D&D 5E What happens if you cast Meteor Swarm underground or indoors?

[Arravis]

So the spell Meteor Swarm states that "Blazing orbs of fire plummet to the ground". That seems to imply a starting point and an end point ("the ground"), and since they "plummet" it would seem the starting point would be the sky? As a DM, I'm not certain how to handle Meteor Swarm if its cast indoors... does it crash through the building? If so do the meteors explode on impact with the building or the ground below? What if the building has a basement? Additionally, if the spell is cast deep underground, does it just crash on the earth well above the heads of the intended victims?

I know in the end this is likely one of the those Rule Zero situations and the DM decides, but I try to stick to the rules as much as written and would like to know what the likely Rules-As-Written and Rules-As-Intended scenarios would be. Thanks for any and all help and advice!

 

[Fanaelialae]

It's a 9th level spell. I'd just have it summon the meteors at the highest point inside the area (at the ceiling of a room or the roof of a cavern). That said, unless the area is enormous you're probably going to have some issues avoiding friendly fire.

 

[Kobold Boots]

Meteor Swarm has a horrible name.

So here's the deal. Every mage may have different effects for their version of the spell. You're only limited in a rules sense by the mechanics, not the spell description.

Historically the spell intended to be shot from the caster, similarly to a fireball,

"Meteor swarm is a very powerful and spectacular spell that is similar to fireball in many aspects. When you cast it, four 2-foot-diameter spheres spring from your outstretched hand and streak in straight lines to the spots you select. The meteor spheres leave a fiery trail of sparks." d20 srd and I believe it's the same description in 1st and 2nd ed.

Personally, I'd just default back to that. Less issues with the imagery of an asteroid hitting the planet

 

[Gardens & Goblins]

I reckon it'd still work. At least, at our table I'd have no issue with it working as normal indoors.

Because, well....

..it's magic.

Spells that are dependent on environmental conditions typically call them out - Call Lightning springs to mind as a good example.

Now, if you really want something to consider -- Meteor Swarm targets four points, designated by the caster. So it should be possible to cast it 'up' at a ceiling, or down a corridor... or at a wall, right? Meteor Swarm creates four lots of a 40' radius spheres wherever the caster can see within its range, the caster could conceivably target the ceiling, the wall, the floor and the back of a wandering ogre's head. Underground or otherwise.

 

[Kobold Boots]

I reckon it'd still work. At least, at our table I'd have no issue with it working as normal indoors.

Because, well....

..it's magic.

Spells that are dependent on environmental conditions typically call them out - Call Lightning springs to mind as a good example.

Now, if you really want something to consider -- Meteor Swarm targets four points, designated by the caster. So it should be possible to cast it 'up' at a ceiling, or down a corridor... or at a wall, right? Meteor Swarm creates four lots of a 40' radius spheres wherever the caster can see within its range, the caster could conceivably target the ceiling, the wall, the floor and the back of a wandering ogre's head. Underground or otherwise.

Well said.

The only thing I'd add to this is that the area of effect once the "meteors" hit is 40'. That does not mean that the objects themselves are. It's an explosion radius.

 

[neogod22]

I'm pretty sure if the area is too small for the caster to cast the spell, you can earn the caster that he thinks the spell will fail if he tries it. If he does try it, just have the spell fail. You can choose if his spell slot is wasted or not.

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[Kobold Boots]

I'm pretty sure if the area is too small for the caster to cast the spell, you can earn the caster that he thinks the spell will fail if he tries it. If he does try it, just have the spell fail. You can choose if his spell slot is wasted or not.

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That's a fair and balanced approach. The more "fun" thing to do might be to have the spell go off and immolate the entire party due to the mage being stupid. The area of effect clearly states that it goes around corners

 

[neogod22]

That's a fair and balanced approach. The more "fun" thing to do might be to have the spell go off and immolate the entire party due to the mage being stupid. The area of effect clearly states that it goes around corners

It is tier 4, why not? Lol

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[CapnZapp]

So the spell Meteor Swarm states that "Blazing orbs of fire plummet to the ground". That seems to imply a starting point and an end point ("the ground"), and since they "plummet" it would seem the starting point would be the sky? As a DM, I'm not certain how to handle Meteor Swarm if its cast indoors... does it crash through the building? If so do the meteors explode on impact with the building or the ground below? What if the building has a basement? Additionally, if the spell is cast deep underground, does it just crash on the earth well above the heads of the intended victims?

I know in the end this is likely one of the those Rule Zero situations and the DM decides, but I try to stick to the rules as much as written and would like to know what the likely Rules-As-Written and Rules-As-Intended scenarios would be. Thanks for any and all help and advice!

Since you explicitly want the RAW, compare to Call Lightning.

You should quickly see that since there are no restriction against casting Meteor Swarm indoors or in a dungeon, the answer is clear: no, there is no implication and no issue.

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[Warmaster Horus]

Honestly, it's magic and 9th level at that. Don't sweat the 'real life' details, just narrate how the power of the spell conforms reality to suit it. For example, if indoors you can describe how a portal full of stars and comets yawns above the impact area as firey meteors streak forth to detonate on the ground below.

In my experience one thing that happens in D&D is that magic becomes too familiar to players and loses some of it's, well, magic. Remember, this is a fantastic world where an arcane mind-bending force can break the bounds of reality with ease. Don't sweat the details, narrate a good effect to show how they are trivialized by magic when appropriate.