For Catapult, is a 1/2 pound container holding 3 pounds of materials considered a valid object?

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The Catapult spell states that you can "choose an object that weighs between 1 and 5 pounds".



A 0.5 pound container isn't eligible, but if that container was holding 3 pounds of objects within it (putting the total at 3.5 pounds), would I be able to launch it with Catapult?










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  • Is this really your question, or is it about bigbys hand holding something?
    – NautArch
    2 hours ago










  • @NautArch This looks like the logical followup to the other question - one that you suggested they ask. As worded, there's no direct reference to the old question, and is a valid question on it's own. Additionally, it might solve the problem that the bigby's hand question was trying to solve in a less roundabout way.
    – Tal
    2 hours ago










  • @Tal My suggestion wasn't exactly this (it wasn't about weight, it was about how to treat collection of objects.)
    – NautArch
    2 hours ago














up vote
3
down vote

favorite












The Catapult spell states that you can "choose an object that weighs between 1 and 5 pounds".



A 0.5 pound container isn't eligible, but if that container was holding 3 pounds of objects within it (putting the total at 3.5 pounds), would I be able to launch it with Catapult?










share|improve this question





















  • Is this really your question, or is it about bigbys hand holding something?
    – NautArch
    2 hours ago










  • @NautArch This looks like the logical followup to the other question - one that you suggested they ask. As worded, there's no direct reference to the old question, and is a valid question on it's own. Additionally, it might solve the problem that the bigby's hand question was trying to solve in a less roundabout way.
    – Tal
    2 hours ago










  • @Tal My suggestion wasn't exactly this (it wasn't about weight, it was about how to treat collection of objects.)
    – NautArch
    2 hours ago












up vote
3
down vote

favorite









up vote
3
down vote

favorite











The Catapult spell states that you can "choose an object that weighs between 1 and 5 pounds".



A 0.5 pound container isn't eligible, but if that container was holding 3 pounds of objects within it (putting the total at 3.5 pounds), would I be able to launch it with Catapult?










share|improve this question













The Catapult spell states that you can "choose an object that weighs between 1 and 5 pounds".



A 0.5 pound container isn't eligible, but if that container was holding 3 pounds of objects within it (putting the total at 3.5 pounds), would I be able to launch it with Catapult?







dnd-5e spells targeting weight






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share|improve this question










asked 4 hours ago









Daniel Zastoupil

5,5081161




5,5081161











  • Is this really your question, or is it about bigbys hand holding something?
    – NautArch
    2 hours ago










  • @NautArch This looks like the logical followup to the other question - one that you suggested they ask. As worded, there's no direct reference to the old question, and is a valid question on it's own. Additionally, it might solve the problem that the bigby's hand question was trying to solve in a less roundabout way.
    – Tal
    2 hours ago










  • @Tal My suggestion wasn't exactly this (it wasn't about weight, it was about how to treat collection of objects.)
    – NautArch
    2 hours ago
















  • Is this really your question, or is it about bigbys hand holding something?
    – NautArch
    2 hours ago










  • @NautArch This looks like the logical followup to the other question - one that you suggested they ask. As worded, there's no direct reference to the old question, and is a valid question on it's own. Additionally, it might solve the problem that the bigby's hand question was trying to solve in a less roundabout way.
    – Tal
    2 hours ago










  • @Tal My suggestion wasn't exactly this (it wasn't about weight, it was about how to treat collection of objects.)
    – NautArch
    2 hours ago















Is this really your question, or is it about bigbys hand holding something?
– NautArch
2 hours ago




Is this really your question, or is it about bigbys hand holding something?
– NautArch
2 hours ago












@NautArch This looks like the logical followup to the other question - one that you suggested they ask. As worded, there's no direct reference to the old question, and is a valid question on it's own. Additionally, it might solve the problem that the bigby's hand question was trying to solve in a less roundabout way.
– Tal
2 hours ago




@NautArch This looks like the logical followup to the other question - one that you suggested they ask. As worded, there's no direct reference to the old question, and is a valid question on it's own. Additionally, it might solve the problem that the bigby's hand question was trying to solve in a less roundabout way.
– Tal
2 hours ago












@Tal My suggestion wasn't exactly this (it wasn't about weight, it was about how to treat collection of objects.)
– NautArch
2 hours ago




@Tal My suggestion wasn't exactly this (it wasn't about weight, it was about how to treat collection of objects.)
– NautArch
2 hours ago










1 Answer
1






active

oldest

votes

















up vote
5
down vote













Yes you can



The main question is if an container counts its content weight towards its own weight.



