Sound from within a Rope Trick

[Scion]

Do you suffocate after a period of time in the rope trick? if not then you will have to describe 'why' that is.

One of the reasons could be because air passes in and out.. if that is so then there seems to be little reason for sound and smells to not be able to pass through as well unless you want it to be a filter of some kind, but that is again going well outside of the spells stated effects.

(as for the infinite density thing, that doesnt work in a useful fashion. Both areas on each side have their own rules, just because you cant see its length and depth from the prime doesnt mean it doesnt exist.. and it certainly doesnt mean that you become 2d and have infinite density when you cross the boundary. Its dimensions 'do' exist. The things inside of it are taking up space. If you could see up into the rope trick then it would be like looking up into a cubby whole.. so no need to worry about dividing by zero )

 

[Lamoni]

Do you suffocate after a period of time in the rope trick? if not then you will have to describe 'why' that is.

It could be that a property of that extra dimension is that it constantly provides breathable air.

One of the reasons could be because air passes in and out.. if that is so then there seems to be little reason for sound and smells to not be able to pass through as well unless you want it to be a filter of some kind, but that is again going well outside of the spells stated effects.

That would be another way of explaining it.

(as for the infinite density thing, that doesnt work in a useful fashion. Both areas on each side have their own rules, just because you cant see its length and depth from the prime doesnt mean it doesnt exist.. and it certainly doesnt mean that you become 2d and have infinite density when you cross the boundary. Its dimensions 'do' exist. The things inside of it are taking up space. If you could see up into the rope trick then it would be like looking up into a cubby whole.. so no need to worry about dividing by zero )

I realize that neither space has infinite density... and the creatures aren't actually 2d. But rather that they take up NO space in the material plane. You can move walls of solid lead through the space where the rope trick was and it would meet with no resistance. In fact, if that moving wall stopped and parked so that the rope trick window was right in the middle of it, the rules don't say that the people inside would suffocate. Therefore, in relation to the material plane, they don't exist or have any effect unless you are jumping through or pushing/pulling something through... The only thing that has any contact with the material plane is the 2 dimensional window.

The rules don't specifically state anything about sound or smell... therefore it is up to the DM. (obviously) I am not trying to say that my view is the only one to take. I was just trying to explain how it makes sense to me. I would still happily play in anyone's game where the DM took the view where sound and smell did pass through. I would just be very grateful to the DM if they chose to bring it to our attention that that is how he was ruling it before we sat up there making fun of all the monsters that passed beneath us. Otherwise I would think that we could sit and discuss our plans with each other in loud tones before exiting even if we happened to be in the king's bedchamber with several level 20 guards posted at the door.

 

[Vahktang]

I always played it that those inside can only see out.
And the only way out is to climb the rope.
Lots of fun that way.
(though the spell can be dismissed).

More later,

Vahktang

 

[Quidam]

how i ruled it

Thanks for the various replies!

How I ruled it last night in the game was that sound and smell DO pass through, in both directions. Light only passes INTO the rope-trick- and i ruled as a corrolary that the effects of light-based spells do, too, though this is blatantly a house-rule and done just so the party could be sitting around a cone of darkness projecting up into the rope trick and feel the FEAR.

Part of this decision was based on the consideration of air. The spell does not specifically mention the creation of fresh air and so I'd rule that if you're in the Trick for eight hours, you should have the window be somewhere breatheable, not at the bottom of the ocean.

If air can pass in and out, so can smell, so can sound. In my interpretation, at least.

 

[mosesjones]

I reviewed the SRD for Rope Trick and found this:

Spells cannot be cast across the extradimensional interface, nor can area effects cross it. Those in the extradimensional space can see out of it as if a 3-foot-by- 5-foot window were centered on the rope. The window is present on the Material Plane, but it’s invisible, and even creatures that can see the window can’t see through it.

So it seems that sound is unlikely to cross the window. It says no area effects but what about a swarm of insects?

 

[Saeviomagy]

I reviewed the SRD for Rope Trick and found this:

So it seems that sound is unlikely to cross the window. It says no area effects but what about a swarm of insects?

Well, if the rope trick is empty at the time, then I believe that 8 of them would enter, and the rest would be magically forced to remain outside. The spell only takes 8 creatures of ANY size.

 

[Mistwell]

Let's assume that air and light travel through the hole only, and not through the rest of the walls of this dimensional space created by the spell.

Anything stopping the players from dumping a blanket over the hole, dampening sound (and air...so they would have to remove the blanket every once in a while to renew the air source)?

 

[Hypersmurf]

Well, if the rope trick is empty at the time, then I believe that 8 of them would enter, and the rest would be magically forced to remain outside. The spell only takes 8 creatures of ANY size.

"For game purposes a swarm is defined as a single creature with a space of 10 feet..."

-Hyp.