Image 1 :
From the wording of dimension door a character can just specify direction and distance. However, without an effect which allows one character to see through another's eyes I would call for some type of knowledge check (maybe engineering?) to be that exact and it might require an action from the character describing the exact target point to the caster.
I agree with this, as characters need a way to explain the distance needed to travel to effectively dimension door.
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For Image 2, the best way to handle this is imagining how people travel by magic.
Although Dimension Door states that it is instant and does not actually state you having to move through a door, there still needs to be a way for the magic to travel to its intended location.
So, if you imagine the spell being sent to the location, then being obstructed to reform the characters traveling, then it makes sense that all creatures would be shunted.
However, if you imagine the spell reforming the characters in positions exactly as they were holding onto the caster, then ya only the caster would be shunted.
For as much as I know, since there is no exact description of how magic targeting works with teleportation, I would say it is up to GM discretion.
Player 1 (the elf archer paladin the lower right) saw that the Tengu Cleric (bird looking guy near the middle) was in an awkward spot. He then yelled to Player 2 (circled as number 2) that Player 3 (who was currently back at position 3 up a level and like 60+ feet away) should Dimension Door to the other side of the wall from Player 2. Player 2 then telepathically communicated to Player 3 (they had a Telepathic Bond spell up or whatever it's called) that Player 3 should teleport to exactly the spot indicated by the #4. Not down a level into the room, but exactly that ONE square that Player 2 cannot even currently see.
That seems a bit much. Am I wrong?
The spell can go by a direction and distance relative to the caster. However, if the one directing the spell is using anothers estimation of such, that requires the other to know the direction and distance of the caster. Directing someone on the other side of a wall (or ceiling/floor) to arrive somewhere without knowing where they are means they cannot get the direction and distance.
Prior to this happening, the Fetchling Sorcerer (just below the #1) wanted to blindly Dimension Door through a stinking cloud obscuring vision (the yellow circle in the upper right) down a level -- basically start off the map to the upper right and then end up where she is. She wanted to bring along Player 2 from before (an Arcanist, the guy in the middle of the oval) and also the Tengu Cleric. Due to the way they were standing, the Tengu Cleric ended up in a wall (the empty square in the oval).
I ruled that the Tengu got random shunted to an open square within 100 feet...but I'm wondering if all three should have been shunted. Exact rule is:
" If you arrive in a place that is already occupied by a solid body, you and each creature traveling with you take 1d6 points of damage and are shunted to a random open space on a suitable surface within 100 feet of the intended location. "
I'm also guessing that all three would stay together in that latter case and be shunted to the same general area and not be potentially split up. Would appreciate any clarification.
While I have generally played the spell and similar effects to leave party orientation the same unless specific effort is included. [Example Dim Hop gives X feet of hop you and can carry someone by adding their movement also. Making them arrive in a different orientation requires a different calc that for you.] RAW, if you are clear then all with you arrive safely. My RAI is maintain orientation, and any not clear causes whole party to shift, but only ones who were in untenable space get damage. Shunting must keep orientation of party to find open space and is to the nearest such open space. You could wind up not going anywhere!]
/cevah
You instantly transfer yourself from your current location to any other spot within range. You always arrive at exactly the spot desired – whether by simply visualizing the area or by stating direction. After using this spell, you can’t take any other actions until your next turn. You can bring along objects as long as their weight doesn’t exceed your maximum load. You may also bring one additional willing Medium or smaller creature (carrying gear or objects up to its maximum load) or its equivalent per three caster levels. A Large creature counts as two Medium creatures, a Huge creature counts as two Large creatures, and so forth. All creatures to be transported must be in contact with one another, and at least one of those creatures must be in contact with you.
If you arrive in a place that is already occupied by a solid body, you and each creature traveling with you take 1d6 points of damage and are shunted to a random open space on a suitable surface within 100 feet of the intended location.
If there is no free space within 100 feet, you and each creature traveling with you take an additional 2d6 points of damage and are shunted to a free space within 1,000 feet. If there is no free space within 1,000 feet, you and each creature traveling with you take an additional 4d6 points of damage and the spell simply fails.
You can activate Dimension Door as blind as you want, even just stating the direction you'd like to go and how far you'd like to travel, i.e. "I'd like to travel 837.91ft northwest". If you end up in a wall or another creature's space, there are consequences.