Discussed here and here. Basically, the designers have clarified that total cover still functions as total cover even if you can see through it.
Also, Sigred made a astute observation about the "and" in "If you place an area of effect at a point that you can’t see and an obstruction, such as a wall, is between you and that point, the point of origin comes into being on the near side of that obstruction."... but this line doesn't invalidate the restriction that precedes it. The line (imperfectly) addresses some likely situations (and seems to forget about the possibility of transparent cover), but it does not actually cancel out the "To target something, you must have a clear path to it, so it can't be behind total cover" rule
Fireball is an AoE spell. It cannot be cast through a transparent obstacle. A simple pane of glass provides enough cover to stop a Fireball. The difference between Fireball and Stinking Cloud is that the former is described as a bright streak that flashes from the caster's finger to the target, while the latter is described as "centered on a point within range." there is no description of how or if the magic of Stinking Cloud travels from the mage to the origin point.
The rules for cover state that cover applies only when an attack or effect originates on the other side of the cover. The description of Stinking Cloud certainly implies that the cloud originates from the target point. If this is the case it would be unimpeded by a Wall of Force.
DM's call on the origination point of a Stinking Cloud. If it is the caster then a glass window will block it and the cloud will originate on the casters side of the window, not in the room beyond.
Vicious Mockery requires only that the target be able to hear the caster. Nothing in the description of Wall of Force states that it blocks sound. The only configuration of a Wall of Force that might block sound, and there for Vicious Mockery is a sphere. If the DM is going to so rule, they must be careful to enforce that no sound travels through the sphere, in or out for the duration of the spell. Sound would travel over and around a linear wall, and through the ground beneath a semi-spherical wall.
Counterspell states that the caster is required to "see" another spell being cast. Again nothing in the description of Wall of Force would act against this.
Line 1: To target something, you must have a clear path to it, so it can’t be behind total cover.
In reading line 1, there is a designation here that is important: "To target something". An AoE spell does not necessarily target something. It can, and usually does, target an abstract concept "a point in space". Is that really enough to consider it "targeting something" in this context?
Line 2: If you place an area of effect at a point that you can’t see and an obstruction, such as a wall, is between you and that point, the point of origin comes into being on the near side of that obstruction.
This line specifically calls out AoE, which again is important. It also puts a double requirement on the AoE spell in order for the result to happen in a particular way. If the point is A) not visible and B) obstructed then the spell will originate on the near side of the obstruction. If either of those two requirements are not met then the spell will act normally.
Does the fact that the second part of the ruling considers AoE specifically override the first part of the ruling? By all accounts yes, specific trumps general.
It comes down to: "Does a Wall of Force provide total cover to something behind it?" ... which is the same question as a window or any other transparent obstruction. "Do any of these provide total cover to a target behind the solid yet transparent obstruction?" If it provides total cover then you can't target a spell on the other side.
There are also the rules about spell targeting requiring a clear path to the target. The rules don't specify what is meant by a "clear path". Is it a clear PHYSICAL path? i.e. there are no objects in the way? Something that would block a physical object from traversing the space between the two points. Or is it a clear VISUAL path? Something that would block vision between the two points? Do spells require a clear visual or a clear physical path or both to the target?
Consider that a spell targeting another location through AIR is still firing through some form of matter? Is that a clear physical path? Why should the density of matter affect the ability of a spell to manifest an effect at a target location? Some spell descriptions include a physical manifestation that travels from the caster to the target while others do not.
The definition of total cover uses the word "concealed". Concealment means being unable to SEE.
"A target with total cover can't be targeted directly by an attack or a spell, although some spells can reach such a target by including it in an area of effect. A target has total cover if it is completely concealed by an obstacle."
Since a wall of force does not provide concealment - it doesn't actually fulfill the requirement to provide total cover.
"A CLEAR PATH TO THE TARGET To target something, you must have a clear path to it, so it can't be behind total cover, If you place an area of effect at a point that you can't see and an obstruction, such as a wall, is between you and that point, the point of origin comes into being on the near side of that obstruction."
Since total cover is defined as being completely concealed by an obstacle. You then run into the question of whether there is a clear path to a target for a spell cast on a target behind a wall of force. There are two main approaches to this - since there is no clear physical line to the target, it is blocked and the target has total cover and thus can't be targeted.The second is that since the target is not concealed, wall of force does not provide total cover BUT does block all physical paths to the target. This means that any spells with any sort of manifestation between the target and caster would be blocked while any spells that manifest only at the target location would not. The rules do not indicate anywhere that spells are blocked if there is no physical path to the target ... only that the path is blocked by total cover.