There is no explicit rule that says that a container is considered to count as it's weight plus its content but I would consider it logical. Especially that the exception to this have it specifically noted see Bag of holding.



Considering this I would say that the container with content can be used for this spell as long its not being worn or carried.



The second question is how the container and content are affected by the spell.



The Catapult spell has a very clear description of how the object moves:




The object flies in a straight line up to 90 feet in a direction you choose before falling to the ground. It stops early if it hits a solid surface.




This to me means that the object isn't just flung from it's point of origin using a ballistic trajectory. In other words the magic spell interacts with the object for the duration of its movement. This would mean the spell grabs the object and moves it along the line.



This I would say means the containers content stay in the container and impact on the target always counts as one impact.



The third question then is if i use this spell to hit a vampire with a bottle of holy water or something else with Alchemist's fire. Does is do extra damage?



My answer is no. Mostly because the spell doesn't say it does. Nor would you have it do extra damage if you used the spell to launch a sword.



As a DM I might allow you to change the damage type of the spell so the Alchemist fire would change the damage type to Fire, holy water might make it Radiant, a sword could make it Slashing and Catapulting an oil lamp would make it Fire damage. But this would be a house rule for my group.



The whole answer to question 3 is very much up for ruling by your own DM. Their is no rule on how this works so your DM can rule it in any way he likes.






share|improve this answer






















  • Are you saying that Catapult can utilize multiple objects? If so, can you support that?
    – NautArch
    3 hours ago











  • no and yes. i am saying you can use a bag containing items.
    – Dinomaster
    2 hours ago










  • I think you've got the start of a good answer, but I think including more on how to consider adjudicating a collection of objects would work would make it a great answer. I fully understand not wanting to go down that rabbit hole, but it would be helpful to discuss how/how not doing this might increase the effectiveness of the spell beyond original intent.
    – NautArch
    2 hours ago










  • I'm also not sure I fully understand the Bag of Holding example and it's direct relevance. But I do agree that a bag of stuff that weights a total of 3.5lbs is 3.5 lbs and valid.
    – NautArch
    2 hours ago










  • The bottle breaking is almost explicit. Catapult does 3d8 damage to both the object and anything it hits, if it hits anything. If it doesn't, it falls to the ground.
    – Daniel Zastoupil
    2 hours ago










Your Answer




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1 Answer
1






active

oldest

votes








1 Answer
1






active

oldest

votes









active

oldest

votes






active

oldest

votes








up vote
5
down vote













Yes you can



The main question is if an container counts its content weight towards its own weight.



There is no explicit rule that says that a container is considered to count as it's weight plus its content but I would consider it logical. Especially that the exception to this have it specifically noted see Bag of holding.



Considering this I would say that the container with content can be used for this spell as long its not being worn or carried.



The second question is how the container and content are affected by the spell.



The Catapult spell has a very clear description of how the object moves:




The object flies in a straight line up to 90 feet in a direction you choose before falling to the ground. It stops early if it hits a solid surface.




This to me means that the object isn't just flung from it's point of origin using a ballistic trajectory. In other words the magic spell interacts with the object for the duration of its movement. This would mean the spell grabs the object and moves it along the line.



This I would say means the containers content stay in the container and impact on the target always counts as one impact.



The third question then is if i use this spell to hit a vampire with a bottle of holy water or something else with Alchemist's fire. Does is do extra damage?



My answer is no. Mostly because the spell doesn't say it does. Nor would you have it do extra damage if you used the spell to launch a sword.



As a DM I might allow you to change the damage type of the spell so the Alchemist fire would change the damage type to Fire, holy water might make it Radiant, a sword could make it Slashing and Catapulting an oil lamp would make it Fire damage. But this would be a house rule for my group.



The whole answer to question 3 is very much up for ruling by your own DM. Their is no rule on how this works so your DM can rule it in any way he likes.






share|improve this answer






















  • Are you saying that Catapult can utilize multiple objects? If so, can you support that?
    – NautArch
    3 hours ago











  • no and yes. i am saying you can use a bag containing items.
    – Dinomaster
    2 hours ago










  • I think you've got the start of a good answer, but I think including more on how to consider adjudicating a collection of objects would work would make it a great answer. I fully understand not wanting to go down that rabbit hole, but it would be helpful to discuss how/how not doing this might increase the effectiveness of the spell beyond original intent.
    – NautArch
    2 hours ago










  • I'm also not sure I fully understand the Bag of Holding example and it's direct relevance. But I do agree that a bag of stuff that weights a total of 3.5lbs is 3.5 lbs and valid.
    – NautArch
    2 hours ago










  • The bottle breaking is almost explicit. Catapult does 3d8 damage to both the object and anything it hits, if it hits anything. If it doesn't, it falls to the ground.
    – Daniel Zastoupil
    2 hours ago














up vote
5
down vote













Yes you can



The main question is if an container counts its content weight towards its own weight.



