Help with the cave-in.

[Baronpretzels]

I'm at the part where Nere is stuck in a cave and a bunch of gnome slaves are trying to dig him out. I said I had explosives to help clear the rubble. How do I use said explosives without hurting anyone?

[Mike Garrison]

Just put the explosives down next to the rubble. All the gnomes will run away.

Then move back a bit yourself and trigger the explosives. I like a firebolt cantrip, personally.

[Ironwu]

You need to use the barrel with explosives. Not the one with oil or whatever.

When you place the correct barrel next to the rocks, they will all run away from there.

[Lod101]

place the explosive by the cave in( don't throw it)
say " fire in the hole" and watch as they all skedaddle into safety.
set off the explosive.

[Sonrangeri]

As soon as you drop explosive, miners always run away from bomb. Don't throw it to cave-in, drop it from inventory close, and use firebolt cantrip to explode it from range.

[Touvez]

Or smash with a hammer

[Chaosolous]

IIRC once you place it everyone will run away from it. Just wait for them to be clear from the blast radius. They should do it automatically.