I'm wondering if a glitterdust spell continues to affect anyone who walks into it after it has been cast, or if it only affects those caught in its radius when it is cast?
My friend is saying that only emanations have an effect that continues to affect those within its area after it has been cast, and glitterdust is a spread, not an emanation. Does this hold water?
Your friend is correct.
Burst, Emanation, or Spread
Most spells that affect an area function as a burst, an emanation, or a spread. In each case, you select the spell's point of origin and measure its effect from that point.
A burst spell affects whatever it catches in its area, including creatures that you can't see. It can't affect creatures with total cover from its point of origin (in other words, its effects don't extend around corners). The default shape for a burst effect is a sphere, but some burst spells are specifically described as cone-shaped. a burst's area defines how far from the point of origin the spell's effect extends.
An emanation spell functions like a burst spell, except that the effect continues to radiate from the point of origin for the duration of the spell. Most emanations are cones or spheres.
A spread spell extends out like a burst but can turn corners. You select the point of origin, and the spell spreads out a given distance in all directions. Figure the area the spell effect fills by taking into account any turns the spell effect takes.
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I'm wondering if a glitterdust spell continues to affect anyone who walks into it after it has been cast, or if it only affects those caught in its radius when it is cast?
My friend is saying that only emanations have an effect that continues to affect those within its area after it has been cast, and glitterdust is a spread, not an emanation. Does this hold water?
The point about emanations vs spread is not true as fog cloud, cloud kill, etc..are spreads and continue to effect those in their area and those who wonder into their area after they have been cast.
My understanding of Glitterdust in particular is that when it is initially cast those in its area are coated in the sparkly dust and subject to all of the affects for the duration of the spell but someone entering the area affected afterwards is not. This is based on the fact that it doesn't create a sparkly cloud that continually coats things that enter it is described as a burst that immediately coats everything and has ongoing affect upon those so coated. I don't have specific RAW to back that up though (maybe some others can help out with that) so YMMV.
Edit: One point in favor of Glitterdust being one and done is that once you make your Will save to avoid or remove the blindness you don't have to save again even if you remain in the area.
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Given that Glitterdust has a round/level duration, instead of being an instantaneous effect, I would say anyone who walks into it gets caught up.
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Given that Glitterdust has a round/level duration, instead of being an instantaneous effect, I would say anyone who walks into it gets caught up.
I believe the duration is just for the continuing effects upon those coated by the dust not that it continues affecting new subjects.
Edit: I am not dogmatic about that, however, because I can see it being interpreted either way.
I believe your friend is correct.
OK, thanks for your help! :)
Though I have to say, if I was GM and the PC's were really struggling.
I might have a creature walking through the area pick up some one it's feet so they could tell generally where it was without really being able to see it.
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Though I have to say, if I was GM and the PC's were really struggling.
I might have a creature walking through the area pick up some one it's feet so they could tell generally where it was without really being able to see it.
I would probably house rule this way as well. If you are invisible there is still a chance that your footprints or something will be seen and maybe give opponents a break on the miss chance or something.