There is no explicit rule that says that a container is considered to count as it's weight plus its content but I would consider it logical. Especially that the exception to this have it specifically noted see Bag of holding.



Considering this I would say that the container with content can be used for this spell as long its not being worn or carried.



The second question is how the container and content are affected by the spell.



The Catapult spell has a very clear description of how the object moves:




The object flies in a straight line up to 90 feet in a direction you choose before falling to the ground. It stops early if it hits a solid surface.




This to me means that the object isn't just flung from it's point of origin using a ballistic trajectory. In other words the magic spell interacts with the object for the duration of its movement. This would mean the spell grabs the object and moves it along the line.



This I would say means the containers content stay in the container and impact on the target always counts as one impact.



The third question then is if i use this spell to hit a vampire with a bottle of holy water or something else with Alchemist's fire. Does is do extra damage?



My answer is no. Mostly because the spell doesn't say it does. Nor would you have it do extra damage if you used the spell to launch a sword.



As a DM I might allow you to change the damage type of the spell so the Alchemist fire would change the damage type to Fire, holy water might make it Radiant, a sword could make it Slashing and Catapulting an oil lamp would make it Fire damage. But this would be a house rule for my group.



The whole answer to question 3 is very much up for ruling by your own DM. Their is no rule on how this works so your DM can rule it in any way he likes.






share|improve this answer






















  • Are you saying that Catapult can utilize multiple objects? If so, can you support that?
    – NautArch
    3 hours ago











  • no and yes. i am saying you can use a bag containing items.
    – Dinomaster
    2 hours ago










  • I think you've got the start of a good answer, but I think including more on how to consider adjudicating a collection of objects would work would make it a great answer. I fully understand not wanting to go down that rabbit hole, but it would be helpful to discuss how/how not doing this might increase the effectiveness of the spell beyond original intent.
    – NautArch
    2 hours ago










  • I'm also not sure I fully understand the Bag of Holding example and it's direct relevance. But I do agree that a bag of stuff that weights a total of 3.5lbs is 3.5 lbs and valid.
    – NautArch
    2 hours ago










  • The bottle breaking is almost explicit. Catapult does 3d8 damage to both the object and anything it hits, if it hits anything. If it doesn't, it falls to the ground.
    – Daniel Zastoupil
    2 hours ago












up vote
5
down vote










up vote
5
down vote









Yes you can



The main question is if an container counts its content weight towards its own weight.



There is no explicit rule that says that a container is considered to count as it's weight plus its content but I would consider it logical. Especially that the exception to this have it specifically noted see Bag of holding.



Considering this I would say that the container with content can be used for this spell as long its not being worn or carried.



The second question is how the container and content are affected by the spell.



The Catapult spell has a very clear description of how the object moves:




The object flies in a straight line up to 90 feet in a direction you choose before falling to the ground. It stops early if it hits a solid surface.




This to me means that the object isn't just flung from it's point of origin using a ballistic trajectory. In other words the magic spell interacts with the object for the duration of its movement. This would mean the spell grabs the object and moves it along the line.



This I would say means the containers content stay in the container and impact on the target always counts as one impact.



The third question then is if i use this spell to hit a vampire with a bottle of holy water or something else with Alchemist's fire. Does is do extra damage?



My answer is no. Mostly because the spell doesn't say it does. Nor would you have it do extra damage if you used the spell to launch a sword.



As a DM I might allow you to change the damage type of the spell so the Alchemist fire would change the damage type to Fire, holy water might make it Radiant, a sword could make it Slashing and Catapulting an oil lamp would make it Fire damage. But this would be a house rule for my group.



The whole answer to question 3 is very much up for ruling by your own DM. Their is no rule on how this works so your DM can rule it in any way he likes.






share|improve this answer














Yes you can



The main question is if an container counts its content weight towards its own weight.



There is no explicit rule that says that a container is considered to count as it's weight plus its content but I would consider it logical. Especially that the exception to this have it specifically noted see Bag of holding.



Considering this I would say that the container with content can be used for this spell as long its not being worn or carried.



The second question is how the container and content are affected by the spell.



The Catapult spell has a very clear description of how the object moves:




The object flies in a straight line up to 90 feet in a direction you choose before falling to the ground. It stops early if it hits a solid surface.




This to me means that the object isn't just flung from it's point of origin using a ballistic trajectory. In other words the magic spell interacts with the object for the duration of its movement. This would mean the spell grabs the object and moves it along the line.



