I'm going to run a one shot later today, about a yuan-ti temple in the jungle. On the second level, there is a trap that drops them into an underground 15 by 15 room containing a giant constrictor snake, a huge creature. I can't find any rules relating to two enemies sharing a space with nowhere else to go. Some help?
There are lots of interactions that the rules don't cover, so you'll have to make a few things up.
You could make the room 20x20 to avoid difficult questions, however;
you could also treat the PCs as "Squeezing", which would effectively make the entire space Difficult Terrain, give them Disadvantage on attack rolls and dexterity saving throws, and make attacks against them have advantage.
There are lots of interactions that the rules don't cover, so you'll have to make a few things up.
You could make the room 20x20 to avoid difficult questions, however;
you could also treat the PCs as "Squeezing", which would effectively make the entire space Difficult Terrain, give them Disadvantage on attack rolls and dexterity saving throws, and make attacks against them have advantage.
Thanks! Do you think that the snake would have those disadvantages too?
That's your call. If you apply the penalties to the constrictor, then it basically all gets washed out. If you want the trap to feel more dangerous, limit the penalty to the Players.
As a general guideline, Monsters, Traps, and Encounters don't have to follow normal rules. Start by deciding what kind of experience you want the players to have and then adjust the variables to explain it. As long as you don't tell the players exactly what they are up against, you will have more wiggle room in what abilities and features are in play.
There are no hard and fast rules on how creatures sharing a space in combat works. Although it is possible, a creature's space "reflects the area it needs to fight effectively" (PHB page 191). In my games, though, I rule that it is possible for as many creatures to fit into a space as the rules of physics allow. However, creatures sharing a space with another creature have Disadvantage on attack rolls and DEX saving throws. In addition, you can't enter another creature's space unless it lets you or there is no physical way to not enter its space in the situation (for example, if you're all in a pit).
But is it really necessary to give Disadvantage to everyone? All that would do is make the combat longer and more frustrating. Looking at your game from a "fun" standpoint, I'd run this entire encounter using theater of the mind and ignore the spacing rules that usually apply while the party is in the pit. I'd still give DEX saves Disadvantage; it makes more sense mechanically AND tactical players will see this as an exciting opportunity to strategize!
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Panda-wat (I hate my username) is somehow convinced that he is objectively right about everything D&D related even though he obviously is not. Considering that, he'd probably make a great D&D youtuber.
"If I die, I can live with that." ~Luke Hart, the DM lair
Just FYI you can move through the space of a creature more than 1 size bigger than you which a huge creature is to medium and small creatures like the players. You can't end your turn there willingly but in this case it wouldn't be willing. It's in the moving around other creatures rules. There are no penalties to either the snake or the players except that they could not use any feature which would allow them to grow in size or shrink; and if the players were capable of exiting the snakes space they would have to before the end of their next turn, for example if they could fly or climb. The snake would effectively push each player out of its space as it comes to their turn in combat.
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I'm going to run a one shot later today, about a yuan-ti temple in the jungle. On the second level, there is a trap that drops them into an underground 15 by 15 room containing a giant constrictor snake, a huge creature. I can't find any rules relating to two enemies sharing a space with nowhere else to go. Some help?
There are lots of interactions that the rules don't cover, so you'll have to make a few things up.
You could make the room 20x20 to avoid difficult questions, however;
you could also treat the PCs as "Squeezing", which would effectively make the entire space Difficult Terrain, give them Disadvantage on attack rolls and dexterity saving throws, and make attacks against them have advantage.
Thanks! Do you think that the snake would have those disadvantages too?
That's your call. If you apply the penalties to the constrictor, then it basically all gets washed out. If you want the trap to feel more dangerous, limit the penalty to the Players.
As a general guideline, Monsters, Traps, and Encounters don't have to follow normal rules. Start by deciding what kind of experience you want the players to have and then adjust the variables to explain it. As long as you don't tell the players exactly what they are up against, you will have more wiggle room in what abilities and features are in play.
There are no hard and fast rules on how creatures sharing a space in combat works. Although it is possible, a creature's space "reflects the area it needs to fight effectively" (PHB page 191). In my games, though, I rule that it is possible for as many creatures to fit into a space as the rules of physics allow. However, creatures sharing a space with another creature have Disadvantage on attack rolls and DEX saving throws. In addition, you can't enter another creature's space unless it lets you or there is no physical way to not enter its space in the situation (for example, if you're all in a pit).
But is it really necessary to give Disadvantage to everyone? All that would do is make the combat longer and more frustrating. Looking at your game from a "fun" standpoint, I'd run this entire encounter using theater of the mind and ignore the spacing rules that usually apply while the party is in the pit. I'd still give DEX saves Disadvantage; it makes more sense mechanically AND tactical players will see this as an exciting opportunity to strategize!
Panda-wat (I hate my username) is somehow convinced that he is objectively right about everything D&D related even though he obviously is not. Considering that, he'd probably make a great D&D youtuber.
"If I die, I can live with that." ~Luke Hart, the DM lair
By the way people, just ran it. None of them fell down the pit anyway.
Lol. That's exactly why it's not worth overthinking things. Do a quick search for rules, then just stick with whatever feels intuitive in the moment.
Just FYI you can move through the space of a creature more than 1 size bigger than you which a huge creature is to medium and small creatures like the players. You can't end your turn there willingly but in this case it wouldn't be willing. It's in the moving around other creatures rules. There are no penalties to either the snake or the players except that they could not use any feature which would allow them to grow in size or shrink; and if the players were capable of exiting the snakes space they would have to before the end of their next turn, for example if they could fly or climb. The snake would effectively push each player out of its space as it comes to their turn in combat.