This question have a very simple answer " ask your DM" but as a DM i would love to hear what other DMs interpretation of this are.
The cantrip mould earth has this line: "If you target an area of loose earth, you can instantaneously excavate it, move it along the ground, and deposit it up to 5 feet away. This movement doesn’t have enough force to cause damage."
In my opinion the spell is worded that way to avoid players using a cantrip to destroy and colapse city walls and castles. The earth below any building, or heavy object would be compacted and therefore not "loose".
But this spell has a lot of creative, inventive and interesting ways to be used, and sometimes even this interpretation (that might be wrong) is not enought.
some examples:
The player wants to create irrigation. but the earth at the side of the river has grass and plants. Is that loose earth? (In my opinion, Yes.) The player wants to create a large hole in dirt to hide, or use as shelter. How deep can he make this ? ( personaly i would say that if he revomes the top layer, the area below is lose earth that is not compacted by the weight of earth on top anymore.) The player wants to create a hole on the side of a earth cliff or hill. there is dirt on top, but less than 5ft. can he move the earth and create a "hobbit hole" for himself? ( i would alow only if the layer on top is less than 5ft.)
So what are you toughts on this? How would you interpret this ? And how your players have used this spell in interesting and creative ways?
I would tend to agree with your take on loose earth. Dirt roads or trails I would consider packed earth but other than that just plain old ground I would consider loose. Now taking it out of the side of a cliff I might say no, although if a party member wanted to get the group out of bad weather by making a make shift “cave” I might let them do it. Just a very small area to crowd into, not a tunnel or anything elaborate
The limitation that you can only move it 5 feet means it’s less useful than it looks for digging holes. But I consider the way you’re using it fine. It’s useful, but limited.
The limitation that you can only move it 5 feet means it’s less useful than it looks for digging holes. But I consider the way you’re using it fine. It’s useful, but limited.
Out of combat this limitation is not that bad. You just have to move your pile of dirt 5 feet at a time. Moving 5 feet of dirt in 6 seconds is still faster and easier than a shovel.
The limitation that you can only move it 5 feet means it’s less useful than it looks for digging holes. But I consider the way you’re using it fine. It’s useful, but limited.
Out of combat this limitation is not that bad. You just have to move your pile of dirt 5 feet at a time. Moving 5 feet of dirt in 6 seconds is still faster and easier than a shovel.
Magic Mike? Oh, he's fine! He dropped out of Wizard college to become a grave digger and grounds keeper in Waterdeep. Helps the farmers a good bit too. Very lucrative business model he has.
Loose dirt is exactly what it sounds like: part the Earth that is loose and easily moved rather than densely compacted and difficult to move.
Loose earth: soil, dirt, dust, sand, unworked mud, mounds of pebbles, etc.
Not loose earth: worked mud/clay, rocks, stone slabs/bricks, cement, ice, wood, etc.
If you can you can move your hand through it or dig/move it with a shovel with minimal effort then it's valid. If you can't then the cantrip has no effect.
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This question have a very simple answer " ask your DM" but as a DM i would love to hear what other DMs interpretation of this are.
The cantrip mould earth has this line:
"If you target an area of loose earth, you can instantaneously excavate it, move it along the ground, and deposit it up to 5 feet away. This movement doesn’t have enough force to cause damage."
In my opinion the spell is worded that way to avoid players using a cantrip to destroy and colapse city walls and castles.
The earth below any building, or heavy object would be compacted and therefore not "loose".
But this spell has a lot of creative, inventive and interesting ways to be used, and sometimes even this interpretation (that might be wrong) is not enought.
some examples:
The player wants to create irrigation. but the earth at the side of the river has grass and plants. Is that loose earth? (In my opinion, Yes.)
The player wants to create a large hole in dirt to hide, or use as shelter. How deep can he make this ?
( personaly i would say that if he revomes the top layer, the area below is lose earth that is not compacted by the weight of earth on top anymore.)
The player wants to create a hole on the side of a earth cliff or hill. there is dirt on top, but less than 5ft. can he move the earth and create a "hobbit hole" for himself?
( i would alow only if the layer on top is less than 5ft.)
So what are you toughts on this? How would you interpret this ? And how your players have used this spell in interesting and creative ways?
I would tend to agree with your take on loose earth. Dirt roads or trails I would consider packed earth but other than that just plain old ground I would consider loose. Now taking it out of the side of a cliff I might say no, although if a party member wanted to get the group out of bad weather by making a make shift “cave” I might let them do it. Just a very small area to crowd into, not a tunnel or anything elaborate
EZD6 by DM Scotty
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Unless someone actively worked the dirt, I would call it loose.
My interpretation is that loose is mostly there to stop people screwing with roads and buildings made of mud.
The limitation that you can only move it 5 feet means it’s less useful than it looks for digging holes. But I consider the way you’re using it fine. It’s useful, but limited.
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Out of combat this limitation is not that bad. You just have to move your pile of dirt 5 feet at a time. Moving 5 feet of dirt in 6 seconds is still faster and easier than a shovel.
She/Her Player and Dungeon Master
Magic Mike? Oh, he's fine! He dropped out of Wizard college to become a grave digger and grounds keeper in Waterdeep. Helps the farmers a good bit too. Very lucrative business model he has.
Loose dirt is exactly what it sounds like: part the Earth that is loose and easily moved rather than densely compacted and difficult to move.
Loose earth: soil, dirt, dust, sand, unworked mud, mounds of pebbles, etc.
Not loose earth: worked mud/clay, rocks, stone slabs/bricks, cement, ice, wood, etc.
If you can you can move your hand through it or dig/move it with a shovel with minimal effort then it's valid. If you can't then the cantrip has no effect.
Click ✨ HERE ✨ For My Youtube Videos featuring Guides, Tips & Tricks for using D&D Beyond.
Need help with Homebrew? Check out ✨ this FAQ/Guide thread ✨ by IamSposta.