What counts as “loose earth” for the Mold Earth spell?
$begingroup$
The Mold Earth cantrip offers the following option:
You choose a portion of dirt or stone that you can see within range
and that fits within a 5-foot cube. You manipulate it in one of the
following ways:
- If you target an area of loose earth, you can instantaneously excavate it, move it along the ground, and deposit it up to 5 feet
away. This movement doesn’t have enough force to cause damage.
(plus some other options)
What is loose earth?
For example, which of the following would meet this criteria:
- Top soil of a recently plowed field
- Digging a 10 ft hole in the middle of said same field
- Digging a 10 ft hole with a mixture of dirt, gravel, clay
- Digging a 10 ft hole in a cobblestone road
- Digging a 10 ft hole in solid stone
- Digging a 10 ft hole under the foundation of a building
As an analogy, would it be accurate to say that this spell would work on anything in minecraft that I can use a wooden shovel on (with the exception of snow)?
See also: Is it possible to create a sink hole with mold earth and a portable hole?
dnd-5e spells cantrips
asked Jan 25 at 2:06
CaffeineAddictionCaffeineAddiction
444314
$endgroup$
|
show 5 more comments
$begingroup$
The Mold Earth cantrip offers the following option:
You choose a portion of dirt or stone that you can see within range
and that fits within a 5-foot cube. You manipulate it in one of the
following ways:
- If you target an area of loose earth, you can instantaneously excavate it, move it along the ground, and deposit it up to 5 feet
away. This movement doesn’t have enough force to cause damage.
(plus some other options)
What is loose earth?
For example, which of the following would meet this criteria:
- Top soil of a recently plowed field
- Digging a 10 ft hole in the middle of said same field
- Digging a 10 ft hole with a mixture of dirt, gravel, clay
- Digging a 10 ft hole in a cobblestone road
- Digging a 10 ft hole in solid stone
- Digging a 10 ft hole under the foundation of a building
As an analogy, would it be accurate to say that this spell would work on anything in minecraft that I can use a wooden shovel on (with the exception of snow)?
See also: Is it possible to create a sink hole with mold earth and a portable hole?
dnd-5e spells cantrips
asked Jan 25 at 2:06
CaffeineAddictionCaffeineAddiction
444314
$endgroup$
$begingroup$
I suggest you add your example off digging foundations of a castle to this question, if you want something answered you need to ask for it.
$endgroup$
– linksassin
Jan 25 at 3:58
$begingroup$
@linksassin naw, people will get mad that I asked more than one question
$endgroup$
– CaffeineAddiction
Jan 25 at 4:00
3
$begingroup$
So don't ask two questions. Ask the question you actually want answered. I'm not sure what problems you've had in the past but it's likely that you just haven't been clear with what problem you are actually trying to solve. This is called an XY-problem
$endgroup$
– linksassin
Jan 25 at 4:09
3
$begingroup$
You commented on an answer on the other one that said "move earth can't move foundations" and said it should be on this question. But this question makes no mention of foundations, I would add it as one of the examples if you want it to be considered.
$endgroup$
– linksassin
Jan 25 at 4:22
3
$begingroup$
@Rubiksmoose rpg.meta.stackexchange.com/questions/8746/…
$endgroup$
– CaffeineAddiction
Jan 25 at 13:02
|
show 5 more comments
$begingroup$
The Mold Earth cantrip offers the following option:
You choose a portion of dirt or stone that you can see within range
and that fits within a 5-foot cube. You manipulate it in one of the
following ways:
- If you target an area of loose earth, you can instantaneously excavate it, move it along the ground, and deposit it up to 5 feet
away. This movement doesn’t have enough force to cause damage.
(plus some other options)
What is loose earth?
For example, which of the following would meet this criteria:
- Top soil of a recently plowed field
- Digging a 10 ft hole in the middle of said same field
- Digging a 10 ft hole with a mixture of dirt, gravel, clay
- Digging a 10 ft hole in a cobblestone road
- Digging a 10 ft hole in solid stone
- Digging a 10 ft hole under the foundation of a building
As an analogy, would it be accurate to say that this spell would work on anything in minecraft that I can use a wooden shovel on (with the exception of snow)?
