Inchoroi
Adventurer
I've seen a lot of discussion on how much a party of PCs can benefit from using Leomund's Tiny Hut, and the woes of some DMs having to deal with parties that rely on the spell too frequently.
Over-reliance on the spell does not come without its drawbacks or dangers however.
Here are some potentially overlooked facts.
1. Although the dome is opaque from the outside, it is not invisible to other creatures.
2. The dome does not necessarily block the sounds and odors produced from inside from being detected outside the dome. It may prevent the production of particularly powerful stenches (such as from defecation) inside it (since it keeps the atmosphere inside dry and comfortable), but other smells that would not normally bother the PCs will freely travel beyond the dome.
3. Although the dome is transparent from the inside, it does not illuminate the surrounding area, nor can it prevent materials from covering the dome (effectively blocking the party's view of the outside).
4. The dome does not provide privacy. If anyone needs to excrete bodily wastes, they will have to either leave the dome for privacy or find some other way to hide their bodily maintenance procedures.
5. The dome does not anchor the ground that it is cast upon to the position it is in. If the ground breaks apart or otherwise shifts, the dome may shift with it (for example in the case of an earthquake or effect produced by a creature).
6. Spending time inside the dome does not freeze the time outside of it. Other things may be going on while the PCs are resting...
I don't think that the spell is broken as written. It will definitely make certain types of adventures much easier, but using it too much could lead to situations that are dangerous for the party, or can result in objective failures.
What do you think?
I would giggle with Machiavellian glee if my players decided to use this spell in a dungeon they hadn't completed yet. My answer would be, "Sure!" *evil toothy grin* It helps that 90% of my dungeons have wandering monster tables, with the occasional smart monster or NPC running it. On the other hand, I also sometimes, if the dungeon is particularly large, provide areas that can be mostly secured to rest in. Not often, and sometimes they're hard to find, but they're there.