D&D 5E Wall of Force Question; Can it cut through Stone?

LordEntrails

Hero

• Sep 23, 2020

• #1

I don't see anything RAW...
RAI or your own rulings, can a wall of force cut through ground/stone?

Specific use case, players are at the top of a cliff and are considering using a WoF to cut off the edge of the cliff and cause it to crash on those down below.

Rule of Cool means I'm thinking of letting it work this way. Thoughts? Concerns?

 

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BlivetWidget

Explorer

• Sep 23, 2020

• #2

To me, it's pretty clear that Wall of Force does not cut stone: the wall must be "free floating or resting on a solid surface." Cutting through a mountain does not fit either of those conditions.

 

Z

Zaukrie

New Publisher

• Sep 23, 2020

• #3

I wouldn't allow that. It doesn't fit either the description (as above) or intent of the spell at all.

 

Oofta

Legend

• Sep 23, 2020

• #4

I would rule no. It may push creatures to one side or another, but it's not designed to be destructive.

Well, unless you ready an action to cast it directly in front of the dive bombing dragon. But my PC would never do that.

 

Savage Wombat

Hero

• Sep 24, 2020

• #5

There were references in the Mystara gazetteers (iirc) to people using Walls of Force as cutting tools, but I'm pretty sure later designers nixed that idea, just like blinding enemies with Light spells.

 

LordEntrails

Hero

• Sep 24, 2020

• #6

Ok, thanks. No WoF for cutting. Ruling that the WoF can not cut or move fixed objects, only those that are not fixed (like creatures, furniture, etc)

 

Tonguez

A suffusion of yellow

• Sep 24, 2020

• #7

Its a wall not a cutting tool

 

BlivetWidget

Explorer

• Sep 24, 2020

• #8

@LordEntrails Do they have access to similarly-leveled spells like Telekinesis, Animate Objects, Bibgy's Hand, or Polymorph? I think it would be easy to make a case for starting an avalanche with any one of those spells. Heck, maybe even Shatter or Fireball if the rocks are loose enough. I like the plan, it just needs a spell that makes a bit more sense.

 

G

Guang

Explorer

• Sep 24, 2020

• #9

I'd say you gotta go with rule of cool on this one. Even though I agree that it doesn't work that way, it's an awesome moment of battle begging to happen.

 

LordEntrails

Hero

• Sep 24, 2020

• #10

BlivetWidget said:

@LordEntrails Do they have access to similarly-leveled spells like Telekinesis, Animate Objects, Bibgy's Hand, or Polymorph? I think it would be easy to make a case for starting an avalanche with any one of those spells. Heck, maybe even Shatter or Fireball if the rocks are loose enough. I like the plan, it just needs a spell that makes a bit more sense.

Click to expand...

No, just from a Staff of Power.

They ended up not doing this, they figured it would not actually land on the bad guys since they were in caves. Though it might trap them inside, it would have cut them off too.