The second approach throws alot of interpretation into the DMs hands since they have to decide on a case by case basis based on the spell description whether it would be blocked by a physical obstruction or not.
Regarding the OPs question, the wall prevents ALL physical objects from crossing the wall. Physically speaking this makes it a perfect insulator against kinetic heat and sound since both of these are due to the propagation of vibrations of the components in the atmostphere. The wall is fully transparent though so it would not block visible light, infra red, ultra violet or any other electromagnetic emissions. So, unless there was a way for sound to propagate around the wall, vicious mockery would not work.
Regarding the OPs question, the wall prevents ALL physical objects from crossing the wall. Physically speaking this makes it a perfect insulator against kinetic heat and sound since both of these are due to the propagation of vibrations of the components in the atmostphere. The wall is fully transparent though so it would not block visible light, infra red, ultra violet or any other electromagnetic emissions. So, unless there was a way for sound to propagate around the wall, vicious mockery would not work.
Can whatever the wall is made out of vibrate? Does it react to being hit?
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"Any society that would give up a little liberty to gain a little security will deserve neither and lose both" -- allegedly Benjamin Franklin
"A CLEAR PATH TO THE TARGET To target something, you must have a clear path to it, so it can't be behind total cover, If you place an area of effect at a point that you can't see and an obstruction, such as a wall, is between you and that point, the point of origin comes into being on the near side of that obstruction."
In your quote you separate "behind total cover" and "If you place" with a comma. The PHB separates them with both a period and a new line. While it may seem to be a minor oversight, in terms of how the "instructions" should be handled, it is an important distinction.
Reading the quote you have it lends to the idea that all of the conditions are contingent on each other, creating a very confusing situation. You can't target something that's behind total cover and you can't target an AoE behind an obstruction which you can't see through. This lends to the interpretation that nothing can pass through the Wall of Force.
However, as I posted above, they are two distinctly separate lines. This makes them non-inclusive, line one dealing with targeted spells, and line two dealing with AoEs.
It comes down to: "Does a Wall of Force provide total cover to something behind it?" ... which is the same question as a window or any other transparent obstruction. "Do any of these provide total cover to a target behind the solid yet transparent obstruction?" If it provides total cover then you can't target a spell on the other side.
he definition of total cover uses the word "concealed". Concealment means being unable to SEE.
"A target with total cover can't be targeted directly by an attack or a spell, although some spells can reach such a target by including it in an area of effect. A target has total cover if it is completely concealed by an obstacle."
Since a wall of force does not provide concealment - it doesn't actually fulfill the requirement to provide total cover.
See Sage Advice here. A solid obstacle provides cover. Transparency not withstanding. Visual concealment is not a requirement for total cover, a solid obstacle is.
If we want to get all sorts of technical, sound can't pass through the barrier: "Nothing can physically pass through the wall". Sound is a vibration of a physical substance, as such the physical substance can't pass through the wall. With that it would work much like sound dampening, the vibrations negated by the wall, nothing passing through it, no sound is heard. The exception to this being if the wall itself was made to vibrate, the wall would create sound.
It's not so much the Silence spell as it is creatures on opposite sides can't hear each other. Creatures together inside/outside the spell can hear each other.
I wasn't trying to make a fuss about the whole sound thing, heck even in my bullet points I use the term "might not", because there are solid arguments for and against the idea.
I hear ya (pun intended, lord help me), so just for fun: Sound is not a physical substance; it has no mass. Sound is energy! Energy passes through materials with varying degrees of ease. More specifically, sound energy is transmitted most commonly in one of two ways (that both ultimately have the same ending): air & impact.
Sound energy is transmitted through the air by via the displacement of particles in the air, and typically has a lower initial energy than a sound generated/transmitted by impact. The electrons of a particle are excited by the energy travelling in a direction dictated by a vector field, giving the particle an acceleration. When that particle hits another particle (force, momentum), there is a transfer of energy, and on and on. Perfect vacuum conditions don't apply, and some energy is absorbed/retained by particles post-displacement. Sound energy can travel a long distance this way, and is easier to dampen with solid objects due to the generally lower initial energy.
