Gina Johnson
In the fifth edition of Dungeons and Dragons, a player may want to cast a spell on a sleeping target. The rules for this scenario are not explicit, and the Dungeon Master (DM) will have to make a decision on how to proceed. One option is to determine whether the target is a light sleeper, possibly through a Wisdom check. Another option is that the spell fails as the recipient cannot receive the message. Alternatively, the spell may deliver the message, but the recipient only becomes aware of it when they properly awaken.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Can a sleeping target hear the message? | Yes |
| Can a sleeping target understand the message? | No |
| Can a sleeping target respond to the message? | No |
| Will the spell wake the target? | Maybe |
| Will the target remember the message? | Maybe |
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What You'll Learn
- The target hears the message and wakes up
- The target doesn't wake up but hears and responds to the message
- The target doesn't wake up, hears the message but can't respond lucidly
- The spell fails as the recipient can't receive the message
- The spell delivers the message, but the recipient only hears it when they wake up
The target hears the message and wakes up
When a wizard casts Sending on a sleeping target, the target may hear the message and wake up. The target hears the message in their mind and can recognize the sender if they know them. They can then respond to the message immediately.
The target may be a light sleeper, in which case they are more likely to be awakened by the message. Alternatively, the DM may allow for some kind of check, such as a Wisdom check, to determine if the target wakes up.
If the target wakes up, they can respond to the message in a lucid and conscious manner. This is different from a situation where the target remains asleep and responds with the mutterings of a sleeping person, such as "Five more minutes, Grandma Frog."
It is important to note that the target must be awake and conscious to reply in a conscious manner. This is because actions cannot be taken while asleep. The target's ability to understand the message and respond coherently depends on their state of consciousness.
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The target doesn't wake up but hears and responds to the message
The Sending spell allows the caster to send a short message of twenty-five words or fewer to a familiar creature. The creature hears the message in its mind and can immediately respond with a similar message.
When it comes to sleeping targets, the spell's interaction is not explicitly defined, leaving it to the Dungeon Master's (DM's) discretion. One interpretation is that the target remains asleep but is still able to hear and lucidly respond to the message. In this case, the target might not fully process the message, potentially forgetting it soon after and responding with incoherent mumblings, such as "Five more minutes, Grandma Frog".
The target's state of sleep could also impact their ability to understand the message. While a sleeping target can hear, their understanding may be limited, affecting their ability to process and respond coherently.
The DM may also introduce a check, such as a Wisdom check, to determine the outcome. Alternatively, the DM could decide that the spell fails, delays delivery, or waits until the recipient is awake and conscious to deliver the message.
It is worth noting that the "Sleep" spell in D&D sends creatures into a magical slumber, rendering them unconscious until the spell ends, they take damage, or someone wakes them up. This is different from natural sleep, where a person can be awakened by noises or stimuli. Therefore, the interaction of the Sending spell with a target under the Sleep spell or in a natural sleep state may vary, leaving it to the DM's interpretation and the specific circumstances.
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The target doesn't wake up, hears the message but can't respond lucidly
When casting the Sending spell on a sleeping target, there are a few possible outcomes. One possibility is that the target does not wake up but still hears the message. However, due to their sleep state, they cannot respond lucidly.
In this scenario, the target's mind is clouded by sleep, and they are unable to process the message coherently. They may recognize the sender if they are familiar, but their response is incoherent and muddled, similar to the mutterings of a sleeping person. For example, their response might be something like "Five more minutes, Grandma Frog."
The target's lack of lucidity could lead to misunderstandings or confusion, especially if the sender is expecting a clear and concise reply. It is important to note that the target is not fully conscious and may not remember the message upon waking.
As a DM, it is up to you to decide how the target responds. You might allow for a Wisdom check to determine the target's level of lucidity or decide that the target's response is purely based on their sleep state.
Additionally, the spell itself may have variations or interpretations that the DM can choose to include or exclude. For example, the spell might fail if the recipient is unable to receive the message lucidly, or it could delay delivery until the recipient is capable of understanding it.
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The spell fails as the recipient can't receive the message
The success of casting the Sending spell on a sleeping target is dependent on a few factors, including the recipient's consciousness and ability to receive the message. If the recipient is in a deep sleep, the spell may fail as their consciousness is not accessible for the message to be received.
The state of consciousness during sleep can vary, and it is possible that the recipient might be in a deep slumber, unresponsive to external stimuli. In such cases, the Sending spell, which relies on the recipient's consciousness to receive and process the message, would not be effective. The spell's intent is to convey a message that the recipient can comprehend, and if their consciousness is dormant due to deep sleep, the spell's purpose cannot be fulfilled.
Additionally, the recipient's mental state during sleep could also be a factor. Even if the recipient is a light sleeper, their mind might not be capable of comprehending the message delivered by the spell. The spell's success relies on the recipient's ability to process and understand the message, which might not be possible if their cognitive functions are impaired by sleep.
Moreover, the spell requires a certain level of mental acuity and focus from the recipient, which might not be present during sleep. The recipient needs to be able to concentrate on receiving and interpreting the message, and if they are asleep, their attention might be diffuse or non-existent, rendering them incapable of engaging with the spell's effects.
In conclusion, while the Sending spell can be a powerful tool, it has limitations when it comes to sleeping targets. The recipient's consciousness, mental state, and ability to receive and process information all play a role in the spell's success. If the recipient is in a deep sleep or their mental state is impaired, the spell may fail as they cannot receive and comprehend the message.
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The spell delivers the message, but the recipient only hears it when they wake up
The Sending spell can be used to communicate a short message of 25 words or fewer to a familiar creature. The recipient hears the message in their mind and can recognise the sender. They can respond immediately in a like manner.
When it comes to sleeping targets, the outcome of the spell is less clear and depends on the recipient's state of sleep. One possibility is that the spell delivers the message, but the recipient only hears it when they wake up. In this case, they may not be able to process the message lucidly, and might respond with the incoherent mumblings of a sleeping person. Alternatively, the message might be stored in their subconscious, and they could respond with perfect lucidity despite still being asleep.
Another possibility is that the spell awakens the recipient, who then hears the message and can respond to it. The recipient's level of consciousness and ability to comprehend the message would determine whether they can respond. A light sleeper might be able to comprehend and respond to the message, whereas a deep sleeper might not be able to process and understand the message, and therefore could not respond.
The outcome of casting the Sending spell on a sleeping target is ultimately at the discretion of the Dungeon Master (DM), who may decide to include a Wisdom check to determine the outcome.
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Frequently asked questions
There are several possibilities:
- The spell fails as the recipient cannot receive the message.
- The spell delivers the message, but the recipient only becomes aware of it when they properly awaken.
- The spell delays delivery of the message until the recipient is capable of receiving it.
- The creature is awakened by the message in its mind, and once awake hears it and can respond to it.
- The creature is not awakened by the message, but hears and can respond to it perfectly lucidly despite still being asleep.
- The creature is not awakened by the message, does hear it, but is asleep so cannot process it lucidly. Thus they might not remember the message and might respond with the mutterings of a sleeping person.
A sleeping target can hear, but they cannot understand. They can process that there was a loud noise nearby, but not what it is.
Sleep renders a target unconscious. A creature automatically fails Strength and Dexterity Saving Throws. Other saves are not affected, so the sleeping character would be able to make the save against it. However, because it does not deal damage to the character, it wouldn't wake it.
The Sleep spell sends creatures into a magical slumber, rendering them unconscious until the spell ends, the sleeper takes damage, or someone uses an action to shake or slap the sleeper awake. Therefore, the target will not be able to hear the message from the Sending spell until they are awakened.