See also: Is it possible to create a sink hole with mold earth and a portable hole?
dnd-5e spells cantrips
asked Jan 25 at 2:06
CaffeineAddictionCaffeineAddiction
444314
$endgroup$
The Mold Earth cantrip offers the following option:
You choose a portion of dirt or stone that you can see within range
and that fits within a 5-foot cube. You manipulate it in one of the
following ways:
- If you target an area of loose earth, you can instantaneously excavate it, move it along the ground, and deposit it up to 5 feet
away. This movement doesn’t have enough force to cause damage.
(plus some other options)
What is loose earth?
For example, which of the following would meet this criteria:
- Top soil of a recently plowed field
- Digging a 10 ft hole in the middle of said same field
- Digging a 10 ft hole with a mixture of dirt, gravel, clay
- Digging a 10 ft hole in a cobblestone road
- Digging a 10 ft hole in solid stone
- Digging a 10 ft hole under the foundation of a building
As an analogy, would it be accurate to say that this spell would work on anything in minecraft that I can use a wooden shovel on (with the exception of snow)?
See also: Is it possible to create a sink hole with mold earth and a portable hole?
dnd-5e spells cantrips
dnd-5e spells cantrips
asked Jan 25 at 2:06
CaffeineAddictionCaffeineAddiction
444314
asked Jan 25 at 2:06
CaffeineAddictionCaffeineAddiction
444314
edited Jan 25 at 16:52
CaffeineAddiction
asked Jan 25 at 2:06
CaffeineAddictionCaffeineAddiction
444314
asked Jan 25 at 2:06
CaffeineAddictionCaffeineAddiction
444314
asked Jan 25 at 2:06
CaffeineAddictionCaffeineAddiction
444314
444314
$begingroup$
I suggest you add your example off digging foundations of a castle to this question, if you want something answered you need to ask for it.
$endgroup$
– linksassin
Jan 25 at 3:58
$begingroup$
@linksassin naw, people will get mad that I asked more than one question
$endgroup$
– CaffeineAddiction
Jan 25 at 4:00
3
$begingroup$
So don't ask two questions. Ask the question you actually want answered. I'm not sure what problems you've had in the past but it's likely that you just haven't been clear with what problem you are actually trying to solve. This is called an XY-problem
$endgroup$
– linksassin
Jan 25 at 4:09
3
$begingroup$
You commented on an answer on the other one that said "move earth can't move foundations" and said it should be on this question. But this question makes no mention of foundations, I would add it as one of the examples if you want it to be considered.
$endgroup$
– linksassin
Jan 25 at 4:22
3
$begingroup$
@Rubiksmoose rpg.meta.stackexchange.com/questions/8746/…
$endgroup$
– CaffeineAddiction
Jan 25 at 13:02
|
show 5 more comments
$begingroup$
I suggest you add your example off digging foundations of a castle to this question, if you want something answered you need to ask for it.
$endgroup$
– linksassin
Jan 25 at 3:58
$begingroup$
@linksassin naw, people will get mad that I asked more than one question
$endgroup$
– CaffeineAddiction
Jan 25 at 4:00
3
$begingroup$
So don't ask two questions. Ask the question you actually want answered. I'm not sure what problems you've had in the past but it's likely that you just haven't been clear with what problem you are actually trying to solve. This is called an XY-problem
$endgroup$
– linksassin
Jan 25 at 4:09
3
$begingroup$
You commented on an answer on the other one that said "move earth can't move foundations" and said it should be on this question. But this question makes no mention of foundations, I would add it as one of the examples if you want it to be considered.
$endgroup$
– linksassin
Jan 25 at 4:22
3
$begingroup$
@Rubiksmoose rpg.meta.stackexchange.com/questions/8746/…
$endgroup$
– CaffeineAddiction
Jan 25 at 13:02
$begingroup$
I suggest you add your example off digging foundations of a castle to this question, if you want something answered you need to ask for it.
$endgroup$
– linksassin
Jan 25 at 3:58
$begingroup$
I suggest you add your example off digging foundations of a castle to this question, if you want something answered you need to ask for it.
