How would this work assuming the spells were cast by two clerics and the only differences between the two spells were the level being cast at? Would a creature suffer the effects of both spells or just the one that is the most potent as per the rules on spellcasting?
You can only be effected by a single instance of a spell, so they'd only take damage from one or the other. If you're saying someone starts their turn in two, overlapping areas, you are correct it would be the higher level spell.
Per the PHB section on spellcasting (chapter 10) Combining magical effects: The effects of the same spell cast multiple times don’t combine, however. Instead, the most potent effect — such as the highest bonus — from those castings applies while their durations overlap, or the most recent effect applies if the castings are equally potent and their durations overlap.
You can only be effected by a single instance of a spell, so they'd only take damage from one or the other. If you're saying someone starts their turn in two, overlapping areas, you are correct it would be the higher level spell.
Per the PHB section on spellcasting (chapter 10) Combining magical effects: The effects of the same spell cast multiple times don’t combine, however. Instead, the most potent effect — such as the highest bonus — from those castings applies while their durations overlap, or the most recent effect applies if the castings are equally potent and their durations overlap.
"Most potent" is not defined and in the case of spirit guardians may not be obvious. Say the party is level 7, one cleric has 20 Wisdom and a +1 amulet of the devout cast spirit guardians 3rd level (dc 17) while the other has 18 wisdom and no items to boost their dc but cast spirit guardians at 4th level (DC 15). Is the most potent spell the one hard to resist, the one cast at a higher level or the one that would result in most harm? There are several ways to deal with it and it is up to the DM to decide which is the most potent.
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How would this work assuming the spells were cast by two clerics and the only differences between the two spells were the level being cast at? Would a creature suffer the effects of both spells or just the one that is the most potent as per the rules on spellcasting?
You can only be effected by a single instance of a spell, so they'd only take damage from one or the other. If you're saying someone starts their turn in two, overlapping areas, you are correct it would be the higher level spell.
Per the PHB section on spellcasting (chapter 10) Combining magical effects: The effects of the same spell cast multiple times don’t combine, however. Instead, the most potent effect — such as the highest bonus — from those castings applies while their durations overlap, or the most recent effect applies if the castings are equally potent and their durations overlap.
"Most potent" is not defined and in the case of spirit guardians may not be obvious. Say the party is level 7, one cleric has 20 Wisdom and a +1 amulet of the devout cast spirit guardians 3rd level (dc 17) while the other has 18 wisdom and no items to boost their dc but cast spirit guardians at 4th level (DC 15). Is the most potent spell the one hard to resist, the one cast at a higher level or the one that would result in most harm? There are several ways to deal with it and it is up to the DM to decide which is the most potent.