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

[el-remmen]

If I am understanding (and I am not sure I am), despite what the spell says the web will never actually collapse on itself unless the caster specifically says, "I don't layer them." And I am not sure why anyone would do that. Just seems like a confusing way to describe the spell.

 

[Reynard]

I used to rule that if there was nothing to anchor to, it still worked on things in the area of effect when it was cast, but did nothing else except create difficult terrain otherwise.

 

[abirdcall]

If I am understanding (and I am not sure I am), despite what the spell says the web will never actually collapse on itself unless the caster specifically says, "I don't layer them." And I am not sure why anyone would do that. Just seems like a confusing way to describe the spell.

You can't put them in the air or have them stretching out far without anchoring them.

 

[Seramus]

I always loved how the text never actually says the web is stuck to the surface it is anchored to / layered over. It's implied thanks to the web being described as sticky, but objects can just pass through the space, and the web doesn't actually stick to surfaces. It's a people catcher!

 

[Baron Opal II]

I don't know what was meant by "layering".

Most of the time, there's a ceiling in the cave or dungeon that solves the problem. For the really big caverns you're out of luck, but it would still work near the wall of the cavern. That way you can have a diagonal thread from the floor to the wall. If only your foot is glued to the floor you are still stuck.

Maybe layering is layering the web on the targets in the open field. If there is no one there, it just collapses. Being wrapped in strands of rubber cement coated nylon threads is quite vexing, however, even if there is no three dimensional structure to impede future foes.

 

[Stormonu]

Hmmm.

Rereading the full text, it sounds like if you have anchor points it's going to fill 20 wide x 20 long x 20 high.

If you layer it, it creates an area 20 wide x 20 long x 5 high.

 

[Paul Farquhar]

I don't know what was meant by "layering”

You put down one layer on top of another until the desired thickness is reached.

 

[Mannahnin]

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.

Hmmm.

Rereading the full text, it sounds like if you have anchor points it's going to fill 20 wide x 20 long x 20 high.

If you layer it, it creates an area 20 wide x 20 long x 5 high.

You put down one layer on top of another until the desired thickness is reached.

This.

If you don't have two opposed anchor points, the web can be cast on a single flat surface, and will layer on itself to a depth of 5'.

If you do have two opposed anchor points, you can stretch it taller.

So if you've got a 20' x 20' room with a ceiling up to 20' high, you can fill the whole room.

If you've got a 20' x 20' room with a ceiling 30' high, you can fill the whole room up to the 20' level, or leave the top and bottom 5' open, or fill the top 20' and leave the bottom 10' open (maybe to help combat flyers).

If you've got an empty 30' x 30' x 30' room, you can only fill a 20x20 section of it up to 5' deep.

If you've got a 30' x 30' room with a 20 ceiling, you can anchor on the floor and ceiling and fill up to a 20' x 20' x 20' section if it.

If you've just got two 50' tall trees 15' apart, you can put a web up to 20' high between them.

If you've got a bunch of scattered trees 20' tall or taller with anchor points within 20' of each other, you could make up to a 20x20x20 web in the forest.

 

[nevin]

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.

loom at a yars after 5 kids have been playing with sillystring spray, or 5 cats have unwound yarn without attaching it to anything. you'll have. Layer of sticky mess hat is mostly flat

 

[nevin]

This.

If you don't have two opposed anchor points, the web can be cast on a single flat surface, and will layer on itself to a depth of 5'.

If you do have two opposed anchor points, you can stretch it taller.

So if you've got a 20' x 20' room with a ceiling up to 20' high, you can fill the whole room.

If you've got a 20' x 20' room with a ceiling 30' high, you can fill the whole room up to the 20' level, or leave the top and bottom 5' open, or fill the top 20' and leave the bottom 10' open (maybe to help combat flyers).

If you've got an empty 30' x 30' x 30' room, you can only fill a 20x20 section of it up to 5' deep.

If you've got a 30' x 30' room with a 20 ceiling, you can anchor on the floor and ceiling and fill up to a 20' x 20' x 20' section if it.

If you've just got two 50' tall trees 15' apart, you can put a web up to 20' high between them.

If you've got a bunch of scattered trees 20' tall or taller with anchor points within 20' of each other, you could make up to a 20x20x20 web in the forest.

I seriously doubt the weba would be 5 feet deep. 5 inches would be too much. a freakishly strong webline would be the thickness of 14 gauge wire