$endgroup$
– linksassin
Jan 25 at 3:58
$begingroup$
@linksassin naw, people will get mad that I asked more than one question
$endgroup$
– CaffeineAddiction
Jan 25 at 4:00
$begingroup$
@linksassin naw, people will get mad that I asked more than one question
$endgroup$
– CaffeineAddiction
Jan 25 at 4:00
3
3
$begingroup$
So don't ask two questions. Ask the question you actually want answered. I'm not sure what problems you've had in the past but it's likely that you just haven't been clear with what problem you are actually trying to solve. This is called an XY-problem
$endgroup$
– linksassin
Jan 25 at 4:09
$begingroup$
So don't ask two questions. Ask the question you actually want answered. I'm not sure what problems you've had in the past but it's likely that you just haven't been clear with what problem you are actually trying to solve. This is called an XY-problem
$endgroup$
– linksassin
Jan 25 at 4:09
3
3
$begingroup$
You commented on an answer on the other one that said "move earth can't move foundations" and said it should be on this question. But this question makes no mention of foundations, I would add it as one of the examples if you want it to be considered.
$endgroup$
– linksassin
Jan 25 at 4:22
$begingroup$
You commented on an answer on the other one that said "move earth can't move foundations" and said it should be on this question. But this question makes no mention of foundations, I would add it as one of the examples if you want it to be considered.
$endgroup$
– linksassin
Jan 25 at 4:22
3
3
$begingroup$
@Rubiksmoose rpg.meta.stackexchange.com/questions/8746/…
$endgroup$
– CaffeineAddiction
Jan 25 at 13:02
$begingroup$
@Rubiksmoose rpg.meta.stackexchange.com/questions/8746/…
$endgroup$
– CaffeineAddiction
Jan 25 at 13:02
|
show 5 more comments
2 Answers
2
active
oldest
votes
$begingroup$
Jeremy Crawford has already provided some insight to this:
Think dirt, not stone.
Basically, if you can use a shovel on it, you can use the cantrip.
answered Jan 25 at 2:13
BenBen
10.9k1567135
$endgroup$
$begingroup$
mind commenting on rpg.stackexchange.com/questions/139840/…
$endgroup$
– CaffeineAddiction
Jan 25 at 7:06
$begingroup$
I love JC's short ambiguous answers. Does dirt = sand or salt? Or does he mean soil which would be closer to "dirt" and "earth" definitions?
$endgroup$
– Slagmoth
Jan 25 at 12:38
$begingroup$
Dirt in this case would most likely mean regolith and soil.
$endgroup$
– John
Jan 25 at 14:27
$begingroup$
@Slagmoth Crawford does this enough that I strongly suspect he doesn't actually want to resolve ambiguity. You ask him what exactly move earth can move, and he answers "earth", because that's what the spell description says.
$endgroup$
– Mark Wells
Jan 25 at 16:15
add a comment |
$begingroup$
Ask your DM
You have cited the only rules related to "loose earth" in your question. No further details are given in the spell or in any other rules. When a term is not defined in the rules, it defaults to its idiomatic meaning, which does give us something to go on.
Specifically the word "loose" here implies that this is not solid, restrained, or compacted "earth".
So the answer to
Digging a 10 ft hole in solid stone
Is clearly "no". Stone is not at all loose and would thus not fit the definition.
Jeremy Crawford has also agreed with this assessment with this clarification:
Think dirt, not stone.
On the flip side the answer to
Top soil of a recently plowed field
is clearly "yes". I can't imagine a better example of the idea of "loose earth" than recently tilled soil.
But there is where the clear answers end. All your other examples are going to vary based on how your DM interprets the phrase. How loose does earth need to be to be loose? Can it contain soil and small rocks? Clay?
Only your DM can answer these; the rules give no further guidance.
Example: Foundation of a building
Since you are specifically interested in this use case I will address this directly (even though the answer is the same as the above).
Digging a 10 ft hole under the foundation of a building
There are questions here that are dependent not only on DM interpretation, but the precise situation as well. What material is the building built on? Is it built on solid rock? Loam? Swamp? Is this a massive stone castle or a small wooden shed (which changes how "loose" the stuff under the building is)?
None of these questions are answered by the rules. They are thus left up to the DM.
This is one of the ways 5e is specifically designed. Instead of writing precise definitions to have to account for all the possibilities of using the spell they left it vague so the DM could decide on the most fun interpretation for their group.
answered Jan 25 at 16:20
RubiksmooseRubiksmoose
58k10283430
$endgroup$
$begingroup$
Buildings are not fungible. The earth under a straw hut would not be compacted, but the earth under a 20 foot tall, 5 foot thick castle wall would be. I might even say the earth in a Terrasques footprint would be too compacted, but that's a DM call.
