Cone Range Question [Archive] - Wizards Community

Cone Range Question [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
DMGuy1234
06-14-05, 04:20 AM I looked everywhere in the guides and I couldn't get a difinitive answer to my question. Hopefully somebody can help me out with this:

If I cast a spell with a 60 ft. cone range with obstacles in the way, what's the method I use to determine which squares are safe and which ones are hit?

Here is my specific question: my caster is 15 feet (3 squares) distance from a doorway. If I cast my 60 ft. cone range through the door, which squares will be affected through the doorway?

The way I'm calculating this now is that the cone spreads to adjacent squares after the doorway every 10 feet. Is this correct, or is there a better way to do this?

Thanks very much for taking the time to help me out.
Rulebook
06-14-05, 10:15 AM well, seeing as 3.5 dosent do things like variable shaping (the old 20'radius fireball in a 30' hallway thing) it would proceed as normal to the wall and door, and through the door (if its open or breaks) to the normal limit of spell range. it dosent make a new smaller cone, it proceeds along the same cone as it would have unobstructed.
tarkin
06-14-05, 11:26 AM The question is basically, is it a burst (emanation) or spread.

Spreads turn corners.
Burst and Emmantations do not.

Most cones are Spreads I believe, so they have no "blast shadows"

A spell such as detect Magic is an emmanation, so standing behind a solid lead wall will protect you, even if there is an open door next to you.

But against a fireball, you only get the benefit of cover, as it is a spread and spreads out getting you even though you are hiding behind the wall with no direct line of effect to the center of the fireball.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
DMGuy1234 06-14-05, 04:20 AM	I looked everywhere in the guides and I couldn't get a difinitive answer to my question. Hopefully somebody can help me out with this: If I cast a spell with a 60 ft. cone range with obstacles in the way, what's the method I use to determine which squares are safe and which ones are hit? Here is my specific question: my caster is 15 feet (3 squares) distance from a doorway. If I cast my 60 ft. cone range through the door, which squares will be affected through the doorway? The way I'm calculating this now is that the cone spreads to adjacent squares after the doorway every 10 feet. Is this correct, or is there a better way to do this? Thanks very much for taking the time to help me out.
Rulebook 06-14-05, 10:15 AM	well, seeing as 3.5 dosent do things like variable shaping (the old 20'radius fireball in a 30' hallway thing) it would proceed as normal to the wall and door, and through the door (if its open or breaks) to the normal limit of spell range. it dosent make a new smaller cone, it proceeds along the same cone as it would have unobstructed.
tarkin 06-14-05, 11:26 AM	The question is basically, is it a burst (emanation) or spread. Spreads turn corners. Burst and Emmantations do not. Most cones are Spreads I believe, so they have no "blast shadows" A spell such as detect Magic is an emmanation, so standing behind a solid lead wall will protect you, even if there is an open door next to you. But against a fireball, you only get the benefit of cover, as it is a spread and spreads out getting you even though you are hiding behind the wall with no direct line of effect to the center of the fireball.