes should be simple too.
Lyxen
Great Old One
Good "ad absurdum" here which I hope will close the debate. 5e is written in plain english with "rulings over rules", so the "fastest" can never be interpreted in a singleminded fashion without taking into account circumstances and specifics of the situation. Which is why I won't comment on "general" rulings anymore, I will stick with the spirit of the game which recommends that the turn is spend moving away as fast as possible, but will keep in mind specifics of the situation for the many potential edge cases, knowing that I will keep in mind the guiding principles that this is only a 1st level spell in terms of power, and at the same time that it's not fun to have a spell completely fail on technicalities and it's therefore much better to have at least a partial effect, like forcing to at least disengage before fleeing.
ad_hoc
(they/them)
For me I'm just going to suggest to the player to try a different command like Grovel if they can't go anywhere because of OAs.
But your way is fine too.
In either case the spell isn't failing just having a different effect.
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