Clarification on Otiluke's Resilient Sphere

[Vexed]

I need input on the sphere being moved around by what it "sitting" on. The spell is centered around the caster. The spell states the sphere can not be moved. However, what if the area is moved the sphere is resting on? I realize it cannot be moved by people outside or inside the sphere. But what if the area under/around the sphere was moved?

What if you cast the spell while standing in the back of a wagon? Would you still be able to move the wagon? Or would the wagon become unmovable as well?
What if you cast Tensor floating disk, and then stand on it, and cast Otiluke Resilient sphere? Couldnt you move the disk around that the sphere is on? (same as the wagon example)

This is currently a debate in my group. Your input would be appreciated : )

Otiluke's Resilient Sphere (description)
A globe of shimmering force encloses a creature, provided the creature is small enough to fit within the diameter of the sphere. The sphere contains its subject for the spells duration. The sphere is not subject to damage of any sort except from a rod of cancellation, a rod of negation, a disintegrate spell, or a targeted dispel magic spell. These effects destroy the sphere without harm to the subject. Nothing can pass thorugh the sphere, inside or out, though the subject can breathe normally. The subject may struggle, but the sphere cannot be physically moved either by people outside it or by the struggles of those within.

 

[Ranes]

My reading is that the sphere remains in situ, whatever else happens. Assume it's cast on a creature riding a wagon and assume it doesn't encapsulate the wagon. If the wagon moves, the sphere remains where it is, even if that means it's now floating. If it encapsulates the wagon, then the wagon becomes stuck for the duration of the spell. The same goes even if only part of the wagon is enclosed by the sphere (edit: because the part of the wagon that's enclosed cannot move out of the sphere). In the case of a creature on a TFD who becomes the target of the sphere, if the sphere extends around the TFD, then the TFD is trapped within the sphere. Otherwise, the TFD can be moved but the sphere will remain in place, even if that results in it floating in mid-air.

 

[werk]

agreed

The subject may struggle, but the sphere cannot be physically moved either by people outside it or by the struggles of those within.

That means it is fixed in space to me. It's not 'sitting' on a wagon or a disk/magic carpet.

 

[Dragon Mage]

If that is the case, then what happens if it is cast bellow deck on a large sailing ship that is moving full speed?

For that matter what about a wall of force cast in front of the main sail on a moving ship?

 

[Ogrork the Mighty]

Then it rips right through blocking materials. Which could present balance issues since they would make excellent mines against naval vessels...

 

[CM]

The little RBDM on my shoulder is telling me that OSR would remain in place even while the planet continues to rotate, creating an unusual furrow across the surface of the world--barreling through forests and cities, under mountains, etc.

Of course the spell just says that the sphere cannot be moved through the efforts of people. Although this isn't a strict interpretation, I would rule that the sphere remains in a constant location in relation to the nearest supporting surface. So if you cast it on the deck of a moving ship or wagon, the sphere would remain in place on deck as the object continues to move. If cast in open air, the nearest supporting surface would be the planet itself.

 

[Ranes]

Assuming your game world revolves around its axis at 1000mph, that's one heck of an RBDM streak you've got going. Now, assume that your game world revolves around its primary at, say, 67000mph...

Who needs heliocentricity anyway?

Edit: If you decide that your world's primary revolves around the world but that the world still revolves, don't forget to account for precession, which should cause the ORS to bounce.

Edit II: Return of the Edit:

"Every passing hour brings the Solar System forty-three thousand miles closer to the globular cluster M13 in Hercules--and there are still some misfits who insist that there is no such thing as progress."

Kurt Vonnegut

 

[werk]

E=mC something

I would think it would be relative. It's magic after all.

So it would move with it's surrounding, like the planet's surface or in the hull of a ship...but a sphere placed in front of something that is moving...

oh, i see your point...

great mines, but isn't it cast at a target? So, you'd fly out a bunch of peons and sphere them in front of the advancing armada. Each peon gets a heck of a show as the armada passes through a grinder.

Could also use it to break falls?

 

[Starglim]

Then it rips right through blocking materials. Which could present balance issues since they would make excellent mines against naval vessels...

The ship would collide with the sphere and it wouldn't move, I agree. The sphere is rounded and perhaps slightly yielding, judging by the spell name, so it would do somewhat less damage than colliding with a rock at the same height, before the ship came to a stop (if the sphere was below decks or fouled in the mainsail) or slid along the side of the sphere.

You could do more extensive damage to the ship for the same level by casting a wall of ice on the deck, or on the ocean as an ice floe.

 

[KarinsDad]

You could do more extensive damage to the ship for the same level by casting a wall of ice on the deck, or on the ocean as an ice floe.

Only if you rule that the Sphere moves with the ship.

Walls of Ice break.

The Sphere doesn't.

Personally, I would rule that a Sphere stays relative to the planet for consistency.