In previuos D&D editions, it was not possible to case the spell Call lightning indoor.
In 5th edition the spell says:
A storm cloud appears in the shape of a cylinder that is 10 feet tall with a 60-foot radius, centered on a point you can see 100 feet directly above you. The spell fails if you can't see a point in the air where the storm cloud could appear (for example, if you are in a room that can't accommodate the cloud).
Does it mean that you cannot cast indoor, unless the indoor space is large enough to contain the entire cloud?
So... I suspect the design decision was "you can cast this in the Underdark, or perhaps in a giant's tower, but not in a packed dungeon, that's silly."
I can't say it doesn't make sense. I'd be amicable to allowing it if you're in a house and there's a window from where you can see the edge of the cloud, however. The lightning bolts could very easily utilize said window. Or if you're in a hut that can't exactly prevent a lightning bolt from obliterating the ceiling.
But this way they avoid the concerns and arguments of "is the Underdark considered indoors?" or "this spatially contorted room is three miles long and one mile high! Why can't I call lightning?"
Just FYI that you're reviving a 2 year old thread.
I believe the spell has undergone errata since 2017. I imagine it used to say 100 feet above you, now it says "The spell fails if you can't see a point in the air where the storm cloud could appear (for example, if you are in a room that can't accommodate the cloud)."
For a spell that they updated, it is piss poor. You can't sit there and say it can fail in the very first paragraph and then not be clear on what makes it fail. Its a cloud...what room can't accommodate that? Is the key phrase there "where a storm cloud could appear"? meaning naturally appear? Just very poor writing. Be clear with your intent. If you want the spell to need a 60foot radius area in order to be cast, then say so. Otherwise if you really don't care, then take out the part that says it can fail. That is either moronic, or just lazy.
For a spell that they updated, it is piss poor. You can't sit there and say it can fail in the very first paragraph and then not be clear on what makes it fail. Its a cloud...what room can't accommodate that? Is the key phrase there "where a storm cloud could appear"? meaning naturally appear? Just very poor writing. Be clear with your intent. If you want the spell to need a 60foot radius area in order to be cast, then say so. Otherwise if you really don't care, then take out the part that says it can fail. That is either moronic, or just lazy.
You're misinterpreting it.
They define what is meant by "storm cloud": "A storm cloud appears in the shape of a cylinder that is 10 feet tall with a 60-foot radius."
When they say "The spell fails if you can't see a point in the air where the storm cloud could appear (for example, if you are in a room that can't accommodate the cloud)." They mean the storm cloud that is 10 feet tall with a 60-foot radius.
In other words: the spell fails if the area you're targeting is too small (not tall enough for the 10 ft height of the cloud, not wide enough for the 60-foot radius).
Indoors or outdoors, doesn't matter. The targeted area just as to be big enough.
It kind of implies this, but not strong enough. Why? because its a cloud. It would just flow around a wall or object or simply become more dense if the area was smaller. Also, there is no mention of how high it needs to be. So can you cast it in a 120x120x10 room, basically filling the entire room with the cloud, removing all visibility?
It does say directly above you, so the room would need to be 120'x120'x15', and you would need to be directly in the middle of the room when casting, as it appears "directly above you." But yeah, seems that would work.
The cloud won't flow around a wall or become more dense. You have to have 120' x 120' x 10' of open space directly above you.
The area requirements do make it difficult to use indoors, as it is quite uncommon to find rooms that big. The spell is definitely most suited for outdoors. However, if you have a room that can accommodate the size and placement requirements of the spell - then it'll work fine.
EDIT
I'm going to add the suggestion to not keep thinking about external ideas. What I mean by this is, just because it says cloud doesn't mean it's going to work like real world clouds do. You need to focus instead of what the spell is saying. It's idiomatic speech. The usage of "storm cloud" is just to describe it's going to look like a dark cloud with some lightning sparking in it. It was just easier for them to say storm cloud than saying "the spell creates a gas-like substance of visible water vapour made dark from water saturation with bits of lightning flickering within it". They saw it as easier to just say storm cloud and then go and define the parameters of what it will actually do.
Continual Flame is another example. Technically if it doesn't burn then it's not fire by definition. The spell is 'technically' just creating a light, not fire. Yet it will still be described as fire to more easily describe how it will appear and then just say it's magically able to not burn or spread.
It's a spell. It's magic. It will not follow the laws of physics or real-world understanding. The text in a spell is to describe how it looks and define what it does.
The storm cloud of Storm Call spell isn't a real storm cloud. The fire from Continual Flame isn't real fire. They're just spells made to act/resemble these things in the way the spell text says.
