Q: Wall of Sand [Archive] - Wizards Community

Q: Wall of Sand [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
DarkKnight
04-30-06, 12:51 AM Ok, I have access to the Wall of Sand spell from Sandstorm and I'm curious about a few things.

First: in the second paragraph of the spell it specificaly says that "no physical attack can harm the wall but it can pass through it" (not the full quote but close) what about magical attacks, say Magic Missle or Lightning Bolt?

Second: later in the same paragraph it says "the sand blocks line of effect for any fire spell" does this mean that any other subtype of spell is not blocked, such as electrical or acid?

Finally: the last sentence of the paragraph says "creatures on the opposite side of the wall from the attack's origin have total concealment against that attack" does this refer to any attack or just attacks from fire spells?

Thanks
solbergb
05-01-06, 03:27 PM Ok, from the flavor of the spell as well as the description.

Wall of Sand doesn't stop physical attacks, and physical attacks can't harm the sand. (this is very much like ordinary weapons on a swarm type creature)

Wall of Sand blocks line of sight, but not line of effect. This is very much like how wall of fire works, or how a fog spell works.

Fire spells are an exception. Sand puts out fires, presumably by smothering them, so the wall blocks line of sight AND line of effect for fire spells. Any fire effect that goes into the area is stopped, just as from a solid wall.

So your questions in order:

Magic Missile can't be targeted through the wall, because it blocks line of sight (stuff on other side has full concealment)

Lightning bolt goes through the wall as if it wasn't there, since it isn't a fire effect and also has no need for line of sight.

Blocking fire does in fact imply not blocking other effects. As does the rest of the spell description. The fire sentence indicates that fire (and only fire) is stopped by the wall. (similar to the surface of water, which blocks fire spells but not other spells)

The final sentence is that concealment always works A wall of sand would quite reasonably block line of sight, and there isn't any reason why it would only do it for fire effects.

This spell isn't that different from many other effects. As long as you keep line of effect and line of sight straight, you should be ok ruling it.
DarkKnight
05-02-06, 12:49 AM Thanks for the help. Some of these spells get a little confusing.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
DarkKnight 04-30-06, 12:51 AM	Ok, I have access to the Wall of Sand spell from Sandstorm and I'm curious about a few things. First: in the second paragraph of the spell it specificaly says that "no physical attack can harm the wall but it can pass through it" (not the full quote but close) what about magical attacks, say Magic Missle or Lightning Bolt? Second: later in the same paragraph it says "the sand blocks line of effect for any fire spell" does this mean that any other subtype of spell is not blocked, such as electrical or acid? Finally: the last sentence of the paragraph says "creatures on the opposite side of the wall from the attack's origin have total concealment against that attack" does this refer to any attack or just attacks from fire spells? Thanks
solbergb 05-01-06, 03:27 PM	Ok, from the flavor of the spell as well as the description. Wall of Sand doesn't stop physical attacks, and physical attacks can't harm the sand. (this is very much like ordinary weapons on a swarm type creature) Wall of Sand blocks line of sight, but not line of effect. This is very much like how wall of fire works, or how a fog spell works. Fire spells are an exception. Sand puts out fires, presumably by smothering them, so the wall blocks line of sight AND line of effect for fire spells. Any fire effect that goes into the area is stopped, just as from a solid wall. So your questions in order: Magic Missile can't be targeted through the wall, because it blocks line of sight (stuff on other side has full concealment) Lightning bolt goes through the wall as if it wasn't there, since it isn't a fire effect and also has no need for line of sight. Blocking fire does in fact imply not blocking other effects. As does the rest of the spell description. The fire sentence indicates that fire (and only fire) is stopped by the wall. (similar to the surface of water, which blocks fire spells but not other spells) The final sentence is that concealment always works A wall of sand would quite reasonably block line of sight, and there isn't any reason why it would only do it for fire effects. This spell isn't that different from many other effects. As long as you keep line of effect and line of sight straight, you should be ok ruling it.
DarkKnight 05-02-06, 12:49 AM	Thanks for the help. Some of these spells get a little confusing.