Mixing
Can I cast Darkness in my mouth so I can turn it on/off each round without having to use an action?
Clash Royale CLAN TAG#URR8PPP
up vote
3
down vote
favorite
Playing a 5e game and I had the idea of casting Darkness in my mouth, or on a small rock that I then place in my mouth.
At the start of each of my turns, I close my mouth. This obscures the darkness giving my character full visual site during their turn. Then at the end of my turn I open my mouth obscuring the character in complete Darkness.
This presumes a character could open and close their mouth as free actions during their turn. And since they can speak freely, under normal circumstances, I don't see why this wouldn't be allowed. Other than it feels spell breaking, in that it becomes OP in a way probably unintended.
And the idea of casting the spell the rock is so that you could also spit the rock out on the ground and keep moving. Or spit the rock into your hand and throw it in a cardinal direction.
I think it would also be fun if during this time when my mouth is closed to obscure the darkness, I'm not able to speak more than a mumble IRL to the other players.
I'm going to bring this up with my DM before attempting it, but I wanted to get some thoughts on the concept first. Am I missing anything obvious?
dnd-5e spells combat
asked 58 mins ago
Bryan Casler
1162
New contributor
Bryan Casler is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
add a comment |Â
up vote
3
down vote
favorite
Playing a 5e game and I had the idea of casting Darkness in my mouth, or on a small rock that I then place in my mouth.
At the start of each of my turns, I close my mouth. This obscures the darkness giving my character full visual site during their turn. Then at the end of my turn I open my mouth obscuring the character in complete Darkness.
This presumes a character could open and close their mouth as free actions during their turn. And since they can speak freely, under normal circumstances, I don't see why this wouldn't be allowed. Other than it feels spell breaking, in that it becomes OP in a way probably unintended.
And the idea of casting the spell the rock is so that you could also spit the rock out on the ground and keep moving. Or spit the rock into your hand and throw it in a cardinal direction.
I think it would also be fun if during this time when my mouth is closed to obscure the darkness, I'm not able to speak more than a mumble IRL to the other players.
I'm going to bring this up with my DM before attempting it, but I wanted to get some thoughts on the concept first. Am I missing anything obvious?
dnd-5e spells combat
asked 58 mins ago
Bryan Casler
1162
New contributor
Bryan Casler is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
Possible duplicate of How do I deal with players persistently arguing for rules loopholes, even after I've tried to finalise my rulings?
– sevenbrokenbricks
8 mins ago
add a comment |Â
up vote
3
down vote
favorite
up vote
3
down vote
favorite
Playing a 5e game and I had the idea of casting Darkness in my mouth, or on a small rock that I then place in my mouth.
At the start of each of my turns, I close my mouth. This obscures the darkness giving my character full visual site during their turn. Then at the end of my turn I open my mouth obscuring the character in complete Darkness.
This presumes a character could open and close their mouth as free actions during their turn. And since they can speak freely, under normal circumstances, I don't see why this wouldn't be allowed. Other than it feels spell breaking, in that it becomes OP in a way probably unintended.
And the idea of casting the spell the rock is so that you could also spit the rock out on the ground and keep moving. Or spit the rock into your hand and throw it in a cardinal direction.
I think it would also be fun if during this time when my mouth is closed to obscure the darkness, I'm not able to speak more than a mumble IRL to the other players.
I'm going to bring this up with my DM before attempting it, but I wanted to get some thoughts on the concept first. Am I missing anything obvious?
dnd-5e spells combat
asked 58 mins ago
Bryan Casler
1162
New contributor
Bryan Casler is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
Playing a 5e game and I had the idea of casting Darkness in my mouth, or on a small rock that I then place in my mouth.
At the start of each of my turns, I close my mouth. This obscures the darkness giving my character full visual site during their turn. Then at the end of my turn I open my mouth obscuring the character in complete Darkness.
This presumes a character could open and close their mouth as free actions during their turn. And since they can speak freely, under normal circumstances, I don't see why this wouldn't be allowed. Other than it feels spell breaking, in that it becomes OP in a way probably unintended.
And the idea of casting the spell the rock is so that you could also spit the rock out on the ground and keep moving. Or spit the rock into your hand and throw it in a cardinal direction.
I think it would also be fun if during this time when my mouth is closed to obscure the darkness, I'm not able to speak more than a mumble IRL to the other players.
I'm going to bring this up with my DM before attempting it, but I wanted to get some thoughts on the concept first. Am I missing anything obvious?
dnd-5e spells combat
dnd-5e spells combat
asked 58 mins ago
Bryan Casler
1162
New contributor
Bryan Casler is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
asked 58 mins ago
Bryan Casler
1162
New contributor
Bryan Casler is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
edited 49 mins ago
asked 58 mins ago
Bryan Casler
1162
New contributor
Bryan Casler is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
asked 58 mins ago
Bryan Casler
1162
asked 58 mins ago
Bryan Casler
1162
1162
New contributor
Bryan Casler is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
New contributor
Bryan Casler is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
Bryan Casler is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
Possible duplicate of How do I deal with players persistently arguing for rules loopholes, even after I've tried to finalise my rulings?
