Clarification on geyser spell

[nennafir]

Can you please tell me if I am understanding this spell correctly?

The effect of the spell is a 5-ft square filled with water that shoots up. So if one casts the spell with a target the square a creature is in, then it will (if it fails it's save) shoot up and then fall prone.

It then lies in a random square adjacent to the geyser. (Adjacent here means adjacent to the 5-ft square filled with water shooting up.)

However, the now prone character is still within the area of the hemispherical emanation of the geyser, and they will take 1d6 damage a round if they do not move out of it.

In addition, as per:

http://paizo.com/threads/rzs2qt4n?How-would-you-adjudicate-a-Widened-Geyser -Spell

the spell is not an emanation and cannot be enhanced by widen spell.

Have I understood things correctly? Thanks!

[SlimGauge]

Geyser linkified !

related thread linkified !

[DmRrostarr]

Yep you got it.

I'm still trying to wrap my head around why this spell level is so high...

Its not movable, so unless you set it up in a choke-point, the enemy is just gonna walk around it.

Thanks for linking it Slim

[nennafir]

Thanks to SlimGauge for linking and DMRrostarr for answering!

[Diego Rossi]

DmRrostarr wrote:

Yep you got it.

I'm still trying to wrap my head around why this spell level is so high...

Its not movable, so unless you set it up in a choke-point, the enemy is just gonna walk around it.

Thanks for linking it Slim

No spell resistance, great to stop large or larger creatures. If I read it correctly they are moved to the "nearest square". I assume that "nearest" mean the one that require less movement, so they are automatically pushed back. Even if they save.

No size limit for that effect.
In the right conditions it can stop them as long as the geyser last.

[ryric]

My (water)witch in Skull&Shackles made pretty good use of it to suppress enemy crews - sure the officers might not care about 1d6/round, but the low level commoners and experts who make up most of the crew would retreat below decks to avoid the spray, leaving the ship mostly unmanned.

[nennafir]

I have an undine waves shaman who will be taking:

"Crashing Waves (Su): The force of a waves shaman's water spells can bring even the mightiest of foes to the ground. When the shaman casts a spell with the water descriptor, she does so at 1 caster level higher. If that spell deals damage, the target must succeed at a Fortitude saving throw or be knocked prone. At 8th level, the shaman casts water spells at 2 caster levels higher. At 16th level, her ability to knock creatures prone extends to any spell that deals damage."

If I am reading things correctly, geyser should be basically an active "make people prone" field with its emanation effect. First round target them with the geyser and they go prone. Then if they are still within the area they take 1d6 damage and can (if they fail save) be knocked prone again.

Further question: On subsequent rounds, when does the 1d6 damage from the field take effect, in my turn or in theirs? It is relevant because that determines when crashing waves kicks in to see if they are knocked prone again. For example, suppose the geyser is already in place, and an enemy was NOT in it at the beginning of their turn. Then they move so that they are in it. It seems to me that as soon as they enter the field is when they would take damage. This at least makes sense conceptually--they were outside it and okay, but then they moved under the boiling spray and so took damage then. Is this correct?

Another additional question: If a creature has enough DR not to take damage from the 1d6 emanation effect, then that creature isn't knocked prone, yes? This at least is how I read, "If that spell deals damage, the target must succeed at a Fortitude saving throw or be knocked prone."

[DmRrostarr]

Diego Rossi wrote:

DmRrostarr wrote:

Yep you got it.

I'm still trying to wrap my head around why this spell level is so high...

Its not movable, so unless you set it up in a choke-point, the enemy is just gonna walk around it.

Thanks for linking it Slim

No spell resistance, great to stop large or larger creatures. If I read it correctly they are moved to the "nearest square". I assume that "nearest" mean the one that require less movement, so they are automatically pushed back. Even if they save.

No size limit for that effect.
In the right conditions it can stop them as long as the geyser last.

They are knocked prone of a fail save (no falling damage on a good save) but either way they land in a random square next to the geyser.

I really have a hard time thinking this spell should be 5th level for a wizard. Should be at least one level lower or two...

[Create Mr. Pitt]

It's pretty darn useful if you set it up right. The 1d6 is minimal and your party can surround it. Especially with summons it is likely to some it either cannot stand or will take multiple attacks of opportunity.

I don't really understand how one is suppose to adjudicate where a huge or gargantuan creature is suppose to fall other than the geyser again if they are enclosed, but I suppose it's hard to do that.

It's hard to argue that it's much better than ice spears unless combined with melee combatants with bull rush or telekinesis.