Sound energy is transmitted through impact is still via the displacement of particles, but the energy content is typically much higher due to the way in which the initial force is generated (smacking something). Energy is transferred from the initial object to the smacked object, and continues through to displace air particles on the other side. This is why it's easy to hear someone knocking at the door/tapping at a window. Energy keeps going until it's been completely absorbed.
Why do they both have the same ending? Because air/impact transmission are still the same thing. Impact happens every time one particle collides with another. We just know that the initial energy from a vocalization is typically lower than the initial energy from one perceptible object colliding with another perceptible object. A person speaking from one side of a wall may or may not be heard on the other side; it can heavily vary depending on whether the speaker is shouting, whispering, near, or far when the vocalization is generated. It further varies depending on how close the listener is to their side of the wall.
I'd personally never rule Wall of Force blocks sounds, but imposing disadvantage on Perception checks that rely on hearing--on the other side of the wall--is a homebrew option that would at least make sense.
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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.
Force as a noun may be defined as strength or energy as an attribute of physical action or movement. In physics a force is any interaction that, when unopposed, will change the motion of an object. Force may also be defined as coercion or compulsion, especially with the use or threat of violence. 5e "Force" seems to be pure magical energy, so our world definitions don't fully apply.
So with this information of obstruction and visibility. And magic would not originate into the dome, would counter spell fail against a spell caster on the inside of the spell?
If you cast Stinking Cloud outside the wall of force, then the effects of the spell cannot pass within. If you cast the spell so the target location is within the wall of force, then it will function normally but cannot spread beyond the confines of the wall of force.
How?
PHB 204
A Clear Path to the Target To target something, you must have a clear path to it, so it can’t be behind total cover. If you place an area of effect at a point that you can’t see and an obstruction, such as a wall, is between you and that point, the point of origin comes into being on the near side of that obstruction.
According to this quote from the phb what you just described cannot happen. Wall of Force, it is total cover, an obstruction, and between you and that point, it cannot originate inside the Wall of Force.
Sorry, but this one is going to be a little bit of a dig; you're wrong. The designation of the point of origin for an AoE spell is only blocked if there is an obstruction (total cover) AND if you cannot see the location.
Wall of Force is invisible. You can see inside of it. You can absolutely designate an origin within the wall. This is an effective, semi-common method of creating control/kill zones.
But the first sentence remains true: "To target something, you must have a clear path to it, so it can’t be behind total cover." If the Wall of Force is providing total cover to things behind it then all those points in space cannot be successfully targeted by any sort of spell cast from the far side of the wall - because no clear path exists.
The second sentence describes what happens when you cast an AoE spell blind and an obstacle you might not have been aware of gets in the way. But that second sentence doesn't try to override the first sentence, it adds to it.
The way I've always interpreted wall of force is as though it is an energy field that interacts with physical objects rather than it being a physical object itself (i.e. infinitely strong pseudo-glass).
Thus in my games you can target anything all day long on the other side of the wall, because the clear path is not obstructed by any object; but if your spell or attack once cast results in the transmission of anything that has to move through space besides visible light then it just gets stopped at the wall (e.g. an arrow, fireball, fire bolt, acid splash). An illusion would, however, pass through unhindered.
By this logic, counterspell works, stinking cloud works; vicious mockery also works so long as the wall doesn't abut any other surfaces that will sufficiently impede sound.
A bit more on sound passing through: in my games it does cause a silencing effect for creatures on opposite sides--if there are no reasonable alternate paths for sound to travel (e.g. a spherical wall of force causes absolute silence from opposite sides).
If someone tries to bang on the wall out of desperation, I just describe the effect (expired spoiler alert!) sort of like Loki trying to stab Thanos in Infinity War. There wasn't really an impact or a sound from the blade striking an invisible surface, he just got stopped.
If the wall lets light pass through, does a spell like Sunbeam work?
I don't interpret it as allowing Sunbeam to pass fully because it's more than visible light (it's light plus damaging light). I rule that it stops the damaging aspect of the spell and causes a really cool looking splash of energy as the beam collides with the force of the wall. Anyone on the other side gets a light show.
Does the light from the Light cantrip go through?
Yep! But the object it was cast upon cannot. I'd say that the effects created by Dancing Lights can be moved through it.
Is Light cantrip inside the wall cancelled by a Darkness spell outside?
