Epic House Rule: Projectile Collisions

Ever wonder what'd happen if two projectiles collided midair? Well then this is the thread for you!

Okay, some are pretty simple, like two firebolts. But others, like bullets or magic missiles are more complicated. If a projectile collides, there are MANY things that could happen based off of just what it is. Without further ado, here's what'd happen for each projectile collision:

• Firebolt - The two make an explosion that deals the approximate sum of the Fire damage from both firebolts. Apart from that it's just a bigger firebolt explosion.
• Lightning Bolt - The same as firebolt but with lightning instead.
• Magic Missile - Each missile collision is the same as firebolt but with magic missiles instead.
• Chromatic Orb - One again, pretty much the same as firebolt but with different damage types and thereby different appearance.
• Arrow - Both shooters roll 1d20. The one with the higher roll wins and the winner's arrow slices through the loser's arrow.
• Bullet - The bullets fuse together upon contact.

Don't forget to tell me if I missed anything!

Uhm... I'm slightly confused on the actual ruling or application of this? Is the second spell/arrow shot with a reaction? Does the shooter need to hit a DC to actually hit the other projectile? Do they need to fly directly opposite against each other? Or if they fly in the same direction? When two projectiles fuse together, what happens then? There is a collision, so at least one of the projectiles need to change direction... Which one?

I mean sure, they make cool narrative flavour effects. But as for abilities to be used in game mid combat this just adds soooo much unnecessary complexity. There are already spells that negate effects (Shield, Counterspell) that could be just described in flavour to do exactly what you described: "I cast this sort of fiery orb that collides with the incoming fiery orb so they explode midway in the air. So, I cast Counterspell."

I imagine that this happens when two creatures both fire a ranged attack at the other in the same round? It's the only way I could explain this.

When two projectiles flying at angles with a difference of a least 25° collide, this happens.

Hi goose :3

D&D is... a TTRPG, and combat stuff isn't simultaneous... soooo... this could never actually happen. And like Scruvy said, you can just make it flavor and that makes much more sense.

Quote from DMman69 >>

I imagine that this happens when two creatures both fire a ranged attack at the other in the same round? It's the only way I could explain this.

 It doesn't make much sense that way either... since it's not actually simultaneous...

Quote from Scruvy >>

Uhm... I'm slightly confused on the actual ruling or application of this? Is the second spell/arrow shot with a reaction? Does the shooter need to hit a DC to actually hit the other projectile? Do they need to fly directly opposite against each other? Or if they fly in the same direction? When two projectiles fuse together, what happens then? There is a collision, so at least one of the projectiles need to change direction... Which one?

I mean sure, they make cool narrative flavour effects. But as for abilities to be used in game mid combat this just adds soooo much unnecessary complexity. There are already spells that negate effects (Shield, Counterspell) that could be just described in flavour to do exactly what you described: "I cast this sort of fiery orb that collides with the incoming fiery orb so they explode midway in the air. So, I cast Counterspell."

 I like this!

Quote from _Metastatic_ >>

Hi goose :3

D&D is... a TTRPG, and combat stuff isn't simultaneous... soooo... this could never actually happen. And like Scruvy said, you can just make it flavor and that makes much more sense.."

 I like this!

 Thanks! :)