[RPG] The Gust of Wind spell creates a 10-foot-wide line of wind originating from the caster; how to center it on a 5-foot grid

area-of-effectbattle-mapdnd-5espells

Characters are on a grid where every square is 5 feet on each side.

The description of the gust of wind spell says:

A line of strong wind 60 feet long and 10 feet wide blasts from you in
a direction you choose for the spell’s duration.

How do I center a 10-foot-wide line originating from the caster on a grid made out of 5-foot squares?

Best Answer

Choose an intersection as the point of origin.

The rules for areas of effect on a grid require that you choose an intersection of squares or hexes as the point of origin. From the Dungeon Master’s Guide (pp. 250-251), in the rules for using miniatures, it says the following about areas of effect:

Choose an intersection of squares or hexes as the point of origin of an area of effect, then follow its rules as normal. If an area of effect is circular and covers at least half a square, it affects that square.

So you would choose one of the corners of the space you are occupying as the point of origin for gust of wind.

Xanathar’s Guide to Everything (pp. 86-88) has some additional guidance in the section "Areas of Effect on a Grid", and even includes examples of how to adjudicate a 10-foot wide line on a grid:

Diagram 2.6: Lines Using Tokens - cardinal directions and diagonals

Related Topic