Dance of Ruin and Death Throes: Bursts or Spreads? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Dance of Ruin and Death Throes: Bursts or Spreads? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
J. Grenemyer
01-28-04, 05:15 PM Hello Everyone!

Two quick questions I was hoping one or more of you might have an answer to or informed opinion on: When a Balor explodes during it’s Death Throes, is that explosion a Burst or a Spread? When a Vrock’s Dance of Ruin goes off, is that a Burst or a Spread?

Thanks in advance to everyone who answers!

:D
cwslyclgh
01-28-04, 05:33 PM I would say that a balor's death throes is a burst, it reads more like a burst then a spread... basically the thing just explodes.

the dance of ruin ability I would say is a spread (based upon the fact that the spell of the same name and obviously based upon the ability, from the BoVD, is a spread).
J. Grenemyer
01-28-04, 05:38 PM Thanks cwslyclgh!!

I did not even occur to me that by BoVD would have such information, so thanks also for noting that.

May I ask another question:

The rules for summoned creatures indicate they disappear when they hit 0 hit points, however a Balor's death throes go off as soon as it dies.

Should the former always occur before the later, or the other way around?

Flavor wise I think the Balor's disapearance ought to be by it going "Boom", but the rule books distinctly separate the two which leaves me unsure.

Thanks again!

:D
cwslyclgh
01-28-04, 05:42 PM I would say that a Balor that was summoned (as opposed to called) would not explode, becasue when a summoned creature (for example borught by a summone monster spell) is "slain" it is not realy killed, meerly sent back to its own plane of origin. A called creature (brought by a planar binding or gate for example) is realy there however, and when it dies it does not disappear, and in that case the Balor would explode as normal.

hope that helps and makes sense.
J. Grenemyer
01-28-04, 07:06 PM Hello,

Originally posted by cwslyclgh
I would say that a Balor that was summoned ... and in that case the Balor would explode as normal.

I had thought of that as well. I suppose it depends on what a DM defines as "killed" (as this is the word used in the Death Throes text).

Given that battling one Balor is essentially battling two of them (since a called Balor can summon another one without fail) I think it's best to rule that a summoned Balor will not explode.

Originally posted by cwslyclgh
hope that helps and makes sense.

Yes, it does.

Thanks again Wes!

J.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
J. Grenemyer 01-28-04, 05:15 PM	Hello Everyone! Two quick questions I was hoping one or more of you might have an answer to or informed opinion on: When a Balor explodes during it’s Death Throes, is that explosion a Burst or a Spread? When a Vrock’s Dance of Ruin goes off, is that a Burst or a Spread? Thanks in advance to everyone who answers! :D
cwslyclgh 01-28-04, 05:33 PM	I would say that a balor's death throes is a burst, it reads more like a burst then a spread... basically the thing just explodes. the dance of ruin ability I would say is a spread (based upon the fact that the spell of the same name and obviously based upon the ability, from the BoVD, is a spread).
J. Grenemyer 01-28-04, 05:38 PM	Thanks cwslyclgh!! I did not even occur to me that by BoVD would have such information, so thanks also for noting that. May I ask another question: The rules for summoned creatures indicate they disappear when they hit 0 hit points, however a Balor's death throes go off as soon as it dies. Should the former always occur before the later, or the other way around? Flavor wise I think the Balor's disapearance ought to be by it going "Boom", but the rule books distinctly separate the two which leaves me unsure. Thanks again! :D
cwslyclgh 01-28-04, 05:42 PM	I would say that a Balor that was summoned (as opposed to called) would not explode, becasue when a summoned creature (for example borught by a summone monster spell) is "slain" it is not realy killed, meerly sent back to its own plane of origin. A called creature (brought by a planar binding or gate for example) is realy there however, and when it dies it does not disappear, and in that case the Balor would explode as normal. hope that helps and makes sense.
J. Grenemyer 01-28-04, 07:06 PM	Hello, Originally posted by cwslyclgh I would say that a Balor that was summoned ... and in that case the Balor would explode as normal. I had thought of that as well. I suppose it depends on what a DM defines as "killed" (as this is the word used in the Death Throes text). Given that battling one Balor is essentially battling two of them (since a called Balor can summon another one without fail) I think it's best to rule that a summoned Balor will not explode. Originally posted by cwslyclgh hope that helps and makes sense. Yes, it does. Thanks again Wes! J.