Area of Effect Spells [Archive] - Wizards Community

Area of Effect Spells [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
spyderfreek
03-26-07, 04:27 PM I know when a fireball (& similar) is/are in a room they still expend the same volume. (This may be a variant rule, but we use it.) So what happens in the case of a spell like Flamsetrike? does it still use the same volume? Or does it only affect the predetermined area?

EXAMPLE:

20 x 20 room, Flamestrike has a 10' radius. We were trying to center on a square adjacent to 2 walls. Does the spell reflect and fill its total volume, or does it only affect the 10' radius around the chosen square?
Vegepygmy
03-26-07, 04:30 PM You are using an unofficial variant rule. How it works and what happens as a result are entirely up to you.
tarkin
03-26-07, 04:41 PM Officially, the rules are:

1. No area effect spell may exceed it's area.

2. No Area effect spell may exceed it's range (cast a fireball centered at maximum range and you basically get half a fireball).

3. Any area effect spell that is blocked does damage to the blocking object. But note, that Tower Shields are attended objects and get saves. If it destroys the item, it can do full damage to whatever used to be protected by the item.

4. A spread spell can turn a corner, so total cover from say a tower shield does not help unless it completely blocks the area (like say in front of a small passage way that the shield will not fit into unless held sideways), so that it can not turn around the corner. But being completely enclosed, in say a resilient sphere will save you.

5. A Burst spell can not turn a corner, so cover can help against it. A Tower shield can help, even if it does not block a passage way.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
spyderfreek 03-26-07, 04:27 PM	I know when a fireball (& similar) is/are in a room they still expend the same volume. (This may be a variant rule, but we use it.) So what happens in the case of a spell like Flamsetrike? does it still use the same volume? Or does it only affect the predetermined area? EXAMPLE: 20 x 20 room, Flamestrike has a 10' radius. We were trying to center on a square adjacent to 2 walls. Does the spell reflect and fill its total volume, or does it only affect the 10' radius around the chosen square?
Vegepygmy 03-26-07, 04:30 PM	You are using an unofficial variant rule. How it works and what happens as a result are entirely up to you.
tarkin 03-26-07, 04:41 PM	Officially, the rules are: 1. No area effect spell may exceed it's area. 2. No Area effect spell may exceed it's range (cast a fireball centered at maximum range and you basically get half a fireball). 3. Any area effect spell that is blocked does damage to the blocking object. But note, that Tower Shields are attended objects and get saves. If it destroys the item, it can do full damage to whatever used to be protected by the item. 4. A spread spell can turn a corner, so total cover from say a tower shield does not help unless it completely blocks the area (like say in front of a small passage way that the shield will not fit into unless held sideways), so that it can not turn around the corner. But being completely enclosed, in say a resilient sphere will save you. 5. A Burst spell can not turn a corner, so cover can help against it. A Tower shield can help, even if it does not block a passage way.