Tasha's rule question, falling on a creature

[Kessel]

Rules question regarding Tasha's p.170:

FALLING ONTO A CREATURE -
If a creature falls into the space of a second creature
and neither of them is Tiny, the second creature
must succeed on a DC 15 Dexterity saving throw or
be impacted by the falling creature, and any damage
resulting from the fall is divided evenly between
them. The impacted creature is also knocked prone,
unless it is two or more sizes larger than the falling
creature.


Example:

Your group is scaling a tower, while being attacked by flying creatures. Your barbarian is feeling frisky and jumps off, falling 20’ into/onto one of the flying creatures. Regardless of the impacted creatures Dex saving throw the flying creature is now prone and falling underneath you.

While falling, can the barbarian make attacks against the prone creature?

Upon impact of the ground, does the barbarian take the same damage as the flying creature, as it lands on top of it (Before barbarian rage bludgeoning resistance?)

On the off chance the barbarian and the flying creature land on a third being, and if the third creature’s Dexterity saving throw failed, would it split damage with the barbarian? The winged creature? A separate roll for each that landed on top of it?

How then would the damage be split?

[Psyren]

While falling, can the barbarian make attacks against the prone creature?

I don't see why not, but check with your DM.


Upon impact of the ground, does the barbarian take the same damage as the flying creature, as it lands on top of it (Before barbarian rage bludgeoning resistance?)

Yes.


On the off chance the barbarian and the flying creature land on a third being, and if the third creature’s Dexterity saving throw failed, would it split damage with the barbarian? The winged creature? A separate roll for each that landed on top of it?

How then would the damage be split?

As written only the first two (faller and fallee) take the damage, but ask your DM. This situation is a prime candidate for Improvised Damage rules as the two of you would be comparable to a falling object.

[Kessel]

Thanks, Psyren!

[DarknessEternal]

Rules question regarding Tasha's p.170: Regardless of the impacted creatures Dex saving throw the flying creature is now prone and falling underneath you.


False, they are not impacted if they pass their save.

[JackPhoenix]

Your group is scaling a tower, while being attacked by flying creatures. Your barbarian is feeling frisky and jumps off, falling 20’ into/onto one of the flying creatures. Regardless of the impacted creatures Dex saving throw the flying creature is now prone and falling underneath you.

If the falling creature make the save, it avoids the impact and thus isn't knocked prone, making the rest of the questions mostly irrelevant.


While falling, can the barbarian make attacks against the prone creature?

Turn-based mechanics and the order of resolution lead to some weirdness there.
Not unless the fall is over 500' long (Assuming you're using the XGtE rules for rate of falling. Otherwise, they'll just fall the entire distance instantly). The way things work, the fall is considered instantaneous and is resolved first, then the barbarian can use the rest of his actions, if the enemy is still within reach (which it wouldn't be, the barbarian has to fall extra 20', so even if the fall was long enough, he would be 20' away from the flying creature at the end of the fall). The barbarian could Ready an attack to trigger when he gets in melee with the flying creature; the way reactions work, it would be resolved in the middle of the fall, but he'd only get one attack.


Upon impact of the ground, does the barbarian take the same damage as the flying creature, as it lands on top of it (Before barbarian rage bludgeoning resistance?)

The impact with the creature (potentially) happens when the barbarian enters its space, after falling 20'. If the creature doesn't avoid the impact and falls, they are falling together and already sharing space, so they would both take full damage when they hit the ground, the damage wouldn't be shared again.


On the off chance the barbarian and the flying creature land on a third being, and if the third creature’s Dexterity saving throw failed, would it split damage with the barbarian? The winged creature? A separate roll for each that landed on top of it?

How then would the damage be split?

Separate rolls for both falling creatures. The damage would be split between them and the third creature, as normal.

[Kessel]

If the falling creature make the save, it avoids the impact and thus isn't knocked prone, making the rest of the questions mostly irrelevant.



Turn-based mechanics and the order of resolution lead to some weirdness there.
Not unless the fall is over 500' long (Assuming you're using the XGtE rules for rate of falling. Otherwise, they'll just fall the entire distance instantly). The way things work, the fall is considered instantaneous and is resolved first, then the barbarian can use the rest of his actions, if the enemy is still within reach (which it wouldn't be, the barbarian has to fall extra 20', so even if the fall was long enough, he would be 20' away from the flying creature at the end of the fall). The barbarian could Ready an attack to trigger when he gets in melee with the flying creature; the way reactions work, it would be resolved in the middle of the fall, but he'd only get one attack.



The impact with the creature (potentially) happens when the barbarian enters its space, after falling 20'. If the creature doesn't avoid the impact and falls, they are falling together and already sharing space, so they would both take full damage when they hit the ground, the damage wouldn't be shared again.



Separate rolls for both falling creatures. The damage would be split between them and the third creature, as normal.

well this is embarrassing. you both are correct about not being knocked prone, no more reading off my phone or it's time I get glasses.

so if when the barbarian hits the winged creature and it's knocked prone, they then fall. if not, does the barbarian just fall past or would the barbarian in desperation attempt to grapple the winged? would this be up to the DM?

[JackPhoenix]

well this is embarrassing. you both are correct about not being knocked prone, no more reading off my phone or it's time I get glasses.

so if when the barbarian hits the winged creature and it's knocked prone, they then fall. if not, does the barbarian just fall past or would the barbarian in desperation attempt to grapple the winged? would this be up to the DM?

Up to the DM. I would personally require the barbarian to Ready the grapple up-front.