I noticed that the 5', 10', and 20' radii spell area "templates" are centered at the corners of four squares and not directly in the center of a square. While this would work for ranged area of effects how does it work with point-blank area of effects where the source is almost often less than 5' "wide" and thus must occupy a single square (the template of course works for point-blank effects with a 10'-area occupying caster)?
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I noticed that the 5', 10', and 20' radii spell area "templates" are centered at the corners of four squares and not directly in the center of a square. While this would work for ranged area of effects how does it work with point-blank area of effects where the source is almost often less than 5' "wide" and thus must occupy a single square (the template of course works for point-blank effects with a 10'-area occupying caster)?
They way I understand it the caster gets to choose which corner of the 5' square he wants the effect to generate from. All spells must be targeted on an intersection, not a square.
We use an optional rule that I think was invented by Monte Cook? where the caster chooses the square and then we roll randomly to determine which corner it effects. This stops casters from placing their area of effect to accurately and has backfired on them occasionally. Just last session the sleep spell went off just a little to the left which left the party cleric as the lowest HD creature in the area and down he went.
It causes problems I know, one of my players has a silence spell cast on a rock that he carries and he has to choose which corner he wants it to emenate from which results in a rather uneven area of effect. Also seems uneven with the new clerics 30' positive energy burst now being off centre. But that is the official ruling that came from Vic.
I have players roll a spellcraft check to see if they can effectively target those edge cases. We also do it on fireball and some other AoE spells where players try to target really closely. It's not in the rules but players don't seem to mind even on the rare occasion when they catch some backblast.
I have players roll a spellcraft check to see if they can effectively target those edge cases. We also do it on fireball and some other AoE spells where players try to target really closely. It's not in the rules but players don't seem to mind even on the rare occasion when they catch some backblast.
I have been tempted many times to enact such a rule. Seeing players move around the shape template until they have optimum placement just feels wrong to me. I do think there should be a Spellcraft Roll for optimal placement, otherwise perhaps it should shift 5' in a 1d8 direction?
What sort of DC's do you use for this Dennis?
I have players roll a spellcraft check to see if they can effectively target those edge cases. We also do it on fireball and some other AoE spells where players try to target really closely. It's not in the rules but players don't seem to mind even on the rare occasion when they catch some backblast.I have been tempted many times to enact such a rule. Seeing players move around the shape template until they have optimum placement just feels wrong to me. I do think there should be a Spellcraft Roll for optimal placement, otherwise perhaps it should shift 5' in a 1d8 direction?
What sort of DC's do you use for this Dennis?
To be honest it's usually just a swag based on what I think is reasonable. Usually 15-25 depending on how tricky they want to get. If they are more than 50 foot away and trying to lay an area effect that covers 3 enemies but not an adjacent player they probably 25.
It's not a one way deal either because sometimes I'll let them get away with things that aren't 100% RAW either.
They way I understand it the caster gets to choose which corner of the 5' square he wants the effect to generate from. All spells must be targeted on an intersection, not a square.
Ahhh, thanks! That's exactly what I was looking for! From the PDF concerning line template effects: "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." The reference to corner should have tipped me off.
So, in the case of the caster casting due north even though it can be thought of as a line going straight up from the center of the caster's northern edge it is really a line going from either the caster's square's NW or NE corner and traveling to another corner?
Sorry to try and be so exact but I'm trying to implement the effect area templates in a CRPG and don't want to mess up and violate the rules.
But that is the official ruling that came from Vic.
Thanks! I'll try and dig up the conversation as well once we get search functionality back.
As for the house rules others posted; I really like some of those ideas. When I DM I'll probably adopt one of them. For the CRPG, however, I'm trying not to houserule (mainly due to concerns with how deviations from the PRD affect OGL adherence and how I have to document those deviations).
Thanks again!
linky for that conversation with Vic is here
Thanks!
(Fixed link in the quoted text as well -- somehow it got borked in your post.)
