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

[ECMO3]

Thunderstep spell:

You teleport yourself to an unoccupied space you can see within range. Immediately after you disappear, a thunderous boom sounds, and each creature within 10 feet of the space you left must make a Constitution saving throw, taking 3d10 thunder damage on a failed save, or half as much damage on a successful one. The thunder can be heard from up to 300 feet away.

What if you only move yourself 10 feet, do you take damage from it?

It says immediately after you disappear, not sure if that is before you reappear if you also reappear immediately after you disappear.

 

[overgeeked]

What if you only move yourself 10 feet, do you take damage from it?

Yep.

 

[GMMichael]

Caster's choice. Not sure why you'd want to take damage, though.

 

[Maxperson]

Caster's choice. Not sure why you'd want to take damage, though.

Why is it caster's choice? This seems like a DM ruling situation. It can be argued effectively that you disappear and reappear instantaneously, so the caster takes damage, and that you don't appear right away and don't take damage. The caster doesn't control that, though.

 

[Hriston]

Why is it caster's choice? This seems like a DM ruling situation. It can be argued effectively that you disappear and reappear instantaneously, so the caster takes damage, and that you don't appear right away and don't take damage. The caster doesn't control that, though.

It’s the caster’s choice because the caster decides whether to teleport beyond the range of the thunder damage or not. I don’t think there’s much if any leeway for the caster to teleport to a space within the damage radius and not take damage considering that the duration of the spell is instantaneous, meaning that the teleportation effect (instant transportation) happens instantly upon casting, and the thunder happens immediately after that.

 

[Lyxen]

It’s the caster’s choice because the caster decides whether to teleport beyond the range of the thunder damage or not. I don’t think there’s much if any leeway for the caster to teleport to a space within the damage radius and not take damage considering that the duration of the spell is instantaneous, meaning that the teleportation effect (instant transportation) happens instantly upon casting, and the thunder happens immediately after that.

Actually, the rules provide the answer. All the effects (the disappearance, the reappearance and the thunder damage) are instantaneous because the spell is and because the thunder damage occurs "immediately after you disappear". So we obviously have "simultaneous effects", and the disappearance can be considered specifically separate from the reappearance (otherwise the description would have been "immediately after you reappear").

There already was a rule in the PH about simultaneous spells, but Xanathar made it clear: "Most effects in the game happen in succession, following an order set by the rules or the DM. In rare cases, effects can happen at the same time, especially at the start or end of a creature’s turn. If two or more things happen at the same time on a character or monster’s turn, the person at the game table — whether player or DM — who controls that creature decides the order in which those things happen. For example, if two effects occur at the end of a player character’s turn, the player decides which of the two effects happens first."

So, in that case, it's the player controlling the PC who decides, and he will probably decide that the damage occurs before he reappears.

Note that a DM can always make a different ruling, but as often the rules are fairly indulgent with the player and I would let them stand that way.

 

[S'mon]

Actually, the rules provide the answer. All the effects (the disappearance, the reappearance and the thunder damage) are instantaneous because the spell is and because the thunder damage occurs "immediately after you disappear". So we obviously have "simultaneous effects", and the disappearance can be considered specifically separate from the reappearance (otherwise the description would have been "immediately after you reappear").

There already was a rule in the PH about simultaneous spells, but Xanathar made it clear: "Most effects in the game happen in succession, following an order set by the rules or the DM. In rare cases, effects can happen at the same time, especially at the start or end of a creature’s turn. If two or more things happen at the same time on a character or monster’s turn, the person at the game table — whether player or DM — who controls that creature decides the order in which those things happen. For example, if two effects occur at the end of a player character’s turn, the player decides which of the two effects happens first."

So, in that case, it's the player controlling the PC who decides, and he will probably decide that the damage occurs before he reappears.

Note that a DM can always make a different ruling, but as often the rules are fairly indulgent with the player and I would let them stand that way.

I think this would be the Crawfordian approach. I think I personally would rule that the damage occurs same time as the reappearance, so the character would take damage. I'd almost certainly advise the player of this first though!

 

[Lyxen]

I think this would be the Crawfordian approach.

Indeed, for multiple reasons, and in particular something that I am very much in favor off in my 5e games, a benevolent attitude towards the players rather than a harsher interpretation.

I think I personally would rule that the damage occurs same time as the reappearance, so the character would take damage. I'd almost certainly advise the player of this first though!

And as I mentioned, I'm would be fine with that interpretation as well, and in particular with your forewarning, a DM is absolutely entitled to any ruling he prefers, and that is Crawfordian as well.

 

[S'mon]

Indeed, for multiple reasons, and in particular something that I am very much in favor off in my 5e games, a benevolent attitude towards the players rather than a harsher interpretation.



And as I mentioned, I'm would be fine with that interpretation as well, and in particular with your forewarning, a DM is absolutely entitled to any ruling he prefers, and that is Crawfordian as well.

Thanks for your support!

Yeah, I do actually like how 5e is kinder on the PCs than previous editions (esp 3e, which I found absolutely brutal); I just don't go as far as Crawford generally does.

 

[commandercrud]

Nope. Teleportation is instantaneous. Reappearing occurs at the same time as disappearing. The damage is after. The idiot caster would take damage.