D&D General Familiars and Spiritual weapon, Turrets and Tentacles, some have HP some do not, why?

[Lyxen]

flaming sphere is another one that bugs me because it really feels like it's a physical object on fire

I would agree with this one, in particular because it occupies its space. Although, actually, reading about it again, I realise that it's not specified. I wonder where that misconception comes from ? IN 3e it was spongy but was not specified to occupy a space, and it occupied its space in 4e, but nothing says so in 5e. So it may actually be fairly insubstantial and therefore not targetable.

 

[Helldritch]

We have a say in French. TGCM. Ta Gueule! C'est Magique. Or in English. SUIM. Shut Up! It's Magic!

All We can do is assume that there is an unatainable logic, for us mortals, That would explain the whole thing. Unfortunately, we simple mortals, can only guess at the reasons. The most plausible one is that the canon and tentacule actually create or summon something tangible while the others are insubstiantial spell effects that takes substance (if at all) only when the spell actually attack (spiritual weapon) or stays insubstantial by nature (flaming sphere).

As with everything in D&D, the choice is yours to interpret. Your game, your rule!

 

[Helldritch]

I would agree with this one, in particular because it occupies its space. Although, actually, reading about it again, I realise that it's not specified. I wonder where that misconception comes from ? IN 3e it was spongy but was not specified to occupy a space, and it occupied its space in 4e, but nothing says so in 5e. So it may actually be fairly insubstantial and therefore not targetable.

Flaming sphere is a sphere of fire. It is a spell effect with energy (fire) as a result. There 8s nothing physical about it.

The fact that it occupies a space is for convenience more than anything else. So a force is in effect, preventing the thing from passing through people and obstacles but it also prevents a wizard to use the spell, make pass through a wall and attack what is on the other side. At least this way, a door must be opened, allowing enemies to react. Magic can be fair at times...

 

[Lyxen]

Flaming sphere is a sphere of fire. It is a spell effect with energy (fire) as a result. There 8s nothing physical about it.

The fact that it occupies a space is for convenience more than anything else.

Only it does not, according to 3e and 5e rules.

So a force is in effect, preventing the thing from passing through people and obstacles but it also prevents a wizard to use the spell, make pass through a wall and attack what is on the other side. At least this way, a door must be opened, allowing enemies to react. Magic can be fair at times...

As a DM, you can choose to make it solid like it was in 4e, but it's not the case rules-wise in 3e (although it's "spongy"), and not at all the case in 5e. As an example, you can choose to walk through normal fire anyway, it's not solid.

 

[Jfdlsjfd]

As a DM, you can choose to make it solid like it was in 4e, but it's not the case rules-wise in 3e (although it's "spongy"), and not at all the case in 5e. As an example, you can choose to walk through normal fire anyway, it's not solid.

Who in his sane mind would do that? "That flaming sphere is burning me... I should... carefully walk through it?"
I agree that it can be passed over, but unless the enemies are genre-savvy or trained at magic, it's not something they'd think of (and the players wouldn't, either, I guess).

 

[Ancalagon]

Who in his sane mind would do that? "That flaming sphere is burning me... I should... carefully walk through it?"
I agree that it can be passed over, but unless the enemies are genre-savvy or trained at magic, it's not something they'd think of (and the players wouldn't, either, I guess).

there are a lot of spells where being forced "through" the area does damage (like being shoved into a spiked growth area for example). But what if someone is shoved into a flaming sphere?

 

[Lyxen]

Who in his sane mind would do that? "That flaming sphere is burning me... I should... carefully walk through it?"

I have jumped over and through a campfire, you know, it's not that hot. It would of course burn me if I stayed in the fire, but it did not prevent my passing through without damage.

I agree that it can be passed over, but unless the enemies are genre-savvy or trained at magic, it's not something they'd think of (and the players wouldn't, either, I guess).

See above, and sometimes it's much better than the alternative.

 

[Lyxen]

there are a lot of spells where being forced "through" the area does damage (like being shoved into a spiked growth area for example). But what if someone is shoved into a flaming sphere?

As per the rules, nothing, which is not that absurd if you consider that he might actually move before he is seriously burnt.

 

[Umbran]

But how does the giant know this? Surely a wizard well versed in arcane matters would know this, or even an experienced adventurer. But a dumb hill giant?

Dumb hill giants talk around the fire at night, trading stories. They know abut Spiritual Weapon in the same way that adventurers know about how trolls are vulnerable to fire.

 

[Paul Farquhar]

flaming sphere is another one that bugs me because it really feels like it's a physical object on fire

It's clearly not.

It's a ball of fire made out of fire.