$endgroup$
– MarkTO
Jan 25 at 19:23
$begingroup$
@MarkTO just to be clear, is this a suggestion for me? Because I agree and my answer says as much (or at least I intend it to). Am I being unclear or are you just agreeing with me?
$endgroup$
– Rubiksmoose
Jan 25 at 19:35
add a comment |
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2 Answers
2
active
oldest
votes
2 Answers
2
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
$begingroup$
Jeremy Crawford has already provided some insight to this:
Think dirt, not stone.
Basically, if you can use a shovel on it, you can use the cantrip.
answered Jan 25 at 2:13
BenBen
10.9k1567135
$endgroup$
$begingroup$
mind commenting on rpg.stackexchange.com/questions/139840/…
$endgroup$
– CaffeineAddiction
Jan 25 at 7:06
$begingroup$
I love JC's short ambiguous answers. Does dirt = sand or salt? Or does he mean soil which would be closer to "dirt" and "earth" definitions?
$endgroup$
– Slagmoth
Jan 25 at 12:38
$begingroup$
Dirt in this case would most likely mean regolith and soil.
$endgroup$
– John
Jan 25 at 14:27
$begingroup$
@Slagmoth Crawford does this enough that I strongly suspect he doesn't actually want to resolve ambiguity. You ask him what exactly move earth can move, and he answers "earth", because that's what the spell description says.
$endgroup$
– Mark Wells
Jan 25 at 16:15
add a comment |
$begingroup$
Jeremy Crawford has already provided some insight to this:
Think dirt, not stone.
Basically, if you can use a shovel on it, you can use the cantrip.
answered Jan 25 at 2:13
BenBen
10.9k1567135
$endgroup$
$begingroup$
mind commenting on rpg.stackexchange.com/questions/139840/…
$endgroup$
– CaffeineAddiction
Jan 25 at 7:06
$begingroup$
I love JC's short ambiguous answers. Does dirt = sand or salt? Or does he mean soil which would be closer to "dirt" and "earth" definitions?
$endgroup$
– Slagmoth
Jan 25 at 12:38
$begingroup$
Dirt in this case would most likely mean regolith and soil.
$endgroup$
– John
Jan 25 at 14:27
$begingroup$
@Slagmoth Crawford does this enough that I strongly suspect he doesn't actually want to resolve ambiguity. You ask him what exactly move earth can move, and he answers "earth", because that's what the spell description says.
$endgroup$
– Mark Wells
Jan 25 at 16:15
add a comment |
$begingroup$
Jeremy Crawford has already provided some insight to this:
Think dirt, not stone.
Basically, if you can use a shovel on it, you can use the cantrip.
answered Jan 25 at 2:13
BenBen
10.9k1567135
$endgroup$
Jeremy Crawford has already provided some insight to this:
Think dirt, not stone.
Basically, if you can use a shovel on it, you can use the cantrip.
answered Jan 25 at 2:13
BenBen
10.9k1567135
edited Jan 25 at 16:18
answered Jan 25 at 2:13
BenBen
10.9k1567135
answered Jan 25 at 2:13
BenBen
10.9k1567135
answered Jan 25 at 2:13
BenBen
10.9k1567135
10.9k1567135
$begingroup$
mind commenting on rpg.stackexchange.com/questions/139840/…
$endgroup$
– CaffeineAddiction
Jan 25 at 7:06
$begingroup$
I love JC's short ambiguous answers. Does dirt = sand or salt? Or does he mean soil which would be closer to "dirt" and "earth" definitions?
$endgroup$
– Slagmoth
Jan 25 at 12:38
$begingroup$
Dirt in this case would most likely mean regolith and soil.
$endgroup$
– John
Jan 25 at 14:27
$begingroup$
@Slagmoth Crawford does this enough that I strongly suspect he doesn't actually want to resolve ambiguity. You ask him what exactly move earth can move, and he answers "earth", because that's what the spell description says.
$endgroup$
– Mark Wells
Jan 25 at 16:15
add a comment |
$begingroup$
mind commenting on rpg.stackexchange.com/questions/139840/…
$endgroup$
– CaffeineAddiction
Jan 25 at 7:06
$begingroup$
I love JC's short ambiguous answers. Does dirt = sand or salt? Or does he mean soil which would be closer to "dirt" and "earth" definitions?
$endgroup$
– Slagmoth
Jan 25 at 12:38
$begingroup$
Dirt in this case would most likely mean regolith and soil.
