It may be that I have missed reading something in the Magic section rather than the spell description...
Scintillating Pattern's duration is "concentration + 2 rounds"... but it doesn't say exactly what is meant by this in the spell description?
Do creatures in the affected area continue to have the effects of the Scintillating Pattern hit them and refresh durations each round? Or does it only affect new creatures entering the area?
The spells duration is concentration + 2 rounds meaning the lights appear for as long as you concentrate on the spell and for two rounds thereafter. Anyone inside the range of the spell, and capable of being affected per the spells requirements (HD, etc) would be affected at casting. They would be effected according to their hit dice and take 1d4 rounds of confusion, etc. If the caster concentrates after casting then when the rounds where they would normally be affected are up they would roll 1d4 again to see how long they are affected. This will continue until the caster stops concentrating and the rounds of effect caused by the spell end.
At least, this is how I would think it would work.
It may be that I have missed reading something in the Magic section rather than the spell description...
Scintillating Pattern's duration is "concentration + 2 rounds"... but it doesn't say exactly what is meant by this in the spell description?
CRB, Magic, Duration.
"Concentration: The spell lasts as long as you concentrate on it. Concentrating to maintain a spell is a standard action that does not provoke attacks of opportunity. Anything that could break your concentration when casting a spell can also break your concentration while you're maintaining one, causing the spell to end. See concentration. You can't cast a spell while concentrating on another one. Some spells last for a short time after you cease concentrating."
Do creatures in the affected area continue to have the effects of the Scintillating Pattern hit them and refresh durations each round? Or does it only affect new creatures entering the area?
As long as you continue concentrating, and for 2 rounds afterward, the Scintillating Pattern remains active. It's not really clear, but I think that means anything that moves into the area would then be affected (if you had enough HD-effect left). Once a creature is affected, the stuff happens for 1d4 rounds, even if the spell stops. I assume it would become affected again if those 1d4 rounds are over and it's still within the area of the active spell.
This is unlike, for example, Rainbow Pattern, in which creatures affected become fascinated as long as you keep it going.
It may be that I have missed reading something in the Magic section rather than the spell description...
Scintillating Pattern's duration is "concentration + 2 rounds"... but it doesn't say exactly what is meant by this in the spell description?
CRB, Magic, Duration.
"Concentration: The spell lasts as long as you concentrate on it. Concentrating to maintain a spell is a standard action that does not provoke attacks of opportunity. Anything that could break your concentration when casting a spell can also break your concentration while you're maintaining one, causing the spell to end. See concentration. You can't cast a spell while concentrating on another one. Some spells last for a short time after you cease concentrating."
Do creatures in the affected area continue to have the effects of the Scintillating Pattern hit them and refresh durations each round? Or does it only affect new creatures entering the area?As long as you continue concentrating, and for 2 rounds afterward, the Scintillating Pattern remains active. It's not really clear, but I think that means anything that moves into the area would then be affected (if you had enough HD-effect left). Once a creature is affected, the stuff happens for 1d4 rounds, even if the spell stops. I assume it would become affected again if those 1d4 rounds are over and it's still within the area of the active spell.
This is unlike, for example, Rainbow Pattern, in which creatures affected become fascinated as long as you keep it going.
This is what i was trying to say, though I think you did a much better job of wording it.