Official Close Blast Clarification?

[Blair Goatsblood]

Had a rules dispute on sunday. A player was trying to place a close blast and the DM insisted that it could only be placed the same ways as in the example in the PHB graphic.

Like below, with the Xs representing the blast and the 0 the caster.

XXX_
XXX_
XXX_
___0

or

XXX
XXX
XXX
_0_

All of us players were sure that those were just examples of how a close blast can be placed, and our interpretation of the text was that the below blast placement was kosher.

XXX_
XXX_
XXX_
__0_

Has there been an official clarification of close blast placement?

[the Jester]

Your dm is being silly. Ask him if the picture on pg. 272 of the PH is the only possible configuration of a wall 6.

Your config should be fine.

Edit: the only real limit on a blast x is that it must be an x by x area, and it must be adjacent to you.

[keterys]

You were correct, and your DM is wrong. The text of the rules is primary, and the examples just, y'know, examples, not limitations.

[Mathew_Freeman]

Originally Posted by the Jester

Your dm is being silly. Ask him if the picture on pg. 272 of the PH is the only possible configuration of a wall 6.

Your config should be fine.

Edit: the only real limit on a blast x is that it must be an x by x area, and it must be adjacent to you.

This 100%. Your DM is being silly.

Would he also suggest that this:

_XXX
_XXX
_XXX
0

is not possible, thus meaning that all characters can only affect things on their left?

[doctorhook]

Like everyone else, I think your DM is off it. Truth is, this is one of the easier rules to interpret; it makes me worry (for your sake) what else is up.