Can you choose to reduce the area of an AE power?

[RigaMortus2]

If you have a Blast 4 power (for example), can you choose to lower it to a Blast 2, so that it takes up a smaller area? Or must you always use the power to its full effect?

[aurance]

I did a scan of chapters 4 and 9, and it does not appear that you can customize the size of a blast or burst. I wouldn't allow it in game either. Possibly some kind of feat, though, to allow a blast/burst to be 1 bigger or smaller.

[the8bitdeity]

Only thing I know about is "Spell Mastery" the Epic Tier Wizard Feat.

[Mad Hamish]

Originally Posted by the8bitdeity

Only thing I know about is "Spell Mastery" the Epic Tier Wizard Feat.

The other thing that makes me say no is that Enlarged Dragonbreath (the Dragonborn racial feat that increases the area of your breath) explicitely says that you can use either the blast 3 or blast 5, if you could normally reduce the size they wouldn't have to specify you being able to use the blast 3.

[mach1.9pants]

No you can't. Part of 4E is tactical placement or yourself and allies and effects. giving some one the ability to reduce their burst/blasts is way to powerful, I mean you have to be an epic wizard before you can just miss a few squares!

[Krensus]

I don't think you can choose to lower the area of a spell, but you can position part of it in a wall or other blocking terrain. That way you could hit people standing in a line against a wall and not your allies who are attacking them from one square away.

[Goblyns Hoard]

Krensus - do you have a reference on that... I'd say that for a burst you need to hit a square that can be targeted - i.e. not inside a wall. So part of it could be but not the actual origin - or is that part of what you meant?

[Milambus]

You have to be able to see the target. So no you can't center the blast inside of a wall... but the center of the blast could be the surface of the wall. Which would put half of the blast radius inside of the wall.

[IceFractal]

Targetting point of a Burst is the center (so at least a quarter is always there, even if aimed at a corner). Targeting point of a Blast is a square adjacent to you + a direction, so you could make it basically a one-square line if you were next to a wall. Also note that with hardness gone, overuse of walls as targetting aids can cause a sudden lack of roof support.

Incidentally, I'd like to see a "Line" area. Would be the same rules as a Wall, except one end has to be a square adjacent to you.

[Jhaelen]

Originally Posted by IceFractal

Incidentally, I'd like to see a "Line" area. Would be the same rules as a Wall, except one end has to be a square adjacent to you.

Looking at the cones and lines in DDM 2.0 I'm glad none of them are present in the 4E rpg. They're a real pain!

To the OP: As has already been moentioned you cannot. Have a look at the ice archons in the MM for an example of adjustable AE powers.