D&D 5E Invisibility and Items On Target's Person

[beaumontsebos]

According to the invisibility spell, "Anything the target is wearing or carrying is Invisible as long as it is on the target's person."

My PC cast the spell, then used a rope to descend into a chamber. Because the the rope was on him when he became invisible, he claimed that the rope would remain invisible as long as he held it.

In the heat of the moment, I agreed with the caveat my ruling could change upon further reflection after the game.

So, I'm thinking my ruling is going to change. My interpretation of the rule now is that the object has to remain on the target's person. Holding on to the end of a rope you drop down a hole doesn't count as being "on the target's person."

Your thoughts, please.

 

[Sorcerers Apprentice]

I agree with your new ruling

An edge case would be if he coils part of the rope around his waist. Then Personally I would rule that the bit around his body is invisible, the part of the rope that's hanging free would be visible.

 

[Harzel]

Yeah, this is one of those weird spots where it is hard to establish any consistent rulings because any 'principle' you develop always seems to lead to some situation that doesn't make sense.

That said, my sense of the general intent is to allow the target to wear or carry things without making them effectively visible.

So in the case of the rope, I would probably allow it to remain invisible as long as long as the PC is the rope's 'sole source of support' - for instance, if the PC were holding one end of the rope and dropped the other end into the chamber. However, as soon as the PC ties the rope to something or hands it to another character to hold so that he can descend, then I think it is visible - it is not invisible just because he is touching it.

Of course, as soon as I say that, then I wonder what happens if the PC ties the rope around his waist, loops it around something and then lowers himself. Probably the friction wears through the rope, causing it to break and the PC falls to his death so it doesn't matter.

 

[thethain]

Right, if holding onto something doesn't count as "on your person" then being invis doesn't make the pike you are holding invisible.

Or imagine if you are holding a whip, you are basically holding a short rope at that point.

I would rule anything you had in your person means that it is on you, or being held by you and you are able to move your normal speed with it. So when the rope is tied to something, its no longer on your person as you have to let go of it to move away. That means similarly you couldn't grab a 2 ton statue with 1 hand and make it disapear with you, as you couldn't move with it, so its less on your person as you are on its person.

 

[Corwin]

Yeah. Probably best to think of it like a sort of bubble around you. Objects you are holding, within a reasonable reach of the bubble, are okay. But if it extends beyond, then rulings time.

Now for the monkeywrench. When you are currently under the effects of the spell, and you pick up an item, does it become invisible or does it remain visible? Personally, I can see how the spell could be interpreted either way.

 

[Jester David]

Dangling from a rope shouldn't make that rope invisible. It's carrying you, not you carrying it.
Otherwise, arguably, dangling from a blimp would make the blimp invisible. Simmilarly, you shouldn't be able to hold onto the mast of a ship and make that invisible.

I can see the issue though. Where is the line? You're holding the coil of rope, you make it a lariat and lasso something, and then swing with the remaining coil still around your arm. When does it become visible? How much or far away does it have to be. Is it when it touches something else or you start swinging?

 

[CapnZapp]

This is a good example of a situation where you have to remember we're dealing with magic.

Not physics.

That is, your answer does not have to be "rational".

The rope can stay invisible. Or it can become visible as soon as the caster explains his intention to separate it from his body.

Or anything else. Why? It's magic.

Sent from my C6603 using EN World mobile app

 

[rgoodbb]

Do not try and blend the rope. That's impossible. Instead, only realize the truth... THERE IS NO ROPE. Then you will see that it's not the rope that blends, it is yourself.