– sevenbrokenbricks
8 mins ago
add a comment |Â
Possible duplicate of How do I deal with players persistently arguing for rules loopholes, even after I've tried to finalise my rulings?
– sevenbrokenbricks
8 mins ago
Possible duplicate of How do I deal with players persistently arguing for rules loopholes, even after I've tried to finalise my rulings?
– sevenbrokenbricks
8 mins ago
Possible duplicate of How do I deal with players persistently arguing for rules loopholes, even after I've tried to finalise my rulings?
– sevenbrokenbricks
8 mins ago
add a comment |Â
4 Answers
4
active
oldest
votes
up vote
8
down vote
This Would Not Work
...but not because of the way the Darkness spell works.
This wouldn't work because of an issue with the way combat happens. Combat is taken in turns, but it doesn't actually happen in turns. Mechanically, only because of how hard it is to actually do otherwise, combat is consecutive, but in actuality, combat is simultaneous.
Everyone is supposed to be fighting and defending at the same time, just your reaction times are different. Which means that open and closing your mouth during your turn won't actually do anything, since everyone else is attacking and defending during the same period of time as well. All that would happen is that there would be a strobe effect in the middle of you trying to kill each other.
answered 26 mins ago
Warley
892
New contributor
Warley is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
This is the type of answer I was looking for. Thank you. Going to mull this over for a bit.
– Bryan Casler
19 mins ago
add a comment |Â
up vote
1
down vote
This would violate the Object Interaction Rules
In 5th Edition D&D, you're granted 1 free object interaction per turn, limited to only simple interactions. Opening your mouth probably counts (to make the object visible) and closing it probably also counts (to make it obscured) but doing both in the same turn would require you to use the Use an Object Action.
It might seem strange, but mechanically, it's not requiring (substantially) more effort than lifting said rock out of your pocket + putting it back.
A Thief archetype Rogue might have an easier time of it
Thief Archetype Rogues gain the Fast Hands feature at level 3, permitting them to perform the Use an Object Action as a Bonus Action instead. So theoretically, as a Thief Rogue (multiclassed with whatever class gives you Spellcasting abilities), you could
- Close your mouth (Free Object Interaction)
- Cast a Spell or make an Attack (Action)
- Open your mouth (Bonus Action)
You could also do something less disgusting, like putting the rock inside a latched box that you then open + close using this sequence.
Some DMs are particular about the Simultaneity of Combat
Because the separation of combat into distinct "turns" is meant to be an abstraction of real-time combat, some DMs interpret this as meaning that it's not possible to meaningfully "strobe" an effect like this without some delayed interaction (i.e. a Reaction used on someone else's turn). The degree to which this is RAW is hotly contested, but this is a common interpretation of the rules.
So as a result, some DMs may rule that this is what actually happens:
- You close your mouth (Free Object Interaction)
- The Darkness effect may or may not vanish, depending on what happens before your turn ends
- You make an attack or cast a spell. If you open your mouth later in this turn, the attack is made with Disadvantage, or the spell must not require visibility of the target
If you open your mouth the Darkness effect doesn't vanish.
If you instead choose not to open your mouth, the Darkness effect does vanish (becomes obscured by your mouth) at the time you close your mouth (???)
Again: I am not certain that is a RAW ruling. I'm just informing you that that is a ruling many DMs make.
Human[oid] biology is disgusting
Strictly RAW, the Darkness effect spreads around corners, and so long as there is an unbroken path to all points within its radius, the Darkness spreads to that point. So some DMs may rule that the inside of your mouth (which is connected to your nostrils, even your ears to a degree, through your windpipe...) does not adequately obscure the Darkness effect. This may vary depending on the creature's race, but 5e doesn't describe in precise detail how the anatomy of other Humanoid races vary from the anatomy of humans.
answered 11 mins ago
Xirema
10.1k13168
add a comment |Â
up vote
1
down vote
Inside your mouth is not a legal target
Only points in space or objects are legal targets for darkness — since the inside of your mouth is part of you (a creature), you can’t cast it there.
You could fix the targeting by casting it on a marble or similar that you could place in your mouth after the casting, but then you have the problem that your mouth is unlikely to count as “opaque†by any of its senses except the irrelevant one that describes an object’s shininess:
opaque, adjective
- not transparent or translucent; impenetrable to light; not allowing light to pass through.
- not transmitting radiation, sound, heat, etc.
- not shining or bright; dark; dull.
As a way to get a “free†(and therefore infinitely-usable per turn) toggle control on darkness, it’s highly questionable.
How to toggle darkness for cheap, but not free
You have one item interaction per turn that won’t cost an action. Any scheme for toggling darkness will use that.
Put your marble secured in the bottom of a small light-tight box tied to your belt; use your free item interaction to flip it open or closed.