Very cool question! Definitely something I'd not considered or encountered. I suppose I'd rule that Darkness can overlap and cross a wall of force because it's not causing any change besides applications of visible light.
No matter how you interpret the rules, you are going to end up with something that doesn’t make sense.
Absolutely true, and I'll readily concede that everything at my table is interpretation of text that can be fairly done a different way!
If you cast Stinking Cloud outside the wall of force, then the effects of the spell cannot pass within. If you cast the spell so the target location is within the wall of force, then it will function normally but cannot spread beyond the confines of the wall of force.
How?
PHB 204
A Clear Path to the Target To target something, you must have a clear path to it, so it can’t be behind total cover. If you place an area of effect at a point that you can’t see and an obstruction, such as a wall, is between you and that point, the point of origin comes into being on the near side of that obstruction.
According to this quote from the phb what you just described cannot happen. Wall of Force, it is total cover, an obstruction, and between you and that point, it cannot originate inside the Wall of Force.
Sorry, but this one is going to be a little bit of a dig; you're wrong. The designation of the point of origin for an AoE spell is only blocked if there is an obstruction (total cover) AND if you cannot see the location.
Wall of Force is invisible. You can see inside of it. You can absolutely designate an origin within the wall. This is an effective, semi-common method of creating control/kill zones.
But the first sentence remains true: "To target something, you must have a clear path to it, so it can’t be behind total cover." If the Wall of Force is providing total cover to things behind it then all those points in space cannot be successfully targeted by any sort of spell cast from the far side of the wall - because no clear path exists.
The second sentence describes what happens when you cast an AoE spell blind and an obstacle you might not have been aware of gets in the way. But that second sentence doesn't try to override the first sentence, it adds to it.
Oh boy, glad to know that all I need to do now is carry around a sheet of glass at all times! A caster wants to use Charm Person on me? You can't I'm in total cover! Ridiculous.
It's not an override; it's a union. If both conditions are not filled, the spell works as normal. You can set an origin for an AoE spell anywhere that you can see. Cover is only applicable when determining if a square is affected by the spell.
Areas of Effect
Spells such as burning hands and cone of cold cover an area, allowing them to affect multiple creatures at once.
A spell's description specifies its area of effect, which typically has one of five different shapes: cone, cube, cylinder, line, or sphere. Every area of effect has a point of origin, a location from which the spell's energy erupts. The rules for each shape specify how you position its point of origin. Typically, a point of origin is a point in space, but some spells have an area whose origin is a creature or an object.
A spell's effect expands in straight lines from the point of origin. If no unblocked straight line extends from the point of origin to a location within the area of effect, that location isn't included in the spell's area. To block one of these imaginary lines, an obstruction must provide total cover, as explained in chapter 9.
Emphasis not mine. That bolded text is published that way. It's almost like WotC wanted to make it very clear that AoE spells are not based on targets. 🤔
You can cast Fireball through a closed window to any point in the interior that you can see. A creature huddled in the corner of the room behind a table might have cover from the explosion.
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.
You can cast Fireball through a closed window to any point in the interior that you can see. A creature huddled in the corner of the room behind a table might have cover from the explosion.
This is the tricky part I have with what you're saying.
I'm assuming that because the description uses the phrase "A bright streak flashes from your pointed finger to a point you choose...", it does not describe a physical effect traveling to the point of origin, thus this spell is unaffected by the Wall of Force.
I offer that this opens up other non-AoE spells to being unaffected by Wall of Force.
Ray of Frost: A frigid beam of blue-white light streaks toward a creature within range.
Ray of Enfeeblement: A black beam of enervating energy springs from your finger toward a creature within range.
Blight: Necromantic energy washes over a creature of your choice that you can see within range
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You've already given your argument that sound is energy and would be unimpeded by Wall of Force. These three spells, and many others, describe energy/light travelling from your finger to a target/point much the same way that Fireball does. It really opens up a large selection of spells that could effectively bypass Wall of Force. Is the only reason that Fireball works because it's an AoE and the other three aren't, or does this interpretation really open up many more spells to use?
You can cast Fireball through a closed window to any point in the interior that you can see. A creature huddled in the corner of the room behind a table might have cover from the explosion.
You can cast Fireball through a closed window to any point in the interior that you can see. A creature huddled in the corner of the room behind a table might have cover from the explosion.
This is the tricky part I have with what you're saying.
