Obviously "barrier" is being used in place of the regular spell word "wall" here, but while it makes sense to have Vancian wizards doing "wall of stone" and "wall of fire" and "wall of ice" etc. it would make a lot more sense--and be more versatile--to have Words of Power casters be able to designate "barrier" (wall) as a target, since it describes the shape of the magical effect just as much as "sphere" or "cone" or "line." It just lasts longer.
Mixed with the other effects, that would let a Word of Power caster make a barrier with a little bit of cold or a greater amount of fire or a large amount of some other form of energy depending on the other words that they know, rather than having all the barriers doing a preset level of damage.
Thoughts?
On a related note, it would be a lot more versatile/elegant to have the degrees of damage split out as a separate set of adjectives based on spell slots, such that "Big Fire Barrier" uses a different level slot that "Wee Winter Blast" but they each use three words each.
"Line" covers what you are thinking. It doesn't have to be a line originating on you. It can be put with any angle compared to you.
"Line" covers what you are thinking. It doesn't have to be a line originating on you. It can be put with any angle compared to you.
I thought of that, but then realized that "line" is meant to be one-dimensional like a lightning bolt whereas barrier/wall would more be "plane" which for some reason is always at a 90 degree angle to the ground.
Which raises a related question of what happens when a wall is erected on uneven ground, such as a 45 degree angle on a steep hillside. Is it 90 degrees relative to the surface or 90 degrees relative to gravity?
That's what traditional wall spells usually are. They being unidimensional doesn't stop them from being inside squares along the line.
Whether it is perpendicular to the ground or concurrent with gravity I am not sure. Generally it just rises like a wall, compensating for uneven ground, but I wouldn't object to a wall of fire perpendicular to an actual wall. Unpleasant news for hikers.
"Line" covers what you are thinking. It doesn't have to be a line originating on you. It can be put with any angle compared to you.
Incorrect. Lines always originate at a corner of one of your squares. It's in the definition for the line effect in the Magic section of the rulebook:
A line-shaped spell shoots away from you in a line in the direction you designate. It starts from any corner of your square and extends to the limit of its range or until it strikes a barrier that blocks line of effect. A line-shaped spell affects all creatures in squares through which the line passes.
A target word that would allow me to create a wall that discarges a spell effect on the first creature that touches it would be quite usefull.
A target word that would allow me to create a wall that discarges a spell effect on the first creature that touches it would be quite usefull.
It also has precedent. Prismatic Wall and Prismatic Sphere are both barriers created from spell effects.
"Line" covers what you are thinking. It doesn't have to be a line originating on you. It can be put with any angle compared to you.Incorrect. Lines always originate at a corner of one of your squares. It's in the definition for the line effect in the Magic section of the rulebook:
A line-shaped spell shoots away from you in a line in the direction you designate. It starts from any corner of your square and extends to the limit of its range or until it strikes a barrier that blocks line of effect. A line-shaped spell affects all creatures in squares through which the line passes.
Well, THAT will have to change if they want wall spells to retain any practical use.
A "line" is another word for a "ray."
A "barrier" is another word for "wall." Another word would be "vertical plane."
No, I think that's an extremely confusion-inducing summation.
Rays are a specific subtype of ranged touch attack spells. They do not involves lines in any way, shape, or fashion (other than line of sight/effect).
Only three of the wall spells must manifest in a vertical plane, wall of force, wall of iron, and prismatic wall. All of the others have non-vertical and/or non-plane options.
Better to define them as individuals rather than trying to define them using other single words that are used for other things in the game or are otherwise inaccurate.
We already have all the individual sorcerer/wizard spells with all the variations.
The non-vertical and non-plane options can be added with other words. For example, having a word "bubble" would allow you to get the hollow sphere you can get with Prismatic Wall and some of the others.
Also, if the Words of Power do the exact same thing as the regular spells, it begs the question of why even bother with Words of Power? If it's the same old spell with some dull rebranding and nothing more or less, why even bother?
A "line" is another word for a "ray."
A "barrier" is another word for "wall." Another word would be "vertical plane."
Also unless mentioned a ray can only hit one creature and requires a ranged touch attack. A line "hits" every creature in its path and usually allows a saving throw. So a line could hit a lot of targets.