[RPG] Large creatures movement penalties based on space available where movement ends

dnd-5emovement

I know creatures can squeeze so if I am a large creature I can squeeze my way through a 5-foot square hall spending 1 extra foot for every foot it moves there. But, can a large creature ends its movement on a less than 10 foot square such as 1, 2, or 3 5-foot squares together (cases A, B, C below)? If it can then it has disadvantage on attack rolls and Dexterity saving throws and attack rolls against the creature have advantage while it’s in the smaller space, right?

So what if the large creature is amorphous (like oozes)? It ignores the extra foot cost for squeezing for sure according to RAW, but what about the other penalties if it ends its movement on a smaller square? I just wonder if oozes can end their movement on 5, 5×2 and 5×3 (case A, B, C below) squares with impunity

Legend: O: available space, X: unavailable space

  • Case A: 5-foot square:

    ╔═══╦═══╗
    ║ O ║ X ║
    ╠═══╬═══╣
    ║ X ║ X ║
    ╚═══╩═══╝
    
  • Case B: 2 5-foot squares:

    ╔═══╦═══╗
    ║ O ║ O ║
    ╠═══╬═══╣
    ║ X ║ X ║
    ╚═══╩═══╝
    
  • Case C: 3 5-foot squares:

    ╔═══╦═══╗
    ║ O ║ O ║
    ╠═══╬═══╣
    ║ X ║ O ║
    ╚═══╩═══╝
    
  • Case D: 10 foot square:

    ╔═══╦═══╗
    ║ O ║ O ║
    ╠═══╬═══╣
    ║ O ║ O ║
    ╚═══╩═══╝
    

    Can a large creature finish its movement in Case A, B, or C?

We deal with surface areas not volumes in D&D. If the height of a ceiling is shorter than the height of a large creature, then the DM should apply the squeezing condition regardless of the fact that it fills 10 square feet.

Best Answer

If a creature can squeeze through a space, it can stop there too

Page 192 of the PHB says:

A creature can squeeze through a space that is large enough for a creature one size smaller than it...While squeezing through a space, a creature must spend 1 extra foot for every foot it moves there, and it has disadvantage on attack rolls and Dexterity saving throws.

Attacks in 5e are distinct compared to movement, that is a creature can move, stop to attack, then move again, but never attack while moving. A creature that is squeezing can still make attack rolls, although they are at disadvantage, so we can infer that the creature must be able to stop in order to make that attack. Since we now know that the creature can stop for an attack, and since there is no other specific rule saying that the creature cannot stop while it is squeezing, then we can infer that in general a creature can stop in any space that it can squeeze into.

Additionally, there is no rule saying that a creature has to end their turn no longer squeezing, nor that they can't end a move while squeezing. This is fairly easy to see in practice if players ever have to squeeze through a narrow cave passage that is longer than their move speed. If a creature couldn't finish their move while squeezing it would be impossible to, say, squeeze through a 200' long narrow cave passage, even though there is no rule that says this is impossible.

A Large creature can fit into a space as small as 5' x 5', though it will be squeezing while it remains there:

As stated before:

A creature can squeeze through a space that is large enough for a creature one size smaller than it

Page 192 of the PHB lists the various size categories. Large creatures are 10' x 10' large. Thus it can squeeze, and then stop moving, in a space large enough for a medium creature, which is listed as 5' x 5'. Though, if the creature does not have at least 10' x 10' of room available, it suffers all penalties associated with squeezing. So, a large creature can finish movement in all 4 cases that you have provided, though it will suffer all penalties associated with squeezing if it does not have at least 10' x 10' available.

Amorphous creatures don't typically have to squeeze

As Icyfire's answer illustrates, the rule for amorphous creatures follows:

Amorphous. The ooze can move through a space as narrow as 1 inch wide without squeezing.

The ooze can move into a space as narrow as 1" wide and finish moving there without squeezing. Since it isn't squeezing, it suffers none of the associate penalties (disadvantage on attack rolls/dex saves and more expensive movement).