Forcecage can either create a solid barrier or a cage with 1/2" bars and 1/2" gaps. This will stop amorphous creatures such as a black pudding because they require a 1" gap (Air Elemental is vague; it says it can pass through a 1" gap without squeezing, but does not say what happens if it does squeeze), but it will not stop a swarm of insects consisting of, say, bees, nor will it stop a Vampire.
However, forcecage says creatures in the cage "can't leave it by nonmagical means", with no exception for creatures that can actually get through a cage.
So, RAW it looks like creatures that can fit between the bars still can't get out, but logically it seems like they should be able to get out. Thoughts on how it should work? Or perhaps a charisma save, which appears to be how gaseous form would work?
Interestingly, this apparently allows such creatures to enter the cage by flowing through the bars, and then become trapped inside it unless they have a magical means of escape.
I think you are right. Creatures in the cage are trapped and can't leave by non-magical means no matter the form of the forcecage (I had not noticed that before but it looks correct).
Having bars means that both spells and matter can pass into and out of the forcecage - so depending on the creature trapped it may be easier to defeat or more dangerous if there are bars.
I suspect it's actually an accidental change; in 3.5e creatures that could fit through 1/2" gaps could get in and out (there were other changes to rules for getting in and out magically that appear deliberate).
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
To post a comment, please login or register a new account.
Forcecage can either create a solid barrier or a cage with 1/2" bars and 1/2" gaps. This will stop amorphous creatures such as a black pudding because they require a 1" gap (Air Elemental is vague; it says it can pass through a 1" gap without squeezing, but does not say what happens if it does squeeze), but it will not stop a swarm of insects consisting of, say, bees, nor will it stop a Vampire.
However, forcecage says creatures in the cage "can't leave it by nonmagical means", with no exception for creatures that can actually get through a cage.
So, RAW it looks like creatures that can fit between the bars still can't get out, but logically it seems like they should be able to get out. Thoughts on how it should work? Or perhaps a charisma save, which appears to be how gaseous form would work?
The "can't leave it by nonmagical means" seems to apply to both choices of shape, so size of creature is irrelevant.
Even in gaseous form, you would be attempting to physically leave the cage by flowing your gas through the gaps, so it wouldn't be allowed.
Interestingly, this apparently allows such creatures to enter the cage by flowing through the bars, and then become trapped inside it unless they have a magical means of escape.
I think you are right. Creatures in the cage are trapped and can't leave by non-magical means no matter the form of the forcecage (I had not noticed that before but it looks correct).
Having bars means that both spells and matter can pass into and out of the forcecage - so depending on the creature trapped it may be easier to defeat or more dangerous if there are bars.
I suspect it's actually an accidental change; in 3.5e creatures that could fit through 1/2" gaps could get in and out (there were other changes to rules for getting in and out magically that appear deliberate).