Spells: Difference between revisions

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~~====Defining and Using Areas of Effect====~~

~~Some spells create or summon things or effects rather than affecting things that are already present.~~

You must designate the location where these things are to appear, either by seeing it or defining it. Range determines how far away an effect can appear, but if the effect is mobile, after it appears it can move regardless of the spell's range.

~~: <h5>Ray</h5>~~

: Some effects are rays. You aim a ray as if using a ranged weapon, though typically you make a ranged [[Touch Attack]] rather than a normal ranged attack. As with a ranged weapon, you can fire into the dark or at an invisible creature and hope you hit something. You don't have to see the creature you're trying to hit, as you do with a targeted spell. Intervening creatures and obstacles, however, can block your line of sight or provide cover for the creature at which you're aiming.

~~: If a ray spell has a duration, it's the duration of the effect that the ray causes, not the length of time the ray itself persists.~~

: If a ray spell deals damage, you can score a critical hit just as if it were a weapon. A ray spell threatens a critical hit on a natural roll of 20 and deals double damage on a successful critical hit.

: Note that rays count as weapons for the purpose of spells, feats and effects that affect weapons. For example, a bard's inspire courage ability says it affects "weapon damage rolls," which is worded that way so you don't try to add the bonus to a spell like fireball. However, rays are treated as weapons, whether they're from spells, a monster ability, a class ability, or some other source, so the inspire courage bonus applies to ray attack rolls and ray damage rolls.

~~: The same rule applies to weapon-like spells such as flame blade, mage's sword, and spiritual weapon - effects that affect weapons work on these spells.~~

~~: <h5>Area</h5>~~

~~: Some spells affect an area. Usually a spell description specifies a specially defined area, but usually an area falls into one of the categories defined below.~~

: Regardless of the shape of the area, you select the point where the spell originates, but otherwise you don't control which creatures or objects the spell affects. The point of origin of a spell is always a grid intersection or a target square. When determining whether a given creature is within the area of a spell, count out the distance from the point of origin in squares just as you do when moving a character or when determining the range for a ranged attack (1-for-1 counting).

: If the far edge of a square is within the spell's area, anything and everything within that square is within the spell's area. If the spell's area only touches the near edge or a corner of a square, anything within that square is unaffected by the spell.

~~: <h5>Burst, Emanation, or Spread</h5>~~

~~: Most spells that affect an area function as a burst, an emanation, or a spread. In each case, you select the spell's point of origin and measure its effect from that point.~~

: 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, and you must have line of effect, but not line of sight, from the point of origin to all affected squares). The default shape for a burst effect is abstracted as a cube, but for story purposes is often described as a sphere or other interesting effect, because magic is cool like that. A burst's area defines how far from the point of origin the spell's effect extends.

: An emanation spell functions like a burst spell (you must have line of effect but not line of sight, to all affected squares from the point of origin), except that the effect continues to radiate from the point of origin for the duration of the spell. Emanations are abstracted as cubes, but may have many colorful, fanciful, and exciting descriptive elements added.

: A spread spell, notably clouds and fogs, extends out like a burst but can turn corners. You select the point of origin, and the spell spreads out a given distance in all directions. Figure the area the spell effect fills by taking into account any turns the spell effect takes. Spreads are 'soft' and malleable, and thus as long as an open path exists (such as for low-pressure fire or poison gas) within reach of the point of origin, the spread will spread out to fill it. (This requires line of effect, but not line of sight.) Figure distance by actual distance traveled, taking into account turns the spell effect takes. When determining distance for spread effects, count around walls, not through them. As with movement, all squares are counted as 1-for-1. You must designate the point of origin for such an effect, but you need not have line of effect to all portions of the effect.

~~: <h5>Cone, Cylinder, Line, or Sphere</h5>~~

~~: Most spells that affect an area have a particular shape.~~

: A cone-shaped spell is abstracted as a square that shoots away from you in the direction you designate. It starts from any corner or side of your square. Most cones are either bursts or emanations (see above), and thus won't go around corners.

: When casting a cylinder-shaped spell, you select the spell's point of origin. This point is the center of a horizontal square (the cylinder's shape is abstracted), and the spell shoots down from the circle, filling the area. A cylinder-shaped spell ignores any horizontal obstructions within its area.

