Antilife Shell

unfortunate.

This needed a rewrite to give clarification to the "If you move so that an affected creature is forced to pass through the barrier, the spell ends." part.

Quote from Haukness >>

This needed a rewrite to give clarification to the "If you move so that an affected creature is forced to pass through the barrier, the spell ends." part.

What aspect of that needs clarification?

What is the definition of "forced"?  Is it just if the bubble crosses their space?  Or is it if they have no option to move?  Does this push?  If its just crossing space, is the caster aware it might happen in the case of unseen creatures?  If it does push, how much?  Etc... 

There is way to much of this spell that has to be determined by DM intepretation which can be inconsistent, leaving it very controversial.  Look at the comments from the 2014 version for example and see how this spell not been changed from 2014 to 2024.

Quote from Haukness >>

What is the definition of "forced"?  Is it just if the bubble crosses their space?  Or is it if they have no option to move?  Does this push?  If its just crossing space, is the caster aware it might happen in the case of unseen creatures?  If it does push, how much?  Etc... 

There is way to much of this spell that has to be determined by DM intepretation which can be inconsistent, leaving it very controversial.  Look at the comments from the 2014 version for example and see how this spell not been changed from 2014 to 2024.

It's referring to what happens if the caster moves such that an affected creature that was outside the bubble is now inside the bubble, or vice versa — for example, if a creature is 15 feet away (outside the bubble) but the caster moves 10 feet in their direction (so they would be inside the bubble). If that happens, the spell ends.

There's no mention of it pushing anything in the spell description, so it doesn't push anything.

I wonder how this would work with creatures whose natural melee range is greater than 5 feet.  Many creatures Large or larger have a reach that is 10 feet or greater with just their natural weapons or non-reach melee weapons.  My interpretation is they can't reach through without a reach weapon, since the barrier blocks all living matter from getting inside, but nonliving matter (weapons and spells) is unaffected.  That means a creature cannot reach their limbs or head through the barrier, but they can poke through the barrier with long weapons like polearms, or shoot ranged attacks through the barrier.  

Although I am by no means an expert, this is how I ruled the spell's use when it came up in my game.

An aura extends from you in a 10-foot Emanation for the duration. Any creature within this aura at the time it is cast is considered "an affected creature". The aura prevents all creatures other than Constructs and Undead from passing or reaching through it. An affected creature can cast spells or make attacks with Ranged or Reach weapons through the barrier.

If you move, whether willingly or forced, so that any creature other than Constructs and Undead an affected creature is forced to pass through the barrier would enter or leave the aura, the spell ends.

My idea for ruling in this way allows the spell to act either as an arena if enemies are inside, or a barrier if only allies are close by. The caster is the only one who can affect the conditions of the barrier without magical means, meaning they can freely move around, but do so at risk of breaking the conditions that keep the barrier up. This also allows for multiple creatures to be "trapped" inside, though they will have a chance to shove the caster to break the spell's conditions.