I've been in the process of making a fusion of the doppelganger 'Mind Reading' ability and 'Detect Thoughts' spell for a campaign I'm DMing. I'm applying the barrier penetrating properties of the doppelgangers ability to it which state that it is stopped by 3 ft. of wood or dirt, 2 ft. of stone, 2 inches of metal, or a thin sheet of lead blocks it. This is clear enough to me, but I wanted to see if anyone could clarify completely whether these barriers are accumulative or individual.
What I mean by that is, if the ability is being used through rooms and has to penetrate 2 separate walls made of 1ft thick stone, would it penetrate because each wall is individually 1ft thick or would it fail because the accumulative thickness of both those walls is 2ft? Alternatively, if the ability was trying to penetrate a single wall which was made of a combination of stone and dirt, for example, the wall of a, man made, underground dungeon that was 3ft thick, 2ft of which was dirt and 1ft of which was stone, would the ability succeed or fail?
This almost seems like a maths question from highschool after rereading it but if anyone was any more concrete knowledge about these kind of rulings I'd appreciate the input.
I'd rule no, bit doesn't penetrate cumulative distances. It's still 2ft of stone.in the second example, 3ft of dirt stops it, so 2ft of dirt then 1ft of even denser material would definitely stop it.
Your DM, whose opinion is the one that counts, may disagree. But logically, the answer is no both times.
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Hi everyone.
I've been in the process of making a fusion of the doppelganger 'Mind Reading' ability and 'Detect Thoughts' spell for a campaign I'm DMing. I'm applying the barrier penetrating properties of the doppelgangers ability to it which state that it is stopped by 3 ft. of wood or dirt, 2 ft. of stone, 2 inches of metal, or a thin sheet of lead blocks it. This is clear enough to me, but I wanted to see if anyone could clarify completely whether these barriers are accumulative or individual.
What I mean by that is, if the ability is being used through rooms and has to penetrate 2 separate walls made of 1ft thick stone, would it penetrate because each wall is individually 1ft thick or would it fail because the accumulative thickness of both those walls is 2ft? Alternatively, if the ability was trying to penetrate a single wall which was made of a combination of stone and dirt, for example, the wall of a, man made, underground dungeon that was 3ft thick, 2ft of which was dirt and 1ft of which was stone, would the ability succeed or fail?
This almost seems like a maths question from highschool after rereading it but if anyone was any more concrete knowledge about these kind of rulings I'd appreciate the input.
It is up to your DM.
I'd rule no, bit doesn't penetrate cumulative distances. It's still 2ft of stone.in the second example, 3ft of dirt stops it, so 2ft of dirt then 1ft of even denser material would definitely stop it.
Your DM, whose opinion is the one that counts, may disagree. But logically, the answer is no both times.
If you're not willing or able to to discuss in good faith, then don't be surprised if I don't respond, there are better things in life for me to do than humour you. This signature is that response.
Ok. Thanks for the reply.