Sanctuary and cleric moving

[Keifer113]

A cleric ( enlarged mind you) casts a sanctuary spell. As the PC's move in to attack, they all fail the save. The cleric is now surrounded by PCs.

The DM ruled the cleric could move through the characters because they could not attack or threaten the cleric. My arguement was they could not directly attack, but as he was not a friendly party member, he could not move through a space.

Indeed, I would take moving through my space an "attack" action from the cleric.

Thoughts and opinions ! Thanks!

 

[frankthedm]

As long as one square or diagonal spot is open, the cleric could use the squeezing rules to get by the party.

 

[Keifer113]

Which is ultimately what happened. But what if there were no way out....

 

[Vegepygmy]

Which is ultimately what happened. But what if there were no way out....

If the cleric could only move through a space occupied by an opponent, I would rule he cannot do so. The rule is not that you can't move through an opponent's space unless he is unable to attack you; the rule is that you can't move through an opponent's space unless he is helpless (PHB page 147).

Sanctuary does not render creatures who fail their save helpless, it just prevents them from striking or otherwise directly attacking the spell's recipient. Opponents who fail their save are still hostile to the spell's recipient, and do not have to move aside for him. The spell's recipient cannot move them (bull rush) or simply push by (overrun) without attacking and ending the spell.

Imagine your pissed-off wife or girlfriend standing in the doorway of your bedroom. She's not quite mad enough to hit you yet (kind of like you're protected by a sanctuary spell), but if you push her out of your way or just try to "walk right over" her, that immunity is going to suddenly end.

That's essentially what's going on with the cleric and the PCs.

 

[Keifer113]

I am in agreement with you. We had player at the table argue that Sanctuary makes you treat the enemy as if he were a friend! Sheesh, read the rules.

 

[Siuis]

This seems easy.
If the enlarged cleric were surrounded on all 12 squares, make a jump check. It's usually a snap to jump up to about your waist (the rules say three feet I think, but for a medium creature). You should be able to barely clear a 5' space, enough to move "through" the enemies. Attacks of opportunity ensue, but that is what sanctuary is for.

The game board is always 3D, remember. Saved my sorry carcass a number of times.

 

[Vegepygmy]

This seems easy.

It isn't.

If the enlarged cleric were surrounded on all 12 squares, make a jump check. It's usually a snap to jump up to about your waist (the rules say three feet I think, but for a medium creature).

It's a DC 10 Jump check to "hop up" onto an object as tall as your waist, such as a table or small boulder. You do not get to move through another space, however, which is what our cleric wants to do. For that you need to make a regular long jump. But what our cleric really needs to do is...

You should be able to barely clear a 5' space, enough to move "through" the enemies.

...yep, make a high jump. And the DC for a 5' high jump (without a running start) is...?

40!

This is without even considering the much-debated question of whether a 5' high jump is sufficient to clear a Medium-sized enemy's space (since many humans are 6' or even taller). Suffice it to say, unless you're a very particular kind of character (and generally not the cleric kind), you ain't jumping over anybody, pal.

Attacks of opportunity ensue, but that is what sanctuary is for.

Yes, sanctuary would certainly prevent AoOs.

The game board is always 3D, remember. Saved my sorry carcass a number of times.

Good advice in general, I agree. Probably not in this specific case, though.

 

[Siuis]

Hm. Well, a high jump would be difficult, aye. My idea actually hinges on whether it's one-half or one-quarter (wherein 'it' is the heigt of a horizontal jump). I've always played it half and had no corrections, but when you can leap 30' horizontally that starts to sound asinine.

As for whether a 5 foot leap would clear it... Seriously? I understand your point but I don't understand how that would even be a debate. Medium humanoid has space/reach of five feet. Their head cannot possibly cover the entire 25 square feat at the bottom of the next square (cube?) above them. And if it did, I'd ask the DM about falling damage, since my gian boot was just intercepted by someone's face.

Another issue would be that all 2 squares of the cleric have to clear the enemy-- I think. If you land, as a large creature, partially in another creature's space, do you slide out or are you prevented from even making the attempt in that case? Hm. Research is needed.

EDIT: ouch. It's DC 40 either way it seems. I've always been in a position to move at least 25 feet before jumping and not need to clear too much height, so I guess it never came up. Best we could do then is say use Cat's Grace and try to tumble through: it's only(!) DC 27. Much easier, though still pretty iritating.

So yeah, Vegepygmy has the right of it. Aside from surrender, our cleric friend is doomed.