I say distance between any two targets is calculated from connecting corners or sides of space (be it a square or otherwise) . My reasoning behind this is that Lines and Cones start from a corner, as well as cover.
He says it is calculated from the center of the space.
Could someone please settle this for us?
The context is this:
I moved here and cast Color Spray on the Black Guy
A cone is calculated from my corner.
If distance is calculated my connecting closest corners, the distance would be 14.1 ft.
If it is calculated to the exact center of the square it would be 17.68 ft.
Calculating closest corners will calculate the distance to the nearest corner of the target's square. Since the target is inside that square and the point in question is adjacent to that square (not actually within in), then this method doesn't accurately measure the distance to target. Unless the target is a 5' x 5' column of flesh, the target will be set back some undefined distance. For that matter, the origination point is undefined as well. Because of this ambiguity, I think a center to center measurement makes more sense.
This forces me to move directly north, south, east, or west of the opponent if I am to be outside of the step-melee range.
Sigh....I guess the only way I could safely hit just the black guy (ignoring the maroon guy) is to move here.
Still, I would like an official ruling from a WOTC person.
Still, I would like an official ruling from a WOTC person.
You'll have to send a message to Customer Service, if they even still take 3rd Edition questions. The WotC staff almost never post on these boards.
I find it easiest to just look at the cone templates in the back of the DMG (p307) to determine how a cone should look like. I'd think that is as official as you'll get.
Thanks that is exactly what I needed!
I find it easiest to just look at the cone templates in the back of the DMG (p307) to determine how a cone should look like. I'd think that is as official as you'll get.
Well, rather more official would be to simply read the 3.5 PH p.175-176 "Aiming a spell".
Cone: "A cone-shaped spell shoots away from you in a quarter circle in the direction you designate. It starts from any corner of your square and widens out as it goes."
Area: "Regardless of the shape of the area, you select the point where the spell originates, but otherwise you don't control which creatures or objects the spell affects. The point of origin of a spell is always a grid intersection. When determining whether a given creature is within the area of a spell, count out the distance from the point of origin in squares just as you do when moving a character, or when determining the range for a ranged attack. The only difference is that instead of counting from the center of one square to the center of the next you count from intersection to intersection. You can count diagonally across a square, but rememeber that every second diagonal counts as two squares of distance. If the far edge of a square is within the spells area, anything within that square is within the spells area. If the spell's area only touches the near edge of a square, however, anything within that square is unaffected by the spell."
By the illustration in the OP the intended target is not within range of the spell - in fact, none of the targets are.
Which itself, would make diagonal 15' cone attacks unfeasible for mages, as they would have to step within 2 diagonal steps of a melee opponent. Said melee opponent could then take a melee attack against the mage by taking a 5' step toward the mage.
This forces me to move directly north, south, east, or west of the opponent if I am to be outside of the step-melee range.
Sigh....I guess the only way I could safely hit just the black guy (ignoring the maroon guy) is to move here.
Still, I would like an official ruling from a WOTC person.
Actually, if you were to stop 10' further -> thataway (which would be 5' <- from the position in your your original illustration) you would hit ONLY the target with the spell and not be directly N, S, E, or W of him. You'd still be two squares away - but unless he has a reach weapon he can't take a 5' step and hit you.