D&D 5E Cordon of Arrows and Invisibility

[iserith]

Does this reveal the location of the invisible creature? If the arrow hits, is there now an arrow floating in the air, half stuck into the invisible creature?

I would say yes and no to those questions, respectively. It seems reasonable that someone can visually track the arrow to see where it goes; however, the spell says the arrow is destroyed after it does its thing.

 

[Bleys Icefalcon]

Another example on the (relative to other editions of our game) worthlessness of invisibility.

 

[Noctem]

I would say yes and no to those questions, respectively. It seems reasonable that someone can visually track the arrow to see where it goes; however, the spell says the arrow is destroyed after it does its thing.

Agreed. In the case of a hidden creature, I would say that the creature is no longer hidden but still invisible unless whatever granted it states that the invisibility is lost when attacked or whatever. However by the rules themselves the hidden creature would remain hidden since being attacked or dealt damage is not cause to lose hidden. You would know the arrow flew into something and was destroyed, you just wouldn't know what or why.

 

[fjw70]

Agreed. In the case of a hidden creature, I would say that the creature is no longer hidden but still invisible unless whatever granted it states that the invisibility is lost when attacked or whatever. However by the rules themselves the hidden creature would remain hidden since being attacked or dealt damage is not cause to lose hidden. You would know the arrow flew into something and was destroyed, you just wouldn't know what or why.

But would have a pretty good chance of guessing the space the creature occupies (until it moves).

 

[DEFCON 1]

Cordon of Arrows asks for a DEX save rather than an attack roll... and thus the spell is more ranged AoE than spell attack. Thus (like Fireball) it does not require that the target's location be known. Each round that the invisible creature ends its turn within 30' of one of the arrows, it will have to make its DEX save or take the piercing damage (and it doesn't matter whether its Hidden or not.)

However, the fact that the invisible creature got hit with an arrow does not ipso facto mean the PCs now know where the creature is. That is determined by the Stealth check of the creature (if it made one) and the Passive Perception of the characters in the room-- or the Active Perception of a PC who chooses to use their action to find it. The Cordon of Arrows spell has no effect on either of those events.

That being said though... a DM could make a ruling that a PC who saw one of the arrows fly out and hit the invisible creature could get to roll their Active Perception check with Advantage (due to seeing where the arrow went).

 

[Arcshot]

The idea of using Cordon of Arrows is creative. I wanted to make it work but unfortunately for the PCs, all the arrows missed due to dice rolls...

For detection of the invisible monster, I guess I did not follow the rules accurately/strictly - In this particular scenario I ruled that the PCs did not know the location of the invisible monster, unless
-the monster attacked, or
-the monster was injured by an attack, e.g shot by the arrow, or
-marked by some other means, e.g covered with glitter dust, having an arrow sticking out from it etc, or
-one PC managed to engage the monster in melee, thus enable others to roughly perceive its location
Once the location of the monster was roughly detected by the above means, PCs could attack it with disadvantage on that turn. The monster could of course disengage and move away.
If I have a grid map for combat, the PCs can randomly guess a square to attack. If they make a correct guess and the monster is there, they can attack with disadvantage as well.
Just my way of running the scenario.

 

[Arcshot]

That being said though... a DM could make a ruling that a PC who saw one of the arrows fly out and hit the invisible creature could get to roll their Active Perception check with Advantage (due to seeing where the arrow went).

Agree, I can rule it this way too.

 

[iserith]

I would say that no ability check is required - if the characters are in the position to see where the arrow flies and see it being destroyed, then they know the location of the invisible creature. Now it's on the invisible creature to move and hide again or, if the chamber is fully within the range of the cordon of arrows, just get the hell outta there fast.

It's a 2nd-level spell. It does pitiful damage. An invisible creature that is no longer hidden still gets the benefits of being invisible. Compared with the 2nd-level spell, see invisibility, I think it's okay to give a creative use of the spell some benefits.

That's how I'd rule it anyway.

 

[Noctem]

But would have a pretty good chance of guessing the space the creature occupies (until it moves).

Correct. You would still have disadvantage on attacks since you can't see the target but it would at least tell you where to make you're attack to avoid the automatic miss situation.

 

[Demonspell]

The interesting bit is how the DM translates the effect of the spell. The spell attacks baddies in its range, by shooting an arrow. Does this reveal the location of the invisible creature? If the arrow hits, is there now an arrow floating in the air, half stuck into the invisible creature?

According to the spell description "one piece of ammunition flies up to strike it. [sic] The piece of ammunition is then destroyed." Therefore, I would argue that know arrow would remain to stick out of the invisible creature.

I think this is a brilliant use of the spell. The arrow would fly in the direction of the baddie. This tells the players the direction that the baddie is in. They might even see the location of impact. A reasonably high Perception Check should be used.

If the baddie remains in that spot he risks being attacked. So he needs to move and use a Stealth Check, against by another Perception check by every party member in the room.

If the creature moves within 30 feet of another arrow the process starts again, until either all the arrows are used, or the group finds and kills the creature.