Super Genius Games Spell "Fumes"

[Scott Way]

As obscuring mist, but creatures take 2d6 fire damage each turn they are in area. Now to read Obscuring Mist:A misty vapor arises around you. It is stationary. The vapor obscures all sight, including darkvision, beyond 5 feet. A creature 5 feet away has concealment (attacks have a 20% miss chance). Creatures farther away have total concealment (50% miss chance, and the attacker cannot use sight to locate the target).

A moderate wind (11+ mph), such as from a gust of wind spell, disperses the fog in 4 rounds. A strong wind (21+ mph) disperses the fog in 1 round. A fireball, flame strike, or similar spell burns away the fog in the explosive or fiery spell's area. A wall of fire burns away the fog in the area into which it deals damage.

This spell does not function underwater.

Now the question. If the mist fills the area that you are in and then spreads out 20' this would put you in the area of effect and there for taking damage from your own spell? Am I correct in this thinking or is it assumed that there is a "Safe Zone" around the caster? Or was it intended to be a target with a short range and a 20' spread?

[Distant Scholar]

And would the fire damage burn away the fog/spell effect? :-)

[DM_Blake]

Yes, you are in the area. If you didn't plan ahead and cast Endure/Resist Elements, or have a natural resistance to fire, this could be painful for you.

NO, there is no "Safe Zone" unless the spell specifically says there is one. Fumes does not.

No, there is no range unless the spell says there is one. Fumes does not. (Technically the Obscuring Mist spell says there is a range of 20' and an area - spread - of 20' but the spell description says it originates from you so it works the same way for Fumes.)

No, the fire damage would not burn away the fog, because if it burned itself away, then it could not do "2d6 fire damage each turn they are in area". Claiming that a spell neutralizes itself is rather awkward. It's like saying "the rapidly expanding fireball blast propels the heat so fast that it dissipates all the heat into the surrounding air and terrain before it has a chance to burn anything, so it does no damage." Yeah, you could try to argue that, but it's pointless because you'll almost certainly lose and if you do win, then the spell is fully neutered and should be eliminated as a useless spell, so it's better to read it to assume it does what the developers probably want you to assume.

[Distant Scholar]

DM_Blake wrote:

Claiming that a spell neutralizes itself is rather awkward.

Hence the smiley. I wasn't positing it as a serious consideration.

[Scott Way]

Well being i was going to use this spell with my Druid i can see Elemental form coming in more handy. Thanks for the feedback