That’s as big as this exploit really gets, and it’s not that powerful.
answered 7 mins ago
SevenSidedDie♦
201k26639919
add a comment |Â
up vote
-1
down vote
I don't think it would work, at least for most races. Per the Darkness spell:
Completely covering the source of the darkness with an opaque object, such as a bowl or a helm, blocks the darkness.
Oral cavities are not opaque (try putting a flashlight in your mouth), and I'd extend that to all normal player races. I could see this working with, say, a stone golem.
answered 44 mins ago
mech
1,6701119
By extension, then, putting a rock on which darkness has been cast into one's mouth means that the magical darkness continues emanating from the rock through its (presumably) human container, making it at least difficult for foes to access the source of the darkness. Correct?
– Hey I Can Chan
27 mins ago
Maybe this should be a separate question, but does the mouth count as an object?
– Ling
22 mins ago
@mech, That's a good point, there could definitely be a conversation about what is and an isn't opaque. I would say that if you can't see through it, it's not opaque. And as a practical test, could anyone from the outside tell how dark it is in another persons mouth? And if they can't differentiate then it's opaque to their visual perception. A way around also might be to craft something opaque that can be held in the mouth. Or just keep some ink on hand to swish around?
– Bryan Casler
21 mins ago
@Ling, Maybe the person is the object and their mouth just a part of the object?
– Bryan Casler
20 mins ago
If you want to be super technical, the spell does read: "The darkness spreads around corners." It could be argued that the darkness will wrap around into your sinus passages and out your nose. Now you've got to plug your nose to do it. Not that holding your breath during strenuous activity is remotely challenging in 5e.
– Bacon Bits
19 mins ago
 |Â
show 2 more comments
4 Answers
4
active
oldest
votes
4 Answers
4
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
up vote
8
down vote
This Would Not Work
...but not because of the way the Darkness spell works.
This wouldn't work because of an issue with the way combat happens. Combat is taken in turns, but it doesn't actually happen in turns. Mechanically, only because of how hard it is to actually do otherwise, combat is consecutive, but in actuality, combat is simultaneous.
Everyone is supposed to be fighting and defending at the same time, just your reaction times are different. Which means that open and closing your mouth during your turn won't actually do anything, since everyone else is attacking and defending during the same period of time as well. All that would happen is that there would be a strobe effect in the middle of you trying to kill each other.
answered 26 mins ago
Warley
892
New contributor
Warley is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
This is the type of answer I was looking for. Thank you. Going to mull this over for a bit.
– Bryan Casler
19 mins ago
add a comment |Â
up vote
8
down vote
This Would Not Work
...but not because of the way the Darkness spell works.
This wouldn't work because of an issue with the way combat happens. Combat is taken in turns, but it doesn't actually happen in turns. Mechanically, only because of how hard it is to actually do otherwise, combat is consecutive, but in actuality, combat is simultaneous.
Everyone is supposed to be fighting and defending at the same time, just your reaction times are different. Which means that open and closing your mouth during your turn won't actually do anything, since everyone else is attacking and defending during the same period of time as well. All that would happen is that there would be a strobe effect in the middle of you trying to kill each other.
answered 26 mins ago
Warley
892
New contributor
Warley is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
This is the type of answer I was looking for. Thank you. Going to mull this over for a bit.
– Bryan Casler
19 mins ago
add a comment |Â
up vote
8
down vote
up vote
8
down vote
This Would Not Work
...but not because of the way the Darkness spell works.
This wouldn't work because of an issue with the way combat happens. Combat is taken in turns, but it doesn't actually happen in turns. Mechanically, only because of how hard it is to actually do otherwise, combat is consecutive, but in actuality, combat is simultaneous.
Everyone is supposed to be fighting and defending at the same time, just your reaction times are different. Which means that open and closing your mouth during your turn won't actually do anything, since everyone else is attacking and defending during the same period of time as well. All that would happen is that there would be a strobe effect in the middle of you trying to kill each other.
answered 26 mins ago
Warley
892
New contributor
Warley is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
This Would Not Work
...but not because of the way the Darkness spell works.
This wouldn't work because of an issue with the way combat happens. Combat is taken in turns, but it doesn't actually happen in turns. Mechanically, only because of how hard it is to actually do otherwise, combat is consecutive, but in actuality, combat is simultaneous.
Everyone is supposed to be fighting and defending at the same time, just your reaction times are different. Which means that open and closing your mouth during your turn won't actually do anything, since everyone else is attacking and defending during the same period of time as well. All that would happen is that there would be a strobe effect in the middle of you trying to kill each other.
answered 26 mins ago
Warley
892
New contributor
Warley is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
answered 26 mins ago
Warley
892
New contributor
Warley is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
answered 26 mins ago
Warley
892
answered 26 mins ago
Warley
892
892
New contributor
Warley is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
New contributor
Warley is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
Warley is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
This is the type of answer I was looking for. Thank you. Going to mull this over for a bit.
