D&D 5E If you use thunderstep but teleport less than 10 feet do you take damage?

[James Gasik]

Bypassing it doesn't move you across anything, let alone a vast distance. I love how you bring up a dictionary definition for teleport, but are trying to say that "across" doesn't mean going across something. Try going across a bridge without crossing the space. Trying going across a desert without traveling across it somehow. 5e uses the common language meaning of things, so across does in fact mean crossing the space.

Ok this is a silly answer but maybe they jump over the space?

 

[Irlo]

The dex save isn't to doge the bolt. It's to get out of the way of the point that is targeted before the bolt is released. It's like dodging a gun being fired at you. You aren't trying to dodge the bullet, but get out of the way of the aiming. Meanwhile the magic guides the bolt to the spot aimed at. Luckily lightning isn't magic missile and doesn't turn to follow those making their dex saves.

So you don’t get a saving throw if the caster of lightning bolt is under a greater invisibility spell?

 

[Redwizard007]

Bypassing it doesn't move you across anything, let alone a vast distance. I love how you bring up a dictionary definition for teleport, but are trying to say that "across" doesn't mean going across something. Try going across a bridge without crossing the space. Trying going across a desert without traveling across it somehow. 5e uses the common language meaning of things, so across does in fact mean crossing the space.

Again M-W
from one side to the other They reached across and shook hands.

Note in the example "across" is not the verb. "Reached" is the verb. "Across" is used as a preposition. Prepositions are specifically used to express relations.

 

[Maxperson]

Did it provoke an opportunity attack?

Several times, but I chose not to stomp on it.

 

[Maxperson]

Again M-W
from one side to the other They reached across and shook hands.

And you're seriously arguing that those hands crossed no space?

 

[Maxperson]

That's an interesting explanation, but the problem is, how does anyone know that the arcane jabbering and pointing of the wizard is about to produce a bolt of lightning that they can get out of the way of?

Ducking is probably sound whenever a wizard points at you and jabbers anything at all.

Never no mind that they aren't actually able to move (hey, "Rogue Time" is back!) since they are unable to leave their squares.

A square is 5 feet square. There's a whole lot of room to move without leaving it.

 

[Maxperson]

Ok this is a silly answer but maybe they jump over the space?

Jumping is still travel across the intervening space. It's just a different method. The ant floats across the river on a leaf, the fish swims, the man crosses a bridge and the bird flies. They all crossed the space.

 

[James Gasik]

Ducking is probably sound whenever a wizard points at you and jabbers anything at all.

A square is 5 feet square. There's a whole lot of room to move without leaving it.

The lightning bolt is 5' wide. If we assume it passes through the center of the space, then to duck under it, you need to be less than 2' 6" tall. A 6' man doesn't duck under it, they would have to fall prone.

A Halfling, on the other hand, could duck rather easily.

 

[James Gasik]

Jumping is still travel across the intervening space. It's just a different method. The ant floats across the river on a leaf, the fish swims, the man crosses a bridge and the bird flies. They all crossed the space.

I said it was silly!

 

[Maxperson]

So you don’t get a saving throw if the caster of lightning bolt is under a greater invisibility spell?

Maybe you got lucky and just happened to move left at the right time.