Looking over spells for a sorcerer, it popped into my head that you might be able to break part of the rules with certain spells like polymorph if you looked at someone around a corner using a mirror. Ive looked all over the internet and havent found anything on it, other than a bit about using a mirror to cast sacred flames, since total cover doesn't come into play with that spell. So for a spell like polymorph, would you be able to cast it on a target that you see in a mirror?
There is a rule that you need a clear path to the target of a spell. I interpret this to mean that spells need line of effect, and a corner or other obstacle would provide cover that would prevent the clear path. Note that the rule says it "cannot be behind" total cover, and not "must not be surrounded by total cover" so the rule to me really does seem to be describing a line of effect more than any path of effect.
What if the target is behind you? Im mainly asking because i plan on running a false hydra encounter for my irl party. since one of the way of remembering the hydra is there is through a mirror, im just thinking about the potential that our druid might just polymorph the hyrda into something small and they end up just crushing it like its nothing.
I’m not sure what a false hydra is. That said, by RAW, there are no facing rules in this edition, so technically, nothing is “behind” you. Either you have a line of sight to it from your square or you don’t. Though I could see house ruling something if it’s, for example, a creature with a gaze attack you are trying to avoid. I’d just make it clear at the beginning of the encounter that you are going to track facing for this fight because it would actually matter.
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.
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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.
What if the target is behind you? Im mainly asking because i plan on running a false hydra encounter for my irl party. since one of the way of remembering the hydra is there is through a mirror, im just thinking about the potential that our druid might just polymorph the hyrda into something small and they end up just crushing it like its nothing.
They can crush the polymorphed creature like it's nothing. Then it reverts back to its original form with most hit points still available! (Check how polymorph works.)
Looking over spells for a sorcerer, it popped into my head that you might be able to break part of the rules with certain spells like polymorph if you looked at someone around a corner using a mirror. Ive looked all over the internet and havent found anything on it, other than a bit about using a mirror to cast sacred flames, since total cover doesn't come into play with that spell. So for a spell like polymorph, would you be able to cast it on a target that you see in a mirror?
There is a rule that you need a clear path to the target of a spell. I interpret this to mean that spells need line of effect, and a corner or other obstacle would provide cover that would prevent the clear path. Note that the rule says it "cannot be behind" total cover, and not "must not be surrounded by total cover" so the rule to me really does seem to be describing a line of effect more than any path of effect.
I agree to WolfOfTheBees, the spell targeting rule requires the target to not be behind total cover from the position of the caster.
So, if you want to cast around a corner, you have at least to lean a bit around that corner and be probably visible for the target as well.
I don't think it would work with a vampire, but I have to agree with what the others have agreed with.
What if the target is behind you? Im mainly asking because i plan on running a false hydra encounter for my irl party. since one of the way of remembering the hydra is there is through a mirror, im just thinking about the potential that our druid might just polymorph the hyrda into something small and they end up just crushing it like its nothing.
I’m not sure what a false hydra is.
That said, by RAW, there are no facing rules in this edition, so technically, nothing is “behind” you. Either you have a line of sight to it from your square or you don’t. Though I could see house ruling something if it’s, for example, a creature with a gaze attack you are trying to avoid. I’d just make it clear at the beginning of the encounter that you are going to track facing for this fight because it would actually matter.
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.
They can crush the polymorphed creature like it's nothing. Then it reverts back to its original form with most hit points still available! (Check how polymorph works.)
Total cover blocks spells, but I can see targeting using a mirror for Medusa, etc.