– Bryan Casler
19 mins ago
add a comment |Â
This is the type of answer I was looking for. Thank you. Going to mull this over for a bit.
– Bryan Casler
19 mins ago
This is the type of answer I was looking for. Thank you. Going to mull this over for a bit.
– Bryan Casler
19 mins ago
This is the type of answer I was looking for. Thank you. Going to mull this over for a bit.
– Bryan Casler
19 mins ago
add a comment |Â
up vote
1
down vote
This would violate the Object Interaction Rules
In 5th Edition D&D, you're granted 1 free object interaction per turn, limited to only simple interactions. Opening your mouth probably counts (to make the object visible) and closing it probably also counts (to make it obscured) but doing both in the same turn would require you to use the Use an Object Action.
It might seem strange, but mechanically, it's not requiring (substantially) more effort than lifting said rock out of your pocket + putting it back.
A Thief archetype Rogue might have an easier time of it
Thief Archetype Rogues gain the Fast Hands feature at level 3, permitting them to perform the Use an Object Action as a Bonus Action instead. So theoretically, as a Thief Rogue (multiclassed with whatever class gives you Spellcasting abilities), you could
- Close your mouth (Free Object Interaction)
- Cast a Spell or make an Attack (Action)
- Open your mouth (Bonus Action)
You could also do something less disgusting, like putting the rock inside a latched box that you then open + close using this sequence.
Some DMs are particular about the Simultaneity of Combat
Because the separation of combat into distinct "turns" is meant to be an abstraction of real-time combat, some DMs interpret this as meaning that it's not possible to meaningfully "strobe" an effect like this without some delayed interaction (i.e. a Reaction used on someone else's turn). The degree to which this is RAW is hotly contested, but this is a common interpretation of the rules.
So as a result, some DMs may rule that this is what actually happens:
- You close your mouth (Free Object Interaction)
- The Darkness effect may or may not vanish, depending on what happens before your turn ends
- You make an attack or cast a spell. If you open your mouth later in this turn, the attack is made with Disadvantage, or the spell must not require visibility of the target
If you open your mouth the Darkness effect doesn't vanish.
If you instead choose not to open your mouth, the Darkness effect does vanish (becomes obscured by your mouth) at the time you close your mouth (???)
Again: I am not certain that is a RAW ruling. I'm just informing you that that is a ruling many DMs make.
Human[oid] biology is disgusting
Strictly RAW, the Darkness effect spreads around corners, and so long as there is an unbroken path to all points within its radius, the Darkness spreads to that point. So some DMs may rule that the inside of your mouth (which is connected to your nostrils, even your ears to a degree, through your windpipe...) does not adequately obscure the Darkness effect. This may vary depending on the creature's race, but 5e doesn't describe in precise detail how the anatomy of other Humanoid races vary from the anatomy of humans.
answered 11 mins ago
Xirema
10.1k13168
add a comment |Â
up vote
1
down vote
This would violate the Object Interaction Rules
In 5th Edition D&D, you're granted 1 free object interaction per turn, limited to only simple interactions. Opening your mouth probably counts (to make the object visible) and closing it probably also counts (to make it obscured) but doing both in the same turn would require you to use the Use an Object Action.
It might seem strange, but mechanically, it's not requiring (substantially) more effort than lifting said rock out of your pocket + putting it back.
A Thief archetype Rogue might have an easier time of it
Thief Archetype Rogues gain the Fast Hands feature at level 3, permitting them to perform the Use an Object Action as a Bonus Action instead. So theoretically, as a Thief Rogue (multiclassed with whatever class gives you Spellcasting abilities), you could
- Close your mouth (Free Object Interaction)
- Cast a Spell or make an Attack (Action)
- Open your mouth (Bonus Action)
You could also do something less disgusting, like putting the rock inside a latched box that you then open + close using this sequence.
Some DMs are particular about the Simultaneity of Combat
Because the separation of combat into distinct "turns" is meant to be an abstraction of real-time combat, some DMs interpret this as meaning that it's not possible to meaningfully "strobe" an effect like this without some delayed interaction (i.e. a Reaction used on someone else's turn). The degree to which this is RAW is hotly contested, but this is a common interpretation of the rules.
So as a result, some DMs may rule that this is what actually happens:
- You close your mouth (Free Object Interaction)
- The Darkness effect may or may not vanish, depending on what happens before your turn ends
- You make an attack or cast a spell. If you open your mouth later in this turn, the attack is made with Disadvantage, or the spell must not require visibility of the target
If you open your mouth the Darkness effect doesn't vanish.
If you instead choose not to open your mouth, the Darkness effect does vanish (becomes obscured by your mouth) at the time you close your mouth (???)
Again: I am not certain that is a RAW ruling. I'm just informing you that that is a ruling many DMs make.