$endgroup$
– John
Jan 25 at 14:27
$begingroup$
@Slagmoth Crawford does this enough that I strongly suspect he doesn't actually want to resolve ambiguity. You ask him what exactly move earth can move, and he answers "earth", because that's what the spell description says.
$endgroup$
– Mark Wells
Jan 25 at 16:15
$begingroup$
mind commenting on rpg.stackexchange.com/questions/139840/…
$endgroup$
– CaffeineAddiction
Jan 25 at 7:06
$begingroup$
mind commenting on rpg.stackexchange.com/questions/139840/…
$endgroup$
– CaffeineAddiction
Jan 25 at 7:06
$begingroup$
I love JC's short ambiguous answers. Does dirt = sand or salt? Or does he mean soil which would be closer to "dirt" and "earth" definitions?
$endgroup$
– Slagmoth
Jan 25 at 12:38
$begingroup$
I love JC's short ambiguous answers. Does dirt = sand or salt? Or does he mean soil which would be closer to "dirt" and "earth" definitions?
$endgroup$
– Slagmoth
Jan 25 at 12:38
$begingroup$
Dirt in this case would most likely mean regolith and soil.
$endgroup$
– John
Jan 25 at 14:27
$begingroup$
Dirt in this case would most likely mean regolith and soil.
$endgroup$
– John
Jan 25 at 14:27
$begingroup$
@Slagmoth Crawford does this enough that I strongly suspect he doesn't actually want to resolve ambiguity. You ask him what exactly move earth can move, and he answers "earth", because that's what the spell description says.
$endgroup$
– Mark Wells
Jan 25 at 16:15
$begingroup$
@Slagmoth Crawford does this enough that I strongly suspect he doesn't actually want to resolve ambiguity. You ask him what exactly move earth can move, and he answers "earth", because that's what the spell description says.
$endgroup$
– Mark Wells
Jan 25 at 16:15
add a comment |
$begingroup$
Ask your DM
You have cited the only rules related to "loose earth" in your question. No further details are given in the spell or in any other rules. When a term is not defined in the rules, it defaults to its idiomatic meaning, which does give us something to go on.
Specifically the word "loose" here implies that this is not solid, restrained, or compacted "earth".
So the answer to
Digging a 10 ft hole in solid stone
Is clearly "no". Stone is not at all loose and would thus not fit the definition.
Jeremy Crawford has also agreed with this assessment with this clarification:
Think dirt, not stone.
On the flip side the answer to
Top soil of a recently plowed field
is clearly "yes". I can't imagine a better example of the idea of "loose earth" than recently tilled soil.
But there is where the clear answers end. All your other examples are going to vary based on how your DM interprets the phrase. How loose does earth need to be to be loose? Can it contain soil and small rocks? Clay?
Only your DM can answer these; the rules give no further guidance.
Example: Foundation of a building
Since you are specifically interested in this use case I will address this directly (even though the answer is the same as the above).
Digging a 10 ft hole under the foundation of a building
There are questions here that are dependent not only on DM interpretation, but the precise situation as well. What material is the building built on? Is it built on solid rock? Loam? Swamp? Is this a massive stone castle or a small wooden shed (which changes how "loose" the stuff under the building is)?
None of these questions are answered by the rules. They are thus left up to the DM.
This is one of the ways 5e is specifically designed. Instead of writing precise definitions to have to account for all the possibilities of using the spell they left it vague so the DM could decide on the most fun interpretation for their group.
answered Jan 25 at 16:20
RubiksmooseRubiksmoose
58k10283430
$endgroup$
$begingroup$
Buildings are not fungible. The earth under a straw hut would not be compacted, but the earth under a 20 foot tall, 5 foot thick castle wall would be. I might even say the earth in a Terrasques footprint would be too compacted, but that's a DM call.
$endgroup$
– MarkTO
Jan 25 at 19:23
$begingroup$
@MarkTO just to be clear, is this a suggestion for me? Because I agree and my answer says as much (or at least I intend it to). Am I being unclear or are you just agreeing with me?
$endgroup$
– Rubiksmoose
Jan 25 at 19:35
add a comment |
$begingroup$
Ask your DM
You have cited the only rules related to "loose earth" in your question. No further details are given in the spell or in any other rules. When a term is not defined in the rules, it defaults to its idiomatic meaning, which does give us something to go on.
Specifically the word "loose" here implies that this is not solid, restrained, or compacted "earth".
