So not sure if this was just an oversight or intended, but I noticed that the splash rules seem to indicate that all squares around the target are subject to splash damage.
Now in 1e splash included the line "If the target is Large or larger, you choose one of its squares and the splash damage affects creatures within 5 feet of that square."
Since this line doesn't exist in 2e, splash damage when hitting a large creature hits all 12 squares around the creature?
Another thing, I noticed Mark back on 9/14 mentioned that a rule about large and up creatures taking splash damage as well as normal damage when hit was to come out in an errata but we haven't seen anything on it yet. Is that still a thing coming out?
All creatures take splash damage on a hit, not just large and up. This is how an acid flask is actually able to damage its target in the round you throw it, and not just the people around the target.
Related: a creature that occupies multiple spaces should only take damage once, not once per space. However, I'm not sure if this is actually stated anywhere.
All creatures take splash damage on a hit, not just large and up.
No they don't.
A
splash weapon can deal splash damage in addition to its normal
damage. If an attack with a splash weapon fails, succeeds, or
critically succeeds, all creatures within 5 feet of the target take
the indicated amount of splash damage. On a failure (but not a
critical failure), the target of the attack also takes the splash
damage.
If the target of the attack takes the splash due to the previous sentence ("If an attack with a splash weapon fails, succeeds, or critically succeeds...") then the bolded sentence is irrelevant.
If the bolded sentence is relevant, then the target does not take damage on a crit success or success at all.
The sentence is meant to indicate that the target still takes splash damage on a failure, even though they aren't suffering the main effect of a direct hit - eg the persistent damage from an acid flask. It is not meant to indicate that the target avoids splash on a hit or critical hit.
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Oh oops yeah Mark said "...large or medium or any other size you add the splash damage from a hit to the normal hit damage" (the jump from large down to medium threw me) Yeah sorry, the target as well as the squares around it take splash damage. you can see the post here: http://paizo.com/threads/rzs3gsr6?Joe-Ms-Playtest-Thread#9
Though that rule still hasn't been fully clarified in errata. But I can definitely see the intent within the ruling. But I also see what Draco is saying. The fact that the bolded part exists makes it seem like it doesn't work like that. Would be a simple enough fix for them. Just edit those two sentences to actually say what they want. Probably either:
"If an attack with a splash weapon fails, succeeds, or critically succeeds, all creatures within 5 feet of the target including the target take the indicated amount of splash damage."
OR
"If an attack with a splash weapon fails, succeeds, or critically succeeds, all creatures within 5 feet of the target excluding the target take the indicated amount of splash damage. On a failure (but not a critical failure), the target of the attack also takes the splash
damage.
Mark is wrong until they errata the text.
It might be the intent but the rules as written do not include the target in the splash because of the second sentence. That is, if you remove the second sentence you get the rules as Mark states easily enough (confusing, but understandable). With the sentence Mark's statement is contradictory.
the second sentence just makes sure that even on a failed hit (that normaly deals no damage) still affects main target.
"If an attack with a splash weapon fails [...] all creatures within 5 feet of the target take the indicated amount of splash damage."
The second sentence is useless then (under that interpretation) because the target was ALREADY INCLUDED.
"On a hit you take 5 damage. On a miss you take 5 damage."
Could they have written "on a hit or a miss you take 5 damage"? sure. and it would have been better.
Except it reads:
"On a hit everyone around you takes 5 damage. On a miss you also take this 5 damage."
Let's not get stuck in the loop of "i'm right cause semantics, no i'm right cause semantics" It doesn't really go anywhere. You can see that in a large chunk of these forum posts.
We all agree the wording could be updated to be 100% clear on the issue without much needing to change and that's more what the point of making this post was for. Pointing out where the rules get a little muddled and hard to understand for all players.
My first question on the large size splash radius, is more for an open discussion though. Mainly, due to the lack of a sentence that 1e included at core to specify how that radius worked with larger creatures. I'm really not sure if it was intended to not have that line or if it was just an oversight. It does change somethings especially for Alchemists and melee party members as it basically guarantees you are going to hurt your allies with each bomb you throw.
It's not "around" though. It's "within".
Everyone within 5ft takes 5 damage on a hit. On a miss you also take 5 damage.
So on a miss you take 10 damage because you fall into both clauses.
Gotcha.
(Hint: it says "also." On a miss everyone takes 5 damage (including you). On a miss you also take 5 damage")
we have 2 sentences. The second sentence is badly written and contradicts with the first one.
Yes, yes it is.
the devs have said that "the 1st sentence is the correct one".
Cool. They can put it into errata then. I look forward to it.
(And I said this already)Until its in the errata its not official.
"What rules set were you playing with?"
"Uh, some combination of 1.3 and things the devs said on the forums that contradict the rules as written."