Bursts and Blasts - Elaborate

Rechan · Apr 19, 2008

Someone mentioned an article explaining bursts and blasts. Where is that? Because I'm not quite up to snuff about them.

For one, I understand that a Burst 1 = 1 square + the 8 squares around it. But what if it's Burst 2? Is that like Burst 1, but all the squares adjacent to the blast too? Etc.

Morrus · Apr 19, 2008

It's in the Pre-4E rules compilation.

http://www.enworld.org/showthread.php?t=221806

Rechan · Apr 19, 2008

Thanks! That helped a lot.

However, it doesn't cover what a "Close Blast" is. I'm looking at the Young Black Dragon and scratching my head.

Seule · Apr 19, 2008

I vaguely recall that the 'close' part means it's centered on the caster.

--Penn

Rechan · Apr 19, 2008

Seule said:
I vaguely recall that the 'close' part means it's centered on the caster.

That makes sense for a BURST, but a BLAST is a block of squares adjacent to a caster.

So if the dragon is breathing all aroudn it spraying everything, then wouldn't it be a BURST?

Oldtimer · Apr 19, 2008

Rechan said:
Someone mentioned an article explaining bursts and blasts. Where is that? Because I'm not quite up to snuff about them.

For one, I understand that a Burst 1 = 1 square + the 8 squares around it. But what if it's Burst 2? Is that like Burst 1, but all the squares adjacent to the blast too? Etc.

Blast n = An area n X n squares adjacent to the target square
Burst n = An area which covers every square within n squares of the target square

Close = The target square is the caster's square
Area = The target square is chosen by caster within the specified range

Rechan · Apr 19, 2008

Oldtimer said:
Blast n = An area n X n squares adjacent to the target square
Burst n = An area which covers every square within n squares of the target square

Close = The target square is the caster's square

So a Close Blast = Instead of effecting an area ADJACENT to the caster, the blast effects the square the caster is in (and the ones to the left and right).

I.E. For a Close Blast 2

X (area of blast)
C (Caster)

XX
XC

Oldtimer · Apr 19, 2008

Rechan said:
So a Close Blast = Instead of effecting an area ADJACENT to the caster, the blast effects the square the caster is in (and the ones to the left and right).

I.E. For a Close Blast 2

X (area of blast)
C (Caster)

XX
XC

Eh, no.

Blast n = An area n X n squares adjacent to the target square

Close = The target square is the caster's square

So a Close blast 2 would be "an area 2 X 2 squares adjacent to the target square, where the target square is the caster's square" i.e. "an area 2 X 2 squares adjacent to the caster's square."

Makes sense?

Rechan · Apr 19, 2008

Oldtimer said:
Eh, no.

So a Close blast 2 would be "an area 2 X 2 squares adjacent to the target square, where the target square is the caster's square" i.e. "an area 2 X 2 squares adjacent to the caster's square."

Makes sense?

No, that makes me confused.

Because then a Close Blast is the same thing as a regular blast, since the regular blast has to be adjacent to the caster's square.

I'm looking at all the diagrams, and based on what you said, every time a Blast is shown, it's a Close blast.

Edit: If a blast is NOT closed, then maybe it's like a wave. The caster designates a square, and the blast goes beyond that point, but not around like a burst. Like so:

X (Blast effected square)
T (Target square)
C (Caster)

XXX
XXX
XTX

C

Verys Arkon · Apr 19, 2008

Rechan said:
No, that makes me confused.

Because then a Close Blast is the same thing as a regular blast, since the regular blast has to be adjacent to the caster's square.

I'm looking at all the diagrams, and based on what you said, every time a Blast is shown, it's a Close blast.

As far as we know, there are no ranged blasts. All blasts start adjacent to the caster or source. Because there are both ranged and close BURSTS, it is important to distinguish them.