Human[oid] biology is disgusting
Strictly RAW, the Darkness effect spreads around corners, and so long as there is an unbroken path to all points within its radius, the Darkness spreads to that point. So some DMs may rule that the inside of your mouth (which is connected to your nostrils, even your ears to a degree, through your windpipe...) does not adequately obscure the Darkness effect. This may vary depending on the creature's race, but 5e doesn't describe in precise detail how the anatomy of other Humanoid races vary from the anatomy of humans.
answered 11 mins ago
Xirema
10.1k13168
add a comment |Â
up vote
1
down vote
up vote
1
down vote
This would violate the Object Interaction Rules
In 5th Edition D&D, you're granted 1 free object interaction per turn, limited to only simple interactions. Opening your mouth probably counts (to make the object visible) and closing it probably also counts (to make it obscured) but doing both in the same turn would require you to use the Use an Object Action.
It might seem strange, but mechanically, it's not requiring (substantially) more effort than lifting said rock out of your pocket + putting it back.
A Thief archetype Rogue might have an easier time of it
Thief Archetype Rogues gain the Fast Hands feature at level 3, permitting them to perform the Use an Object Action as a Bonus Action instead. So theoretically, as a Thief Rogue (multiclassed with whatever class gives you Spellcasting abilities), you could
- Close your mouth (Free Object Interaction)
- Cast a Spell or make an Attack (Action)
- Open your mouth (Bonus Action)
You could also do something less disgusting, like putting the rock inside a latched box that you then open + close using this sequence.
Some DMs are particular about the Simultaneity of Combat
Because the separation of combat into distinct "turns" is meant to be an abstraction of real-time combat, some DMs interpret this as meaning that it's not possible to meaningfully "strobe" an effect like this without some delayed interaction (i.e. a Reaction used on someone else's turn). The degree to which this is RAW is hotly contested, but this is a common interpretation of the rules.
So as a result, some DMs may rule that this is what actually happens:
- You close your mouth (Free Object Interaction)
- The Darkness effect may or may not vanish, depending on what happens before your turn ends
- You make an attack or cast a spell. If you open your mouth later in this turn, the attack is made with Disadvantage, or the spell must not require visibility of the target
If you open your mouth the Darkness effect doesn't vanish.
If you instead choose not to open your mouth, the Darkness effect does vanish (becomes obscured by your mouth) at the time you close your mouth (???)
Again: I am not certain that is a RAW ruling. I'm just informing you that that is a ruling many DMs make.
Human[oid] biology is disgusting
Strictly RAW, the Darkness effect spreads around corners, and so long as there is an unbroken path to all points within its radius, the Darkness spreads to that point. So some DMs may rule that the inside of your mouth (which is connected to your nostrils, even your ears to a degree, through your windpipe...) does not adequately obscure the Darkness effect. This may vary depending on the creature's race, but 5e doesn't describe in precise detail how the anatomy of other Humanoid races vary from the anatomy of humans.
answered 11 mins ago
Xirema
10.1k13168
This would violate the Object Interaction Rules
In 5th Edition D&D, you're granted 1 free object interaction per turn, limited to only simple interactions. Opening your mouth probably counts (to make the object visible) and closing it probably also counts (to make it obscured) but doing both in the same turn would require you to use the Use an Object Action.
It might seem strange, but mechanically, it's not requiring (substantially) more effort than lifting said rock out of your pocket + putting it back.
A Thief archetype Rogue might have an easier time of it
Thief Archetype Rogues gain the Fast Hands feature at level 3, permitting them to perform the Use an Object Action as a Bonus Action instead. So theoretically, as a Thief Rogue (multiclassed with whatever class gives you Spellcasting abilities), you could
- Close your mouth (Free Object Interaction)
- Cast a Spell or make an Attack (Action)
- Open your mouth (Bonus Action)
You could also do something less disgusting, like putting the rock inside a latched box that you then open + close using this sequence.
Some DMs are particular about the Simultaneity of Combat
Because the separation of combat into distinct "turns" is meant to be an abstraction of real-time combat, some DMs interpret this as meaning that it's not possible to meaningfully "strobe" an effect like this without some delayed interaction (i.e. a Reaction used on someone else's turn). The degree to which this is RAW is hotly contested, but this is a common interpretation of the rules.
So as a result, some DMs may rule that this is what actually happens:
- You close your mouth (Free Object Interaction)
- The Darkness effect may or may not vanish, depending on what happens before your turn ends
- You make an attack or cast a spell. If you open your mouth later in this turn, the attack is made with Disadvantage, or the spell must not require visibility of the target
If you open your mouth the Darkness effect doesn't vanish.
If you instead choose not to open your mouth, the Darkness effect does vanish (becomes obscured by your mouth) at the time you close your mouth (???)
Again: I am not certain that is a RAW ruling. I'm just informing you that that is a ruling many DMs make.