: A line-shaped spell shoots away from you in a line in the direction you designate. It starts from any corner or side your square and extends to the limit of its range or until it strikes a barrier that blocks line of effect. When choosing the area affected by a line, the caster chooses each square of the line, to the maximum number of squares. Each square must be placed adjacent to the edge or corner of either the casters space, or the last square placed, with the caveat that every square must be further away from the caster than the last one. This allows clever player to get quite creative in 'snaking' a line effect across the battlefield. All squares of the line are full squares, there are no 'edge cases'. A line shaped spell is often crooked and meandering, and that's just fine. A line-shaped spell affects all creatures in squares through which the line passes as defined in the spell. The DM adjudicates any unusual or close calls (see below).

~~: A sphere-shaped spell is abstracted to expand from its point of origin to fill a cubical area. Spheres may be bursts, emanations, or spreads.~~

~~: <h5>Creatures</h5>~~

: A spell with this kind of area affects creatures directly (like a targeted spell), but it affects all creatures in an area of some kind rather than individual creatures you select. The area might be a spherical burst, a cone-shaped burst, or some other shape, although all areas are abstracted to cubes for play on a grid. A common type of creature effecting spells will effect a number of creatures who are within a certain distance of each other. The simplest way to work this out in play is to choose the closest creature that the caster wishes to effect, and count out from there to the maximum distance, although again, clever players will be able to come up with all sorts of interesting options.

: Many spells affect �living creatures,� which means all creatures other than constructs and undead. Creatures in the spell's area that are not of the appropriate type do not count against the creatures affected.

~~: <h5>Objects</h5>~~

~~: A spell with this kind of area affects objects within an area you select (as Creatures, but affecting objects instead).~~

~~: <h5>Other</h5>~~

~~: A spell can have a unique area, as defined in its description.~~

~~: <h5>(S) Shapeable</h5>~~

: If an area or effect entry ends with �(S),� you can shape the spell. A shaped effect or area can have no dimension smaller than 10 feet. Many effects or areas are given as cubes to make it easy to model irregular shapes. Three-dimensional volumes are most often needed to define aerial or underwater effects and areas.

Spells: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 19:30, 23 April 2020

