Concerning: Fireball [Archive] - Wizards Community

Concerning: Fireball [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
yourReality
02-07-06, 03:00 PM Fireball, most frequently used spell in almost all of D&D.
I mean who has guilt about tossing an explosion at someone?
But...
As a DM i obviously have PCs with conflicting opinions on the topic of exaclty how a fireball works.
For example, i believe fireball to be a globe of flame that erupts at the destination, when one of my PCs believe it to be rather a 2 dimensional ring of fire that covers the radius.
Whose right?
(i think i am but thats what im here to find out)
cwslyclgh
02-07-06, 03:13 PM what does a ball look like? there is your answer... (a spell that produced a 2-d ring of flame would be better neamed firefrisby don't you think)...

from the SRD:

A spread spell spreads out like a burst but can turn corners. You select the point of origin, and the spell spreads out a given distance in all directions. sounds spherical to me.
SiouLubb
02-07-06, 04:01 PM The 20' radius ball in all directions is the way it goes. Hopefully your DM isn't an engineer and decides that "all the fire has to go somewhere" and rules that the Fireball expands to the full cubic volume if the walls are tighter than the full spread of the Fireball allows. This is why my Sorc will not be getting Fireball.
tarkin
02-07-06, 04:09 PM 1) Fireball is more like an explosion - but it is in 3-D. It is not an even sphere of fire. This allows a save. If it was even, you would get none without moving out of the sphere.

2) As per the WoTC rules, areas of spell can be constrained but not expanded/shaped by things that block line of effect.

I.E. If you are in a 5ft radius shaft, 100 ft tall, and someone targets a fireball 25 ft away from you are totally safe because the spell will never exceed the 20ft radius.

Also, in case you are wondering, being in an area twice (or more times) still only gives you regular damage.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
yourReality 02-07-06, 03:00 PM	Fireball, most frequently used spell in almost all of D&D. I mean who has guilt about tossing an explosion at someone? But... As a DM i obviously have PCs with conflicting opinions on the topic of exaclty how a fireball works. For example, i believe fireball to be a globe of flame that erupts at the destination, when one of my PCs believe it to be rather a 2 dimensional ring of fire that covers the radius. Whose right? (i think i am but thats what im here to find out)
cwslyclgh 02-07-06, 03:13 PM	what does a ball look like? there is your answer... (a spell that produced a 2-d ring of flame would be better neamed firefrisby don't you think)... from the SRD: A spread spell spreads out like a burst but can turn corners. You select the point of origin, and the spell spreads out a given distance in all directions. sounds spherical to me.
SiouLubb 02-07-06, 04:01 PM	The 20' radius ball in all directions is the way it goes. Hopefully your DM isn't an engineer and decides that "all the fire has to go somewhere" and rules that the Fireball expands to the full cubic volume if the walls are tighter than the full spread of the Fireball allows. This is why my Sorc will not be getting Fireball.
tarkin 02-07-06, 04:09 PM	1) Fireball is more like an explosion - but it is in 3-D. It is not an even sphere of fire. This allows a save. If it was even, you would get none without moving out of the sphere. 2) As per the WoTC rules, areas of spell can be constrained but not expanded/shaped by things that block line of effect. I.E. If you are in a 5ft radius shaft, 100 ft tall, and someone targets a fireball 25 ft away from you are totally safe because the spell will never exceed the 20ft radius. Also, in case you are wondering, being in an area twice (or more times) still only gives you regular damage.