Conjurer's Dimension Step and Shadow Step

[ENHenry]

Quick question: I searched cursorily on the forums but did not see this asked:

For both the Dimension Step of a Conjuror, and the Shadow Step of a Shadow Mage (p. 80 PFCR and p. 147 APG), can you use these abilities to step to a location not in line of sight or line of effect? Could a Shadow Mage, for instance, trapped in an underground bunker, shadow step to the surface as long as he knew it was only 20 feet above or so?

Official FAQs are always welcome, but even majority gamer opinion is handy, too. :) Thank you!

[mrofmist]

ENHenry wrote:

Quick question: I searched cursorily on the forums but did not see this asked:

For both the Dimension Step of a Conjuror, and the Shadow Step of a Shadow Mage (p. 80 PFCR and p. 147 APG), can you use these abilities to step to a location not in line of sight or line of effect? Could a Shadow Mage, for instance, trapped in an underground bunker, shadow step to the surface as long as he knew it was only 20 feet above or so?

Official FAQs are always welcome, but even majority gamer opinion is handy, too. :) Thank you!

RAW does not say you can't. So yes. It just specifies any place within range. And then proceeds to give rules on what happens if no open space is available. Which would imply that you didn't know no open space was available, for example that you couldn't see where you were going.

[mrofmist]

mrofmist wrote:

That stuff I said.

For both spells you need to refer back to the root spell that they are based off of.

Dimensional Door wrote:

DIMENSION DOOR

School conjuration (teleportation); Level bard 4, sorcerer/wizard 4
Casting Time 1 standard action
Components V
Range long (400 ft. + 40 ft./level)
Target you and touched objects or other touched willing creatures
Duration instantaneous
Saving Throw none and W ll negates (object); Spell Resistance no
and yes (object)
You instantly transfer yourself from your current location to any
other spot within range. You always arrive at exactly the spot
desired—whether by simply visualizing the area or by stating
direction. After using this spell, you can’t take any other actions
until your next turn. You can bring along objects as long as their
weight doesn’t exceed your maximum load. You may also bring one additional willing Medium or smaller creature (carrying gear
or objects up to its maximum load) or its equivalent per three
caster levels. A Large creature counts as two Medium creatures,
a Huge creature counts as two Large creatures, and so forth. All
creatures to be transported must be in contact with one another,
and at least one of those creatures must be in contact with you.
If you arrive in a place that is already occupied by a solid body,
you and each creature traveling with you take 1d6 points of damage
and are shunted to a random open space on a suitable surface
within 100 feet of the intended location.
If there is no free space within 100 feet, you and each creature
traveling with you take an additional 2d6 points of damage and are
shunted to a free space within 1,000 feet. If there is no free space
within 1,000 feet, you and each creature travelling with you take an
additional 4d6 points of damage and the spell simply fails.

[Abraham spalding]

mrofmist wrote:

mrofmist wrote:

That stuff I said.

For both spells you need to refer back to the root spell that they are based off of.

Neither spell reference dimensional door. As such it is an incorrect reference point for the abilities (especially since shadow step states it is travel through the shadow plane instead of the astral plane which is the case with teleport spells).

Shadow step is the easy one since it specifically states that you will arrive *somewhere* safely -- even if the chosen distance would normally not be a possible landing point.