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@@ Line 357: / Line 357: @@
 {{:Areas of Effect}}
-====Defining and Using Areas of Effect====
-Some spells create or summon things or effects  rather than affecting things that are already present.
-You must designate the location where these things are to appear, either by seeing it or defining it. Range determines how far away an effect can appear, but if the effect is mobile, after it appears it can move regardless of the spell's range.
-: <h5>Ray</h5>
-: Some effects are rays. You aim a ray as if using a ranged weapon, though typically you make a ranged [[Touch Attack]] rather than a normal ranged attack. As with a ranged weapon, you can fire into the dark or at an invisible creature and hope you hit something. You don't have to see the creature you're trying to hit, as you do with a targeted spell. Intervening creatures and obstacles, however, can block your line of sight or provide cover for the creature at which you're aiming.
-: If a ray spell has a duration, it's the duration of the effect that the ray causes, not the length of time the ray itself persists.
-: If a ray spell deals damage, you can score a critical hit just as if it were a weapon. A ray spell threatens a critical hit on a natural roll of 20 and deals double damage on a successful critical hit.
-: Note that rays count as weapons for the purpose of spells, feats and effects that affect weapons.  For example, a bard's inspire courage ability says it affects "weapon damage rolls," which is worded that way so you don't try to add the bonus to a spell like fireball. However, rays are treated as weapons, whether they're from spells, a monster ability, a class ability, or some other source, so the inspire courage bonus applies to ray attack rolls and ray damage rolls.
-: The same rule applies to weapon-like spells such as flame blade, mage's sword, and spiritual weapon - effects that affect weapons work on these spells.
-: <h5>Area</h5>
-: Some spells affect an area. Usually a spell description specifies a specially defined area, but usually an area falls into one of the categories defined below.
-: Regardless of the shape of the area, you select the point where the spell originates, but otherwise you don't control which creatures or objects the spell affects. The point of origin of a spell is always a grid intersection or a target square. When determining whether a given creature is within the area of a spell, count out the distance from the point of origin in squares just as you do when moving a character or when determining the range for a ranged attack (1-for-1 counting).
-:  If the far edge of a square is within the spell's area, anything and everything within that square is within the spell's area.  If the spell's area only touches the near edge or a corner of a square, anything within that square is unaffected by the spell.
-: <h5>Burst, Emanation, or Spread</h5>
-: Most spells that affect an area function as a burst, an emanation, or a spread. In each case, you select the spell's point of origin and measure its effect from that point.
-: 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, and you must have line of effect, but not line of sight, from the point of origin to all affected squares). The default shape for a burst effect is abstracted as a cube, but for story purposes is often described as a sphere or other interesting effect, because magic is cool like that.  A burst's area defines how far from the point of origin the spell's effect extends.
-: An emanation spell functions like a burst spell (you must have line of effect but not line of sight, to all affected squares from the point of origin), except that the effect continues to radiate from the point of origin for the duration of the spell. Emanations are abstracted as cubes, but may have many colorful, fanciful, and exciting descriptive elements added.
-: A spread spell, notably clouds and fogs, extends out like a burst but can turn corners. You select the point of origin, and the spell spreads out a given distance in all directions. Figure the area the spell effect fills by taking into account any turns the spell effect takes.  Spreads are 'soft' and malleable, and thus as long as an open path exists (such as for low-pressure fire or poison gas) within reach of the point of origin, the spread will spread out to fill it. (This requires line of effect, but not line of sight.) Figure distance by actual distance traveled, taking into account turns the spell effect takes. When determining distance for spread effects, count around walls, not through them. As with movement, all squares are counted as 1-for-1. You must designate the point of origin for such an effect, but you need not have line of effect to all portions of the effect.
-: <h5>Cone, Cylinder, Line, or Sphere</h5>
-: Most spells that affect an area have a particular shape.
-: A cone-shaped spell is abstracted as a square that shoots away from you in the direction you designate. It starts from any corner or side of your square. Most cones are either bursts or emanations (see above), and thus won't go around corners.
-: When casting a cylinder-shaped spell, you select the spell's point of origin. This point is the center of a horizontal square (the cylinder's shape is abstracted), and the spell shoots down from the circle, filling the area. A cylinder-shaped spell ignores any horizontal obstructions within its area.
-: A line-shaped spell shoots away from you in a line in the direction you designate. It starts from any corner or side your square and extends to the limit of its range or until it strikes a barrier that blocks line of effect. When choosing the area affected by a line, the caster chooses each square of the line, to the maximum number of squares. Each square must be placed adjacent to the edge or corner of either the casters space, or the last square placed, with the caveat that every square must be further away from the caster than the last one.  This allows clever player to get quite creative in 'snaking' a line effect across the battlefield. All squares of the line are full squares, there are no 'edge cases'.  A line shaped spell is often crooked and meandering, and that's just fine. A line-shaped spell affects all creatures in squares through which the line passes as defined in the spell. The DM adjudicates any unusual or close calls (see below).
-: A sphere-shaped spell is abstracted to expand from its point of origin to fill a cubical area. Spheres may be bursts, emanations, or spreads.
-: <h5>Creatures</h5>
-: A spell with this kind of area affects creatures directly (like a targeted spell), but it affects all creatures in an area of some kind rather than individual creatures you select. The area might be a spherical burst, a cone-shaped burst, or some other shape, although all areas are abstracted to cubes for play on a grid. A common type of creature effecting spells will effect a number of creatures who are within a certain distance of each other. The simplest way to work this out in play is to choose the closest creature that the caster wishes to effect, and count out from there to the maximum distance, although again, clever players will be able to come up with all sorts of interesting options.
-: Many spells affect �living creatures,� which means all creatures other than constructs and undead. Creatures in the spell's area that are not of the appropriate type do not count against the creatures affected.
-: <h5>Objects</h5>
-: A spell with this kind of area affects objects within an area you select (as Creatures, but affecting objects instead).
-: <h5>Other</h5>
-: A spell can have a unique area, as defined in its description.
-: <h5>(S) Shapeable</h5>
-: If an area or effect entry ends with �(S),� you can shape the spell. A shaped effect or area can have no dimension smaller than 10 feet. Many effects or areas are given as cubes to make it easy to model irregular shapes. Three-dimensional volumes are most often needed to define aerial or underwater effects and areas.
 {{:Line of Effect}}

Spells: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 19:30, 23 April 2020

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