So the answer to
Digging a 10 ft hole in solid stone
Is clearly "no". Stone is not at all loose and would thus not fit the definition.
Jeremy Crawford has also agreed with this assessment with this clarification:
Think dirt, not stone.
On the flip side the answer to
Top soil of a recently plowed field
is clearly "yes". I can't imagine a better example of the idea of "loose earth" than recently tilled soil.
But there is where the clear answers end. All your other examples are going to vary based on how your DM interprets the phrase. How loose does earth need to be to be loose? Can it contain soil and small rocks? Clay?
Only your DM can answer these; the rules give no further guidance.
Example: Foundation of a building
Since you are specifically interested in this use case I will address this directly (even though the answer is the same as the above).
Digging a 10 ft hole under the foundation of a building
There are questions here that are dependent not only on DM interpretation, but the precise situation as well. What material is the building built on? Is it built on solid rock? Loam? Swamp? Is this a massive stone castle or a small wooden shed (which changes how "loose" the stuff under the building is)?
None of these questions are answered by the rules. They are thus left up to the DM.
This is one of the ways 5e is specifically designed. Instead of writing precise definitions to have to account for all the possibilities of using the spell they left it vague so the DM could decide on the most fun interpretation for their group.
answered Jan 25 at 16:20
RubiksmooseRubiksmoose
58k10283430
$endgroup$
$begingroup$
Buildings are not fungible. The earth under a straw hut would not be compacted, but the earth under a 20 foot tall, 5 foot thick castle wall would be. I might even say the earth in a Terrasques footprint would be too compacted, but that's a DM call.
$endgroup$
– MarkTO
Jan 25 at 19:23
$begingroup$
@MarkTO just to be clear, is this a suggestion for me? Because I agree and my answer says as much (or at least I intend it to). Am I being unclear or are you just agreeing with me?
$endgroup$
– Rubiksmoose
Jan 25 at 19:35
add a comment |
$begingroup$
Ask your DM
You have cited the only rules related to "loose earth" in your question. No further details are given in the spell or in any other rules. When a term is not defined in the rules, it defaults to its idiomatic meaning, which does give us something to go on.
Specifically the word "loose" here implies that this is not solid, restrained, or compacted "earth".
So the answer to
Digging a 10 ft hole in solid stone
Is clearly "no". Stone is not at all loose and would thus not fit the definition.
Jeremy Crawford has also agreed with this assessment with this clarification:
Think dirt, not stone.
On the flip side the answer to
Top soil of a recently plowed field
is clearly "yes". I can't imagine a better example of the idea of "loose earth" than recently tilled soil.
But there is where the clear answers end. All your other examples are going to vary based on how your DM interprets the phrase. How loose does earth need to be to be loose? Can it contain soil and small rocks? Clay?
Only your DM can answer these; the rules give no further guidance.
Example: Foundation of a building
Since you are specifically interested in this use case I will address this directly (even though the answer is the same as the above).
Digging a 10 ft hole under the foundation of a building
There are questions here that are dependent not only on DM interpretation, but the precise situation as well. What material is the building built on? Is it built on solid rock? Loam? Swamp? Is this a massive stone castle or a small wooden shed (which changes how "loose" the stuff under the building is)?
None of these questions are answered by the rules. They are thus left up to the DM.
This is one of the ways 5e is specifically designed. Instead of writing precise definitions to have to account for all the possibilities of using the spell they left it vague so the DM could decide on the most fun interpretation for their group.
answered Jan 25 at 16:20
RubiksmooseRubiksmoose
58k10283430
$endgroup$
Ask your DM
You have cited the only rules related to "loose earth" in your question. No further details are given in the spell or in any other rules. When a term is not defined in the rules, it defaults to its idiomatic meaning, which does give us something to go on.
Specifically the word "loose" here implies that this is not solid, restrained, or compacted "earth".
So the answer to
Digging a 10 ft hole in solid stone
Is clearly "no". Stone is not at all loose and would thus not fit the definition.
Jeremy Crawford has also agreed with this assessment with this clarification:
Think dirt, not stone.
On the flip side the answer to
Top soil of a recently plowed field
is clearly "yes". I can't imagine a better example of the idea of "loose earth" than recently tilled soil.
But there is where the clear answers end. All your other examples are going to vary based on how your DM interprets the phrase. How loose does earth need to be to be loose? Can it contain soil and small rocks? Clay?
