Line of effect

[Natamanchuk]

I have a questions with Line of effect I hope you can help me with.

I currently have a Psion (Telepath) and Cleric in my weekend game and I was wondering how you resolve line of effect. I have no issue with how it deals with barriers and solid objects. However I am at a loss as to how it should deal with soft targets, like another characters, PC, NPC, bad guys. Also are these spells or powers that do not require line of effect?

[Ravingdork]

Line of effect ignores creatures, obstacles, and anything else that isn't essentially filling up an entire space, such as a wall. However, a wall or similar barrier with a 1-foot hole in it does not break line of effect (the caster can aim through the hole).

[MurphysParadox]

LOE ignores soft targets but can be stopped by things through which you can see (like a glass window). Line of Sight requires visual connection with the target, so it can work through windows, but not through a cloud of darkness (though LOE would).

There are spells that don't require LOE but it would explicitly state that in the spell description.

[Joe M.]

MurphysParadox wrote:

LOE ignores soft targets but can be stopped by things through which you can see (like a glass window). Line of Sight requires visual connection with the target, so it can work through windows, but not through a cloud of darkness (though LOE would).

There are spells that don't require LOE but it would explicitly state that in the spell description.

If glass stops LOE ... daylight on an object held within glass, e.g. wick of a lantern. Close the door and its undispellable! (Can't be targeted, even by burst, through the glass.)

Not advocating (would overrule if I were GM), but it is possible if you take that idea of LOE.

[Troubleshooter]

Obviously, the glass would block the line of effect for the Daylight spell. You'd have a luminous box in a completely dark room!

[MurphysParadox]

SRD wrote:

A line of effect is a straight, unblocked path that indicates what a spell can affect. A line of effect is canceled by a solid barrier.

So yeah, a pebble with daylight on it, surrounded in a sealed glass box, cannot be targeted by dispel magic. This is because glass is a solid barrier.

Of course, you can target the box with greater darkness. Or, you know, smash the box and THEN dispel the pebble.

[Joe M.]

MurphysParadox wrote:

SRD wrote:

A line of effect is a straight, unblocked path that indicates what a spell can affect. A line of effect is canceled by a solid barrier.

So yeah, a pebble with daylight on it, surrounded in a sealed glass box, cannot be targeted by dispel magic. This is because glass is a solid barrier.

Of course, you can target the box with greater darkness. Or, you know, smash the box and THEN dispel the pebble.

Too bad for the lantern-holder (probably squishy) that darkness is touch-ranged. Now all the demons come after *you*!