Human[oid] biology is disgusting
Strictly RAW, the Darkness effect spreads around corners, and so long as there is an unbroken path to all points within its radius, the Darkness spreads to that point. So some DMs may rule that the inside of your mouth (which is connected to your nostrils, even your ears to a degree, through your windpipe...) does not adequately obscure the Darkness effect. This may vary depending on the creature's race, but 5e doesn't describe in precise detail how the anatomy of other Humanoid races vary from the anatomy of humans.
answered 11 mins ago
Xirema
10.1k13168
answered 11 mins ago
Xirema
10.1k13168
answered 11 mins ago
Xirema
10.1k13168
answered 11 mins ago
Xirema
10.1k13168
10.1k13168
add a comment |Â
add a comment |Â
up vote
1
down vote
Inside your mouth is not a legal target
Only points in space or objects are legal targets for darkness — since the inside of your mouth is part of you (a creature), you can’t cast it there.
You could fix the targeting by casting it on a marble or similar that you could place in your mouth after the casting, but then you have the problem that your mouth is unlikely to count as “opaque†by any of its senses except the irrelevant one that describes an object’s shininess:
opaque, adjective
- not transparent or translucent; impenetrable to light; not allowing light to pass through.
- not transmitting radiation, sound, heat, etc.
- not shining or bright; dark; dull.
As a way to get a “free†(and therefore infinitely-usable per turn) toggle control on darkness, it’s highly questionable.
How to toggle darkness for cheap, but not free
You have one item interaction per turn that won’t cost an action. Any scheme for toggling darkness will use that.
Put your marble secured in the bottom of a small light-tight box tied to your belt; use your free item interaction to flip it open or closed.
That’s as big as this exploit really gets, and it’s not that powerful.
answered 7 mins ago
SevenSidedDie♦
201k26639919
add a comment |Â
up vote
1
down vote
Inside your mouth is not a legal target
Only points in space or objects are legal targets for darkness — since the inside of your mouth is part of you (a creature), you can’t cast it there.
You could fix the targeting by casting it on a marble or similar that you could place in your mouth after the casting, but then you have the problem that your mouth is unlikely to count as “opaque†by any of its senses except the irrelevant one that describes an object’s shininess:
opaque, adjective
- not transparent or translucent; impenetrable to light; not allowing light to pass through.
- not transmitting radiation, sound, heat, etc.
- not shining or bright; dark; dull.
As a way to get a “free†(and therefore infinitely-usable per turn) toggle control on darkness, it’s highly questionable.
How to toggle darkness for cheap, but not free
You have one item interaction per turn that won’t cost an action. Any scheme for toggling darkness will use that.
Put your marble secured in the bottom of a small light-tight box tied to your belt; use your free item interaction to flip it open or closed.
That’s as big as this exploit really gets, and it’s not that powerful.
answered 7 mins ago
SevenSidedDie♦
201k26639919
add a comment |Â
up vote
1
down vote
up vote
1
down vote
Inside your mouth is not a legal target
Only points in space or objects are legal targets for darkness — since the inside of your mouth is part of you (a creature), you can’t cast it there.
You could fix the targeting by casting it on a marble or similar that you could place in your mouth after the casting, but then you have the problem that your mouth is unlikely to count as “opaque†by any of its senses except the irrelevant one that describes an object’s shininess:
opaque, adjective
- not transparent or translucent; impenetrable to light; not allowing light to pass through.
- not transmitting radiation, sound, heat, etc.
- not shining or bright; dark; dull.
As a way to get a “free†(and therefore infinitely-usable per turn) toggle control on darkness, it’s highly questionable.
How to toggle darkness for cheap, but not free
You have one item interaction per turn that won’t cost an action. Any scheme for toggling darkness will use that.
Put your marble secured in the bottom of a small light-tight box tied to your belt; use your free item interaction to flip it open or closed.
That’s as big as this exploit really gets, and it’s not that powerful.
answered 7 mins ago
SevenSidedDie♦
201k26639919
Inside your mouth is not a legal target
Only points in space or objects are legal targets for darkness — since the inside of your mouth is part of you (a creature), you can’t cast it there.
You could fix the targeting by casting it on a marble or similar that you could place in your mouth after the casting, but then you have the problem that your mouth is unlikely to count as “opaque†by any of its senses except the irrelevant one that describes an object’s shininess:
opaque, adjective
- not transparent or translucent; impenetrable to light; not allowing light to pass through.
- not transmitting radiation, sound, heat, etc.
- not shining or bright; dark; dull.
As a way to get a “free†(and therefore infinitely-usable per turn) toggle control on darkness, it’s highly questionable.
How to toggle darkness for cheap, but not free
You have one item interaction per turn that won’t cost an action. Any scheme for toggling darkness will use that.
Put your marble secured in the bottom of a small light-tight box tied to your belt; use your free item interaction to flip it open or closed.
