Aiming Spells [Archive] - Wizards Community

Aiming Spells [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
heinrich
08-24-05, 04:21 AM Hi,

I thought about the rules for aiming spells. Some spells, like rays need attack rolls to hit a specific target. That seems quite logical.
Other offensice spells need not. While it is easy to designate the lightnig bolt's line(s) of effect it might be difficult to place a fireball to the exact spot that it has the maximum number off enemies in its area of effect, but not the allies that are in melee with them.

So I wonderd if anyone has houserules about this or is maybe using the grenade-like weapon rules in such cases. The DCs to hit the right point in space arn't too high, but the caster could fail by one 5ft.-suare and therfore have still an effect but only on 3 instead of four enemies.

Or would such a thing be off balance ?
Thanks,
Heinrich
Salla
08-24-05, 10:32 AM I was actually pondering something like that myself for targetting ranged Area of Effect spells just the other night. The only people it would really affect would be blast wizards/sorcs/warmages, but once the party gets up around 7th-9th level, blast damage becomes inefficient anyway compared to using Save Or Die or Battlefield Control magic ... so, really, it's kind of a toss-up. If they're using blasties against foes around their Challenge Rating, they're kind of nerfing themselves already.
Phrennzy
08-24-05, 12:22 PM I've never felt the need.

I let the mage place the fireball or web exactly where he wants it - that's what the grid is for.

I do not give him an enormous amount of time to debate where the best position is, but I don't rush him.

I rationalize it away by saying that area of effect spells have built in targetting systems. Perhaps as you are casting it, the spell enables you to see a ghost-image of the effect, which you can move aorund to acheive the desired effect.

I see no reason to bog down the casting even more - or to make it less accurate.

If you really must, then call for a touch attack roll, just like if he was firing a ray at the ground in the area.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
heinrich 08-24-05, 04:21 AM	Hi, I thought about the rules for aiming spells. Some spells, like rays need attack rolls to hit a specific target. That seems quite logical. Other offensice spells need not. While it is easy to designate the lightnig bolt's line(s) of effect it might be difficult to place a fireball to the exact spot that it has the maximum number off enemies in its area of effect, but not the allies that are in melee with them. So I wonderd if anyone has houserules about this or is maybe using the grenade-like weapon rules in such cases. The DCs to hit the right point in space arn't too high, but the caster could fail by one 5ft.-suare and therfore have still an effect but only on 3 instead of four enemies. Or would such a thing be off balance ? Thanks, Heinrich
Salla 08-24-05, 10:32 AM	I was actually pondering something like that myself for targetting ranged Area of Effect spells just the other night. The only people it would really affect would be blast wizards/sorcs/warmages, but once the party gets up around 7th-9th level, blast damage becomes inefficient anyway compared to using Save Or Die or Battlefield Control magic ... so, really, it's kind of a toss-up. If they're using blasties against foes around their Challenge Rating, they're kind of nerfing themselves already.
Phrennzy 08-24-05, 12:22 PM	I've never felt the need. I let the mage place the fireball or web exactly where he wants it - that's what the grid is for. I do not give him an enormous amount of time to debate where the best position is, but I don't rush him. I rationalize it away by saying that area of effect spells have built in targetting systems. Perhaps as you are casting it, the spell enables you to see a ghost-image of the effect, which you can move aorund to acheive the desired effect. I see no reason to bog down the casting even more - or to make it less accurate. If you really must, then call for a touch attack roll, just like if he was firing a ray at the ground in the area.