D&D 5E Leomund's Tiny Hut in Tight Places

[beaumontsebos]

Leomund's Tiny Hut has actually become quite the controversial spell for our group. The latest question... can Leomund's Tiny Hut appear in a space smaller than its 10 foot radius?

For the current example, the characters wanted to open a door in a dungeon. Opening the door caused magical statues to attack. The idea was to cast Leomund's Hut while standing by the door. Thus, when they opened the door, the statues would not be able to bother them since they could not get through the hut, which effectively blocked the doorway. The party could go through the door and then close it behind them all while being protected under the hemisphere. This protection would have even been available through the other side of the door. By allowing it, it means the hemisphere can go through walls and doors, and around corners.

During the game I ruled no. It needs to be able to be cast as an uninterrupted hemisphere with a 10 foot radius. Upon looking into it, I found the following ruling from Jeremy Crawford:

@JeremyECrawford Sorry to bug you again with the same Q,but Leomunds Tiny Hut, does it require clear space or can use indoors?
@Brail4 Nothing in the spell says it must be outside or in a clear space, so sure, cast it indoors.

This leads me to think that my ruling was incorrect.

What say you?

 

[Dausuul]

Leomund's Tiny Hut has actually become quite the controversial spell for our group. The latest question... can Leomund's Tiny Hut appear in a space smaller than its 10 foot radius?

For the current example, the characters wanted to open a door in a dungeon. Opening the door caused magical statues to attack. The idea was to cast Leomund's Hut while standing by the door. Thus, when they opened the door, the statues would not be able to bother them since they could not get through the hut, which effectively blocked the doorway. The party could go through the door and then close it behind them all while being protected under the hemisphere. This protection would have even been available through the other side of the door. By allowing it, it means the hemisphere can go through walls and doors, and around corners.

During the game I ruled no. It needs to be able to be cast as an uninterrupted hemisphere with a 10 foot radius. Upon looking into it, I found the following ruling from Jeremy Crawford:

@JeremyECrawford Sorry to bug you again with the same Q,but Leomunds Tiny Hut, does it require clear space or can use indoors?
@Brail4 Nothing in the spell says it must be outside or in a clear space, so sure, cast it indoors.

This leads me to think that my ruling was incorrect.

What say you?

I agree with your ruling. Being able to cast it indoors does not mean it can intersect solid objects.

 

[Dausuul]

Leomund's Tiny Hut has actually become quite the controversial spell for our group. The latest question... can Leomund's Tiny Hut appear in a space smaller than its 10 foot radius?

For the current example, the characters wanted to open a door in a dungeon. Opening the door caused magical statues to attack. The idea was to cast Leomund's Hut while standing by the door. Thus, when they opened the door, the statues would not be able to bother them since they could not get through the hut, which effectively blocked the doorway. The party could go through the door and then close it behind them all while being protected under the hemisphere. This protection would have even been available through the other side of the door. By allowing it, it means the hemisphere can go through walls and doors, and around corners.

During the game I ruled no. It needs to be able to be cast as an uninterrupted hemisphere with a 10 foot radius. Upon looking into it, I found the following ruling from Jeremy Crawford:

@JeremyECrawford Sorry to bug you again with the same Q,but Leomunds Tiny Hut, does it require clear space or can use indoors?
@Brail4 Nothing in the spell says it must be outside or in a clear space, so sure, cast it indoors.

This leads me to think that my ruling was incorrect.

What say you?

I agree with your ruling. Being able to cast it indoors does not mean it can intersect solid objects.

 

[StormbringerAUS]

Your ruling would make sense and in principle I would agree with it.
But as a DM I might well have let it work just because it is a clever plan.

 

[Immoralkickass]

So the Leomund's Tiny Hut is somehow not tiny enough? Damn you Leomund and your false advertising!

 

[Oofta]

Your ruling at the table was fine. It's the DM's job to keep the action moving, and I tend to err on the side of caution on things like this myself.

As far as official rule, the closest I can find as far as rules is under Casting a Spell in the PHB:

If no unblocked straight line extends from the point of origin to a location within the area of effect, that location isn't included in the spell's area.​

​

So if the room isn't big enough, whatever the obstruction is becomes one edge of the spell. A closed door might be blocked if it opens in. A door that opens out would cause an opening when the door is open.

 

[MarkB]

There's nothing in the spell description which exempts it from the general rules on area-of-effect spells:

"A spell's effect expands in straight lines from the point of origin. If no unblocked straight line extends from the point of origin to a location within the area of effect, that location isn't included in the spell's area."​

So, if you try to cast it right next to a doorway, the 'shadow' of that doorway will create gaps in the dome - but if you cast it while standing next to a wall in an otherwise-clear room, you'd get roughly two-thirds of a dome, set flush against the wall.

 

[Bacon Bits]

I agree with your ruling. The dome effect stops extending ends when it hits a solid object, which would include a closed door.

But as a DM I might well have let it work just because it is a clever plan.

I'd allow it once, but the spell is also a ritual. I wouldn't let the PCs spend 11 minutes outside every door for the remainder of the campaign to get an impervious shield 10 feet into every new room.

 

[iserith]

I also think your ruling is just fine, provided it is fun for everyone and helps contribute to an exciting, memorable tale.

 

[Celebrim]

Oh good grief...

"All other creatures and objects are barred from passing through it." - 5e clause that doesn't exist in earlier editions

"Spells and other magical effects can’t extend through the dome or be cast through it." - Another 5e clause that doesn't exist in earlier editions

Yeah, they've created a 7th to 9th level spell in a third level slot.

Originally, the sphere of force was strong enough to keep out light objects and wind, but not strong enough to keep out hostile creatures, spell effects, missile weapons, ect.

I'd say some designer needs to be slapped with a tuna. Things like this just make DM's lives a living heck.