1) creature AC 14 restrained by a web from a giant spider As a reminder: restrained: - A restrained creature's speed becomes 0, and it can't benefit from any bonus to its speed. - Attack rolls against the creature have advantage, and the creature's attack rolls have disadvantage. - The creature has disadvantage on Dexterity saving throws.
2) that creature attacked by a melee attack from a PC
Question: The web has a DC 10 per the giant spider stat block in MM. In what scenarios would you rule that the PC hits only the creature, and when would you rule that they hit both the creature and the web?
I was wondering how precise an eldritch blast is, or a warhammer, when hitting a creature covered in webs. I would presume a crit fail and crit hit do fun bad things and fun good things, so no worries there. . .
this is a per DM discretion thing. generally, unless the PC declared that they were attacking in a specific manner or specific adventure material specified, I'd just let it through and play it by ear if an interesting roll came up.
I would say you have to choose when attacking, creature or web, and neither attack will affect the other target. One swing of the sword would be trying to cut the creature free while the other would be aiming to take its helpless head off. An Eldrich Blast against the web would be a sweeping slash of a beam, while targeting the enemy would just barrel straight into its chest. The only time I would make the attack have the opposite effect would be if you are using critical failure mechanics - you attacked and not only failed to hurt the enemy, but managed to cut it down from the web. Area of effect (particularly fire) would also probably tear the web apart.
I would say you have to choose when attacking, creature or web, and neither attack will affect the other target.
I agree with this for the most part - but I wouldn't rule it out entirely. Generally, I imagine Web causing enough of a hinderance to restrain a player, ala Frodo in Shelob's lair. Allies (or enemies) can choose to cut them free, or get an advantageous strike against the struggling target.
But I wouldn't be against a ruling that says a miss against the target could hit the web instead. Particularly if it was a fire attack, such as Fire bolt, perhaps the web, once ignited by the spell, could spread to cause some damage to the target too.
Further creative uses could be to continue adding web to the target each round, in an attempt to cocoon them. And whether if there'd be enough web to act as some sort of barrier against an attack. But these should be the situational, creative exception, not the norm.
In the OPs example, I think an Eldritch Blast should target one or the other - as would a warhammer.
'I would presume a crit fail and crit hit do fun bad things and fun good things, so no worries there. . . '
That's not RAW, but yes, if you include critical failure/success rules, then you could make anything happen, such a missed attack causing them to get stuck in the web along side their helpless victim. Hilarity.
I was thinking the same thing, both RAW and probably RAI.
This is one of those times that ‘real world physics’ is hard for my brain to separate from ‘fantasy physics’.
I am totally ok riding the 10’ spider into battle as a Tiefling who summoned said spider from another plane of existence, of course. But being precise enough to hit the monster, and not damage the web breaks my brain. In AL I can argue this pretty clearly; in my homebrew, I will check with DM before we play and get his opinion before I destroy webs that should stay in place.
Eldritch Blast can't target objects. A warhammer won't work either, since the webbing is immune to bludgeoning damage.
When making an attack the attacker chooses what to target: a creature, an object, or a location. If they target the webbing, they damage only the webbing. If they target the creature, they damage only the creature.
Here is my scenario:
1) creature AC 14 restrained by a web from a giant spider
As a reminder: restrained:
- A restrained creature's speed becomes 0, and it can't benefit from any bonus to its speed.
- Attack rolls against the creature have advantage, and the creature's attack rolls have disadvantage.
- The creature has disadvantage on Dexterity saving throws.
2) that creature attacked by a melee attack from a PC
Question:
The web has a DC 10 per the giant spider stat block in MM. In what scenarios would you rule that the PC hits only the creature, and when would you rule that they hit both the creature and the web?
I was wondering how precise an eldritch blast is, or a warhammer, when hitting a creature covered in webs.
I would presume a crit fail and crit hit do fun bad things and fun good things, so no worries there. . .
Thanks!
this is a per DM discretion thing. generally, unless the PC declared that they were attacking in a specific manner or specific adventure material specified, I'd just let it through and play it by ear if an interesting roll came up.
I would say you have to choose when attacking, creature or web, and neither attack will affect the other target. One swing of the sword would be trying to cut the creature free while the other would be aiming to take its helpless head off. An Eldrich Blast against the web would be a sweeping slash of a beam, while targeting the enemy would just barrel straight into its chest. The only time I would make the attack have the opposite effect would be if you are using critical failure mechanics - you attacked and not only failed to hurt the enemy, but managed to cut it down from the web. Area of effect (particularly fire) would also probably tear the web apart.
I agree with this for the most part - but I wouldn't rule it out entirely. Generally, I imagine Web causing enough of a hinderance to restrain a player, ala Frodo in Shelob's lair. Allies (or enemies) can choose to cut them free, or get an advantageous strike against the struggling target.
But I wouldn't be against a ruling that says a miss against the target could hit the web instead. Particularly if it was a fire attack, such as Fire bolt, perhaps the web, once ignited by the spell, could spread to cause some damage to the target too.
Further creative uses could be to continue adding web to the target each round, in an attempt to cocoon them. And whether if there'd be enough web to act as some sort of barrier against an attack. But these should be the situational, creative exception, not the norm.
In the OPs example, I think an Eldritch Blast should target one or the other - as would a warhammer.
'I would presume a crit fail and crit hit do fun bad things and fun good things, so no worries there. . . '
That's not RAW, but yes, if you include critical failure/success rules, then you could make anything happen, such a missed attack causing them to get stuck in the web along side their helpless victim. Hilarity.
I was thinking the same thing, both RAW and probably RAI.
This is one of those times that ‘real world physics’ is hard for my brain to separate from ‘fantasy physics’.
I am totally ok riding the 10’ spider into battle as a Tiefling who summoned said spider from another plane of existence, of course. But being precise enough to hit the monster, and not damage the web breaks my brain. In AL I can argue this pretty clearly; in my homebrew, I will check with DM before we play and get his opinion before I destroy webs that should stay in place.
Thanks folks!
I can tell my brain to shut up now.
Eldritch Blast can't target objects. A warhammer won't work either, since the webbing is immune to bludgeoning damage.
When making an attack the attacker chooses what to target: a creature, an object, or a location. If they target the webbing, they damage only the webbing. If they target the creature, they damage only the creature.
The Forum Infestation (TM)
Excellent point about Eldritch Blast. I actually looked back at the spell list and it is remarkably specific about what can and cannot take damage.
Thanks!