That’s as big as this exploit really gets, and it’s not that powerful.
answered 7 mins ago
SevenSidedDie♦
201k26639919
answered 7 mins ago
SevenSidedDie♦
201k26639919
answered 7 mins ago
SevenSidedDie♦
201k26639919
answered 7 mins ago
SevenSidedDie♦
201k26639919
201k26639919
add a comment |Â
add a comment |Â
up vote
-1
down vote
I don't think it would work, at least for most races. Per the Darkness spell:
Completely covering the source of the darkness with an opaque object, such as a bowl or a helm, blocks the darkness.
Oral cavities are not opaque (try putting a flashlight in your mouth), and I'd extend that to all normal player races. I could see this working with, say, a stone golem.
answered 44 mins ago
mech
1,6701119
By extension, then, putting a rock on which darkness has been cast into one's mouth means that the magical darkness continues emanating from the rock through its (presumably) human container, making it at least difficult for foes to access the source of the darkness. Correct?
– Hey I Can Chan
27 mins ago
Maybe this should be a separate question, but does the mouth count as an object?
– Ling
22 mins ago
@mech, That's a good point, there could definitely be a conversation about what is and an isn't opaque. I would say that if you can't see through it, it's not opaque. And as a practical test, could anyone from the outside tell how dark it is in another persons mouth? And if they can't differentiate then it's opaque to their visual perception. A way around also might be to craft something opaque that can be held in the mouth. Or just keep some ink on hand to swish around?
– Bryan Casler
21 mins ago
@Ling, Maybe the person is the object and their mouth just a part of the object?
– Bryan Casler
20 mins ago
If you want to be super technical, the spell does read: "The darkness spreads around corners." It could be argued that the darkness will wrap around into your sinus passages and out your nose. Now you've got to plug your nose to do it. Not that holding your breath during strenuous activity is remotely challenging in 5e.
– Bacon Bits
19 mins ago
 |Â
show 2 more comments
up vote
-1
down vote
I don't think it would work, at least for most races. Per the Darkness spell:
Completely covering the source of the darkness with an opaque object, such as a bowl or a helm, blocks the darkness.
Oral cavities are not opaque (try putting a flashlight in your mouth), and I'd extend that to all normal player races. I could see this working with, say, a stone golem.
answered 44 mins ago
mech
1,6701119
By extension, then, putting a rock on which darkness has been cast into one's mouth means that the magical darkness continues emanating from the rock through its (presumably) human container, making it at least difficult for foes to access the source of the darkness. Correct?
– Hey I Can Chan
27 mins ago
Maybe this should be a separate question, but does the mouth count as an object?
– Ling
22 mins ago
@mech, That's a good point, there could definitely be a conversation about what is and an isn't opaque. I would say that if you can't see through it, it's not opaque. And as a practical test, could anyone from the outside tell how dark it is in another persons mouth? And if they can't differentiate then it's opaque to their visual perception. A way around also might be to craft something opaque that can be held in the mouth. Or just keep some ink on hand to swish around?
– Bryan Casler
21 mins ago
@Ling, Maybe the person is the object and their mouth just a part of the object?
– Bryan Casler
20 mins ago
If you want to be super technical, the spell does read: "The darkness spreads around corners." It could be argued that the darkness will wrap around into your sinus passages and out your nose. Now you've got to plug your nose to do it. Not that holding your breath during strenuous activity is remotely challenging in 5e.
– Bacon Bits
19 mins ago
 |Â
show 2 more comments
up vote
-1
down vote
up vote
-1
down vote
I don't think it would work, at least for most races. Per the Darkness spell:
Completely covering the source of the darkness with an opaque object, such as a bowl or a helm, blocks the darkness.
Oral cavities are not opaque (try putting a flashlight in your mouth), and I'd extend that to all normal player races. I could see this working with, say, a stone golem.
answered 44 mins ago
mech
1,6701119
I don't think it would work, at least for most races. Per the Darkness spell:
Completely covering the source of the darkness with an opaque object, such as a bowl or a helm, blocks the darkness.
Oral cavities are not opaque (try putting a flashlight in your mouth), and I'd extend that to all normal player races. I could see this working with, say, a stone golem.
answered 44 mins ago
mech
1,6701119
answered 44 mins ago
mech
1,6701119
answered 44 mins ago
mech
1,6701119
answered 44 mins ago
mech
1,6701119
1,6701119
By extension, then, putting a rock on which darkness has been cast into one's mouth means that the magical darkness continues emanating from the rock through its (presumably) human container, making it at least difficult for foes to access the source of the darkness. Correct?
– Hey I Can Chan
27 mins ago
Maybe this should be a separate question, but does the mouth count as an object?
– Ling
22 mins ago
@mech, That's a good point, there could definitely be a conversation about what is and an isn't opaque. I would say that if you can't see through it, it's not opaque. And as a practical test, could anyone from the outside tell how dark it is in another persons mouth? And if they can't differentiate then it's opaque to their visual perception. A way around also might be to craft something opaque that can be held in the mouth. Or just keep some ink on hand to swish around?
– Bryan Casler
21 mins ago
@Ling, Maybe the person is the object and their mouth just a part of the object?
