Self Inflicted Damage By Spell

[Insacrum]

Hi, I'm sure this had been answered somewhere, and if it has I just haven't found it.

Is it possible for a spell caster to injure themselves with one of their own spells? The rules don't say that a caster is immune to the effects of their own spell.

Example:

A wizard casts a fireball close enough to themselves where they are caught in the radius of the explosion, would they then also have to make the save, and take damage as with any other creature in the radius of the spell?

Thanks.

[SlimGauge]

Yes. Unless the spell says otherwise, a caster can be affected by his own spell.

[Drejk]

Casting fireball under own feet without raising protection from fire first is long-time honored suicidal tactic for desperate wizards.

[Jiggy]

Drejk wrote:

Casting fireball under own feet without raising protection from fire first is long-time honored suicidal tactic for desperate wizards.

Bonus points if you're wearing a necklace of fireballs and voluntarily fail your save.

[Shalmdi]

Drejk wrote:

Casting fireball under own feet without raising protection from fire first is long-time honored suicidal tactic for desperate wizards.

I saw this tactic used by our party wizard to catch an invisible stalker (bet he wished he had Glitterdust prep'ed). The DM was so impressed that he ruled we knew where the stalker was at the moment by seeing where the flames warped around it. Most amazing part? Wizard didn't die! Really close though.

[Drejk]

Jiggy wrote:

Drejk wrote:

Casting fireball under own feet without raising protection from fire first is long-time honored suicidal tactic for desperate wizards.

Bonus points if you're wearing a necklace of fireballs and voluntarily fail your save.

Casting fireball under own feet hoping to get rid of enemies while believing one can survive it while forgetting about fully charged necklace of missiles worn and failing the save is a case of classic D&D Darwin award on the other hand.

EDIT:

Shalmdi wrote:

I saw this tactic used by our party wizard to catch an invisible stalker (bet he wished he had Glitterdust prep'ed). The DM was so impressed that he ruled we knew where the stalker was at the moment by seeing where the flames warped around it. Most amazing part? Wizard didn't die! Really close though.

In Pathfinder it's easier than in 3rd edition due to higher d6 HD. In (A)D&D it really required lots of luck on the wizard's part to survive own fireball.

[LazarX]

I know a cleric that frequently put herself in the AOE of Sound Burst. She'd always fail the save but so would the enemy at that point.

[Drejk]

It reminds me our previous campaign where a few times my Rogue/Fighter/Ranger requested the party Sorceress for fireball bombardment where I stood surrounded by enemies. I never dared to ask the party wizard for lightning support the same way with his over the top saving throw DC and devastating damage bonuses to electricity spells...

[Ravingdork]

Short of wanting to commit suicide, I don't see the point. Area effects are SO easy to place that a situation in which you're forced to include yourself should happen once in a blue moon. In fact, seeing as you are a spellcaster with lots of OTHER non-area spells available to you for tight situations, it should NEVER happen!

Besides, why would you want your hero (a highly intelligent wizard, extremely wise and worldly cleric, or charismatic sorcerer) come off as a complete bumbling idiot?

[LazarX]

He could be using the old First Edition blow back rules for lightning bolt and fireball.

[Drejk]

Allied Cleric (who is really a traitor in the party): "Hey, I cast communal protection from fire on us! You can safely blast that zombie horde that surrounds us and is going to eat our brains!
Wizard: fireball! Ouch! It burns! Burns!
Cleric: Sucker. Command undead.

[blackbloodtroll]

There are abilities that only activate when you are damaged, perhaps he wishes to activate such ability.

[Phrennzy.]

Had a mage in the Age of Worms campaign use burning hands on himself to destroy several worms that had landed on him. Told him he didn't get a save. Good times.

[Drejk]

I think some kinds of oozes, slimes or grubs were susceptible to fire and self-fireballing was a way of getting rid of them.