Would casting Silence stop Tremorsense?











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Would casting Silence stop an enemy using Tremorsense from locating the party?










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    Would casting Silence stop an enemy using Tremorsense from locating the party?










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      Would casting Silence stop an enemy using Tremorsense from locating the party?










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      Would casting Silence stop an enemy using Tremorsense from locating the party?







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      edited 6 hours ago









      Oblivious Sage

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      asked 9 hours ago









      That Individual

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          No, Silence doesn't stop Tremorsense, or in fact interact with it on any level.



          Silence prevents sound, but Tremorsense isn't based on sound.



          Tremorsense is based on detecting the other person's presence through “vibrations in the ground”. It's not based on hearing anything—if anything it's probably based on touch. Silence doesn't stop physical sensation or physical interaction, so it doesn't stop those “vibrations in the ground” and it doesn't stop anything from causing them or the creature sensing them.






          share|improve this answer



















          • 3




            Rules being rules, this is the rulesy answer. Is the physicist in us all that screams, "But vibrations in the ground are sound!" And we just have to remember to relax and just let the rules be rules.
            – Draco18s
            6 hours ago






          • 3




            After many years of playing I can't count the times I have been tempted to mix physics and magic, but I have learned that it is usually bad idea. It's not supposed to mix.
            – Ling
            4 hours ago


















          up vote
          6
          down vote













          This isn't really covered explicitly by the rules so you have a few options that is basically down to your group to pick from.



          The most RAW interpretation: No



          Silence doesn't say that it stops vibrations, Tremorsense doesn't mention requiring sound, only that the target is in contact with the ground. This could be interpreted as Silence 'stilling' the air and not affecting the ground.



          The most intuitive answer: Yes



          For obvious reasons sound is only vibrations and the area would include the ground.



          Conclusion:



          Personally, as a DM I would be inclined to give this to my party for an inventive use of the spell. It also causes a lot of issues for the party in casting other spells and communication.



          I wouldn't use the same tactic against the party, however, as it would feel cheap on their side, eliminating entirely one of their abilities.






          share|improve this answer



















          • 2




            There are arguments against your second option. Emanations cannot pass through solid objects (ie: the ground), so the effect of silence would stop exactly where those vibrations would be happening.
            – ShadowKras
            9 hours ago






          • 1




            @ShadowKras this would imply you could still listen by pressing your ear to the ground, which definitely seems against the intention of a Silence spell
            – Cyberspark
            9 hours ago










          • That's a form of detecting that is simply not covered by the spell, which only blocks sound.
            – ShadowKras
            9 hours ago






          • 9




            Sound is a longitudinal compression wave, which is totally different from the transversal waves that is a tremor.
            – Trish
            9 hours ago










          • Personally I'd go half way. A silence would act like light obscurement, but also allow stealth checks. It would dampen the tremorsense without blinding it.
            – Yakk
            1 hour ago











          Your Answer





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          2 Answers
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          2 Answers
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          up vote
          18
          down vote



          accepted










          No, Silence doesn't stop Tremorsense, or in fact interact with it on any level.



          Silence prevents sound, but Tremorsense isn't based on sound.



          Tremorsense is based on detecting the other person's presence through “vibrations in the ground”. It's not based on hearing anything—if anything it's probably based on touch. Silence doesn't stop physical sensation or physical interaction, so it doesn't stop those “vibrations in the ground” and it doesn't stop anything from causing them or the creature sensing them.






          share|improve this answer



















          • 3




            Rules being rules, this is the rulesy answer. Is the physicist in us all that screams, "But vibrations in the ground are sound!" And we just have to remember to relax and just let the rules be rules.
            – Draco18s
            6 hours ago






          • 3




            After many years of playing I can't count the times I have been tempted to mix physics and magic, but I have learned that it is usually bad idea. It's not supposed to mix.
            – Ling
            4 hours ago















          up vote
          18
          down vote



          accepted










          No, Silence doesn't stop Tremorsense, or in fact interact with it on any level.



