Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 OrcLord Dec 15, 2014 17:57:01	PHB Page 220 states the following target area under Call Lightning:   "When you cast the spell, choose a point you can see within range. A bolt of lightning flashes down from the cloud to that point. Each creature within 5 feet of that point must make a Dexterity saving throw."   This does not seem clearly worded to me.  In terms of battlemap play, does this mean I affect a 5' square, and all squares around it, or does this mean that I pick a grid intersection and it then affects the 4 squares at the intersection?  Since the rules really don't reference grids at all, I am assuming it is the former.  Having said that though, I'm wondering why it says to "choose a point", when such a reference is not one of the defined types of Areas of Effect?
#2 AaronOfBarbaria Dec 15, 2014 18:22:45	You are effectively creating a 5-foot-radius sphere and choosing the center when choosing the point the spell speaks of.
#3 cowleymen Dec 15, 2014 18:25:17	When it says choose a point on grid map, its usually in refrence to one entire square on the map. So one 5x5 square is your point of origin. So it would end up being the 4e burst 1. a total of 9, 5ft squares. Unless your enemies are tightly packed though, I only ever seeing it hitting a few in that size.   Going of your intersection formula, you hit the same area of ground as a large creature, that being a 4 squares, 2x2, 5ft each.
(Reply to #3) AaronOfBarbaria	cowleymen wrote:
#5 guachi Dec 15, 2014 18:52:52	Given that it can be wonky whether you use an intersection or the center of a square in determining the area of effect, I'd look to see what the creatures in a potentially effected square are doing. If two creatures are in combat and each has a reach of 5 ft then if this spell targeted one of them as its center it would necessarily be able to target the other in its area of effect. If it's 3 on 1 and the 1 is your buddy you know you can center the effect on your buddy and nail all three of them.   If you allow a 5 foot radius spell to target all 9 squares you have effectively tripled the area of effect so that's why I look at the battlefield and see if I can automatically rule in or rule out a target. If I can't, I'll roll a d12 (because a d12 is the unloved die) and on a 1-6 it's in the aoe and a 7-12 it isn't. Do that with a 3x3 grid with each square filled with a creature. Target the middle of the center square. The center square is automatically in the aoe and the surround 8 at a 50% chance gives a total of 5 creatures targeted. And that seems more than fair. a five foot radius circle has an area of 5x5x3.14=~79 sq.ft. which is a little over 3 5x5 squares. Giving the player 5 squares seems fair.
#6 mellored Dec 15, 2014 20:49:26	It would be closer to a 2x2 square if your using a grid.
#7 mellored Dec 15, 2014 20:49:26	It would be closer to a 2x2 square if your using a grid.
(Reply to #4) OrcLord	AaronOfBarbaria wrote:
#9 Youngy Dec 15, 2014 21:14:49	Mellored is right, if you're using a grid its pretty much a 2x2 square.
#10 mellored Dec 15, 2014 21:22:58	5' from a point is the same as a 5' radius. since that's pretty much the definition of a sphere.
#11 AaronOfBarbaria Dec 16, 2014 2:11:00	The reason this spell effect has a strange wording is that it is a bolt of lightning, but not a line like lightning bolt, and it affects a spherical area while not being an actual sphere since it is a bolt of lightning in shape. Wording the spell in a more standard way would probably create more confusion rather than solve any.
(Reply to #11) Macv12	AaronOfBarbaria wrote:
(Reply to #12) AaronOfBarbaria	Macv12 wrote:
#14 Daydreamer80 Dec 16, 2014 21:19:06	Grid player here, 2 by 2 sphere is what your looking for.   conceptually think of the point of origin between the cross intersection line of all 4 squares.
#15 Kennethray Dec 17, 2014 11:41:17	Pick a square, pick a corner of that square, All squares that touch that corner make up the target area.   K-Ray