D&D 5E (2014) Combat in low tunnels

[Draegn]

You may also want to consider which weapons the players are using. Swinging a great sword for example, in a confined space is somewhat problematical.

 

[aco175]

Same with shooting arrows and throwing weapons. Although the length of the shooting may negate the arc hitting the ceiling. If you are shooting around the fighter 30ft you should be fine.

 

[alienux]

Yeah, but that only mentioned thinner areas, not shorter ones.

The rule covers "smaller" spaces, not "thinner" spaces, so it would apply to both dimensions. The example given is for a thinner space, but that's just an example, not a rule in itself.

 

[Plaguescarred]

I once ran a session where the PCs fell into a trap chute leading into a Kobold lair's gaunthlet room and i ruled that any creatures larger than small size was squeezed. Even though they were mid-level it turned out to be quite deadly. The party was split with some squeezed underground and in total darkness while others where still above ground fighting Kobolds ambushing them after the trap triggered, only hearing muffled yelling #scary.


Yan
D&D Playtester

 

[Werebat]

Smart small humanoid races would have plenty of areas just like this for when the bigger, stronger enemies they inevitably acquire come calling.

A kobold lair in particular should have countless boltholes that even the kobolds need to squeeze through. Ideally, anyone venturing into a kobold lair will never even SEE a kobold -- just their traps. And by the time they get through those, the kobolds have already cleared out through an inaccessible bolthole.

That's how kobolds have survived this long. Well, that and kissing up to dragons.

 

[Greenstone.Walker]

Same with shooting arrows and throwing weapons. Although the length of the shooting may negate the arc hitting the ceiling. If you are shooting around the fighter 30ft you should be fine.

AD&D modeled that. A bow's range might be, say, 80. In a dungeon, that meant 80 feet. Outside, it meant 80 yards.

In a low tunnel, I would be giving thrust weapons (most piercing ones) normal attacks, not disadvantage. Finally, a good use case for a spear or javelin.

 

[Lanefan]

AD&D modeled that. A bow's range might be, say, 80. In a dungeon, that meant 80 feet. Outside, it meant 80 yards.

In a low tunnel, I would be giving thrust weapons (most piercing ones) normal attacks, not disadvantage. Finally, a good use case for a spear or javelin.

Yep. And small weapons like daggers. I'd think twice, though, if the wielder of either was also trying to use a shield...maybe they'd have to choose each round between using the weapon (lose AC and cover benefits from shield) or the shield (gain disadvantage on weapon attack).

Lanefan

 

[Derren]

Smart small humanoid races would have plenty of areas just like this for when the bigger, stronger enemies they inevitably acquire come calling.

A kobold lair in particular should have countless boltholes that even the kobolds need to squeeze through. Ideally, anyone venturing into a kobold lair will never even SEE a kobold -- just their traps. And by the time they get through those, the kobolds have already cleared out through an inaccessible bolthole.

That's how kobolds have survived this long. Well, that and kissing up to dragons.

A kobold lair should actually have hardly any spaces where humans can stand upright or even move around comfortably.

 

[LarryD]

Funny you should ask this - I'm homebrewing an encounter right now, set in a kobold lair out of Volo's. I'm following PHB 192, and including no bonus to AC for shields while in a tunnel. There's a half-orc fighter in the group with two weapon fighting style, and I'll rule he can't do that during combat in a tunnel. The group might get disadvantage on checking for traps, too - at least until they spring the first one and expect traps in every tunnel from thereon after.