From the PRD
THROW SPLASH WEAPON
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A hit deals direct hit damage to the target, and splash damage to all creatures within 5 feet of the target. Splash weapons cannot deal precision-based damage (such as the damage from the rogue's sneak attack class feature).
You can instead target a specific grid intersection. Treat this as a ranged attack against AC 5. However, if you target a grid intersection, creatures in all adjacent squares are dealt the splash damage, and the direct hit damage is not dealt to any creature. You can't target a grid intersection occupied by a creature, such as a Large or larger creature; in this case, you're aiming at the creature.
If you miss the target (whether aiming at a creature or a grid intersection), roll 1d8. This determines the misdirection of the throw, with 1 falling short (off-target in a straight line toward the thrower), and 2 through 8 rotating around the target creature or grid intersection in a clockwise direction. Then, count a number of squares in the indicated direction equal to the range increment of the throw. After you determine where the weapon landed, it deals splash damage to all creatures in that square and in all adjacent squares.
So if you don't target a creature, you aim at an intersection and affect 4 squares with splash damage but if you miss the creature you were aiming for the splash damage affects 9 squares? Why the difference?
So if you don't target a creature, you aim at an intersection and affect 4 squares with splash damage but if you miss the creature you were aiming for the splash damage affects 9 squares? Why the difference?
If the flask hits the ground its contents spreads at ground level and therefore covers a smaller area.
When you hit most creatures the flask breaks higher and the contents spreads over a larger area.The same applies in real life.
So if you don't target a creature, you aim at an intersection and affect 4 squares with splash damage but if you miss the creature you were aiming for the splash damage affects 9 squares? Why the difference?If the flask hits the ground its contents spreads at ground level and therefore covers a smaller area.
When you hit most creatures the flask breaks higher and the contents spreads over a larger area.The same applies in real life.
Except that in both of the above cases it hits the ground. One is targeting an intersection, the other is a miss.
If you miss the target (whether aiming at a creature or a grid intersection), roll 1d8. This determines the misdirection of the throw, with 1 falling short (off-target in a straight line toward the thrower), and 2 through 8 rotating around the target creature or grid intersection in a clockwise direction. Then, count a number of squares in the indicated direction equal to the range increment of the throw. After you determine where the weapon landed, it deals splash damage to all creatures in that square and in all adjacent squares.
Cause sometimes 5ft squares are really weird.
Maybe when you aim for an intersection it his the full 4 squares, but when you aim for a square it only completely covers the main and only partially the other 8.
Cause sometimes 5ft squares are really weird.
What he said. Similarly, a Lightning Bolt spell could cover 48 squares or 26 squares, depending on what angle it traveled at.
Cause sometimes 5ft squares are really weird.What he said. Similarly, a Lightning Bolt spell could cover 48 squares or 26 squares, depending on what angle it traveled at.
Yeah, but the Area the lightning bolt covers is about the same (Even though the number of squares is different).
Increasing the area of effect just because you threw it at something and missed doesn't make much sense. I know it's not a lot (5 ft radius vs 7.5ft radius) but that takes it from affecting up to 4 creatures to up to 9 creatures.
I think I'll house rule it that the AoE is the same on a miss as if you targeted an intersection and use a d12 to determine direction.
Now that I look at it that way, I suppose they must have done it for simplicity (d8 vs d12 for direction of miss). Guess I answered my own question.
Curse these Alchemists, making me use rule sets that have been of little use up to this point.
Except that in both of the above cases it hits the ground. One is targeting an intersection, the other is a miss.If you miss the target (whether aiming at a creature or a grid intersection), roll 1d8. This determines the misdirection of the throw, with 1 falling short (off-target in a straight line toward the thrower), and 2 through 8 rotating around the target creature or grid intersection in a clockwise direction. Then, count a number of squares in the indicated direction equal to the range increment of the throw. After you determine where the weapon landed, it deals splash damage to all creatures in that square and in all adjacent squares.
I obviously misunderstood your question.
If it is a problem with you I would suggest, that after scatter has been determined, the one who throws the splash weapon, gets to choose an intersection in the final square at where the effect is centered. That way the splash is the same in both cases.
I obviously misunderstood your question.
If it is a problem with you I would suggest, that after scatter has been determined, the one who throws the splash weapon, gets to choose an intersection in the final square at where the effect is centered. That way the splash is the same in both cases.
Not a problem, your suggestion might work better than a d12 solution. I'll give it some thought. Its that whole 4 targets vs 9 targets thing that gets me.
Yeah, but the Area the lightning bolt covers is about the same (Even though the number of squares is different).Cause sometimes 5ft squares are really weird.What he said. Similarly, a Lightning Bolt spell could cover 48 squares or 26 squares, depending on what angle it traveled at.
How is 48 5'x5' squares the about the same area as 26 5'x5' squares?
How is 48 5'x5' squares the about the same area as 26 5'x5' squares?Yeah, but the Area the lightning bolt covers is about the same (Even though the number of squares is different).Cause sometimes 5ft squares are really weird.What he said. Similarly, a Lightning Bolt spell could cover 48 squares or 26 squares, depending on what angle it traveled at.
It's the distance represented that matters, not the number of squares. As I'm sure you know, the distance from corner to corner across a square is greater than wall to wall. If you measure the distance with a ruler it comes out about the same. In either case it represents the 120 ft line of the lightning bolt.
It's true that with squares, distances at all angles does lead to some funky stuff. But a lightning bolt doesn't travel farther if your target makes its save or you miss. With this, a bottle smashing on the ground affects more targets if you aimed at someone and missed than if you just smashed it on the ground.
It's true that with squares, distances at all angles does lead to some funky stuff. But a lightning bolt doesn't travel farther if your target makes its save or you miss. With this, a bottle smashing on the ground affects more targets if you aimed at someone and missed than if you just smashed it on the ground.
My take is that it's a 5' radius, and 5' from a grid intersection covers 4 squares and 5' from a given square covers 9 squares. It's the same quirk as the skinny vs. fat lightning bolt.
You are forgetting, a miss isn't a miss, it simply is an attack that failed to do damage. Lets say you throw at big dumb fighter guy(BDFG), and you miss. Since it's a Ranged Touch to hit, this means he physically dodged taking damage with his reflexes, but the weapon may have still impacted him on his armor or in such a way that it didn't hurt him and he only got a splash on his arm or face.
Except that in both of the above cases it hits the ground. One is targeting an intersection, the other is a miss.If you miss the target (whether aiming at a creature or a grid intersection), roll 1d8. This determines the misdirection of the throw, with 1 falling short (off-target in a straight line toward the thrower), and 2 through 8 rotating around the target creature or grid intersection in a clockwise direction. Then, count a number of squares in the indicated direction equal to the range increment of the throw. After you determine where the weapon landed, it deals splash damage to all creatures in that square and in all adjacent squares.
In this case a miss is a miss, it isn't even impacting in the same square as your target. The way it is resolved (with the d8 roll), doesn't make allowances for it to land in the same square. If the range increment was long enough, the original target might not even be included in the splash damage.
