Spellcasting in Continuous Area Affect Spells [Archive] - Wizards Community

Spellcasting in Continuous Area Affect Spells [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Paul H
03-16-07, 07:11 AM Hi

Long title thread - but sums up the question.

1) Does a spell caster have to make a concentration check when trying to cast spell in a continual effect? (Eg Haboob spell).

2) Do spellcasters have to make a concentration check to maintain spells in said area? (Eg Detect Magic)

3) What's the DC for (1)?

4) What's the DC for (2)?

5) Lastly, what happens if caster moves through area, out the other side & casts, taking damage as they moved?

Not sure if this is the same as continuous damage, such as from melf's Acid Arrow, since damage stops if caster leaves area of effect.
Remember seeing answer (yes) to (1) somewhere, but can't find it.

Cheers
Paul H
Arvagor
03-16-07, 08:36 AM IMO...

1) YES. If you choose to remain in the area of effect, and the effect deals damage while in the area, then IMO it's the same as "continuous damage"

2) YES. Ditto to the above, and if you fail the check, the result to your spell is whatever would happen if you stopped concentrating

3) 10 + half of continuous damage last dealt

4) 10 + half of continuous damage last dealt

5) Were they concentrating on an existing spell, or casting while moving? Then they'll need to make a Concentration check
Paul H
03-16-07, 11:36 AM Hi

Thanks - Thought that was the case. (Wasn't sure about DC).

Situation was non-LG home game, when my multi-classed Druid cast Haboob. Much loud derision of my char for casting spell (only does 2D4/rnd), but I cast it to divvy up battleground & force unseen spellcaster to make Concentration checks. (It was a rather large ambush, with more summoned creatures arriving each round).

Cheers
Paul H
solbergb
03-22-07, 06:54 PM given that I cast obscuring mist or fog cloud in situations like that, which does zero damage, I fail to understand the derision.

Haboob is a good spell, in the same sense that acid fog is a good spell. The damage is irrelevant unless you can't escape the area for some reason, but blocking vision and slowing movement is useful all by itself. The main advantage of the higher level damaging spells is they discourage the enemy from using the spell defensively, it pretty much purely hampers them instead of being a mixed blessing.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Paul H 03-16-07, 07:11 AM	Hi Long title thread - but sums up the question. 1) Does a spell caster have to make a concentration check when trying to cast spell in a continual effect? (Eg Haboob spell). 2) Do spellcasters have to make a concentration check to maintain spells in said area? (Eg Detect Magic) 3) What's the DC for (1)? 4) What's the DC for (2)? 5) Lastly, what happens if caster moves through area, out the other side & casts, taking damage as they moved? Not sure if this is the same as continuous damage, such as from melf's Acid Arrow, since damage stops if caster leaves area of effect. Remember seeing answer (yes) to (1) somewhere, but can't find it. Cheers Paul H
Arvagor 03-16-07, 08:36 AM	IMO... 1) YES. If you choose to remain in the area of effect, and the effect deals damage while in the area, then IMO it's the same as "continuous damage" 2) YES. Ditto to the above, and if you fail the check, the result to your spell is whatever would happen if you stopped concentrating 3) 10 + half of continuous damage last dealt 4) 10 + half of continuous damage last dealt 5) Were they concentrating on an existing spell, or casting while moving? Then they'll need to make a Concentration check
Paul H 03-16-07, 11:36 AM	Hi Thanks - Thought that was the case. (Wasn't sure about DC). Situation was non-LG home game, when my multi-classed Druid cast Haboob. Much loud derision of my char for casting spell (only does 2D4/rnd), but I cast it to divvy up battleground & force unseen spellcaster to make Concentration checks. (It was a rather large ambush, with more summoned creatures arriving each round). Cheers Paul H
solbergb 03-22-07, 06:54 PM	given that I cast obscuring mist or fog cloud in situations like that, which does zero damage, I fail to understand the derision. Haboob is a good spell, in the same sense that acid fog is a good spell. The damage is irrelevant unless you can't escape the area for some reason, but blocking vision and slowing movement is useful all by itself. The main advantage of the higher level damaging spells is they discourage the enemy from using the spell defensively, it pretty much purely hampers them instead of being a mixed blessing.