[RPG] What exactly happens when I cast Web in midair

area-of-effectdnd-5espells

The web spell is a bit special, in that it initially fills a 20-foot cube, but can collapse and/or disappear if the chosen placement does not provide sufficient anchorage:

You conjure a mass of thick, sticky webbing at a point of your choice
within range. The webs fill a 20-foot cube from that point for the
duration. The webs are difficult terrain and lightly obscure their
area.

If the webs aren't anchored between two solid masses (such as walls or
trees) or layered across a floor, wall, or ceiling, the conjured web
collapses on itself, and the spell ends at the start of your next
turn. Webs layered over a flat surface have a depth of 5 feet.

Notably, a web placed in midair with no contact with either the ground or two solid masses "collapses on itself", but the spell does not end immediately, instead lasting up to 1 round before ending. So, what happens during that 1 round before the spell ends? Does the airborne web simply fall straight down until it lands on the ground, turning a 20-foot square into difficult, restraining terrain for 1 round? Or does the web collapse uselessly to the ground, immediately ceasing to have any mechanical effect and effectively ending the spell as soon as it is cast? If the web falls, is there any possibility that it could catch flying creatures in or under its area as it falls?

Best Answer

The "ground" becomes difficult terrain and restraining

The web instantly collapses on itself as soon as you cast the spell.

The spell does not say it loses its properties when the web collapses. The spell still lasts until your next turn, so any mechanical effect will stay until it ends, i.e:

  1. Difficult terrain
  2. Light obscurement
  3. Restrain creatures on failing dexterity save
  4. Flammability

If the falling web catches a creature, the creature must make dexterity save as usual.

After the web completes its fall, it will still retain its properties until the spell ends (your next turn). It does not mean that it is now "layered on the ground" and will stay until the full duration, but it will still disappear on your next turn.

It's up to your DM how wide the ground covered by the falling web. It might be wider than a 20 ft square, or even less, because the web is now clumped together.

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