Ring gates seem like a really fun, but confusing item. Reading through the description I was left with several questions that I can't find an answer too. Any help is appreciated.
1. Can you see through a ring gate? If so is it one way or bidirectional? I assume yes because you can cast spells through it.
2. Speaking of spells. Do you calculate LoE and LoS using the gate or does the exit gate need to be in range of the spell from you? If I have an unseen servant carry the ring is its effective range now 100 miles?
3. What about area spells and emanations? If I cast lightning bolt can it pass through the ring?
4. Pressure differences. Would a ring gate at the bottom of a lake shoot out water? Would the solid stream be a continuous item or would it clip at 100 lbs?
5. What happens when something goes in the exit side? Does it pass through harmlessly? What about if someone sticks their arm in the exit side and leaves it there? How would that affect normal use?
I am sure I will think of more. But if anyone knows about the above it is appreciated.
1. Spells require you to see your target so yes, you can see though them, I would assume both ways
2. I agree with Pizza Lord on this one.3. Again, I agree with Pizza Lord.
4. yes, gates work both ways, pressure is the same as pushing something through, but remember only 100 pounds per day. So only about 12 gallons of water from the bottom of the ocean.
5. Something must happen when you enter the exit side. otherwise you couldn't retract your arm once you reach through. I view it as each one has a side A and a side B, what goes in side A on one comes out on side B on the other and vice versa.
5. Something must happen when you enter the exit side. otherwise you couldn't retract your arm once you reach through. I view it as each one has a side A and a side B, what goes in side A on one comes out on side B on the other and vice versa.See that would make sense. But the way the item is written is that there is an exit and an entrance on each ring. So if you go into one ring's exit how does that affect someone using the entrance that goes out through that exit?
If it were A to A and B to B for each ring it would make a ton more sense.
chalk it up to a poorly written item. All I know is that since it specifically mentions putting your head in, you have to be able to retract it. that means that if you put things into the "Exit" on one, they come out the "enter" on the other.
So I don't care how you label them, the gates are 2 way, in and out, one side of gate A is linked to a side of Gate B, and most likely the other side of Gate A is linked to the other side of Gate B. the only other reasonable conclusion is that the gates only have a single functioning side and things can go in and out freely between the two.
To try and answer question 4, I direct you to Pathfinder Campaign Setting: Dragons Unleashed page number 7,
"One ring gate; when activated, it gushes salt water at an
incredible rate and pressure, as if the other ring were
deep in a vast ocean (worth 20,000 gp)."
I hope that helps.
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My responses for what they're worth.
1. Can you see through a ring gate? If so is it one way or bidirectional? I assume yes because you can cast spells through it.
GM call but I'd say yes. I don't recall seeing a "default" portal description anywhere but most descriptions I've seen have you viewing an "otherwordly" environment on the other side however there are some you can't see through.
2. Speaking of spells. Do you calculate LoE and LoS using the gate or does the exit gate need to be in range of the spell from you? If I have an unseen servant carry the ring is its effective range now 100 miles?
Use yourself as the origin point as usual but calculate distance through the gate not around it. It is essentially a shortcut though abuse of this may have a GM introduce their own rules. Generally speaking however that is . . .
You|Otherside
Not
You . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Otherside
The gate negates the distance between otherwise spells would fizzle and stop as soon as they hit it because of the distance. As long as your spell is cast THROUGH the gate not around it though you can do that too.
3. What about area spells and emanations? If I cast lightning bolt can it pass through the ring?
As above yes. I don't recall any portal rules but the whole point of these items is to negate that inbetween distance or you couldn't reach an arm through either.
4. Pressure differences. Would a ring gate at the bottom of a lake shoot out water? Would the solid stream be a continuous item or would it clip at 100 lbs?
Yes it would go through as the pressure difference is "pushing" objects through the gate. Note the 100lbs limit is per day and doesn't apply to objects partially through then pulled back. So you would have 100 lbs of water (or other) gush out each day then cut off as the portal becomes unuseable when you hit that limit.
5. What happens when something goes in the exit side? Does it pass through harmlessly? What about if someone sticks their arm in the exit side and leaves it there? How would that affect normal use?
This is sort of difficult to describe, easier to draw it works like this.
-> Entry ring oneExit ring two ->
-> Exit ring one ->
This image is what you'd see (smaller ring) if you look through the Portal entry. Around you and around the ring is a forest through it is a mountain range. I'll use this one to show how it'd look as someone comes thorugh from the exit side. of the second ring. There's a ring (or in this case square) in the air, a field in and around it and this strange free person just appearing there out of thin air.
Now if you walk around the ring and look through the exit side of the first ring you will see the forest., stick an arm through it and someone on the entry side will see your arm sticking out of their mountain range view but they'll also see you standing behind the ring assuming your tall enough to look over the top and from your perspective you've stuck your arm through a ring . big whoop. You can stick your arm through harmlessly and leave it there it'll only cause an issue in the person using the ring has to squeeze past it. From the entry side there's an arm in front of them they need to pass to get to the portal and from ring 2 side there's your bisected arm in their exit way.
I wouldnt recommend it though as if they decide to push your arm from that sliced off but not bleeding stump they're looking at rather than the side their hand will wind up inside your arm and the GM will need to work out what happens then.
Edit
Swapped Dr Strange book stealing for a better image showing the view from the exit side. In fact here's another one.
Not entirely happy with either image for the exit side but they give the idea. Looking through the ring you see what's there where you are, someone coming out of it is basically sliced off where they pass through the portal and you can't see it. Stick something through from the exit side and your looking at your arm through a ring and from the entry side you see another land but still your just sticking an arm through from your perspective.