Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 slumgum Nov 15, 2014 4:13:31	This thread is really asking for clarification on all AoE spells, but Spike Growth in particular.     1)  If you're using a grid for a battlemap and cast a circular spell some of the squares will only be partially affected by the spell.  Does a creature in a partially affected square suffer the consequences of the spell?   2) Spike Growth says a creature takes 2d4 damage for every 5 feet it moves while in the area.  a) If a creature steps from a square affected by the Spike Growth into a square that isn't affected does it take damage?  b) If a creature steps from a non-affected square into an affected squaree, does it take damage?  In both of these scenarios the creature would have only moved through 2.5 of spike growth terrain     3) If creature takes the Jump action can it mitigate the effects of Spike Growth?  Example C = creature, S = Spike Growth square, E = empty square.  Can the creature jump from a SCSSE position to a SSSSC  (Now occupying the empty square) without taking damage?   4) If CreatureA is standing in a square affected by Moonbeam or Cloud of Daggers and CreatureB swings a weapon at CreatureA does CreatureB take damage for "entering the square"?  Does it make any difference if it's a sword versus a natural weapon like a claw?   5) Can players choose a radius for a spell that is smaller than the radius given in the spell description?  Example: Can a player cast Spike Growth to only encompass a 10 ft radius circle?   6) Can players choose to alter the shape of a spell if the new shape is a part of  the allowed original shape?  Example: Can a player cast Spike Growth to only make a semicircle?  Can a player cast Grease to take up a triangle shape? Can a player cast Web to take a cube that is 20 ft in length and width, but only 10 ft high?       Thanks to anyone who takes the time to discuss this. I'm interested in both rules as written and rules as intended answers - and if neither is clear then just how you would rule.  I'm also interested in any questions anyone else has.  I am fully aware a lot of these questions come down to splitting hairs - I wouldn't say that is part of the fun of D&D for me, but I do have fun thinking about it when not playing.  Sorry if any of the questions are confusing I tried my best to be clear.
#2 Yunru Nov 15, 2014 5:28:02	4, 5 and 6: No, at least not yet. The closest is an Evocation Wizard removing squares. 3: Kind of, jumping has a vertical movement to it so you could be moving above the spikes. The rest I dunno.
#3 SilentSin Nov 15, 2014 6:12:04	1. A guideline that I used in 3.5 was that any square covered about half or more by the area is affected.   2. The spell deals damage "when a creature moves into or within the area." I take this to mean the damage is dealt every time you enter a space in the AOE, even if you were already in the area, but not when leaving the area. So in situation A they don't take damage and in B they do.   3. If the jump isn't high enough to get you 5ft off the ground as you travel over the spikes, then it's be DM discretion as to whether you take damage or not. But by RAW if you go above the area (in terms of 3D cubes sitting on the ground) then I don't think you'd take damage.   4. No. Moving into an area means actually using movement (or being forced to move), not simply moving your body parts as you perform an action.   5 and 6. No. Evocation wizards can make parts of their spells less deadly but that's about as close as you can get.   If you wanted to be really technical, your DM might let you put the center of the spike growth 10ft up in the air so that the area constituting "The ground in a 20-foot radius centered on a point within range" is not actually a 20ft circle, but a smaller circle.
#4 Jay_Ibero_911 Nov 15, 2014 7:04:02	SilentSin wrote: