So in one of my sessions I had an npc cast cloudkill on the party one of the PCs had taken cover in a hallway just at the edge of the radius so I gave them either a +2 to their saving throw or advantage, their choice, they ended up failing either way. They argued that since they were in the hallway it shouldn't effect them but it states that cloudkill spreads around corners so I figured that a hall way wouldn't make much difference but gave them a bit of leeway hence the above options. I am fairly new to DMing so I am not clear on all the rules and mechanics but I just want to be fair to my players in my rulings. Do you think I was being too harsh, lenient or that my ruling was right?
Fireball also spreads around corners, so if you can draw a continuous path the length of the spell's radius from the point of impact to a creature, then they are in the area of effect.
It is also worth understanding that the game world is not limited by the rulebooks. NPCs can, and often should, have access to abilities that the players do not. In turn, the players should be encouraged if they want to be creative.
When describing combat, you can avoid some meta-drama by describing the NPCs actions, rather than stating them plainly. If the players ask what spell was cast, have them roll an Arcana check and if they succeed, tell them that it is a spell "similar to" something official, but that there is something unidentifiably different about it. You can later decide if it was a standard spell with flavor, a custom spell, or a spell modified by the NPCs class features.
The most important thing is to be consistant, and to assume that the characters are smart enough to avoid doing something stupid as a result of player ignorance.
If anything, you were being generous by giving them a bonus. Either a creature is in an area or not. If they are, full effects. !Theres typically no degrees of in or out.
I second this. You had a generous ruling, and definitely not unfair. They were in the aoe, so they suffer the effects. The fact that you gave them either a +2 or advantage shows that you considered the terrain and then gave a ruling, and it benefitted the player. You were completely in the right.
Your ruling was right, you were lenient in granting him a +2 or advantage to the save, you didn't have to.
If you don't want to have to always do it, just tell your players that this was a one time ruling but that in general, if you are in an area of effect, you save normally.
They probably took issue with being targeted by cloud kill, not the area of effect issue. If they’re low level that’s a legitimate concern, if not, then discuss the role of “challenge” in the game at session zero next campaign.
Thanks for all your replies! I'm glad to see I wasn't being unfair and I talked to him and he said he was just butt hurt and that it made sense cuz it was a gas so everything ended up good and they are all still alive..so far lol
Thanks for all your replies! I'm glad to see I wasn't being unfair and I talked to him and he said he was just butt hurt and that it made sense cuz it was a gas so everything ended up good and they are all still alive..so far lol
I assume that there was an open door somewhere that would allow it to spread out into the hallway?
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So in one of my sessions I had an npc cast cloudkill on the party one of the PCs had taken cover in a hallway just at the edge of the radius so I gave them either a +2 to their saving throw or advantage, their choice, they ended up failing either way. They argued that since they were in the hallway it shouldn't effect them but it states that cloudkill spreads around corners so I figured that a hall way wouldn't make much difference but gave them a bit of leeway hence the above options. I am fairly new to DMing so I am not clear on all the rules and mechanics but I just want to be fair to my players in my rulings. Do you think I was being too harsh, lenient or that my ruling was right?
If they were in the area of effect, they suffer the effects. Nothing unfair about that.
She/Her Player and Dungeon Master
Agreeing with Golaryn.
Fireball also spreads around corners, so if you can draw a continuous path the length of the spell's radius from the point of impact to a creature, then they are in the area of effect.
It is also worth understanding that the game world is not limited by the rulebooks. NPCs can, and often should, have access to abilities that the players do not. In turn, the players should be encouraged if they want to be creative.
When describing combat, you can avoid some meta-drama by describing the NPCs actions, rather than stating them plainly. If the players ask what spell was cast, have them roll an Arcana check and if they succeed, tell them that it is a spell "similar to" something official, but that there is something unidentifiably different about it. You can later decide if it was a standard spell with flavor, a custom spell, or a spell modified by the NPCs class features.
The most important thing is to be consistant, and to assume that the characters are smart enough to avoid doing something stupid as a result of player ignorance.
If anything, you were being generous by giving them a bonus. Either a creature is in an area or not. If they are, full effects. !Theres typically no degrees of in or out.
I second this. You had a generous ruling, and definitely not unfair. They were in the aoe, so they suffer the effects. The fact that you gave them either a +2 or advantage shows that you considered the terrain and then gave a ruling, and it benefitted the player. You were completely in the right.
D&D is a game for nerds... so I guess I'm one :p
Your ruling was right, you were lenient in granting him a +2 or advantage to the save, you didn't have to.
If you don't want to have to always do it, just tell your players that this was a one time ruling but that in general, if you are in an area of effect, you save normally.
They probably took issue with being targeted by cloud kill, not the area of effect issue. If they’re low level that’s a legitimate concern, if not, then discuss the role of “challenge” in the game at session zero next campaign.
Thanks for all your replies! I'm glad to see I wasn't being unfair and I talked to him and he said he was just butt hurt and that it made sense cuz it was a gas so everything ended up good and they are all still alive..so far lol
I assume that there was an open door somewhere that would allow it to spread out into the hallway?