I'm assuming that because the description uses the phrase "A bright streak flashes from your pointed finger to a point you choose...", it does not describe a physical effect traveling to the point of origin, thus this spell is unaffected by the Wall of Force.
I offer that this opens up other non-AoE spells to being unaffected by Wall of Force.
Ray of Frost: A frigid beam of blue-white light streaks toward a creature within range.
Ray of Enfeeblement: A black beam of enervating energy springs from your finger toward a creature within range.
Blight: Necromantic energy washes over a creature of your choice that you can see within range
---
You've already given your argument that sound is energy and would be unimpeded by Wall of Force. These three spells, and many others, describe energy/light travelling from your finger to a target/point much the same way that Fireball does. It really opens up a large selection of spells that could effectively bypass Wall of Force. Is the only reason that Fireball works because it's an AoE and the other three aren't, or does this interpretation really open up many more spells to use?
Side track for a moment to clarify: I was addressing the absurd assertion by RegentCorreon that being behind an invisible/transparent object, magical or mundane, makes you immune to spells.
To your question: Yes, absolutely. Spells do what they say they do. If Wall of Force blocked magic, it would say so. It doesn't. Antimagic Field does.
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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.
You can cast Fireball through a closed window to any point in the interior that you can see. A creature huddled in the corner of the room behind a table might have cover from the explosion.
Unfortunately, for fireball, the spell specically travels from your finger to the specified point. Thus you can't cast it through a closed window. :/
Yes, you can. It is an AoE spell. The effect radiates from the point of origin. You select the point of origin. It can be behind an "obstruction" so long as you can see the point you want to designate as the origin. A glass window will not prevent this from happening.
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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.
Side track for a moment to clarify: I was addressing the absurd assertion by RegentCorreon that being behind an invisible/transparent object, magical or mundane, makes you immune to spells.
To your question: Yes, absolutely. Spells do what they say they do. If Wall of Force blocked magic, it would say so. It doesn't. Antimagic Field does.
If it doesn't block spells then this whole thread is pointless, I believe that assertion is inherently incorrect. The assertion implies that no spell is physical, since Wall of Force says nothing physical can pass through it.
Yes, all magic is [an] energy, yes, light passes through the Wall of Force, and neither of those things are physical. So all magic can pass through Wall of Force with that logic. It is further supported, by your assertion about Antimagic Field, that Acid Splash, Spiritual Weapon, Melf's Minute Meteors, and the like will also bypass the barrier. They are spells, and Wall of Force doesn't say it stops spells.
We're falling down a rabbit hole here and it's only going to keep going.
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I agree that a pane of glass doesn't make you immune to spells, but it will stop something like Acid Splash from hitting the target. Wall of Force would stop Acid Splash because the acid is a physical object created by a spell. Rays would not penetrate the wall as they are traveling from caster to a target. Fireball, unlike Stinking Cloud, would not go through the wall because the spell travels from the caster to the point of origin. Whereas, Stinking Cloud originates from exactly the point you want it to come from, thus it could manifest on the other side of the wall. Darkness/Light would cross over the wall however the object that the spell was cast on would not.
Discussed here and here. Basically, the designers have clarified that total cover still functions as total cover even if you can see through it.
Also, Sigred made a astute observation about the "and" in "If you place an area of effect at a point that you can’t see and an obstruction, such as a wall, is between you and that point, the point of origin comes into being on the near side of that obstruction."... but this line doesn't invalidate the restriction that precedes it. The line (imperfectly) addresses some likely situations (and seems to forget about the possibility of transparent cover), but it does not actually cancel out the "To target something, you must have a clear path to it, so it can't be behind total cover" rule
Fireball is an AoE spell. It cannot be cast through a transparent obstacle. A simple pane of glass provides enough cover to stop a Fireball. The difference between Fireball and Stinking Cloud is that the former is described as a bright streak that flashes from the caster's finger to the target, while the latter is described as "centered on a point within range." there is no description of how or if the magic of Stinking Cloud travels from the mage to the origin point.
The rules for cover state that cover applies only when an attack or effect originates on the other side of the cover. The description of Stinking Cloud certainly implies that the cloud originates from the target point. If this is the case it would be unimpeded by a Wall of Force.
DM's call on the origination point of a Stinking Cloud. If it is the caster then a glass window will block it and the cloud will originate on the casters side of the window, not in the room beyond.
