Dimension Door Issue

Quote from sevidz >>

IF DD is asking of the caster to visualize the area he will be, does he need to be familiar with it.  

It must be one that the caster can visualize. That means enough information to come up with an image of the location. The exact quality required is not specified.

Quote from sevidz >>

It literally says visualize...I know what that word means...

In order to visualize you need to have seen it at least once, otherwise it is fantasy and it doesn't count.

If the player wants to cast it at a random location as a gamble I'm fine with that, but you better be sure it will be exactly how much he can see, no further.

 It says "one you can visualize" as one of the options for choosing your destination. If you're in range, you can pop back to your room in the inn, as long as you're in range, even if you don't know where you are in relation to it.

This is unrelated to "one you can describe by stating distance and direction". That's straight up relative position, no other requirements.

In order to visualize you need to have seen it at least once, otherwise it is fantasy and it doesn't count.

Again, I don't think you have the correct definition of of a term you are using, today the word is "visualize".

If you are playing a sport you visualize before the game making "X" play.  In golf it would be driving the ball off a tee, in basketball making a 3 point shot, in baseball recognizing a breaking ball and making contact, etc. etc. 

You visualize what you are describing as fantasy.  You may never have experienced any of what you are visualizing, but yet you can still visualize.

I know that the Eifel tower exists, in what country it is and how it looks like...but how to get to it, no idea. 

All of you seem to miss this somehow. 

Even if I point at it, I have no idea how far it is from where I am.

So no, I am not convinced. 

Also, basketball players can visualize what a basketball looks like...they held it and seen it at least once. And visualizing a play is just planning...not visualizing. 

Still thank you for your contribution.  

Lower the tone and attitude and try again. 

This was very helpful, thank you. 

Thank you, very helpfu.

In that case the failure condition is irrelevant...

Thank you, very helpful.

All valid points, the caster does not need to see " SELF " 

But what about the destination...the limit is exactly how much it can see. My problem with visualization is that the player saw the location was safe, however the mini had no clue. 

It sounds like you're convinced of your own call and don't want to listen to the reasoning of other commenters. That's fine, but just know that every other person posting here has told you that you have the incorrect interpretation. It's your table ultimately so do what you want, but limiting a 4th level spell in this way feels like the game you're playing has a hint of DM vs Player. I personally am not a fan of that style of play. 

I also agree with the other posters regarding the interpretation of the spell.

Quote from sevidz >>

All valid points, the caster does not need to see " SELF " 

But what about the destination...the limit is exactly how much it can see. My problem with visualization is that the player saw the location was safe, however the mini had no clue. 

It has been pointed out to you several times in this thread that the spell is not limited to what you can see, and has a specific mechanic for what happens if you choose a location that's not safe. If the problem is that the player is conflating player knowledge with character knowledge, that's a separate issue that has nothing to do with how the spell works.

FYI, if you don't quote the post you're replying to, there's no way for anyone else to know which one you're replying to.

Quote from wagnarokkr >>

Quote from sevidz >>

All valid points, the caster does not need to see " SELF " 

But what about the destination...the limit is exactly how much it can see. My problem with visualization is that the player saw the location was safe, however the mini had no clue. 

It has been pointed out to you several times in this thread that the spell is not limited to what you can see, and has a specific mechanic for what happens if you choose a location that's not safe. If the problem is that the player is conflating player knowledge with character knowledge, that's a separate issue that has nothing to do with how the spell works.

FYI, if you don't quote the post you're replying to, there's no way for anyone else to know which one you're replying to.

 Thank you for pointing this out, had no idea how quote worked. 
Well, thank you for answering my question, it was metagaming all along. 

I understand DD much better now.