[RPG] rule for how to handle creative use of spells

dnd-5espells

During a fight in a semi-flooded room, one of my players wanted to use Shocking Grasp on the water:

Lightning springs from your hand to deliver a shock to a creature you try to touch. Make a melee spell attack…On a hit, the target takes 1d8 lightning damage, and it can’t take reactions until the start of its next turn.

Wanting to reward him for a creative use of the spell, I allowed it, using an attack roll of AC 10 and hitting all creatures within 10ft of the spot (including caster).

Is there any rule for these situations? I want to reward creativity without unbalancing spells that are meant for single-target use.

Best Answer

Specific

The first question you need to ask is if the creative use of the spell agrees with the spell requirements.

PHB, p. 275:

Lightning springs from your hand to deliver a shock to a creature you try to touch

This spell requires you to deliver on a creature, and not an object.

Now, this doesn't really answer your general question about creative use of spells, but it does give guidance on the specific example you gave.

General

Generally, The Rule of Cool* should encourage creative solutions, as long as they fall within agreement of the rules. Ultimately, there is no real guidance as to how to handle this as DM other than 5e giving the DM ability to adjudicate decisions. You've got the freedom, you've got the power, just come up with something reasonable that is fun for everyone.

Also consider other effects someone's creative idea may have. They may want it to work one way, but if you see additional effects that could happen, then feel free to add them.

In the case of something like Shocking Grasp, instead of targeting the water (which is not a valid target), the player could target a creature who is in water and have the electrocution spread out out from your target to effect anything in the water (foes, friends, and possibly/probably self.)

* Rule of Cool, Matt Mercer

It is a trope that essentially means a willing suspension of disbelief for the sake of a cool moment... In RPGs, this generally refers to occasionally allowing the chance for ridiculous stunts or unique interpretations of the some of the rules or features of a system for a possibly cool moment.

  1. In an RPG, the Rule of Cool means giving your players the chance to perform ridiculous stunts or bend the rules a little bit in the sake of an awesome scene.
  2. Be warned, you should establish the level of craziness your game will allow early on to play with people’s expectations.
  3. Apply the Rule of Cool sparingly—that goes for the GM just as much as the players! Too much gonzo action will turn your A Song of Ice and Fire RPG into a Dragon Ball Z game faster than you can say “Super Saiyan.”
  4. Gauge which player actions are viable, and which are abuse. This is more art than science, but you should reward creativity while dissuading players from reaching too far too often.
  5. And don’t forget: most RPGs are designed to tell stories of epic fantasy! Never say never—there’s always the chance someone rolls a natural 20!
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