This I would say means the containers content stay in the container and impact on the target always counts as one impact.



The third question then is if i use this spell to hit a vampire with a bottle of holy water or something else with Alchemist's fire. Does is do extra damage?



My answer is no. Mostly because the spell doesn't say it does. Nor would you have it do extra damage if you used the spell to launch a sword.



As a DM I might allow you to change the damage type of the spell so the Alchemist fire would change the damage type to Fire, holy water might make it Radiant, a sword could make it Slashing and Catapulting an oil lamp would make it Fire damage. But this would be a house rule for my group.



The whole answer to question 3 is very much up for ruling by your own DM. Their is no rule on how this works so your DM can rule it in any way he likes.







share|improve this answer














share|improve this answer



share|improve this answer








edited 1 hour ago

























answered 3 hours ago









Dinomaster

822212




822212











  • Are you saying that Catapult can utilize multiple objects? If so, can you support that?
    – NautArch
    3 hours ago











  • no and yes. i am saying you can use a bag containing items.
    – Dinomaster
    2 hours ago










  • I think you've got the start of a good answer, but I think including more on how to consider adjudicating a collection of objects would work would make it a great answer. I fully understand not wanting to go down that rabbit hole, but it would be helpful to discuss how/how not doing this might increase the effectiveness of the spell beyond original intent.
    – NautArch
    2 hours ago










  • I'm also not sure I fully understand the Bag of Holding example and it's direct relevance. But I do agree that a bag of stuff that weights a total of 3.5lbs is 3.5 lbs and valid.
    – NautArch
    2 hours ago










  • The bottle breaking is almost explicit. Catapult does 3d8 damage to both the object and anything it hits, if it hits anything. If it doesn't, it falls to the ground.
    – Daniel Zastoupil
    2 hours ago
















  • Are you saying that Catapult can utilize multiple objects? If so, can you support that?
    – NautArch
    3 hours ago











  • no and yes. i am saying you can use a bag containing items.
    – Dinomaster
    2 hours ago










  • I think you've got the start of a good answer, but I think including more on how to consider adjudicating a collection of objects would work would make it a great answer. I fully understand not wanting to go down that rabbit hole, but it would be helpful to discuss how/how not doing this might increase the effectiveness of the spell beyond original intent.
    – NautArch
    2 hours ago










  • I'm also not sure I fully understand the Bag of Holding example and it's direct relevance. But I do agree that a bag of stuff that weights a total of 3.5lbs is 3.5 lbs and valid.
    – NautArch
    2 hours ago










  • The bottle breaking is almost explicit. Catapult does 3d8 damage to both the object and anything it hits, if it hits anything. If it doesn't, it falls to the ground.
    – Daniel Zastoupil
    2 hours ago















Are you saying that Catapult can utilize multiple objects? If so, can you support that?
– NautArch
3 hours ago





Are you saying that Catapult can utilize multiple objects? If so, can you support that?
– NautArch
3 hours ago













no and yes. i am saying you can use a bag containing items.
– Dinomaster
2 hours ago




no and yes. i am saying you can use a bag containing items.
– Dinomaster
2 hours ago












I think you've got the start of a good answer, but I think including more on how to consider adjudicating a collection of objects would work would make it a great answer. I fully understand not wanting to go down that rabbit hole, but it would be helpful to discuss how/how not doing this might increase the effectiveness of the spell beyond original intent.
– NautArch
2 hours ago




I think you've got the start of a good answer, but I think including more on how to consider adjudicating a collection of objects would work would make it a great answer. I fully understand not wanting to go down that rabbit hole, but it would be helpful to discuss how/how not doing this might increase the effectiveness of the spell beyond original intent.
– NautArch
2 hours ago












I'm also not sure I fully understand the Bag of Holding example and it's direct relevance. But I do agree that a bag of stuff that weights a total of 3.5lbs is 3.5 lbs and valid.
– NautArch
2 hours ago




I'm also not sure I fully understand the Bag of Holding example and it's direct relevance. But I do agree that a bag of stuff that weights a total of 3.5lbs is 3.5 lbs and valid.
– NautArch
2 hours ago












The bottle breaking is almost explicit. Catapult does 3d8 damage to both the object and anything it hits, if it hits anything. If it doesn't, it falls to the ground.
– Daniel Zastoupil
2 hours ago




The bottle breaking is almost explicit. Catapult does 3d8 damage to both the object and anything it hits, if it hits anything. If it doesn't, it falls to the ground.
– Daniel Zastoupil
2 hours ago

















 

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