Vicious Mockery requires only that the target be able to hear the caster. Nothing in the description of Wall of Force states that it blocks sound. The only configuration of a Wall of Force that might block sound, and there for Vicious Mockery is a sphere. If the DM is going to so rule, they must be careful to enforce that no sound travels through the sphere, in or out for the duration of the spell. Sound would travel over and around a linear wall, and through the ground beneath a semi-spherical wall.
Counterspell states that the caster is required to "see" another spell being cast. Again nothing in the description of Wall of Force would act against this.
Here's where I find the need for insight:
Line 1: To target something, you must have a clear path to it, so it can’t be behind total cover.
In reading line 1, there is a designation here that is important: "To target something". An AoE spell does not necessarily target something. It can, and usually does, target an abstract concept "a point in space". Is that really enough to consider it "targeting something" in this context?
Line 2: If you place an area of effect at a point that you can’t see and an obstruction, such as a wall, is between you and that point, the point of origin comes into being on the near side of that obstruction.
This line specifically calls out AoE, which again is important. It also puts a double requirement on the AoE spell in order for the result to happen in a particular way. If the point is A) not visible and B) obstructed then the spell will originate on the near side of the obstruction. If either of those two requirements are not met then the spell will act normally.
Does the fact that the second part of the ruling considers AoE specifically override the first part of the ruling? By all accounts yes, specific trumps general.
This topic has been argued endlessly :)
It comes down to: "Does a Wall of Force provide total cover to something behind it?" ... which is the same question as a window or any other transparent obstruction. "Do any of these provide total cover to a target behind the solid yet transparent obstruction?" If it provides total cover then you can't target a spell on the other side.
There are also the rules about spell targeting requiring a clear path to the target. The rules don't specify what is meant by a "clear path". Is it a clear PHYSICAL path? i.e. there are no objects in the way? Something that would block a physical object from traversing the space between the two points. Or is it a clear VISUAL path? Something that would block vision between the two points? Do spells require a clear visual or a clear physical path or both to the target?
Consider that a spell targeting another location through AIR is still firing through some form of matter? Is that a clear physical path? Why should the density of matter affect the ability of a spell to manifest an effect at a target location? Some spell descriptions include a physical manifestation that travels from the caster to the target while others do not.
The definition of total cover uses the word "concealed". Concealment means being unable to SEE.
"A target with total cover can't be targeted directly by an attack or a spell, although some spells can reach such a target by including it in an area of effect. A target has total cover if it is completely concealed by an obstacle."
Since a wall of force does not provide concealment - it doesn't actually fulfill the requirement to provide total cover.
"A CLEAR PATH TO THE TARGET
To target something, you must have a clear path to it, so it can't be behind total cover, If you place an area of effect at a point that you can't see and an obstruction, such as a wall, is between you and that point, the point of origin comes into being on the near side of that obstruction."
Since total cover is defined as being completely concealed by an obstacle. You then run into the question of whether there is a clear path to a target for a spell cast on a target behind a wall of force. There are two main approaches to this - since there is no clear physical line to the target, it is blocked and the target has total cover and thus can't be targeted.The second is that since the target is not concealed, wall of force does not provide total cover BUT does block all physical paths to the target. This means that any spells with any sort of manifestation between the target and caster would be blocked while any spells that manifest only at the target location would not. The rules do not indicate anywhere that spells are blocked if there is no physical path to the target ... only that the path is blocked by total cover.
The second approach throws alot of interpretation into the DMs hands since they have to decide on a case by case basis based on the spell description whether it would be blocked by a physical obstruction or not.
Regarding the OPs question, the wall prevents ALL physical objects from crossing the wall. Physically speaking this makes it a perfect insulator against kinetic heat and sound since both of these are due to the propagation of vibrations of the components in the atmostphere. The wall is fully transparent though so it would not block visible light, infra red, ultra violet or any other electromagnetic emissions. So, unless there was a way for sound to propagate around the wall, vicious mockery would not work.
Can whatever the wall is made out of vibrate? Does it react to being hit?
"Any society that would give up a little liberty to gain a little security will deserve neither and lose both" -- allegedly Benjamin Franklin
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I would like to point out something which may seem minor but I believe has an impact on what you're presenting.
In your quote you separate "behind total cover" and "If you place" with a comma. The PHB separates them with both a period and a new line. While it may seem to be a minor oversight, in terms of how the "instructions" should be handled, it is an important distinction.
