The spell's description says, "They flit around you to a distance of 15 feet for the duration." It doesn't say anything about being blocked by walls. It seems like they can pass through and hurt things on the other side of walls as long as they are withing that 15 feet. Am I interpreting that correctly?
The default assumption is usually that things can't pass through walls unless something says so. That's a safer direction to lean in if there's ever any doubt, anyways; dealing damage through total cover is open to a lot of potential abuse and the rules generally try to prevent that.
the spell states that you can specify any number of creatures you can "SEE" to be unaffected. if it did not work through walls this statement would be irrelevant. Therefore it must be concluded that they do. In the same way darkness spells do.
the spell states that you can specify any number of creatures you can "SEE" to be unaffected. if it did not work through walls this statement would be irrelevant. Therefore it must be concluded that they do. In the same way darkness spells do.
The "see" part is instantaneous when casting spirit guardians. You cannot exclude any of your allies you did not see while casting and you will potentially damage them when moving around on the battlefield in subsequent turns. This is not irrelevant, if the spell does not penetrate walls.
Darkness is also not expanding through walls, only around them. Which is explicitly stated in the darkness spell. If there is no connection to the point behind the wall, the darkness can spread through, the darkness does not extend there.
I would also use the basic spell rule, that walls block effects.
Area of Effect rule in PHB says that every area of effect has always a point of origin, and that you need to have an unblocked line of effect to that originating point, or the area is excluded.
The spell's description says, "They flit around you to a distance of 15 feet for the duration." It doesn't say anything about being blocked by walls. It seems like they can pass through and hurt things on the other side of walls as long as they are withing that 15 feet. Am I interpreting that correctly?
The default assumption is usually that things can't pass through walls unless something says so. That's a safer direction to lean in if there's ever any doubt, anyways; dealing damage through total cover is open to a lot of potential abuse and the rules generally try to prevent that.
The Forum Infestation (TM)
Thanks for the clarification and link!
the spell states that you can specify any number of creatures you can "SEE" to be unaffected. if it did not work through walls this statement would be irrelevant. Therefore it must be concluded that they do. In the same way darkness spells do.
The "see" part is instantaneous when casting spirit guardians. You cannot exclude any of your allies you did not see while casting and you will potentially damage them when moving around on the battlefield in subsequent turns. This is not irrelevant, if the spell does not penetrate walls.
Darkness is also not expanding through walls, only around them. Which is explicitly stated in the darkness spell. If there is no connection to the point behind the wall, the darkness can spread through, the darkness does not extend there.
I would also use the basic spell rule, that walls block effects.
Area of Effect rule in PHB says that every area of effect has always a point of origin, and that you need to have an unblocked line of effect to that originating point, or the area is excluded.