I will never understand why this spell exists. It is weird, it is hard to visualize, and it seems to have very few uses.

One of my players used it to dodge the Indiana Jones boulder trap

in actuality it's busted good, so much so that it's easy to feel cheesy using it. You cast it with only 1 action and the party then climbs up then pulls in the rope behind them, ensuring enemies can't follow. Your party can see the area you left but enemies can't see the party, attack, or cast spells at them. Every member with a ranged option can then dip partly out of the portal, attack or cast, and disappear in the hole again, winning the fight in the room uncontested.

Came from "real life" magic tricks.

Believe it was Indian rope trick, where the Magician used sleight of hand/unseen helpers to have the end of a coil of rope rise into the air unsupported, and a child climb the rope.
And a great spell for hiding at 3rd level, as you can be in there for an hour (was just a shame it wasn't 2 for a short rest).
As it's a 5th level Wiz before you get 3rd level spells and Leomund's tiny hut for a long rest.

Use for short rests. Use to hide in combat for archers.

Huh, they removed the 60 ft length restriction. You could technically now have a ridiculously long rope float up it's entire length. Like for climbing a very high building or what have you. Not the spell's main point, but now an option.

No length or weight limit!

200' heavy duty rope with pulleys attached to it, could be pretty useful for all kinds of things. For an hour? 

the length or weight limit is the same as any regular rope (or makeshift rope) - you have to touch a rope that exists, it doesnt create a rope

Quote from SylvestreShaw >>

the length or weight limit is the same as any regular rope (or makeshift rope) - you have to touch a rope that exists, it doesnt create a rope

Strictly speaking, since the material component does not have a cost and isn't consumed, you do not need to touch an actual rope; you can use a spellcasting focus instead. What that actually looks like in practice is up to you and your DM.

Quote from wagnarokkr >>

Quote from SylvestreShaw >>

the length or weight limit is the same as any regular rope (or makeshift rope) - you have to touch a rope that exists, it doesnt create a rope

Strictly speaking, since the material component does not have a cost and isn't consumed, you do not need to touch an actual rope; you can use a spellcasting focus instead. What that actually looks like in practice is up to you and your DM.

 Regardless of the spell's components, the spell's description starts with "You touch a rope." Even if there were no material component of the spell at all you still need a rope. The only valid target for this spell is something that qualifies as "a rope."

DMs can handwave any requirements they want. But the spell's description very much assumes that a physical rope exists and is the target of the spell.

Quote from Abelhawk >>

I will never understand why this spell exists. It is weird, it is hard to visualize, and it seems to have very few uses.

 It lasts 1 hour, so you can take a short rest in it.  You can see outside the extradimensional space, so you can use it to spy on people.  You can use it to hide from enemies (while being able to peek out so you know when they left). You can also use it to ambush people.  

This is basically an extradimensional tree house.  

I just had the mental image of someone using this spell to escape an explosion. Like, someone lit a match in a gun powder factor and the party had just enough time to climb the rope before it went boom. 

I think the intent is to set up an ambush… but the way it’s used, is someone or everyone attacks and then runs in the whole for protection. Ends up trivializing combats.

would be better if it were a one minute cast

Si estás dentro cuando termina el hechizo, ¿desapareces? ¿Eso significa que mueres?

Quote from Lirean >>

Si estás dentro cuando termina el hechizo, ¿desapareces? ¿Eso significa que mueres?

Anything inside the space drops out when the spell ends.

So you die?

Quote from Lirean >>

So you die?

No, you don't die — not sure where you're getting that. You drop out of the space created by the spell, onto the floor (or whatever's below it).