Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Shiftkitty 04-11-08, 07:19 PM	Circle of Death Is Circle of Death blocked by walls? If there is a watchtower within the 40' radius that's about 30' high, is the person in the tower required to make a saving throw? (Essentially, is the spell 2 dimensional or 3 dimensional? If it's 3 dimensional, would a caster want to make sure he has no allies underground? (This was part of a Prison Break scenario, and tunnels had been dug that were less than 40' beneath the surface.) Shrink Item A wizard cast shrink item on a "well-secured" cuirass that the BBEG of the adventure was wearing. The cuirass failed its save and was affected full-on by the spell. How do you determine what bursts first, the cuirass, or the cuirass wearer? (This is a metal cuirass, and which direction the story goes from here may hinge on the answer to this question.)
groveborn 04-11-08, 08:20 PM	Circle of Death spell Necromancy [Death] Level: Sorcerer/Wizard 6 Components: V, S, M Casting Time: 1 standard action Range: Medium (100 ft. + 10 ft./level) Area: Several living creatures within a 40-ft. -radius burst Duration: Instantaneous Saving Throw: Fortitude negates Spell Resistance: Yes Burst, Emanation, or Spread: Most spells that affect an area function as a burst, an emanation, or a spread. In each case, you select the spell's point of origin and measure its effect from that point. A burst spell affects whatever it catches in its area, even including creatures that you can't see. It can't affect creatures with total cover from its point of origin (in other words, its effects don't extend around corners). The default shape for a burst effect is a sphere, but some burst spells are specifically described as cone-shaped. A burst's area defines how far from the point of origin the spell's effect extends. Sphere. As for the question about the armor, I believe that the buckles would break, being made of leather typically. Since its general density is being reduced rapidly, the straps would simply lose integrity. This spell was not designed to cause damage to creatures, and should generally be unable to do so. On closer examination, I'd say the spell will autofail as well, as the cuirass is basically a container, and the content (the BBEG) is unable to be affected by the spell. This is entirely a judgment call by the DM, but it is my recommendation it not work at all. I don't believe the rules speak to this subject well enough to cite one way or the other.
Tedronai 04-12-08, 02:56 AM	Is Circle of Death blocked by walls? All spells require line of effect unless specified otherwise. Circle of Death doesn't specify otherwise, so it, too, requires line of effect. As for the cuirrass, I'd take a page from Enlarge Person's clause on expanding a creature beyond the space available in their current environment. (essentially, the spell will fail, or at most cause the cuirass to fall off if the DM is feeling particularly generous - what that would do to the armour's AC bonus is another issue entirely)
Shiftkitty 04-12-08, 10:26 AM	Okay, thanks guys. If this was a less serious game, I would have enjoyed describing the bad guy's eyes popping out in Tex Avery style with his head ballooned up like a huge tomato, but as this is a more serious game, perhaps I'll just have the straps give way, which will still give the BBEG a chance to get away and report to his bosses, who are currently unaware of who exactly is thwarting their operation. If the BBEG of the game gets away, they will have at least a description. If he doesn't get away, well, the Uber BBEG is going to ramp up her efforts to find these guys. Maybe even setting up... (drum roll)... A TRAP!:evillaugh