          Silence prevents sound, but Tremorsense isn't based on sound.



          Tremorsense is based on detecting the other person's presence through “vibrations in the ground”. It's not based on hearing anything—if anything it's probably based on touch. Silence doesn't stop physical sensation or physical interaction, so it doesn't stop those “vibrations in the ground” and it doesn't stop anything from causing them or the creature sensing them.






          share|improve this answer



















          • 3




            Rules being rules, this is the rulesy answer. Is the physicist in us all that screams, "But vibrations in the ground are sound!" And we just have to remember to relax and just let the rules be rules.
            – Draco18s
            6 hours ago






          • 3




            After many years of playing I can't count the times I have been tempted to mix physics and magic, but I have learned that it is usually bad idea. It's not supposed to mix.
            – Ling
            4 hours ago













          up vote
          18
          down vote



          accepted







          up vote
          18
          down vote



          accepted






          No, Silence doesn't stop Tremorsense, or in fact interact with it on any level.



          Silence prevents sound, but Tremorsense isn't based on sound.



          Tremorsense is based on detecting the other person's presence through “vibrations in the ground”. It's not based on hearing anything—if anything it's probably based on touch. Silence doesn't stop physical sensation or physical interaction, so it doesn't stop those “vibrations in the ground” and it doesn't stop anything from causing them or the creature sensing them.






          share|improve this answer














          No, Silence doesn't stop Tremorsense, or in fact interact with it on any level.



          Silence prevents sound, but Tremorsense isn't based on sound.



          Tremorsense is based on detecting the other person's presence through “vibrations in the ground”. It's not based on hearing anything—if anything it's probably based on touch. Silence doesn't stop physical sensation or physical interaction, so it doesn't stop those “vibrations in the ground” and it doesn't stop anything from causing them or the creature sensing them.







          share|improve this answer














          share|improve this answer



          share|improve this answer








          edited 6 hours ago

























          answered 9 hours ago









          doppelgreener

          31.8k11135226




          31.8k11135226








          • 3




            Rules being rules, this is the rulesy answer. Is the physicist in us all that screams, "But vibrations in the ground are sound!" And we just have to remember to relax and just let the rules be rules.
            – Draco18s
            6 hours ago






          • 3




            After many years of playing I can't count the times I have been tempted to mix physics and magic, but I have learned that it is usually bad idea. It's not supposed to mix.
            – Ling
            4 hours ago














          • 3




            Rules being rules, this is the rulesy answer. Is the physicist in us all that screams, "But vibrations in the ground are sound!" And we just have to remember to relax and just let the rules be rules.
            – Draco18s
            6 hours ago






          • 3




            After many years of playing I can't count the times I have been tempted to mix physics and magic, but I have learned that it is usually bad idea. It's not supposed to mix.
            – Ling
            4 hours ago








          3




          3




          Rules being rules, this is the rulesy answer. Is the physicist in us all that screams, "But vibrations in the ground are sound!" And we just have to remember to relax and just let the rules be rules.
          – Draco18s
          6 hours ago




          Rules being rules, this is the rulesy answer. Is the physicist in us all that screams, "But vibrations in the ground are sound!" And we just have to remember to relax and just let the rules be rules.
          – Draco18s
          6 hours ago




          3




          3




          After many years of playing I can't count the times I have been tempted to mix physics and magic, but I have learned that it is usually bad idea. It's not supposed to mix.
          – Ling
          4 hours ago




          After many years of playing I can't count the times I have been tempted to mix physics and magic, but I have learned that it is usually bad idea. It's not supposed to mix.
          – Ling
          4 hours ago












          up vote
          6
          down vote













          This isn't really covered explicitly by the rules so you have a few options that is basically down to your group to pick from.



