[RPG] Do teleportation spells conserve momentum

dnd-5emagicteleportation

To be more specific, do teleportation spells conserve momentum from before to after the obvious infinite violation of momentum conservation inherent in instantaneous magical travel? Credit to nitsua60 suggesting this sentence!

For instance, if I were to take a running leap and then Dimension Door forward, would I continue to be propelled forward by my momentum (assuming that I still have a number of feet of movement speed remaining), or would that dissipate as part of the spell.

Similarly, if I were to launch a cannon ball from a cannon and then Teleport it into the throne room of a local king, would the cannon ball continue traveling forward at the same velocity or would it simply drop to the ground (given that the Teleport spell was successful)?

This is a similar question, but the only conclusive answer was from the Pathfinder SRD. I'm wondering if there is anything specifically in dnd-5e text that explicitly answers this question.

Best Answer

The answer here is "it depends, but likely no."

This is a little philosophical, but the answer here depends on how you interpret the role of the rules. Using something like the threefold model, you can think of role-playing games as:

  1. Strictly A Game, or a more game-ist interpretation. If this is you, you likely agree with Dale M's excellent answer: there are no rules for this, so the GM must make some sort of ruling on the spot. What works at one table doesn't at another.
  2. A simulation of some sort of reality, or a more simulation-ist interpretation. After all, you know combat rounds represent a 6-second span of time (basic rules, page 63, under "time"), and distances are regularly referenced, so you can use the 5e rules as a terrible simulation of reality. Or, you can view it as "our world, plus magic" and derive all sorts of values and things from the inaccurate data the game gives you. If so, then no, teleportation does not conserve or maintain momentum in any way: you can teleport over long distances without having to worry about latitude, your position going around the sun, etc.
  3. A Vehicle for Telling Stories, or a more narrative-ist interpretation. D&D is just a vehicle for telling a story, and this would be something you discuss with your GM. The GM, once again, makes a ruling on this. Does it contribute better to a better story to "conserve momentum?"

As far as I am aware of, however, there is no official ruling on teleportation conserving any physical values.

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