Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Pliskit 07-01-05, 07:45 PM	I play a gnome druid. One of my minor problems is, when I´m in gnomeshape and standing at the back of the party, I can´t see what´s going on up front because of the Calimero-effect: I´m small and they´re not. So I asked one of my gnome kinsmen to craft me a device that could keep me informed, and he came up with a periscope... I´ve had this device for some time now and only used it for roleplaying purposes, but now I´m thinking, would this allow me to cast around a corner? For most spells, you just need line of sight right, so if I can peer around a corner with my periscope, I could SEE where I´m casting. From there on it´s line of effect from the point of origin of my spell, but that doesn´t have anything to do with my position anymore as long as the spell doesn´t emanate from my person... So I would say it´s possible! What´s your opinion?
Jaid 07-01-05, 07:57 PM	Line of Effect is just as necessary as line of sight. in other words, you must have a direct line between you and your target. however, if you want an idea... provided you are high enough level, craft an item of Tenser's Floating Disk (always on). give it to a team-mate, and ride it (if you want, you are light enough you could fortify your position =P ) use project image to change your LOE. otherwise, you need both LOS and LOE for most spells. and LOE is determined with you as the source. for the record though, you want to be in the middle, not the back. the back is every bit as dangerous as the front, because while there are fewer things that attack from the back, they tend to be surprising you and doing horribly unpleasant things like sneak attacking for lots of damage.
smrtgmp 07-01-05, 08:07 PM	Just because you're small doesnt mean you cant see whats going on. Mechanically speaking, you can see just as well as everyone else. Its not as if your companions fill their 5ft square completely, there is plenty of open space to see through. Plus, given your height, you could probably look through their legs if nothing else. I also agree with Jaid's take on the matter.
Pliskit 07-01-05, 08:09 PM	Jaid: Not to doubt your words of course, but can you point out the page where it says you need LOE as well as LOS when targetting your spell? As for the being in the back of the party, I had some surprises coming my way, but nothing I couldn´t handle by wildshaping to something big in my move-action and either damaging or healing myself in my standard action :D Smrtgmp: Our party consists of 5 people, human and elves alike. I´m the only gnome and mostly walking in the back. I know chars aren´t occupying their whole 5ft square, but this is dealed with in the complete coverage rules :D Well, there might be some debate about that, it´s just fun roleplay to grab my periscope to see what´s going on...
Jaid 07-01-05, 11:21 PM	Line of Effect: A line of effect is a straight, unblocked path that indicates what a spell can affect. A line of effect is canceled by a solid barrier. It’s like line of sight for ranged weapons, except that it’s not blocked by fog, darkness, and other factors that limit normal sight. You must have a clear line of effect to any target that you cast a spell on or to any space in which you wish to create an effect. You must have a clear line of effect to the point of origin of any spell you cast. A burst, cone, cylinder, or emanation spell affects only an area, creatures, or objects to which it has line of effect from its origin (a spherical burst’s center point, a cone-shaped burst’s starting point, a cylinder’s circle, or an emanation’s point of origin). An otherwise solid barrier with a hole of at least 1 square foot through it does not block a spell’s line of effect. Such an opening means that the 5-foot length of wall containing the hole is no longer considered a barrier for purposes of a spell’s line of effect. the bolded part should clarify that. *you* must have LOE. not your periscope.
Pliskit 07-02-05, 08:11 AM	Clear! Thanks a lot Jaid!
Jack Greylock 07-02-05, 07:49 PM	The best way to do this is too boost you Concentration as high as you can and take the Mobile Spellcasting feat from the Complete Arcane. It is the equivalent of shot on the run or spring attack, for spellcasters. By making a concentration roll with a DC of 20 + the spell level, you can cast whille moving. This allows you to move into view around the corner, fire off your spell and then turn around and get back around the corner to relative safety. This can also be done defensively but that increases the Concetration check by 5.