@JeremyECrawford A group I'm in concluded that dragon breath goes through stone walls unimpeded because RAW total cover only blocks spells and attacks and breath is a non-spell save. I figure physics still apply, the breath would hit the wall, & folks inside are immune. Help?
— Br. Ryan W. Roberts, n/OLF (@puxah) April 12, 2020
I figure the same should apply for paladin aura and other non-spell areas of effect. Hiding on one side of a 5' thick dungeon wall shouldn't affect the hallway on the other side. @JeremyECrawford
— Br. Ryan W. Roberts, n/OLF (@puxah) April 12, 2020
In D&D, everyday things—walls, gravity, bread, laughter—work the way we expect them to, except for when the rules say otherwise.
For example, D&D has magical effects that pass through walls, for walls are assumed to be impenetrable, unless you damage the wall itself. #DnD https://t.co/B1WbXuCKqO
— Jeremy Crawford (@JeremyECrawford) April 12, 2020
The description of the prismatic wall spell talks about passing through it, so it is a marvelous exception to how we expect walls to work.
— Jeremy Crawford (@JeremyECrawford) April 13, 2020
So does casting lightning spells or hurling a Javelin of Lightning underwater cause everyone to be shocked as well? Where does this assumption that everything follows real-world logic begin and end?
— Theron (@BlazingSceptile) April 12, 2020
When you reach the edge of what the rules cover in D&D, your DM governs what lies beyond.
And when it comes to the rules, the DM is the chief interpreter of them for your group, ideally aiming for whatever interpretation brings the most enjoyment. #DnD https://t.co/9Y0L743s8u
— Jeremy Crawford (@JeremyECrawford) April 13, 2020