How does Blade Barrier work?

[Arshalk]

Hello.
I have few question about the spell Blade Barrier.

Blade Barrier wrote:

Blade Barrier

School evocation [force]; Level cleric 6
CASTING

Casting Time 1 standard action
Components V, S
EFFECT

Range medium (100 ft. + 10 ft./level)
Effect wall of whirling blades up to 20 ft. long/level, or a ringed wall of whirling blades with a radius of up to 5 ft. per two levels; either form is 20 ft. high
Duration 1 min./level (D)
Saving Throw Reflex half or Reflex negates; see text; Spell Resistance yes

DESCRIPTION

An immobile, vertical curtain of whirling blades shaped of pure force springs into existence. Any creature passing through the wall takes 1d6 points of damage per caster level (maximum 15d6), with a Reflex save for half damage.

If you evoke the barrier so that it appears where creatures are, each creature takes damage as if passing through the wall. Each such creature can avoid the wall (ending up on the side of its choice) and thus take no damage by making a successful Reflex save.

A blade barrier provides cover (+4 bonus to AC, +2 bonus on Reflex saves) against attacks made through it.

1) Where Blade Barrier can be put? In the middle of squares or in line between squares?

2) If Blade Barrier can be put in the middle of squares, does standing in the square cause you damage?
in the spell description it's said

Quote:

Any creature passing through the wall takes 1d6 points of damage per caster level

3) If I use Blade Barrier as a ringed wall around me, does the people attacking me get damage from the Blade Barrier?

3.5) In a ringed Blade Barrier, who get the cover bonus? the spellcaster only or everybody around the barrier too?

Thank you for all your respond!

[MordredofFairy]

1.: Since you can evoke it so that it appears where creatures are, i'd go with middle of squares here.

2.: continuing that: "each creature takes damage as if passing through the wall" then yes, i'd assume that standing in the wall also damages you.
Technically if a creature decided to move into it and keep standing in the wall, not just passing it, i'd probably rule that it's forgoing it's reflex save for half damage by doing so.

3.: Again, based on whatever you decide to go with on 1.:, it may well be impossible to do that without a reach or ranged weapon, without standing in the wall.
If you think about it, it seems like you WOULD place such a barrier in a way to prevent melee attackers from hitting you without being damaged themselves.

3.5.: It only states to cause cover, thus, both ways. Note that it won't move with you, so not only does it provide cover against you, too, but if you move through it, you take damage as well.

[Some call me Tim]

MordredofFairy wrote:

1.: Since you can evoke it so that it appears where creatures are, i'd go with middle of squares here.

Remeber larger creatures occupy more than a single square, so edges could also cause it to be evoked where creatures are. So, I don't think that is definitive proof.

I've always ruled edges of squares because it makes adjudicating so much easier. Making these 1/2-squares on either side of a blade barries will just lead to unnecessary complications. 5-foot squares are just an abstraction anyway.

By allowing walls only on edges of squares you make the choice of inside/outside the barrier correspond to the granularity of game grid. Think of area-of-effect spells a 20-foot radius only affects certain squares although mathematically some squares aren't fully within that radius are affected and some squares that are partially inside that radius are unaffected. The spell areas are just inside/outside that best fit a granular grid.

[Maezer]

Arshalk wrote:

1) Where Blade Barrier can be put? In the middle of squares or in line between squares?

Follow the rules for lines when placing it as a wall. So pick an origin intersection and a destination intersection and every square the line passes through is effected. (Note in pathfinder when a line travels only on the border of square it does not effect either square it borders this is change from 3.5 when lines could effectively be 10' wide.)

When placing a ring, selection an origin, then mark the radius as you would with a fireball or other area spell. And it would effect only the outer most row of effected squares (including corners so that you can't walk through unaffected.)

Quote:

2) If Blade Barrier can be put in the middle of squares, does standing in the square cause you damage?
in the spell description it's said

Quote:

Any creature passing through the wall takes 1d6 points of damage per caster level

I generally rule any creature still in the effect when the point of initiative when the caster evoked the spell, takes damage again each consecutive round it remains in the effect. (Once per round unless the creatures actually passes through it multiple times)

Quote:

3) If I use Blade Barrier as a ringed wall around me, does the people attacking me get damage from the Blade Barrier?

Only if standing in the squares effected by the blade barrier. Note the blade barrier probably does enough damage to destroy most weapons if trying to stick a spear or arrow through. With natural reach I would consider that passing through once per attack. Though if they just stand in it, I only hit them once per round.

Quote:

3.5) In a ringed Blade Barrier, who get the cover bonus? the spellcaster only or everybody around the barrier too?

Any attack that passes through the blade barrier. So both sides would get cover.