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General Tabletop Discussion
*Dungeons & Dragons
Rulings, Not Rules vs Cool spell usage
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<blockquote data-quote="Joe Liker" data-source="post: 6429821" data-attributes="member: 6777505"><p>I don't see what's lame about it. It ignores those things because those things are not part of the spell's effects or interactions. I see no reason to assume this was an oversight or mistake, or even sloppy editing.</p><p></p><p>The fact that it must be conjured into an unoccupied space, plus the word choice in the phrase "ram the sphere into a creature" implies at least semi-solidity. This is further supported by the fact that the sphere cannot move through creatures; it stops moving if you hit someone with it.</p><p></p><p>However, the 5e basic rules already allow you to move through a "nonhostile creature's space," and that's the most sensible position to take with this spell: You can move through its space, but not stop there. (As a nonsentient object, I don't think the sphere can reasonably be counted hostile, even if it's under the control of an enemy.)</p><p></p><p>Not that magic should mirror real life, but I'll point out that in the real world it's possible to run or leap through a small fire without being burned. It takes a certain amount of time for the cells in your body and the molecules in your clothing to absorb enough heat to ignite or be damaged. Apparently, the flaming sphere is not hot enough to transmit the necessary heat unless you pause (end your turn) near it. So I don't agree that common sense indicates damage. The author of this spell must have decided that damage in such a case would be unbalanced and unwarranted.</p><p></p><p>The sphere is obviously subject to gravity since it cannot float across empty space; it has to "jump." But there's no reason to believe it has enough weight to cause extra damage when dropped on someone. It if did, we have to assume that would be noted in the description.</p><p></p><p>Prone opponents are covered by the "ramming" rule. If you hit any opponent, standing or prone, the sphere must stop. You cannot "roll over" someone.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Joe Liker, post: 6429821, member: 6777505"] I don't see what's lame about it. It ignores those things because those things are not part of the spell's effects or interactions. I see no reason to assume this was an oversight or mistake, or even sloppy editing. The fact that it must be conjured into an unoccupied space, plus the word choice in the phrase "ram the sphere into a creature" implies at least semi-solidity. This is further supported by the fact that the sphere cannot move through creatures; it stops moving if you hit someone with it. However, the 5e basic rules already allow you to move through a "nonhostile creature's space," and that's the most sensible position to take with this spell: You can move through its space, but not stop there. (As a nonsentient object, I don't think the sphere can reasonably be counted hostile, even if it's under the control of an enemy.) Not that magic should mirror real life, but I'll point out that in the real world it's possible to run or leap through a small fire without being burned. It takes a certain amount of time for the cells in your body and the molecules in your clothing to absorb enough heat to ignite or be damaged. Apparently, the flaming sphere is not hot enough to transmit the necessary heat unless you pause (end your turn) near it. So I don't agree that common sense indicates damage. The author of this spell must have decided that damage in such a case would be unbalanced and unwarranted. The sphere is obviously subject to gravity since it cannot float across empty space; it has to "jump." But there's no reason to believe it has enough weight to cause extra damage when dropped on someone. It if did, we have to assume that would be noted in the description. Prone opponents are covered by the "ramming" rule. If you hit any opponent, standing or prone, the sphere must stop. You cannot "roll over" someone. [/QUOTE]
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