Using Shrink Item as a Door opener

[Lodow MoBo]

Could you just shrink Item on any door? This would seem to bypass Most locks and traps. Would this work?

 

[Jack Simth]

Yes... and no. Depends on such things as where the DM chooses to draw the line for "object" in regards to a door (Are those stout hinges part of the door? The Frame? The wall it's in?), how the door is locked (if magically, then Shrink Object can't target it - specifies a nonmagical item) the total size of the door (a 20th level wizard gets 40 cubic feet - a door that's 10 feet by 10 feet and 6 inches thick has a volume of 50 cubic feet; a door that's 6 feet tall and three feet wide and 2 inches deep is 3 cubic feet, all told) and how fine the cubic feet measurement is permitted to get - if they have to be in 1 cubic foot blocks, then that 6'x3'x2" door costs 18 cubic feet.

 

[Kurotowa]

I see no reason why it wouldn't. That's if you really want to use a 3rd level spell to get past the door and Knock or Shatter or a swift kick or an adamantine weapon won't do the the job. And it'd probably still set off some traps, depending on trigger mechanism, if that's what you're worried about. IMO, the only reason to use Shrink Item on a door is if you have an inventive idea for how to use the now-shrunk door. Which there are no shortage of.

 

[Stalker0]

Just shrink the lock I say

 

[wedgeski]

I'd certainly allow it as long as the door wasn't magical or magically locked in any way, if only because the imagery is cool.

 

[mvincent]

While it's probably not unbalancing (so feel free to allow it), it would not technically work by the rules. Enlarging, shrinking, summoning etc. spells do not do damage.

If you try to enlarge an object in a space too small for it, the spell will fail rather than breaking the enclosing material.

Similarly, the hinges on a door would cause a shrink spell to fail rather than becoming damaged/broken themselves. If you allowed this, you might have players next trying to cast shrink spells on their enemies' armor/helmets.

 

[Mahali]

I'd be fine with the average door shrinking enough to open it. It wouldn't shrink past the hinges but would shrink as much as they allow without damaging the wood.

I'd also be fine with it resulting in a tall narrow door. It can't shrink much heightwise but could lengthwise.

More comic-booky effect but reasonable enough.