In previuos D&D editions, it was not possible to case the spell Call lightning indoor.
In 5th edition the spell says:
A storm cloud appears in the shape of a cylinder that is 10 feet tall with a 60-foot radius, centered on a point you can see 100 feet directly above you. The spell fails if you can't see a point in the air where the storm cloud could appear (for example, if you are in a room that can't accommodate the cloud).
Does it mean that you cannot cast indoor, unless the indoor space is large enough to contain the entire cloud?
Yes, can cast indoors, however you need to have a room that the ceiling is at least 110 feet tall, and 120 feet wide.
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So... I suspect the design decision was "you can cast this in the Underdark, or perhaps in a giant's tower, but not in a packed dungeon, that's silly."
I can't say it doesn't make sense. I'd be amicable to allowing it if you're in a house and there's a window from where you can see the edge of the cloud, however. The lightning bolts could very easily utilize said window. Or if you're in a hut that can't exactly prevent a lightning bolt from obliterating the ceiling.
But this way they avoid the concerns and arguments of "is the Underdark considered indoors?" or "this spatially contorted room is three miles long and one mile high! Why can't I call lightning?"
I'm so confused guys. I can't find anything about it having to be 100ft above, below or to the side. It just says directly above, within range?
Just FYI that you're reviving a 2 year old thread.
I believe the spell has undergone errata since 2017. I imagine it used to say 100 feet above you, now it says "The spell fails if you can't see a point in the air where the storm cloud could appear (for example, if you are in a room that can't accommodate the cloud)."
For a spell that they updated, it is piss poor. You can't sit there and say it can fail in the very first paragraph and then not be clear on what makes it fail. Its a cloud...what room can't accommodate that? Is the key phrase there "where a storm cloud could appear"? meaning naturally appear? Just very poor writing. Be clear with your intent. If you want the spell to need a 60foot radius area in order to be cast, then say so. Otherwise if you really don't care, then take out the part that says it can fail. That is either moronic, or just lazy.
You're misinterpreting it.
They define what is meant by "storm cloud": "A storm cloud appears in the shape of a cylinder that is 10 feet tall with a 60-foot radius."
When they say "The spell fails if you can't see a point in the air where the storm cloud could appear (for example, if you are in a room that can't accommodate the cloud)." They mean the storm cloud that is 10 feet tall with a 60-foot radius.
In other words: the spell fails if the area you're targeting is too small (not tall enough for the 10 ft height of the cloud, not wide enough for the 60-foot radius).
Indoors or outdoors, doesn't matter. The targeted area just as to be big enough.
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It kind of implies this, but not strong enough. Why? because its a cloud. It would just flow around a wall or object or simply become more dense if the area was smaller. Also, there is no mention of how high it needs to be. So can you cast it in a 120x120x10 room, basically filling the entire room with the cloud, removing all visibility?
It does say directly above you, so the room would need to be 120'x120'x15', and you would need to be directly in the middle of the room when casting, as it appears "directly above you." But yeah, seems that would work.
The cloud won't flow around a wall or become more dense. You have to have 120' x 120' x 10' of open space directly above you.
Jaysburn is correct.
The area requirements do make it difficult to use indoors, as it is quite uncommon to find rooms that big. The spell is definitely most suited for outdoors. However, if you have a room that can accommodate the size and placement requirements of the spell - then it'll work fine.
EDIT
I'm going to add the suggestion to not keep thinking about external ideas. What I mean by this is, just because it says cloud doesn't mean it's going to work like real world clouds do. You need to focus instead of what the spell is saying. It's idiomatic speech. The usage of "storm cloud" is just to describe it's going to look like a dark cloud with some lightning sparking in it. It was just easier for them to say storm cloud than saying "the spell creates a gas-like substance of visible water vapour made dark from water saturation with bits of lightning flickering within it". They saw it as easier to just say storm cloud and then go and define the parameters of what it will actually do.
Continual Flame is another example. Technically if it doesn't burn then it's not fire by definition. The spell is 'technically' just creating a light, not fire. Yet it will still be described as fire to more easily describe how it will appear and then just say it's magically able to not burn or spread.
It's a spell. It's magic. It will not follow the laws of physics or real-world understanding. The text in a spell is to describe how it looks and define what it does.
The storm cloud of Storm Call spell isn't a real storm cloud. The fire from Continual Flame isn't real fire. They're just spells made to act/resemble these things in the way the spell text says.
My Homebrew: Races | Subclasses | Backgrounds | Spells | Magic Items | Feats
Need help with Homebrew? Check out this FAQ/Guide thread by IamSposta
See My Youtube Videos for Tips & Tricks using D&D Beyond