Wizard Air School - Cyclone (Su)


Rules Questions

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My group has a disagreement about the intended meaning of the 8th level Cyclone (Su) ability for a Wizard ( page 142 of advanced players guide)

Can you guys answer the following three questions?

#1) When the cyclone is activated and the player then flies around or moves, does the vortex of turbulent air move with them ?

#2) The second sentence reads "This vortex has a radius of up to 10 feet and a maximum height of 10 feet per wizard level you possess."
Does this mean that both the the radius and the height increase by 10 feet per wizard level you possess?

#3) Is the wind strength of this Cyclone equivalent to a Tornado wind effect ( table 13-10 on page 439 of the core rulebook) ?
If not, please advise as to what wind strength this cyclone would have when analysed on table 13-10 ?

The Exchange

My group has a disagreement about the intended meaning of the 8th level Cyclone (Su) ability for a Wizard ( page 142 of advanced players guide)

Can you guys answer the following three questions?

#1) When the cyclone is activated and the player then flies around or moves, does the vortex of turbulent air move with them ?

#2) The second sentence reads "This vortex has a radius of up to 10 feet and a maximum height of 10 feet per wizard level you possess."
Does this mean that both the the radius and the height increase by 10 feet per wizard level you possess?

#3) Is the wind strength of this Cyclone equivalent to a Tornado wind effect ( table 13-10 on page 439 of the core rulebook) ?
If not, please advise as to what wind strength this cyclone would have when analysed on table 13-10 ?


PRD link and full text:

Cyclone (Su): At 8th level, you can create a vortex of turbulent wind around yourself as a standard action. This vortex has a radius of up to 10 feet and a maximum height of 10 feet per wizard level you possess. Any ranged attack passing through this vortex automatically misses. Any flying creature moving through the vortex must make a Fly skill check or immediately fall from the sky, taking falling damage (the creature cannot make a Fly check to reduce or negate this damage). Creatures on the ground cannot pass through the vortex without first making a Strength check. The DC of this check is equal to 10 + your caster level. The vortex is faintly visible and can be spotted with a DC 15 Perception skill check. You can use this ability for a number of rounds per day equal to your wizard level. These rounds do not need to be consecutive.

Shevarra wrote:
#1) When the cyclone is activated and the player then flies around or moves, does the vortex of turbulent air move with them ?

I don't know. I assume it stays where you put it.

Shevarra wrote:

#2) The second sentence reads "This vortex has a radius of up to 10 feet and a maximum height of 10 feet per wizard level you possess."

Does this mean that both the the radius and the height increase by 10 feet per wizard level you possess?

I don't think so.

The radius is up to 10 feet.
The maximum height is 10 feet per wizard level.

Shevarra wrote:


#3) Is the wind strength of this Cyclone equivalent to a Tornado wind effect ( table 13-10 on page 439 of the core rulebook) ?
If not, please advise as to what wind strength this cyclone would have when analysed on table 13-10 ?

I don't believe Table: Wind Effects should have any additional effects not described in the cyclone ability. It does what it says and nothing more.


would magic rays and magic missiles miss you as well?


Erick Reyes wrote:
would magic rays and magic missiles miss you as well?

Ray: "Some effects are rays. You aim a ray as if using a ranged weapon, though typically you make a ranged touch attack rather than a normal ranged attack. As with a ranged weapon, you can fire into the dark or at an invisible creature and hope you hit something. You don't have to see the creature you're trying to hit, as you do with a targeted spell. Intervening creatures and obstacles, however, can block your line of sight or provide cover for the creature at which you're aiming."

Magic Missile: "The missile strikes unerringly, even if the target is in melee combat, so long as it has less than total cover or total concealment."


So with cyclone would it make the magic ray automatically miss?


FAQ: Do rays count as weapons for the purpose of spells and effects that affect weapons?


thank you very much :)


Gonna bounce this back open for a question or two:

1) Does everyone else read this as stationary once created? I guess I can see that reading too, but my first understanding was that it moved with you. So I'm curious if majority consensus is stationary or mobile?

2) Do you use a standard action every round you want to use this? Or is it a standard to initiate it, then it lasts until you want it to stop? The lack of duration and the "You can use this ability for a number of rounds per day equal to your wizard level. These rounds do not need to be consecutive." clause is getting me a bit confused on this point.

Thanks for the help!


*Bump* Please help!

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