D&D 5E (2014) Dispel Evil and Good cleric spell 5th level in use

[Sword of Spirit]

2014 DMG p.274 has rules for "Climb Onto a Bigger Creature"

 

[aco175]

After some reflection, although I might resolve the players' declared actions in a similar way to what I posted above, I really don't think the rules support characters taking actions while in free fall, so the exploit essentially wouldn't work as stated because once the PCs teleported to the space above the dragon, they would instantly plummet to the ground before any action was possible.

Why would you rule to teleport to a space above the dragon and not to directly stand on it? Would someone teleporting down the road need to land above the road or he just lands on the road with no chance of landing 1foot below and now is buried up to his knees? Maybe I can see it since it is to a moving target, but that is why I ruled the Athletics check to land and hold on.

 

[Hriston]

Why would you rule to teleport to a space above the dragon and not to directly stand on it? Would someone teleporting down the road need to land above the road or he just lands on the road with no chance of landing 1foot below and now is buried up to his knees? Maybe I can see it since it is to a moving target, but that is why I ruled the Athletics check to land and hold on.

I meant they aren't in the dragon's space just as you aren't in the space of the layers that support the road when you're standing on the road. Typically the space a character occupies begins at ground level, not below. The difference is the dragon's a creature, so you can't stand on it as if it was terrain without taking an action to enter its space, and without that you have no place to stand because you're in midair. You need to take an action, but you're already falling. I suppose the spell creates some wiggle room by teleporting them precisely to the dragon's back, affording an opportunity to take the action, but it's pretty tenuous ruleswise, and it raises the question if the cleric can take the Climb onto a Bigger Creature action, why don't they just take the action to touch the dragon?

 

[NotAYakk]

I meant they aren't in the dragon's space just as you aren't in the space of the layers that support the road when you're standing on the road. Typically the space a character occupies begins at ground level, not below. The difference is the dragon's a creature, so you can't stand on it as if it was terrain without taking an action to enter its space, and without that you have no place to stand because you're in midair. You need to take an action, but you're already falling. I suppose the spell creates some wiggle room by teleporting them precisely to the dragon's back, affording an opportunity to take the action, but it's pretty tenuous ruleswise, and it raises the question if the cleric can take the Climb onto a Bigger Creature action, why don't they just take the action to touch the dragon?

So in your model creatures have an aura around them, cube shaped, that defines their space, and you can't overlap that aura without taking a special action to do so?

In D&D, that is roughly how it works in combat when you are moving traditionally and the opponent is wary and don't, say, want to leave yourself so open that you automatically die from the enemies sword gutting you. But you want to extend this to everything as if it was a physical rule of reality?

 

[Hriston]

So in your model creatures have an aura around them, cube shaped, that defines their space, and you can't overlap that aura without taking a special action to do so?

In D&D, that is roughly how it works in combat when you are moving traditionally and the opponent is wary and don't, say, want to leave yourself so open that you automatically die from the enemies sword gutting you. But you want to extend this to everything as if it was a physical rule of reality?

The OP's example takes place during a fight with a dragon, so my responses assume the rules for combat are being used. You can enter a hostile creature's space if it's two sizes larger or smaller than you, but the special action being referred to is the Climb onto a Bigger Creature action from the DMG which allows you to use another creature as terrain. Part of a successful use of that action is that you enter the creature's space, but as I stated in my previous post, I don't think it's actually a great fit for this situation.

The cleric is taking more of an improvised action, and I think a good way to resolve it is basically what the OP did. I think, in most cases, this would be a permissible action declaration, so, in my way of thinking, the DM should say yes or call for a check. I would be inclined to the latter because of the gravity () of the situation and the uncertainty involved with being able to touch a flying dragon while having just been teleported to a point in midair. Personally, I would most likely call for a contest between the cleric's Dexterity and the dragon's.

 

[Blue]

You’re the DM you can rule it how you like.

Or not rule it and just play with RAW.

Done.

 

[Blue]

So I guess that fits with what I’ve said. A small handful of corner case spells that have very small damage compared to other spells of their level. Or in several of these cases very specific circumstances where they are useful.

I read this as: I asked for examples of exceptions to offensive spells all requiring attack roll or save, was given them, and then dismissed them because I didn't like them. Even the "very specific condition" which perfectly fits someone being possessed.

So you know this fits, and yet handwave away what you asked for as proof.

Are you discussing in good faith?