Only your DM can answer these; the rules give no further guidance.
Example: Foundation of a building
Since you are specifically interested in this use case I will address this directly (even though the answer is the same as the above).
Digging a 10 ft hole under the foundation of a building
There are questions here that are dependent not only on DM interpretation, but the precise situation as well. What material is the building built on? Is it built on solid rock? Loam? Swamp? Is this a massive stone castle or a small wooden shed (which changes how "loose" the stuff under the building is)?
None of these questions are answered by the rules. They are thus left up to the DM.
This is one of the ways 5e is specifically designed. Instead of writing precise definitions to have to account for all the possibilities of using the spell they left it vague so the DM could decide on the most fun interpretation for their group.
answered Jan 25 at 16:20
RubiksmooseRubiksmoose
58k10283430
answered Jan 25 at 16:20
RubiksmooseRubiksmoose
58k10283430
answered Jan 25 at 16:20
RubiksmooseRubiksmoose
58k10283430
answered Jan 25 at 16:20
RubiksmooseRubiksmoose
58k10283430
58k10283430
$begingroup$
Buildings are not fungible. The earth under a straw hut would not be compacted, but the earth under a 20 foot tall, 5 foot thick castle wall would be. I might even say the earth in a Terrasques footprint would be too compacted, but that's a DM call.
$endgroup$
– MarkTO
Jan 25 at 19:23
$begingroup$
@MarkTO just to be clear, is this a suggestion for me? Because I agree and my answer says as much (or at least I intend it to). Am I being unclear or are you just agreeing with me?
$endgroup$
– Rubiksmoose
Jan 25 at 19:35
add a comment |
$begingroup$
Buildings are not fungible. The earth under a straw hut would not be compacted, but the earth under a 20 foot tall, 5 foot thick castle wall would be. I might even say the earth in a Terrasques footprint would be too compacted, but that's a DM call.
$endgroup$
– MarkTO
Jan 25 at 19:23
$begingroup$
@MarkTO just to be clear, is this a suggestion for me? Because I agree and my answer says as much (or at least I intend it to). Am I being unclear or are you just agreeing with me?
$endgroup$
– Rubiksmoose
Jan 25 at 19:35
$begingroup$
Buildings are not fungible. The earth under a straw hut would not be compacted, but the earth under a 20 foot tall, 5 foot thick castle wall would be. I might even say the earth in a Terrasques footprint would be too compacted, but that's a DM call.
$endgroup$
– MarkTO
Jan 25 at 19:23
$begingroup$
Buildings are not fungible. The earth under a straw hut would not be compacted, but the earth under a 20 foot tall, 5 foot thick castle wall would be. I might even say the earth in a Terrasques footprint would be too compacted, but that's a DM call.
$endgroup$
– MarkTO
Jan 25 at 19:23
$begingroup$
@MarkTO just to be clear, is this a suggestion for me? Because I agree and my answer says as much (or at least I intend it to). Am I being unclear or are you just agreeing with me?
$endgroup$
– Rubiksmoose
Jan 25 at 19:35
$begingroup$
@MarkTO just to be clear, is this a suggestion for me? Because I agree and my answer says as much (or at least I intend it to). Am I being unclear or are you just agreeing with me?
$endgroup$
– Rubiksmoose
Jan 25 at 19:35
add a comment |
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$begingroup$
I suggest you add your example off digging foundations of a castle to this question, if you want something answered you need to ask for it.
$endgroup$
– linksassin
Jan 25 at 3:58
$begingroup$
@linksassin naw, people will get mad that I asked more than one question
$endgroup$
– CaffeineAddiction
Jan 25 at 4:00
3
$begingroup$
So don't ask two questions. Ask the question you actually want answered. I'm not sure what problems you've had in the past but it's likely that you just haven't been clear with what problem you are actually trying to solve. This is called an XY-problem
$endgroup$
– linksassin
Jan 25 at 4:09
3
$begingroup$
You commented on an answer on the other one that said "move earth can't move foundations" and said it should be on this question. But this question makes no mention of foundations, I would add it as one of the examples if you want it to be considered.
$endgroup$
– linksassin
Jan 25 at 4:22
3
$begingroup$
@Rubiksmoose rpg.meta.stackexchange.com/questions/8746/…
$endgroup$
– CaffeineAddiction
Jan 25 at 13:02