D&D 5E (2024) Changes to the Command spell and its use at the table.

[Lanefan]

Why wouldn’t you run into lava while fleeing something?

It depends whether the fleeing is considered controlled, as in the person fleeing still has some sense of self-preservation, or whether the fleeing is an uncontrolled mindless panic, in which case the person fleeing can easily run off a cliff, into lava, or on/in to whatever other hazards may lie in the path.

For me, spells like Command would produce the former while fright spells like Spook or something like the flee-in-terror effect of a Ghost would produce the latter.

The spell also prohibits actions that are directly harmful to the target.

Running away in itself isn't directly harmful. Running into a hazard while running away is IMO indirect harm.

 

[UngeheuerLich]

My barbarian literally ran into lava after being commanded to flee by an ancient red dragon. Why wouldn’t he?

Why should he? Would you flee into lava?
Nothing says in a straight line or anything.
But if you use 1st level spells in this way at your table, have fun.

Most I did was using approach on our cleric, jumping a few feet down.

 

[Sulicius]

I’m just using what is in the text, and there’s

Why should he? Would you flee into lava?
Nothing says in a straight line or anything.
But if you use 1st level spells in this way at your table, have fun.

Most I did was using approach on our cleric, jumping a few feet down.

I didn’t know ignoring what the spell says to do was an option.

 

[UngeheuerLich]

I’m just using what is in the text, and there’s

No. It does not say that. It says
"Flee. The target spends its turn moving away from you by the fastest available means."

I didn’t know ignoring what the spell says to t was an option.

Note that it says nothing about jumping into lava.

 

[Sulicius]

I was fighting on cooled rock that was surrounded by lava on all sides. Would that mean my barbarian would just stand still?

The reason I don’t agree with this reasoning, is that the sentence about not doing anything harmful has been removed, and because at that point you can argue yourself into anything to ignore the command spell. It opens up the spell to a lot of arguments.