Why the final word on Warcaster is perfect
Not-so friendly fire
We can finally draw a line under the great Warcaster debate of 2025.
Since the release of D&D’s new ruleset, many argue the updated wording of opportunity attacks opens a huge loophole.
A creature no longer has to be “hostile” to provoke these attacks, suggesting with the Warcaster feat you could take an opportunity attack and cast a friendly spell on your ally.
And of course, as nerds, this gave us an opportunity to argue.
Personally, I felt this was a bad faith interpretation of the rules and told my players as much when they were choosing feats a few weeks ago.
For me, opportunity attacks represent the cut and thrust of battle and the idea that retreating from an opponent should carry an element of risk.
The idea of a Barbarian giving a conga line of high fives to every spellcaster on the battlefield to collect a series of buffs seemed contrary to that notion.
But if you agree with me, you’re in for a shock.
As D&D Youtube began to take tongue in cheek shots at each over the issue, the Dungeon Dudes brought in the big guns by turning to Makenzie De Armas and Justice Arman.
These two key designers of the 2024 rules gave three important rulings:
No, this loophole was not intentional but…
It is a fair reading of the new rules and…
You should allow it at your table if your group thinks it sounds fun.
I'll link the full video below, but any rules clarification from such trusted sources, will understandably give Dungeon Master's food for thought.
I was particularly persuaded by the argument that any group willing to put the amount of investment required to achieve the ‘Barbarian high five conga’ deserved to see results.
I was also reassured by the reminder that nothing bad has ever happened to a party that chose to group together in a line.
But it was the third point that I think is the most important: “if it sounds fun to your table”.
It's a reminder that no rule book is a sacred text - every game should be an interpretation of the rules that creates fun at your table.
So, will I change my own ruling on this loophole?
Well, I'm always willing to hear new ideas
🪄 How would you rule on “friendly fire” Warcasters?
🔨 What’s your favourite rules loophole?
The BBEG deflects the barbarian’s attack with their active Ring of Globe of Invulnerability, sidesteps 5’, and casts Lightning Bolt along the conga line.
I laugh at “Barbarian high five conga”. And I tend to agree, we have changed so many rules since we started playing, even just myself when I solo play. The end goal is always to have fun. Usually what we do is that we agree on a ruling we want to try for the session and keep until it ends. That way even if it was a mess we now know, then decide to not use that ruling for the next one. It give us “opportunity” (no bad word here) to test things on a regular basis instead of per module/campaign.