Reading the quote you have it lends to the idea that all of the conditions are contingent on each other, creating a very confusing situation. You can't target something that's behind total cover and you can't target an AoE behind an obstruction which you can't see through. This lends to the interpretation that nothing can pass through the Wall of Force.
However, as I posted above, they are two distinctly separate lines. This makes them non-inclusive, line one dealing with targeted spells, and line two dealing with AoEs.
See Sage Advice here. A solid obstacle provides cover. Transparency not withstanding. Visual concealment is not a requirement for total cover, a solid obstacle is.
I hear ya (pun intended, lord help me), so just for fun: Sound is not a physical substance; it has no mass. Sound is energy! Energy passes through materials with varying degrees of ease. More specifically, sound energy is transmitted most commonly in one of two ways (that both ultimately have the same ending): air & impact.
Sound energy is transmitted through the air by via the displacement of particles in the air, and typically has a lower initial energy than a sound generated/transmitted by impact. The electrons of a particle are excited by the energy travelling in a direction dictated by a vector field, giving the particle an acceleration. When that particle hits another particle (force, momentum), there is a transfer of energy, and on and on. Perfect vacuum conditions don't apply, and some energy is absorbed/retained by particles post-displacement. Sound energy can travel a long distance this way, and is easier to dampen with solid objects due to the generally lower initial energy.
Sound energy is transmitted through impact is still via the displacement of particles, but the energy content is typically much higher due to the way in which the initial force is generated (smacking something). Energy is transferred from the initial object to the smacked object, and continues through to displace air particles on the other side. This is why it's easy to hear someone knocking at the door/tapping at a window. Energy keeps going until it's been completely absorbed.
Why do they both have the same ending? Because air/impact transmission are still the same thing. Impact happens every time one particle collides with another. We just know that the initial energy from a vocalization is typically lower than the initial energy from one perceptible object colliding with another perceptible object. A person speaking from one side of a wall may or may not be heard on the other side; it can heavily vary depending on whether the speaker is shouting, whispering, near, or far when the vocalization is generated. It further varies depending on how close the listener is to their side of the wall.
I'd personally never rule Wall of Force blocks sounds, but imposing disadvantage on Perception checks that rely on hearing--on the other side of the wall--is a homebrew option that would at least make sense.
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.
Force as a noun may be defined as strength or energy as an attribute of physical action or movement. In physics a force is any interaction that, when unopposed, will change the motion of an object. Force may also be defined as coercion or compulsion, especially with the use or threat of violence. 5e "Force" seems to be pure magical energy, so our world definitions don't fully apply.
As for casting spells through/beyond a Wall of Force Mike Mearls had this to say https://www.sageadvice.eu/2018/01/10/would-a-spell-like-mage-hand-work-through-a-wall-of-force/
So with this information of obstruction and visibility. And magic would not originate into the dome, would counter spell fail against a spell caster on the inside of the spell?
But the first sentence remains true: "To target something, you must have a clear path to it, so it can’t be behind total cover." If the Wall of Force is providing total cover to things behind it then all those points in space cannot be successfully targeted by any sort of spell cast from the far side of the wall - because no clear path exists.
The second sentence describes what happens when you cast an AoE spell blind and an obstacle you might not have been aware of gets in the way. But that second sentence doesn't try to override the first sentence, it adds to it.
The way I've always interpreted wall of force is as though it is an energy field that interacts with physical objects rather than it being a physical object itself (i.e. infinitely strong pseudo-glass).
Thus in my games you can target anything all day long on the other side of the wall, because the clear path is not obstructed by any object; but if your spell or attack once cast results in the transmission of anything that has to move through space besides visible light then it just gets stopped at the wall (e.g. an arrow, fireball, fire bolt, acid splash). An illusion would, however, pass through unhindered.
By this logic, counterspell works, stinking cloud works; vicious mockery also works so long as the wall doesn't abut any other surfaces that will sufficiently impede sound.
A bit more on sound passing through: in my games it does cause a silencing effect for creatures on opposite sides--if there are no reasonable alternate paths for sound to travel (e.g. a spherical wall of force causes absolute silence from opposite sides).
If someone tries to bang on the wall out of desperation, I just describe the effect (expired spoiler alert!) sort of like Loki trying to stab Thanos in Infinity War. There wasn't really an impact or a sound from the blade striking an invisible surface, he just got stopped.
