D&D 5E What does it mean when a Web spell is "layered across a floor, wall, or ceiling?"

[el-remmen]

So the 2014 PHB says:

If the webs aren't anchored between two solid masses (such as walls or trees) or layered across a floor, wall, or ceiling, the conjured web collapses on itself, and the spell ends at the start of your next turn. Webs layered over a flat surface have a depth of 5 feet.

and the 2024 PHB says:

If the webs aren't anchored between two solid masses (such as walls or trees) or layered across a floor, wall, or ceiling, the web collapses on itself, and the spell ends at the start of your next turn. Webs layered over a flat surface have a depth of 5 feet.

So I have no problem envisioning a web anchored between two or more solid points, but what does it mean for a web to be layered over a flat surface? I can't picture it. And if it is so layered, how does it keep from collapsing? It is just a 20 feet square of webs five feet deep that keeps its shape despite not being anchored to anything?

I know, it is "magic" so please don't bother responding in that way. I am trying to discern the difference between not being layered (and thus collapsing) and being layered in practical terms of placing the spell.

 

[MGibster]

So I have no problem envisioning a web anchored between two or more solid points, but what does it mean for a web to be layered over a flat surface? I can't picture it. And if it is so layered, how does it keep from collapsing? It is just a 20 feet square of webs five feet deep that keeps its shape despite not being anchored to anything?

I've always pictured it as the web essentially being 5 feet deep. i.e. If you cast it in a room with a 15 foot high ceiling, the web might be anchored on two or more columns but you'd still have a 10 foot gap from the ceiling to the web. If it doesn't have an anchor, then the web just collapses and layering isn't an issue.

 

[GMMichael]

I know, it is "magic" so please don't bother responding in that way. I am trying to discern the difference between not being layered (and thus collapsing) and being layered in practical terms of placing the spell.

Web is sort of like the WTC towers. There has to be something to hold up the vertical dimension of the webs/floors. If your chandelier anchor falls, or your core structural beams just cease to exist, then so does the spell/building.

 

[pukunui]

I have sometimes wondered this myself. I think what the spell is trying to indicate is that you a) can't conjure webs in mid-air and b) you can't conjure webs that are only attached to one anchor point.

For the latter point, I mean that you can't have a vertical wall of webs that is only attached to one tree or one pillar.

You can, however, have basically a 5-foot deep "blob" of layered webs stuck to either a wall, a ceiling, or a floor (with the two anchor points being on the same surface rather than two separate surfaces). I know in game terms, this essentially creates a cube of webs, but I'd prefer to visualize it as more of a hemisphere, with the edges not as deep as the middle (so all the edges are attached to the flat surface).

Does that help at all?

 

[EzekielRaiden]

If you cast it so that its area covers an actual solid surface--such as the physical floor, wall, or ceiling of a room--then it remains in place. Notice the word "layered." This does not simply mean a big wet blob of webbing material dropped on something. It's been layered onto that surface, one layer at a time, building up until it's 5' thick.

If you cast it over an open space, but which has at least two anchor points, e.g. a room that is 50' high and has pillars running down its length, then the web will anchor to those points and stay, even though it is suspended in midair.

Now imagine you are flying on a giant eagle, and fall off. There are no anchor points, and no solid surfaces within range. The web will collapse in on itself, wrapping around any creatures who happen to be in its area, and then the spell will end at the start of your next turn. Likewise, you could not project the web outward from a tower; that's only one anchor point if used in that way. You could layer the web on the surface of the tower, to a thickness of 5'. But you couldn't anchor it to the tower and have it stick out the full radius of the effect.

It's just like if you were layering anything else on a solid surface.

 

[Horwath]

Web is sort of like the WTC towers. There has to be something to hold up the vertical dimension of the webs/floors. If your chandelier anchor falls, or your core structural beams just cease to exist, then so does the spell/building.

but the real question is:
is Fireball really hot enough to melt Web?

 

[Paul Farquhar]

Different types of spider make different types of web (and produce different types of silk). Some are stretched between anchor points (e.g. orb web spiders), whilst others are built up in layers on a surface (e.g. funnel web spiders).

 

[abirdcall]

Do a Google search for 'webs on the ground'

 

[aco175]

Webs layered on floor.

Webs anchored to walls/columns.

 

[TiQuinn]

So the 2014 PHB says:


and the 2024 PHB says:



So I have no problem envisioning a web anchored between two or more solid points, but what does it mean for a web to be layered over a flat surface? I can't picture it. And if it is so layered, how does it keep from collapsing? It is just a 20 feet square of webs five feet deep that keeps its shape despite not being anchored to anything?

I know, it is "magic" so please don't bother responding in that way. I am trying to discern the difference between not being layered (and thus collapsing) and being layered in practical terms of placing the spell.

Yeah, this is one where we have essentially done away with the rules on the basis of “WTF are they even saying, but whatever it is it’s stupid.”

We just made the spell work for the affected area. If you can “layer” it, then it doesn’t really need to be anchored. It just creates a bunch of impassible webs. No need to boil the ocean with explanations for how it works, imo.