          The most RAW interpretation: No



          Silence doesn't say that it stops vibrations, Tremorsense doesn't mention requiring sound, only that the target is in contact with the ground. This could be interpreted as Silence 'stilling' the air and not affecting the ground.



          The most intuitive answer: Yes



          For obvious reasons sound is only vibrations and the area would include the ground.



          Conclusion:



          Personally, as a DM I would be inclined to give this to my party for an inventive use of the spell. It also causes a lot of issues for the party in casting other spells and communication.



          I wouldn't use the same tactic against the party, however, as it would feel cheap on their side, eliminating entirely one of their abilities.






          share|improve this answer



















          • 2




            There are arguments against your second option. Emanations cannot pass through solid objects (ie: the ground), so the effect of silence would stop exactly where those vibrations would be happening.
            – ShadowKras
            9 hours ago






          • 1




            @ShadowKras this would imply you could still listen by pressing your ear to the ground, which definitely seems against the intention of a Silence spell
            – Cyberspark
            9 hours ago










          • That's a form of detecting that is simply not covered by the spell, which only blocks sound.
            – ShadowKras
            9 hours ago






          • 9




            Sound is a longitudinal compression wave, which is totally different from the transversal waves that is a tremor.
            – Trish
            9 hours ago










          • Personally I'd go half way. A silence would act like light obscurement, but also allow stealth checks. It would dampen the tremorsense without blinding it.
            – Yakk
            1 hour ago















          up vote
          6
          down vote













          This isn't really covered explicitly by the rules so you have a few options that is basically down to your group to pick from.



          The most RAW interpretation: No



          Silence doesn't say that it stops vibrations, Tremorsense doesn't mention requiring sound, only that the target is in contact with the ground. This could be interpreted as Silence 'stilling' the air and not affecting the ground.



          The most intuitive answer: Yes



          For obvious reasons sound is only vibrations and the area would include the ground.



          Conclusion:



          Personally, as a DM I would be inclined to give this to my party for an inventive use of the spell. It also causes a lot of issues for the party in casting other spells and communication.



          I wouldn't use the same tactic against the party, however, as it would feel cheap on their side, eliminating entirely one of their abilities.






          share|improve this answer



















          • 2




            There are arguments against your second option. Emanations cannot pass through solid objects (ie: the ground), so the effect of silence would stop exactly where those vibrations would be happening.
            – ShadowKras
            9 hours ago






          • 1




            @ShadowKras this would imply you could still listen by pressing your ear to the ground, which definitely seems against the intention of a Silence spell
            – Cyberspark
            9 hours ago










          • That's a form of detecting that is simply not covered by the spell, which only blocks sound.
            – ShadowKras
            9 hours ago






          • 9




            Sound is a longitudinal compression wave, which is totally different from the transversal waves that is a tremor.
            – Trish
            9 hours ago










          • Personally I'd go half way. A silence would act like light obscurement, but also allow stealth checks. It would dampen the tremorsense without blinding it.
            – Yakk
            1 hour ago













          up vote
          6
          down vote










          up vote
          6
          down vote









          This isn't really covered explicitly by the rules so you have a few options that is basically down to your group to pick from.



          The most RAW interpretation: No



          Silence doesn't say that it stops vibrations, Tremorsense doesn't mention requiring sound, only that the target is in contact with the ground. This could be interpreted as Silence 'stilling' the air and not affecting the ground.



          The most intuitive answer: Yes



          For obvious reasons sound is only vibrations and the area would include the ground.



          Conclusion:



          Personally, as a DM I would be inclined to give this to my party for an inventive use of the spell. It also causes a lot of issues for the party in casting other spells and communication.



          I wouldn't use the same tactic against the party, however, as it would feel cheap on their side, eliminating entirely one of their abilities.






          share|improve this answer














          This isn't really covered explicitly by the rules so you have a few options that is basically down to your group to pick from.