– Bryan Casler
20 mins ago
If you want to be super technical, the spell does read: "The darkness spreads around corners." It could be argued that the darkness will wrap around into your sinus passages and out your nose. Now you've got to plug your nose to do it. Not that holding your breath during strenuous activity is remotely challenging in 5e.
– Bacon Bits
19 mins ago
 |Â
show 2 more comments
By extension, then, putting a rock on which darkness has been cast into one's mouth means that the magical darkness continues emanating from the rock through its (presumably) human container, making it at least difficult for foes to access the source of the darkness. Correct?
– Hey I Can Chan
27 mins ago
Maybe this should be a separate question, but does the mouth count as an object?
– Ling
22 mins ago
@mech, That's a good point, there could definitely be a conversation about what is and an isn't opaque. I would say that if you can't see through it, it's not opaque. And as a practical test, could anyone from the outside tell how dark it is in another persons mouth? And if they can't differentiate then it's opaque to their visual perception. A way around also might be to craft something opaque that can be held in the mouth. Or just keep some ink on hand to swish around?
– Bryan Casler
21 mins ago
@Ling, Maybe the person is the object and their mouth just a part of the object?
– Bryan Casler
20 mins ago
If you want to be super technical, the spell does read: "The darkness spreads around corners." It could be argued that the darkness will wrap around into your sinus passages and out your nose. Now you've got to plug your nose to do it. Not that holding your breath during strenuous activity is remotely challenging in 5e.
– Bacon Bits
19 mins ago
By extension, then, putting a rock on which darkness has been cast into one's mouth means that the magical darkness continues emanating from the rock through its (presumably) human container, making it at least difficult for foes to access the source of the darkness. Correct?
– Hey I Can Chan
27 mins ago
By extension, then, putting a rock on which darkness has been cast into one's mouth means that the magical darkness continues emanating from the rock through its (presumably) human container, making it at least difficult for foes to access the source of the darkness. Correct?
– Hey I Can Chan
27 mins ago
Maybe this should be a separate question, but does the mouth count as an object?
– Ling
22 mins ago
Maybe this should be a separate question, but does the mouth count as an object?
– Ling
22 mins ago
@mech, That's a good point, there could definitely be a conversation about what is and an isn't opaque. I would say that if you can't see through it, it's not opaque. And as a practical test, could anyone from the outside tell how dark it is in another persons mouth? And if they can't differentiate then it's opaque to their visual perception. A way around also might be to craft something opaque that can be held in the mouth. Or just keep some ink on hand to swish around?
– Bryan Casler
21 mins ago
@mech, That's a good point, there could definitely be a conversation about what is and an isn't opaque. I would say that if you can't see through it, it's not opaque. And as a practical test, could anyone from the outside tell how dark it is in another persons mouth? And if they can't differentiate then it's opaque to their visual perception. A way around also might be to craft something opaque that can be held in the mouth. Or just keep some ink on hand to swish around?
– Bryan Casler
21 mins ago
@Ling, Maybe the person is the object and their mouth just a part of the object?
– Bryan Casler
20 mins ago
@Ling, Maybe the person is the object and their mouth just a part of the object?
– Bryan Casler
20 mins ago
If you want to be super technical, the spell does read: "The darkness spreads around corners." It could be argued that the darkness will wrap around into your sinus passages and out your nose. Now you've got to plug your nose to do it. Not that holding your breath during strenuous activity is remotely challenging in 5e.
– Bacon Bits
19 mins ago
If you want to be super technical, the spell does read: "The darkness spreads around corners." It could be argued that the darkness will wrap around into your sinus passages and out your nose. Now you've got to plug your nose to do it. Not that holding your breath during strenuous activity is remotely challenging in 5e.
– Bacon Bits
19 mins ago
 |Â
show 2 more comments
Bryan Casler is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.
Bryan Casler is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.
Bryan Casler is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.
Bryan Casler is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.
Sign up or log in
StackExchange.ready(function ()
StackExchange.helpers.onClickDraftSave('#login-link');
);
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Post as a guest
StackExchange.ready(
function ()
StackExchange.openid.initPostLogin('.new-post-login', 'https%3a%2f%2frpg.stackexchange.com%2fquestions%2f134814%2fcan-i-cast-darkness-in-my-mouth-so-i-can-turn-it-on-off-each-round-without-havin%23new-answer', 'question_page');
);
Post as a guest
Sign up or log in
StackExchange.ready(function ()
StackExchange.helpers.onClickDraftSave('#login-link');
);
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Post as a guest
Sign up or log in
StackExchange.ready(function ()
StackExchange.helpers.onClickDraftSave('#login-link');
);
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Post as a guest
Sign up or log in
StackExchange.ready(function ()
StackExchange.helpers.onClickDraftSave('#login-link');
);
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Possible duplicate of How do I deal with players persistently arguing for rules loopholes, even after I've tried to finalise my rulings?
– sevenbrokenbricks
8 mins ago