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Color text v rule details in spell descriptions
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<blockquote data-quote="Greenfield" data-source="post: 7291250" data-attributes="member: 6669384"><p>In the recent Wall of Force debate we got down to arguing the meaning of a phrase in a spell description.</p><p></p><p>It brought to mind other debates I've had, at the game table and on line, regarding spell descriptions.</p><p></p><p>Some have argued that they are mere "color text", to be taken with a grain of salt. Others say that they they as much a rule as the spec block that precedes them.</p><p></p><p>An example that I've encountered more than once is Fireball: The spell description clearly says "Ignites flamable material in the area", yet many have argued that the "Instantaneous" duration means that it isn't there long enough to do that. Can't melt metal, can't light things on fire, all it does is damage, the rest is "color text".</p><p></p><p>Note that there are many spells with "instantaneous" durations that last forever. Cure spells, for example, or Wall of Stone. All it means is that the effect can't be undone with a Dispel Magic, not that the tiny bead described in Fireball moves faster than light, or that the Wall is there and gone in an eyeblink.</p><p></p><p>How do you stand on issues like this? Give examples, if you like.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Greenfield, post: 7291250, member: 6669384"] In the recent Wall of Force debate we got down to arguing the meaning of a phrase in a spell description. It brought to mind other debates I've had, at the game table and on line, regarding spell descriptions. Some have argued that they are mere "color text", to be taken with a grain of salt. Others say that they they as much a rule as the spec block that precedes them. An example that I've encountered more than once is Fireball: The spell description clearly says "Ignites flamable material in the area", yet many have argued that the "Instantaneous" duration means that it isn't there long enough to do that. Can't melt metal, can't light things on fire, all it does is damage, the rest is "color text". Note that there are many spells with "instantaneous" durations that last forever. Cure spells, for example, or Wall of Stone. All it means is that the effect can't be undone with a Dispel Magic, not that the tiny bead described in Fireball moves faster than light, or that the Wall is there and gone in an eyeblink. How do you stand on issues like this? Give examples, if you like. [/QUOTE]
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