Questions on when creatures take damage from wall spells

[Liltaquito]

Me and my dm don’t quite agree on when damage would be applied from a wall spell. My char is a witchwarper and my focus is wall spells. In my opinion damage should work like this. I summon a wall of fire/plasma and anything in the wall should take damage immediately, same concept for something getting pushed into the wall immediate damage. Then anything that starts their turn in the wall should take damage at the start of their turn, then they should take damage again for using a move action. My dm says they should only take damage at the start of their turn. Thoughts?

[Nitrobrude]

I'm assuming 1e as this isn't in the 2e space. Technically? Nothing says creatures take damage for entering or standing in a wall of fire. Only when "passing through." Which of course is ridiculous, but *shrug*

If you are talking 2e...
"Any creature that crosses the wall or is occupying the wall's area at the start of its turn takes 4d6 fire damage."
...it's even clearer, but still has the issue of GMs could have different views of what "crossing," entails.

I'd side with your GM. If a creature starts their turn in a Wall of Fire they should be dealt damage is if passing through...not every time they take a move action unless you mean they start their turn in fire, leave, and come back. In which case I agree that they should receive damage in both instances.

[Liltaquito]

Nitrobrude wrote:

I'm assuming 1e as this isn't in the 2e space. Technically? Nothing says creatures take damage for entering or standing in a wall of fire. Only when "passing through." Which of course is ridiculous, but *shrug*

If you are talking 2e...
"Any creature that crosses the wall or is occupying the wall's area at the start of its turn takes 4d6 fire damage."
...it's even clearer, but still has the issue of GMs could have different views of what "crossing," entails.

I'd side with your GM. If a creature starts their turn in a Wall of Fire they should be dealt damage is if passing through...not every time they take a move action unless you mean they start their turn in fire, leave, and come back. In which case I agree that they should receive damage in both instances.

So if I understand what you mean is in your opinion moving INTO the wall of fire constitutes crossing but not moving out? I would argue moving into AND out of should deal damage if done on separate actions ex starting a turn in it then moving out. Either moving into the wall should cause damage or moving out of the wall should cause damage. I also feel like as soon as I summon the wall damage should be dealt. Basically I think there should be two instances of damage minimum if I summon the wall on a creature. But I can see what you mean about only dealing damage for start of turn and not for immediately moving out of it. But what if they start turn there then proceed to stand in it and do full attacks?

[Rotfell]

The spells have the specifics.

In general it's assumed that each creature will take only once damage per round unless it's willingly doing something out of the ordinary, especially as these walls often lack saving throws.

Wall of Fire (assuming 1e):

Wall of Fire wrote:

The wall deals this damage when it appears and on your turn each subsequent round. In addition, the wall deals 5d6 fire damage to any creature passing through it.

So first damage when it appears. Then enemies have a chance to defend against it, which is why it deals its damage when you start your next turn again.

As "passing through" means usually "moving from one side to another", a creature that starts its turn in the wall doesn't get damage when it moves out, which is congruent to the usual design: You will get damage only once per round unless you do something out of the ordinary.
Getting a wall cast on you and you moving out is pretty much what to expect. Like almost every other effect lingering effect, there is a timewindow to do something to avoid more of it. In this case it's just a specific movement pattern instead of a save.

What would be out of the ordinary? Crossing the wall several times during your movement, for example. Usually, it's because of the own choice though, not a choice forced upon you.
Another would be teamwork, like one casting the wall and another pushing an enemy through it. This is the result of two turns of effort, so having two instances of damage is also to be expected.

To sum it up: You can argue your point, but I don't read the rule that way, so I would agree with your GM there, unless you get enough pushing power to get the enemy through the wall.