Chain-lighting and walls

[Raetu]

Hey folks, here's an odd one:

Can you target an object/structure/barrier that blocks line of sight with chain-lightning, and then arc it off that object to try and blindly hit a target you cant see?

This came up as the result of a 2 vs 1 fight: a good sorc vs an evil sorc and an anti-pali. Goodie was charged by the AP, who nat-1'd his attack roll. Goodie realized she was most certainly doomed if either opponent got off a single good shot, so she took a 5-ft step back and threw up a wall of stone around herself.

At this point, I remembered that Baddie had chain-lightning, but ruled that he couldn't fire through walls (because no other damaging spell I can think of works that way with total obstruction). Still, it left me wondering.

So what do you all think, could baddie have blindly arced a chain-lighting through a solid barrier?

[Val'bryn2]

I don't think so. Line of effect is checked when cast, and Wall of Stone provides total cover, so is immune to targeting.

[Ryze Kuja]

Val'bryn2 wrote:

I don't think so. Line of effect is checked when cast, and Wall of Stone provides total cover, so is immune to targeting.

Yep ^. No line of sight = no casty spelly, unless of course the spell specifically notes otherwise. And in the case of Chain Lightning, it does not. It specifically says 1 primary target + 1 target/level.

[avr]

Blasting right through the wall with a high damage area spell might have worked, but not much else will.

[Raetu]

Thanks everyone.

[Diego Rossi]

Chain lighting hits secondary targets. To define someone as a target you need to see him.

To hit enemies that are behind total cover from your position you need to use a spell with a burst or spread area of effect. And total cover against the point of origin of the burst/spread can stop even those spell if the spread can't find a path that allows it to bypass the obstacle.