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

[Paul Farquhar]

Webs can be used for other things under water.

 

[Lanefan]

I'd treat the water as air - it doesn't count as a solid surface to anchor the web, but nor does it hinder it (maybe crashing waves would break it apart). Cast it underwater in an area where there are some solid anchor points around and it'll work just fine.

Still sticky even if underwater? Or does the water wash away the sticky element?

Harder to get rid of (or escape) an underwater web, to be sure, as the usual tactic of burning it away won't work very well.

 

[MarkB]

Still sticky even if underwater? Or does the water wash away the sticky element?

It's magical, I'm happy for it to still be sticky. Plus, I don't want to keep track of more exceptions for underwater spells than absolutely necessary.

 

[Mannahnin]

The spell explicitly says that it covers flat surfaces to a depth of 5 feet: "Webs layered over a flat surface have a depth of 5 feet."

Yup.

. . . except that's in clear contrast with WotC's "20 foot cube" design.

Incorrect.

Okay. I"m just telling you what the text of the spell explicitly says. If you choose to layer it on a flat surface, it creates a layer of webbing 5' deep. That is explicitly stated in the spell itself. The spell produces an effect if either anchored to at least two points, or layered across a flat surface, such as a wall, ceiling, or floor. If it is layered across a floor, then the webs layer on that surface to a depth of 5 feet.

I don't really see how there can be any disagreement that that's what happens. It's...really quite cut and dried. Even with my (many, many) issues with 5e's (over)reliance on "natural language", I don't see how it's possible to interpret this as anything other than what is specifically spelled out here.
If the webs aren't[...]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."

Hence, the webs do not collapse if they are layered across a floor, wall, or ceiling, and, verbatim, "[w]ebs layered over a flat surface have a depth of 5 feet."

You may protest that this is unrealistic, or that it is too powerful, or that it should have been written differently. All of those are valid complaints. But I don't really see how anyone can deny that the above is what the spell does.

If it helps, perhaps consider the 20' cube to collapse onto the floor, wall, or ceiling to a depth of five feet?

100.

 

[Mannahnin]

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

You can doubt it as much as you like, but that's what the spell does.

WotC wrote it that way so it's still useful in the absence of anchors.

If it helps, we should probably be envisioning the strands as large and fluffy.

 

[nevin]

Nope

You can doubt it as much as you like, but that's what the spell does.

WotC wrote it that way so it's still useful in the absence of anchors.

If it helps, we should probably be envisioning the strands as large and fluffy.

i'll envision it like flypaper for adventurers

 

[Mannahnin]

5e:

You conjure a mass of thick, sticky webbing at a point of your choice within range.

1e:

Explanation/Description: A web spell creates a many-layered mass of strong, sticky strands similar to spider webs, but far larger and tougher.

Big ol' ropelike strands.

 

[MarkB]

Nope

i'll envision it like flypaper for adventurers

Giving it the full depth can be important, since it also provides obscurement.