Light Subdomain Power

[SinnerMinner]

Hey everyone!! My DM and I were wondering about the light domain's power, Blinding Flash.

Blinding Flash (Su): As a standard action, you can emit a flash of light from your holy symbol or divine focus. The most powerful light emanates out 20 feet from you. Creatures with fewer Hit Dice than your cleric level within this area are blinded for 1d4 rounds unless they succeed at a Fortitude save. All creatures in this area are dazzled for a number of rounds equal to 1/2 your cleric level (minimum 1). You can use this ability a number of times per day equal to 3 + your Wisdom modifier

So, the main question is how the 20 feet works. It is a radius, ray or line that is coming from me? It would be very helpful to know, so thanks!

[LordKailas]

This is the part that is important

Quote:

The most powerful light emanates out 20 feet from you.

So, this tells us its a 20ft emanation centered on the user.

Magic: Burst, Emanation, or Spread wrote:

An emanation spell functions like a burst spell, except that the effect continues to radiate from the point of origin for the duration of the spell.

Since it's not an ongoing effect, it probably should of just been called out as a burst. Bursts work as follows.

Magic: Burst, Emanation, or Spread wrote:

A burst spell affects whatever it catches in its area, including creatures that you can’t see. It can’t affect creatures with total cover from its point of origin (in other words, its effects don’t extend around corners). The default shape for a burst effect is a sphere, but some burst spells are specifically described as cone-shaped. a burst’s area defines how far from the point of origin the spell’s effect extends.

Since the shape isn't defined, it defaults to a sphere. So, it's a 20ft radius sphere centered on the domain power user.