Path of Glory and Path of Glory, Greater

[Chad the DragonLord]

The spell description says you cause four 5ft squares to glow at the start of the spell. Other than the restriction that one must be in the caster's space how far away can the other three be placed? Must they be contiguous with the caster's square or can they be spread out to where other party members are standing when cast? If so how far apart can they be? I know in later rounds the caster can expand them and create additional squares and those have to be contiguous with the ones previous, but do the first four have to be contiguous?

[Chad the DragonLord]

Can anybody help me out?

[Taenia]

So the spells range is touch. I would assume that all 4 squares have to be within your reach according to that range.

So you start with one under you and 3 adjacent to that square. You can then extend the area by 4 squares that are adjacent to squares form the prior turn or initial cast. So you couldn't make a line of squares you would have to extend it diagonally or straight.

Round 1: U is the caster, p is one of the squares you created

xxxxx xxxxx
xxxxx xxpxx
xUpxx xUxxx
xppxx pxpxx
xxxxx xxxxx

would be some legal starting areas but as long as each is adjacent to you (in touch range).

Then you extend out on successive rounds, q is the new squares

xxxxx xqxxx
xxxqx xxpxx
xUpxx xUxqx
xppxx pxpxx
qxqqx xqxqx

not sure if that helps or possibly is too much information.

[Chad the DragonLord]

Thanks that helps a lot.

[Cavall]

We don't even allow diagonal in my game.

Not that by the 2nd round it's ever an issue.

[Create Mr. Pitt]

I don't believe all four initial squares need to be adjacent to your square. The touch restriction could simply be why one of initial squares needs to be your square, because that's how you activate the spell. I don't know how you're touch four squares at once even adjacent to you, unless you're a twister cleric. The text of the spell states:

"You cause four 5-foot squares (one of which must be your space) to glow with dim illumination. Starting on your next turn, as a swift action you can extend the glowing area by an additional four 5-foot squares; each new square must be adjacent to a square that was previously glowing. Allies that end their turns on a glowing square (including one who falls unconscious in the square) are healed of 1 point of damage."

Note that the "must be adjacent" text specifically appears after the "next turn." I also think it seems likely, given the spell levels and hps healed, that this was supposed to grant minor protection to you and your allies or allow you to have the minor protect so long as you only move 15 ft per round.

[Cavall]

Well that skald in my game gives the whole damn party more than minor protection. Currently he's up to 12 healing a round and fast healing of 4.

[Chad the DragonLord]

I was thinking like you Mr. Pitt, that the touch referred to the touching of your own square and not the other three, because otherwise you'd have to move at least 5 ft for each additional square in order to touch those as well and then you'd be subject to AoOs.