Is the Alarm Spell a trap?

[heirodule]

The latest Sage Advice Online answers the question this way

No and no.

Unfortunately, the rules don’t clearly define a category of spells that qualify as traps, so we must rely on individual spell descriptions to adjudicate this question.

Despite the alarm spell’s similarity to glyph of warding -- they’re both long-lasting defensive spells used to protect an area -- the spell description for alarm doesn’t contain any details about how to disable it, nor is it listed in the Disable Device skill description as a spell that creates a disarmable trap (PHB, pg. 72). Thus, we must conclude that the alarm spell should not be treated as a trap and cannot be disarmed with Disable Device.

But isn't the Alarm spell the sensing trigger for a great variety of traps? If the rogue has to walk right past the alarm trigger to get to the meat of the trap to disable it, it's impossible to disable the trap!

Or does this

The proximity trigger used most often for magic device traps is the alarm spell. Unlike when the spell is cast, an alarm spell used as a trigger can have an area that’s no larger than the area the trap is meant to protect.

mean that you should never have a case where the alarm on the mcguffin sets off the lightning bolt when someone approaches within 20 feet?

 

[sdt]

You could still allow a rogue detect the Alarm spell but not disable it.

 

[Slaved]

I think that the Alarm spell is the epitome of a magical trap. As such a rogue could search for it, find it, and disarm it.

 

[borc killer]

Well… people gave the old sage crap because he ‘made rules up’ and Andy is doing a much better job at giving you the rule by the RAW. Not that they should be that way… just that is how they are.

Alarm does not say it is a trap and nothing refers to it as a trap and there are no rules to tell what a trap is and therefore it is not a trap. And just because it is part of a trap does not mean it IS one just like lightening blot is not a trap.

However I would have no issue at all with a rogue disabling it. And if I am reading between the lines correctly the Sage would have no issue with that as well.

 

[heirodule]

Alarm does not say it is a trap and nothing refers to it as a trap and there are no rules to tell what a trap is and therefore it is not a trap. And just because it is part of a trap does not mean it IS one just like lightening blot is not a trap.

However I would have no issue at all with a rogue disabling it. And if I am reading between the lines correctly the Sage would have no issue with that as well.

Well, lightning bolt with an alarm as a trigger IS a trap, and can be disabled, (based on the lightning bolt spell level, oddly, though). So the two in combo are a trap. And he pretty clearly states that an alarm cannot be disabled.


I just don't like the impression it gives that you can have a trap with a 20' radius proximity trigger (alarm) that can't be disabled at the point of the trigger. Sure, you know that chest 20' away over there has a trap that will go off when you approach within 20 feet, but you can't approach within the 20 feet to disarm the trap (on the chest, where the Lightning bolt is).

 

[Darklone]

I always used it as a trap.

 

[frankthedm]

The alarm spell is not a trap. If built into a trap I can see the argument that use of the spell then falls under the rules for traps, but the Alarm spell cast into an area is as subject to disable device as a Protection From Evil or Forbiddance spell.

 

[Graf]

The idea that a 1st level spell can't be bypassed by a rogue but a higher level spell can hasn't ever really made sense.

 

[newgrace]

It makes sense to me. If alarm were a component to a trap, the trap is able to be disarmed. You dont go into a trap and disarm the lightning bolt, you disarm/bypass the trap. Im sure their are many ways to make a trap "unapproachable".

But alarm as the spell is not a trap, so alarm the spell cannot be disabled...as its a spell....