Inventor: Explode Feature

[LaughingVulcan]

I'm new to Pathfinder, and playing an Inventor with a Construct Companion that I can ride.
When attempting the Explode feature, my GM said that I would also take damage if I use this while riding my construct. It's described as fire damage for all creatures in a 5 foot radius of the Construct. I was interpreting that as a blast to the sides, and the GM is interpreting it more like a dome effect - 5 feet in all directions. So by being on top of it, I'm technically within 5 feet.
I didn't assume I'd take damage because the rules don't specifically state that. They do specifically state that I may take damage after the effect due to this being an Unstable Action, and it seems weird to me that this is specified but whether or not the rider of the Construct is safe from Explode is not. Any thoughts?

[Sibelius Eos Owm]

The rules generally aren't terribly specific if an AoE spreads in three dimensions or only two. However, I think by default the safest assumption is to go with three dimensions. A fireball is a fireball etc and that 20' radius means in a sphere around the point of ignition, not a flat disk. So, too, would I run that basic assumption with inventor explosion.

Perhaps to get in before some of the snarkier answers show up, I figure it would be pretty weird if something exploded between my legs and I was unharmed. Nothing in the ability suggests that it would only explode in certain directions. Not only are you technically and actually within 5', you are sitting right on top of the explosion.

[shroudb]

Look at level 6 feat "Construct Shell".

Apasrt from the rest of the bonuses, it does allow you, when you ride your construct, to exlude yourself from the AoE.

[Finoan]

Summoner has the same problem challenge to work around with Eidolon's Wrath and Ostentatious Arrival (your Eidolon is always summoned adjacent to you). The Summoner can't exclude themselves from the AoE if they are in the area.

[LaughingVulcan]

Thanks all. I think between Sibelius and shroudb is the truth of the matter; the rules aren't specific about this effect alone, and were written with the assumption that you would read all the way up to level 6 feats in order to infer how this works at level 1 (which also requires you to stop to consider that the description of a level 6 feat is telling you things about how Explode would work up until that point, a thought you may not have until you're actually using it).
As it happens, writing technical documentation is my job, and vague directions make me irritable because some part of my brain is forced to clock in for work whenever I see something like this.

[Super Zero]

Yeah, no. There's nothing vague. It's an emanation.

Why would there need to be specific text stating that someone riding a construct follows the normal rules when that isn't even a typical situation?

[LaughingVulcan]

Super Zero wrote:

Yeah, no. There's nothing vague. It's an emanation.

Why would there need to be specific text stating that someone riding a construct follows the normal rules when that isn't even a typical situation?

There's nothing atypical about riding the construct; it is clearly stated as an option for small characters.

[Super Zero]

Construct is only one of three innovations, and most construct inventors won't be riding them.

Explode is only the default option. You can pick up more Unstable actions if that one doesn't work for you. My Inventor has too many honestly, and he still doesn't use one every encounter.
Searing Restoration is amazing.