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5e lightning bolt11/19/2023 For me, since it is a line that hurts anything in the line, I feel that the entire line of electricity should broaden rather than just at the final target of the spell. If this is what you decide then that is great. It is often said across the web that using a fireball like burst from the target would work very well in determining damage from Lightning Bolt. So I would rule the same is in 5E and give it a 15 foot line instead of the normal 5 foot line. What it does tell me is that water does influence electricity. However, since the description says that it triggers a burst this uses different rules. There are hazards listed that use electricity under water such as the one in “Pathfinder 2 nd Adventure Path #170 Spoken on the Song Wind” that send electricity through the water and damage everything in that area. This is something I have been wondering about myself, but I always err on using spell text only when it comes to this. The line effect says that Lightning Bolt only goes 60 feet. PLEASE NOTE: The Lightning Bolt spell text says it has a range of 120 feet. While the spell does not appear to damage anything else in that line besides creatures, I feel that it should have the same effect as in 5E and damage any non-held or worn items as well. The line of effect rules FOUND HERE tells us that creatures within that line 5-foot wide are affected. The lightning starts from your hand and goes 120 feet. However, even though the text is brief we can discern 2 things. We get less information about Lightning Bolt with Pathfinder 2E. I would allow the electricity to damage the creature within 5 feet (friend or foe). ![]() Such as with Lightning Arrow READ TWEET HERE. While splash damage does not exist in 5E Jeremy Crawford has often defined different effects as splash damage. Spells like shocking grasp I would give splash damage. Note: Other spells with electricity might hurt something further away but I would never do “more damage” in underwater. The lightning bolt would affect any creature in the normal 5-foot line but instead of 5 feet I would make it a 15-foot-wide line within the water only. How I would rule for Dungeons and Dragons 5E: I would use this as my inspiration for making a home ruling. If it is underwater it can shock up to 15 feet away anyone around it. So, if someone was to grab the eel, they would get shocked. It can shock creatures that are close to it (within 5 feet) OR it can damage each creature within 15 feet of it in a body of water. One of my favorite monsters for underwater combat in 5E is the Giant Electric Eel. This is not in 5E so we have to either use rules as written (RAW) and not allow any further special effects or look elsewhere for our ruling. It was possible that a creature could end up in multiple lines of the spell and must make multiple saves. In older editions of Dungeons and Dragons the spell would reflect off surfaces until the 100-foot line was complete. This tells me that the effect can affect anything within the 100-foot line not just creatures. ![]() The parts of the spell that interest me the most is that it is five foot wide and that it is capable of damaging anything not held or worn. The text of the lightening bolt spell offers us very little about whether there are any extra effects when it comes to water. But will a lightning bolt do what the wizard wants it to? The party agrees to the wizard’s plan of action. Toran the Wizard: I have an idea I will cast lightning bolt into the pool to fry them all before they even know we are here. Shirak the Sneak: I go back to the part and tell them what I saw. Judging by the skeletal remains around the outside of the pool these creatures will not take kindly to your presence. The pool appears to have 20 humanoid froglike creatures swimming around. The thing that really catches your attention is the movement in the water. Giant stalactites jut down toward a large pool of water 100 feet in diameter. “Everyone stay here let me scout ahead.”ĭM: Shirak you move around the corner, and you see a large cavern with the ceiling raising 40 feet above you. Shriak the Sneak: I stealth and go around the corner. Entering just the mouth of the cave the wind dies down to a small breeze. The party nods their agreement, and they approach the cave.ĭM: As you enter the cave you immediately start hearing dripping water. I would hate to be out in the cold after dark, those clouds look like they are going to bring us a significant snowfall. Goran The Great: I turn to the party, “We should seek shelter for the night in that cave. ![]() ![]() The weather is getting colder, the incoming clouds speak of the seasons first snow fall. The wind blows a chill deep within as snowflakes start to fall. The cave’s entrance is dark and appears to turn to the right blocking your darkvision from seeing deeper within. At the base of the cliff is a small cave.
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