Rule Question: Zones, Area Bursts and Damage!

[Cacophonik]

Thanks in advance for replies!

Grell philosophers have a Psychic Storm power that reads like this:

Spoiler:

Psychic Storm; Area burst 2 within 10; +9 vs. Will; 3d8 + 3 psychic damage, and the target is dazed (save ends). The psychic storm is a zone that lasts until the end of the encounter. Any creature entering the zone is dazed (save ends).

My question is this - does the 3d8+3 damage apply AFTER the zone is placed in addition to when it is originally cast? If a character is stuck inside the zone for multiple rounds, does he take the 3d8+3 EACH round, or does he just have to contend with the daze portion, after the initial damage is applied (once)?

[detritus]

Cacophonik wrote:

Thanks in advance for replies!

Grell philosophers have a Psychic Storm power that reads like this: ** spoiler omitted **

My question is this - does the 3d8+3 damage apply AFTER the zone is placed in addition to when it is originally cast? If a character is stuck inside the zone for multiple rounds, does he take the 3d8+3 EACH round, or does he just have to contend with the daze portion, after the initial damage is applied (once)?

I am reading that the daze is the only portion that persists, but I could be wrong.

[Fiendish]

My guess is that answer to that is with the target designation. I don't have the book in front of me but does the target indicate 1 creature? If so, then the target (one creature) within 10 is hit with the damage and dazed but a burst 2 expands out from the target creating the zone. Anyone who enters the zone is only dazed. There is no ongoing damage.

That's how I read it. I haven't seen any ongoing damage powers described as a die roll, they are always like ongoing 5 Fire (save ends) or 10 acid, etc.

[Cacophonik]

detritus wrote:

Cacophonik wrote:

Thanks in advance for replies!

Grell philosophers have a Psychic Storm power that reads like this: ** spoiler omitted **

My question is this - does the 3d8+3 damage apply AFTER the zone is placed in addition to when it is originally cast? If a character is stuck inside the zone for multiple rounds, does he take the 3d8+3 EACH round, or does he just have to contend with the daze portion, after the initial damage is applied (once)?

I am reading that the daze is the only portion that persists, but I could be wrong.

Follow-up question: if a creature already in the storm zone makes his Daze save but doesn't leave the zone, is he then subject to the daze effect again next round?

[detritus]

Cacophonik wrote:

Follow-up question: if a creature already in the storm zone makes his Daze save but doesn't leave the zone, is he then subject to the daze effect again next round?

I would say yes, because there is nothing in the rules saying you cannot be subject to the same spell twice. Even alot of spells in 3.0 and 3.5 would mimic this unless specifically stated they would not work in the spell description.

[Matthew Koelbl]

Cacophonik wrote:

Thanks in advance for replies!

Grell philosophers have a Psychic Storm power that reads like this: ** spoiler omitted **

My question is this - does the 3d8+3 damage apply AFTER the zone is placed in addition to when it is originally cast? If a character is stuck inside the zone for multiple rounds, does he take the 3d8+3 EACH round, or does he just have to contend with the daze portion, after the initial damage is applied (once)?

As Detritus confirmed, the damage is only part of the initial attack.

This power works as follows:
1) The Grell uses the power, making an attack against all creatures in an Area Burst 2 within 10 squares. Each target that is hit takes 3d8+3 damage and is dazed (save ends).

2) The power then creates a zone in the same area, which lasts until the end of the encounter. What does this zone do? Only what is specifically defines it as doing: any creature that enters it is dazed (save ends).

Note that this effect only applies when a creature enters the zone. So to answer your later question: if a creature successfully saves against the daze effect, and starts his next turn into the zone, he is not then dazed, as he is not entering it. If he leaves and then re-enters it, however, he would again be dazed.

Also note that the daze applies immediately. This has two results: If a creature walks into the zone on their turn, their turn will be over once they finish the action that moved them into the zone (since you only get one action on your turn when dazed.) So if they take a move action to enter it, they can finish the move action, but then their turn is done. If they are charging through it, though, they do get to finish their charge and attack (since a charge is a single action that combines a move and a basic attack.)

However, though this may cut their turn short, they will then get to save against the daze effect at the end of their turn, since it is (save ends). If they do save, and start their next turn in the area, they are not re-dazed, since (as I mention above) they aren't entering the zone. Only if they fully leave and return does the effect hit them again.

Hope this covers all your questions on how the power works!

[Cacophonik]

Exceedingly helpful, thank you kindly!