          The most RAW interpretation: No



          Silence doesn't say that it stops vibrations, Tremorsense doesn't mention requiring sound, only that the target is in contact with the ground. This could be interpreted as Silence 'stilling' the air and not affecting the ground.



          The most intuitive answer: Yes



          For obvious reasons sound is only vibrations and the area would include the ground.



          Conclusion:



          Personally, as a DM I would be inclined to give this to my party for an inventive use of the spell. It also causes a lot of issues for the party in casting other spells and communication.



          I wouldn't use the same tactic against the party, however, as it would feel cheap on their side, eliminating entirely one of their abilities.







          share|improve this answer














          share|improve this answer



          share|improve this answer








          edited 9 hours ago

























          answered 9 hours ago









          Cyberspark

          57229




          57229








          • 2




            There are arguments against your second option. Emanations cannot pass through solid objects (ie: the ground), so the effect of silence would stop exactly where those vibrations would be happening.
            – ShadowKras
            9 hours ago






          • 1




            @ShadowKras this would imply you could still listen by pressing your ear to the ground, which definitely seems against the intention of a Silence spell
            – Cyberspark
            9 hours ago










          • That's a form of detecting that is simply not covered by the spell, which only blocks sound.
            – ShadowKras
            9 hours ago






          • 9




            Sound is a longitudinal compression wave, which is totally different from the transversal waves that is a tremor.
            – Trish
            9 hours ago










          • Personally I'd go half way. A silence would act like light obscurement, but also allow stealth checks. It would dampen the tremorsense without blinding it.
            – Yakk
            1 hour ago














          • 2




            There are arguments against your second option. Emanations cannot pass through solid objects (ie: the ground), so the effect of silence would stop exactly where those vibrations would be happening.
            – ShadowKras
            9 hours ago






          • 1




            @ShadowKras this would imply you could still listen by pressing your ear to the ground, which definitely seems against the intention of a Silence spell
            – Cyberspark
            9 hours ago










          • That's a form of detecting that is simply not covered by the spell, which only blocks sound.
            – ShadowKras
            9 hours ago






          • 9




            Sound is a longitudinal compression wave, which is totally different from the transversal waves that is a tremor.
            – Trish
            9 hours ago










          • Personally I'd go half way. A silence would act like light obscurement, but also allow stealth checks. It would dampen the tremorsense without blinding it.
            – Yakk
            1 hour ago








          2




          2




          There are arguments against your second option. Emanations cannot pass through solid objects (ie: the ground), so the effect of silence would stop exactly where those vibrations would be happening.
          – ShadowKras
          9 hours ago




          There are arguments against your second option. Emanations cannot pass through solid objects (ie: the ground), so the effect of silence would stop exactly where those vibrations would be happening.
          – ShadowKras
          9 hours ago




          1




          1




          @ShadowKras this would imply you could still listen by pressing your ear to the ground, which definitely seems against the intention of a Silence spell
          – Cyberspark
          9 hours ago




          @ShadowKras this would imply you could still listen by pressing your ear to the ground, which definitely seems against the intention of a Silence spell
          – Cyberspark
          9 hours ago












          That's a form of detecting that is simply not covered by the spell, which only blocks sound.
          – ShadowKras
          9 hours ago




          That's a form of detecting that is simply not covered by the spell, which only blocks sound.
          – ShadowKras
          9 hours ago




          9




          9




          Sound is a longitudinal compression wave, which is totally different from the transversal waves that is a tremor.
          – Trish
          9 hours ago




          Sound is a longitudinal compression wave, which is totally different from the transversal waves that is a tremor.
          – Trish
          9 hours ago












          Personally I'd go half way. A silence would act like light obscurement, but also allow stealth checks. It would dampen the tremorsense without blinding it.
          – Yakk
          1 hour ago




          Personally I'd go half way. A silence would act like light obscurement, but also allow stealth checks. It would dampen the tremorsense without blinding it.
          – Yakk
          1 hour ago


















           

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