This 2nd level spell says it is 60' long and 10' wide. Why doesn't it list the height of the effect?
Also, it originates from you but does not affect any creatures while you are moving? Are we to assume it doesn't affect objects either until you stop your movement?
The fact that the spell does not list a height is likely an oversight by the whoever was in charge of editing spells. Therefore, it's up to your DM how high the "gust" effect goes. My guess would be 10 feet since that is the listed width.
There is nothing to imply that the spell does not work while you are moving. However, you noticed something interesting: What is the angle that the wind blows in while the creature is moving? For ease of adjudication, your DM will likely rule that the spell is only active while the spellcaster is standing still, however, a more creative DM may rule otherwise.
As for the the spell affecting objects during movement, the answer would likely be consistent with how your DM decides it affects creatures during the spellcaster's movement.
I'd normally just rule this as a tunnel of wind and use the width would match the height and since this can be moved around that wouldn't negatively impact the spell in my opinion
The spell is a line, not a cone or cube or cylinder. It has no height. You have two dimensions to work with only. You could probably convince your DM that you're casting it laterally, so it has height but no width, but it is specifically not three-dimensional.
You can aim the line anywhere you please. So you can aim it at someone flying, or a group on a hillside, or wherever. Height doesn't mean 'how high off the ground is the effect,' height means 'how high is the area of effect.' You're shooting someone with a laser beam that's still as high as a laser beam, but is 10 feet wide and can reach 60 feet away.
Thank you. So if a bird and a wolf are coming directly at the caster, one running, the other flying 7' above the ground, it only affects one? Caster has to pick?
I get it now. Thanks for the clarification. Lightning Bolt and Sunbeam work the same way, a line. Anything above, below or outside the width of said line is not affected.
Also, it originates from you but does not affect any creatures while you are moving? Are we to assume it doesn't affect objects either until you stop your movement?
This is correct; gust of wind only has an effect on creatures at the start of their turn (or while moving towards you within the area), having the area pass over them while you move has no immediate effect. As for objects, this spell doesn't actually mention affecting them at all, unlike similar spells that specifically throw loose objects away, the only exception seems to be flames which might be extinguished. So in general it would be up to your DM to adjudicate how they're affected (if at all).
In essence this spell is a continuous blast of air, so having it move over you only exposes you briefly to the effect (not enough to do anything), meanwhile standing in the path is where you'll get hit with enough force to potentially be pushed back, to struggle to move closer etc. Think of it like a desk fan; if you sit in front of it while it's locked in one position you'll get the full effect and might get too cold, but if you set it to rotate you'll only get brief bursts instead.
What is the angle that the wind blows in while the creature is moving?
That's an interesting one, as "in a direction you choose" quickly falls apart unless the direction is either relative to the caster (e.g- "to my front") or global (e.g- "north"), but which is it? Directions in D&D seem anecdotally to usually be global, but does that still apply if you're on a ship (or is the ship's bow "north" in that case)? Probably up to the DM, but it does have implications for how often you need to use the bonus action to change direction.
Personally I'd prefer to use relative direction, so it would turn with you, because I usually like to imagine my characters doing something to emit the air like aiming a hand in front of them. The spell does have a somatic component so that seems reasonable, though it does also have "legume seed" as a material component, which might suggest the spell fires out the back by default… 😂
This 2nd level spell says it is 60' long and 10' wide. Why doesn't it list the height of the effect?
Also, it originates from you but does not affect any creatures while you are moving? Are we to assume it doesn't affect objects either until you stop your movement?
The fact that the spell does not list a height is likely an oversight by the whoever was in charge of editing spells. Therefore, it's up to your DM how high the "gust" effect goes. My guess would be 10 feet since that is the listed width.
There is nothing to imply that the spell does not work while you are moving. However, you noticed something interesting: What is the angle that the wind blows in while the creature is moving? For ease of adjudication, your DM will likely rule that the spell is only active while the spellcaster is standing still, however, a more creative DM may rule otherwise.
As for the the spell affecting objects during movement, the answer would likely be consistent with how your DM decides it affects creatures during the spellcaster's movement.
I'd normally just rule this as a tunnel of wind and use the width would match the height and since this can be moved around that wouldn't negatively impact the spell in my opinion
Thanks for the response. 10' was my guess as well. And I am the DM and would probably say it suspends gusting while moving.
The spell is a line, not a cone or cube or cylinder. It has no height. You have two dimensions to work with only. You could probably convince your DM that you're casting it laterally, so it has height but no width, but it is specifically not three-dimensional.
Birgit | Shifter | Sorcerer | Dragonlords
Shayone | Hobgoblin | Sorcerer | Netherdeep
Thanks for the response. Then I don't understand how it works. It only affects things on the ground?
You can aim the line anywhere you please. So you can aim it at someone flying, or a group on a hillside, or wherever. Height doesn't mean 'how high off the ground is the effect,' height means 'how high is the area of effect.' You're shooting someone with a laser beam that's still as high as a laser beam, but is 10 feet wide and can reach 60 feet away.
Birgit | Shifter | Sorcerer | Dragonlords
Shayone | Hobgoblin | Sorcerer | Netherdeep
Thank you. So if a bird and a wolf are coming directly at the caster, one running, the other flying 7' above the ground, it only affects one? Caster has to pick?
I get it now. Thanks for the clarification. Lightning Bolt and Sunbeam work the same way, a line. Anything above, below or outside the width of said line is not affected.
This is correct; gust of wind only has an effect on creatures at the start of their turn (or while moving towards you within the area), having the area pass over them while you move has no immediate effect. As for objects, this spell doesn't actually mention affecting them at all, unlike similar spells that specifically throw loose objects away, the only exception seems to be flames which might be extinguished. So in general it would be up to your DM to adjudicate how they're affected (if at all).
In essence this spell is a continuous blast of air, so having it move over you only exposes you briefly to the effect (not enough to do anything), meanwhile standing in the path is where you'll get hit with enough force to potentially be pushed back, to struggle to move closer etc. Think of it like a desk fan; if you sit in front of it while it's locked in one position you'll get the full effect and might get too cold, but if you set it to rotate you'll only get brief bursts instead.
That's an interesting one, as "in a direction you choose" quickly falls apart unless the direction is either relative to the caster (e.g- "to my front") or global (e.g- "north"), but which is it? Directions in D&D seem anecdotally to usually be global, but does that still apply if you're on a ship (or is the ship's bow "north" in that case)? Probably up to the DM, but it does have implications for how often you need to use the bonus action to change direction.
Personally I'd prefer to use relative direction, so it would turn with you, because I usually like to imagine my characters doing something to emit the air like aiming a hand in front of them. The spell does have a somatic component so that seems reasonable, though it does also have "legume seed" as a material component, which might suggest the spell fires out the back by default… 😂
Characters: Bullette, Chortle, Dracarys Noir, Edward Merryspell, Habard Ashery, Legion, Peregrine
My Homebrew: Feats | Items | Monsters | Spells | Subclasses | Races
Guides: Creating Sub-Races Using Trait Options
WIP (feedback needed): Blood Mage, Chromatic Sorcerers, Summoner, Trickster Domain, Unlucky, Way of the Daoist (Drunken Master), Weapon Smith
Please don't reply to my posts unless you've read what they actually say.