This came up in a (3.5) game a little while ago, and I thought I'd ask: is the ice from a wall of ice spell opaque, transparent, or somewhere in between? Or can you choose? In particular, does it affect line of sight?
It isn't specified in the spell. My assumption was "no", but I don't really know for sure.
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The walls of ice I have encountered have been opaque.
That is not say I could not see 'something' past them but rather they either distorted what was seen sufficiently to be classed as opaque.
The thicker walls of ice I encountered were certainly opaque.
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Regarding the spell - If I was a player I'd prefer a translucent wall so I could spot enemies and possibly target them. As a DM I'd say that they were opaque.
No, wait..
..as a player/DM I'd want both, each version controlled by the addition of a minor component!
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This came up in a (3.5) game a little while ago, and I thought I'd ask: is the ice from a wall of ice spell opaque, transparent, or somewhere in between? Or can you choose? In particular, does it affect line of sight?
It isn't specified in the spell. My assumption was "no", but I don't really know for sure.
The opacity in ice is caused by gas bubbles. Ice can range from opaque to translucent to transparent. The spell doesn't specify and so it becomes a matter of table culture; I would tend to think the caster decides.
Transparent ice wouldn't block line of sight. Opaque ice would. Translucent ice might involve a perception check. Regardless of whether there is line of sight, as would be the case whether it were transparent, it will block line of effect. Line of effect is required for most targeting, although there are a few exceptions. Search recent threads about glass for discussions.
As a DM/GM I'd split the difference and say, "It's translucent unless you make an appropriate Spellcraft check, in which case you can make it transparent or opaque, your choice."
Varying it with material components is also possible.
At a certain point, however, you have to stop this, or someone will create the "Wall of Yellow Snow," which should only be possible if the character is of the forbidden class, the Humorist, specializing in Yellow Bile.
You really do not want to deal with the conjurations of Humorists dealing with Black Bile....
When it comes to spells, all special effects should be left to the caster.
What color is your fireball? Do you want it traditional red? Or maybe you'd prefer a natural gas blue? Or maybe bright white to match your hair? Green perhaps, given you are a multiclassed Druid/Wizard?
Is your wall of ice opaque? If so, is it white, blue, or black? Maybe it's translucent? Or transparent but tinted pink because you worship that goddess of lust and she likes pink?
Any small advantages the caster may get from a specific special effect (transparent vs opaque, color, etc) are usually balanced out by other effects. If it's transparent, he has line of sight, but so does everyone else. If it opaque, same applies in reverse.
Just leave it up to the caster, and maybe encourage them to be specific with it each cast, it makes for a better story.
When it comes to spells, all special effects should be left to the caster.
I agree for flavor only things such as making magic missiles shaped liked broomstick, but if something is transparent it can affect mechanics. In real life they would tend to be opaque at best.
I have never actually seen ice I could look through with any appreciable clarity, I'd leave it at vague images and movement and distorted light, probably not enough to target through. Perhaps I would allow it to be fairly clear when it is cast outside of combat.
When it comes to spells, all special effects should be left to the caster.I agree for flavor only things such as making magic missiles shaped liked broomstick, but if something is transparent it can affect mechanics. In real life they would tend to be opaque at best.
The point is, if it's transparent, it's transparent both ways. If it were opaque one way, and not the other, then I'd agree with you.
On top of that, the spell says nothing about blocking line of sight or being opaque. Given there's nothing in the spell saying it stops line of sight, it's equally valid to adjudicate it as being transparent. All things being equal, leave it up to the caster.
I have never actually seen ice I could look through with any appreciable clarity, I'd leave it at vague images and movement and distorted light, probably not enough to target through. Perhaps I would allow it to be fairly clear when it is cast outside of combat.
I have.
The way you do it is you agitate the ice while it's forming. This makes the air bubbles that form worm their way out. Ice sculptures get created from this type of ice.
When it comes to spells, all special effects should be left to the caster.I agree for flavor only things such as making magic missiles shaped liked broomstick, but if something is transparent it can affect mechanics. In real life they would tend to be opaque at best.The point is, if it's transparent, it's transparent both ways. If it were opaque one way, and not the other, then I'd agree with you.
On top of that, the spell says nothing about blocking line of sight or being opaque. Given there's nothing in the spell saying it stops line of sight, it's equally valid to adjudicate it as being transparent. All things being equal, leave it up to the caster.
Of course it would still block line of affect, so it may not matter.
However, the spell does not say transparent so in those cases we go with real world examples. Wall of stone does not say so either, but we know stone is not transparent.
I have never seen a transparent wall of ice. You can't even see through ice cubes enough to call them transparent so I am sure seeing through a wall of ice is not going to happen.
With my experience in NY, I'd have to say opaque. I've chipped out my mom's car several times and I only knew it was her car because where she lives assigns parking spots.
I have never seen a transparent wall of ice. You can't even see through ice cubes enough to call them transparent so I am sure seeing through a wall of ice is not going to happen.
Well, let's fix that. :)
How about a fin shaped wall?
How about a blue-lit house made of transparent ice?
Here's one that's not transparent, but it's certainly translucent enough to target someone through visually. :) Of course, penetrating the ice is a different story.
As a GM, I'd rule it's caster's choice. Each has their own advantages/disadvantages that balance out in the end.
Probably true, but it is the option that makes it more powerful
Since most ice is opaque I'd go with opaque. I do like the idea of using spell components to make it transparent.
For what it's worth Wall of Fire are full concealment
That's because Wall of Fire specifically says it's opaque.