[edit] Side note: an exceptional creature like the Gelatinous Cubedoes occupy the entirety of its space at all times (because it explicitly says that it does), so a target that is completely concealed by the Gelatinous Cubedoes have total cover. However, if there is even a single, unobstructed line that can be traced from a point on the attacker's square to a point on their target's square, the target is still only in (at most) half cover.
Only creature inside a gelatinous cube has total cover. Creature the other side of it still only have half-cover as nothing in the creature statsblock overrides the general rules of Cover saing creature grant half-cover.
Gelatinous Cube is a specific exception, and that does come from what is written in its stat block:
Ooze Cube. The cube takes up its entire space. Other creatures can enter the space, but a creature that does so is subjected to the cube's Engulf and has disadvantage on the saving throw.
The entire space is occupied concurrently (10x10x10), so we can consider those spaces to be a static obstruction like a wall. If at least one line can be drawn between the attacker's & target's space, that does not cross through the GC's space, then it's half cover (like attacking around a corner). If there are no unobstructed lines to the target, then it's full cover; you'd literally be trying to attack through (not around) the cube, which is not allowed by default.
The main takeaway here is that it supports the notion that creatures, by default, do not constitute more than half cover by virtue of not occupying their entire space at all times, regardless of how many creatures are in formation. If a specific creature does occupy its entire space at all times, like the Gelatinous Cube does, it will say so in the creature's stat block.
You don't know what fear is until you've witnessed a drunk bird divebombing you while carrying a screaming Kobold throwing fire anywhere and everywhere.
Because it's not a contradiction; specific beats general. The general rule for a creature occupying space is that the creature does not concurrently occupy the entire volume of that space, which informs the general rule on cover as creatures (in general) do not entirely conceal what's behind them (half cover).
The Gelatinous Cube, specifically, and explicitly does concurrently occupy the entire volume of its spaces. The Gelatinous Cube is also corporeal, so the physical space it occupies does count as an obstacle, and does conceal any target that is 100% behind it (full cover). The danger of this monster is specifically drawn from its ability to separate and trap creatures by using its body as an obstacle.
For all intents and purposes, a Gelatinous Cubeis a 10x10x10 wall of pain that can move
You don't know what fear is until you've witnessed a drunk bird divebombing you while carrying a screaming Kobold throwing fire anywhere and everywhere.
Examples are as good as rules (often better, given lack of details and vague wording). The examples for 3/4th cover are all things that cover better than almost any creature of any size (especially given that creatures are understood to be constantly moving within their space).
Lyxen, what you often describe is nothing resembling D&D5e, but rather a TTRPG ruleset that you've completely made up yourself. What your idea of "cover" comes down to is not a clear, simple determination of what constitutes a specific level of cover that a DM can swiftly apply to an in-game situation, and that a player can readily plan for. What you describe is "cover is whatever the DM pulls out of his *** at any given moment." IIRC, you play exclusively in theater of the mind. Good for you, yet the rules of this edition are founded on principles of grid-based combat, whether the grid exists in your mind or in front of your eyes.
Players & DMs should be able to look at a battlefield and easily understand the conditions. Generic creatures constitutes half-cover, regardless of how many there are. A specific creature may constitute more than half-cover only if the specific creature's stat block indicates as such.
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You don't know what fear is until you've witnessed a drunk bird divebombing you while carrying a screaming Kobold throwing fire anywhere and everywhere.
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Gelatinous Cube is a specific exception, and that does come from what is written in its stat block:
The entire space is occupied concurrently (10x10x10), so we can consider those spaces to be a static obstruction like a wall. If at least one line can be drawn between the attacker's & target's space, that does not cross through the GC's space, then it's half cover (like attacking around a corner). If there are no unobstructed lines to the target, then it's full cover; you'd literally be trying to attack through (not around) the cube, which is not allowed by default.
The main takeaway here is that it supports the notion that creatures, by default, do not constitute more than half cover by virtue of not occupying their entire space at all times, regardless of how many creatures are in formation. If a specific creature does occupy its entire space at all times, like the Gelatinous Cube does, it will say so in the creature's stat block.
You don't know what fear is until you've witnessed a drunk bird divebombing you while carrying a screaming Kobold throwing fire anywhere and everywhere.
I see nothing contradicting the general rules for cover in what you quoted.
Because it's not a contradiction; specific beats general. The general rule for a creature occupying space is that the creature does not concurrently occupy the entire volume of that space, which informs the general rule on cover as creatures (in general) do not entirely conceal what's behind them (half cover).
The Gelatinous Cube, specifically, and explicitly does concurrently occupy the entire volume of its spaces. The Gelatinous Cube is also corporeal, so the physical space it occupies does count as an obstacle, and does conceal any target that is 100% behind it (full cover). The danger of this monster is specifically drawn from its ability to separate and trap creatures by using its body as an obstacle.
For all intents and purposes, a Gelatinous Cube is a 10x10x10 wall of pain that can move
You don't know what fear is until you've witnessed a drunk bird divebombing you while carrying a screaming Kobold throwing fire anywhere and everywhere.
Examples are as good as rules (often better, given lack of details and vague wording). The examples for 3/4th cover are all things that cover better than almost any creature of any size (especially given that creatures are understood to be constantly moving within their space).
I would say yes, but the target would have half cover, so +2 ac.
Altrazin Aghanes - Wizard/Fighter
Varpulis Windhowl - Fighter
Skolson Demjon - Cleric/Fighter
Lyxen, what you often describe is nothing resembling D&D5e, but rather a TTRPG ruleset that you've completely made up yourself. What your idea of "cover" comes down to is not a clear, simple determination of what constitutes a specific level of cover that a DM can swiftly apply to an in-game situation, and that a player can readily plan for. What you describe is "cover is whatever the DM pulls out of his *** at any given moment." IIRC, you play exclusively in theater of the mind. Good for you, yet the rules of this edition are founded on principles of grid-based combat, whether the grid exists in your mind or in front of your eyes.
Players & DMs should be able to look at a battlefield and easily understand the conditions. Generic creatures constitutes half-cover, regardless of how many there are. A specific creature may constitute more than half-cover only if the specific creature's stat block indicates as such.
You don't know what fear is until you've witnessed a drunk bird divebombing you while carrying a screaming Kobold throwing fire anywhere and everywhere.