In this scenario, the caster is on one side of a door with a window in it. The caster can see the room on the other side of the door appears empty, but cannot see the floor.
Can the caster use Misty Step to teleport to the other side or do they need to fully see the space? Do they need to see that it is unoccupied?
A space is unoccupied if no creatures are in it and it isn’t completely filled by objects.
So I'd say that if the caster doesn't see, for example, a creature in that space on the other side of the door, they can technically cast the spell. But if it turns out the space is occupied, then:
If the destination space of your teleportation is occupied by another creature or blocked by a solid obstacle, you instead appear in the nearest unoccupied space of your choice.
The description of a teleportation effect tells you if you must see the teleportation’s destination.
Teleportation spells aren't block by cover the way something like Firebolt is because most teleport spells have a range of Self. You have to meet the criteria for the destination such as "a space you can see within X of you", but you aren't casting to the destination and so a physical obstruction won't block the spell so long as you meet all the listed requirements for selecting a destination.
That answers the "through a window" part, but there is still the other half of the original question: Can you misty step into the air, or do you need to see something to land on. My understanding is that teleporting into the air without knowing what's below is fine (as far as rules go at least...), but it does make me wonder how you can see something that is just empty space.
IMO, you can cast Misty Step into the air or even underwater, as long as it's "an unoccupied space you can see". What happens next? That's part the adventure.
In this scenario, the caster is on one side of a door with a window in it. The caster can see the room on the other side of the door appears empty, but cannot see the floor.
Can the caster use Misty Step to teleport to the other side or do they need to fully see the space? Do they need to see that it is unoccupied?
How to add Tooltips.
My houserulings.
According to the Rules Glossary:
And:
So I'd say that if the caster doesn't see, for example, a creature in that space on the other side of the door, they can technically cast the spell. But if it turns out the space is occupied, then:
EDIT: for clarity.
Right. I don't have a question about if it is unoccupied. Does the door with a (small) window block visibility of the space?
How to add Tooltips.
My houserulings.
No it doesn't block it if one can see through and thus should allow Misty Step in the space if it can see it, and it is unoccupied.
Teleportation spells aren't block by cover the way something like Firebolt is because most teleport spells have a range of Self. You have to meet the criteria for the destination such as "a space you can see within X of you", but you aren't casting to the destination and so a physical obstruction won't block the spell so long as you meet all the listed requirements for selecting a destination.
That answers the "through a window" part, but there is still the other half of the original question: Can you misty step into the air, or do you need to see something to land on. My understanding is that teleporting into the air without knowing what's below is fine (as far as rules go at least...), but it does make me wonder how you can see something that is just empty space.
IMO, you can cast Misty Step into the air or even underwater, as long as it's "an unoccupied space you can see". What happens next? That's part the adventure.