Resistance is futile

[Dandu]

Looking over the Wall of Force spell made me wonder how it would work in space. After all, there is no way to orient something "vertically" out in the dark, unlike when it is cast on a planet.

Would it be reasonable for Walls of Force to orient themselves with regard to the dominant gravitational body in the region? This would allow for "vertical" walls on a planet and for other oritentations in space.

Since planets are rotating, it seems that a Wall of Force would also have to move. Perhaps they try to maintain their position with respect to the gravitational body?

If so, it would be possible to form a box out of Walls of Force out in space. If cast around an object of sufficient mass, they would move with it.

The upshot of all this is that it may be possible to create Borg Cubes.

 

[Sunseeker]

Are we assuming deep space? Low orbit?

It would seem to me, "vertical" is a matter of perception from the point of the caster. A wall running from foot to head is "vertical" a wall from shoulder to shoulder is "horizontal". And these directions remain the same only from the point of the caster.

In theory, one could combine 6 walls to form a sealed box, and then using some(probably telekenetic) means of movement, travel through space.

 

[Dandu]

Telekinesis is a great way of moving through deep space, since there is a weight limit on TK, but no mass limit.

I'd say vertical is not from the perspective of the caster, as that would allow for someone on a planet to lie on his back and cast a Wall of Force that is horizontal.

 

[Whimsical]

The DragonStar D20 campaign setting had good rules for situations such as this. I don't have my book handy, but I think if you weren't orbiting a planet you could orient your wall of force however you wanted to.

 

[Celebrim]

Looking over the Wall of Force spell made me wonder how it would work in space. After all, there is no way to orient something "vertically" out in the dark, unlike when it is cast on a planet.

Would it be reasonable for Walls of Force to orient themselves with regard to the dominant gravitational body in the region? This would allow for "vertical" walls on a planet and for other oritentations in space.

I don't know about space, but D&D typically treats regions of no gravity as if they had subjective gravity, meaning 'down' is whatever way that you think it is. In this case, anyone with reasonable self-control (and a high level wizard certainly qualifies) could cast Wall of Force orientated in whatever direction that they like.

The other alternative is that you come up with a list of rules for how spell effects are modified when on other planes, first edition style. So, maybe in the absence of gravity, Wall of Force fails or turns into 'Sphere of Force' or whatever.