If the wall lets light pass through, does a spell like Sunbeam work?
Does the light from the Light cantrip go through?
Is Light cantrip inside the wall cancelled by a Darkness spell outside?
No matter how you interpret the rules, you are going to end up with something that doesn’t make sense.
Excellent points!
I don't interpret it as allowing Sunbeam to pass fully because it's more than visible light (it's light plus damaging light). I rule that it stops the damaging aspect of the spell and causes a really cool looking splash of energy as the beam collides with the force of the wall. Anyone on the other side gets a light show.
Yep! But the object it was cast upon cannot. I'd say that the effects created by Dancing Lights can be moved through it.
Very cool question! Definitely something I'd not considered or encountered. I suppose I'd rule that Darkness can overlap and cross a wall of force because it's not causing any change besides applications of visible light.
Absolutely true, and I'll readily concede that everything at my table is interpretation of text that can be fairly done a different way!
Oh boy, glad to know that all I need to do now is carry around a sheet of glass at all times! A caster wants to use Charm Person on me? You can't I'm in total cover! Ridiculous.
It's not an override; it's a union. If both conditions are not filled, the spell works as normal. You can set an origin for an AoE spell anywhere that you can see. Cover is only applicable when determining if a square is affected by the spell.
Emphasis not mine. That bolded text is published that way. It's almost like WotC wanted to make it very clear that AoE spells are not based on targets. 🤔
You can cast Fireball through a closed window to any point in the interior that you can see. A creature huddled in the corner of the room behind a table might have cover from the explosion.
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.
This is the tricky part I have with what you're saying.
I'm assuming that because the description uses the phrase "A bright streak flashes from your pointed finger to a point you choose...", it does not describe a physical effect traveling to the point of origin, thus this spell is unaffected by the Wall of Force.
I offer that this opens up other non-AoE spells to being unaffected by Wall of Force.
Ray of Frost:
A frigid beam of blue-white light streaks toward a creature within range.
Ray of Enfeeblement:
A black beam of enervating energy springs from your finger toward a creature within range.
Blight:
Necromantic energy washes over a creature of your choice that you can see within range
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You've already given your argument that sound is energy and would be unimpeded by Wall of Force. These three spells, and many others, describe energy/light travelling from your finger to a target/point much the same way that Fireball does. It really opens up a large selection of spells that could effectively bypass Wall of Force. Is the only reason that Fireball works because it's an AoE and the other three aren't, or does this interpretation really open up many more spells to use?
Watch your back, conserve your ammo,
and NEVER cut a deal with a dragon!
Side track for a moment to clarify: I was addressing the absurd assertion by RegentCorreon that being behind an invisible/transparent object, magical or mundane, makes you immune to spells.
To your question: Yes, absolutely. Spells do what they say they do. If Wall of Force blocked magic, it would say so. It doesn't. Antimagic Field does.
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.
Yes, you can. It is an AoE spell. The effect radiates from the point of origin. You select the point of origin. It can be behind an "obstruction" so long as you can see the point you want to designate as the origin. A glass window will not prevent this from happening.
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.
If it doesn't block spells then this whole thread is pointless, I believe that assertion is inherently incorrect. The assertion implies that no spell is physical, since Wall of Force says nothing physical can pass through it.
Yes, all magic is [an] energy, yes, light passes through the Wall of Force, and neither of those things are physical. So all magic can pass through Wall of Force with that logic. It is further supported, by your assertion about Antimagic Field, that Acid Splash, Spiritual Weapon, Melf's Minute Meteors, and the like will also bypass the barrier. They are spells, and Wall of Force doesn't say it stops spells.
We're falling down a rabbit hole here and it's only going to keep going.
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I agree that a pane of glass doesn't make you immune to spells, but it will stop something like Acid Splash from hitting the target.
Wall of Force would stop Acid Splash because the acid is a physical object created by a spell.
Rays would not penetrate the wall as they are traveling from caster to a target.
Fireball, unlike Stinking Cloud, would not go through the wall because the spell travels from the caster to the point of origin.
Whereas, Stinking Cloud originates from exactly the point you want it to come from, thus it could manifest on the other side of the wall.
Darkness/Light would cross over the wall however the object that the spell was cast on would not.
These are the types of ruling I would go with.