[RPG] What happens when you try to teleport to somewhere that’s out of range

dnd-3.5eteleportation

A spell caster wants to teleport to somewhere they know, that's outside their range, but they don't know they are too far away. Do they learn they're too far away if they try? Does the spell just fail? Do they end up at somewhere like it within range?

Best Answer

The spell fails and is wasted.

According to page 171 of the Player's Handbook, "If you ever try to cast a spell in conditions where the characteristics of the spell (range, area, or the like) cannot be made to conform, the casting fails and the spell is wasted."

The definition of "spell characteristics" given in that quote is the only one we have, but it seems reasonable to assume that the maximum distance the teleport spell can achieve is one such spell characteristic. It is, after all, a characteristic of the spell.