Reducing Size of Area and Close Powers

[HealingAura]

Can a you reduce the size of an Area or Close power?

For example, can a Wizard cast a Burning Hands spell, but use it as a Close Blast 3 instead of a Close Blast 5?

It just makes sense that if you can create a large fireball, you could also create a smaller one.

 

[Griogre]

Not by RAW. If it doesn't say somewhere they can - they can't.

 

[frankthedm]

Being able to shrink an area is quite powerful. Not as good as the paragon feat that actively lets you exclude allies from your area blasts, but definitely not something to be given out for free.

 

[NMcCoy]

Yeah, RAW doesn't permit it, and it's too good to just allow for free. That said, I'd have them make an Arcana check DC 20+spell level, success means they get the reduced area, failure means it's either the full area or the action and power is lost.

 

[Plane Sailing]

Not by RAW. If it doesn't say somewhere they can - they can't.

Your second sentence isn't actually right, you know... considering the DMG advice to say "yes" rather than say "no", the default mindset for 4e is supposed to be permission rather than denial.

The rules give the baseline for stuff, but DMs are actively encouraged to support PCs off-the-wall ideas.

The first sentence doesn't actually make sense either come to that, it is just making an abstract appeal to an external authority to back up your position. I'm mentioning this in detail because 3e rules discussion often got bogged down in "RAW" discussions, and it tended to get used to try and shut down discussion. Nothing personal for you, Griogre!

Cheers

 

[MrBeens]

Your second sentence isn't actually right, you know... considering the DMG advice to say "yes" rather than say "no", the default mindset for 4e is supposed to be permission rather than denial.

The rules give the baseline for stuff, but DMs are actively encouraged to support PCs off-the-wall ideas.

The first sentence doesn't actually make sense either come to that, it is just making an abstract appeal to an external authority to back up your position. I'm mentioning this in detail because 3e rules discussion often got bogged down in "RAW" discussions, and it tended to get used to try and shut down discussion. Nothing personal for you, Griogre!

Cheers

Encourage saying yes, but not have to say yes. Big difference

There is a difference between saying yes to someone who wants to try a cool move, or try to rig an impromptue trap and someone actually changing the mechanics of a spell or ability.

Reducing the area effect on a spell in a lot of circumstances will actually make the spell better or easier to use.
Would you say yes to someone who said they wanted to flail around wildy with their sword and try to attack everyone in front of them with an at will (say take -2 to hit to attack 2 things in front of them) - I don't think so.

If some one trys to do something with a power that is already emulated with another power then you should say no.

 

[Larrin]

I have to agree this is not a "say yes" occasion. You 'say yes' to a player saying "i want to try and accomplish this new thing that they wouldn't have thought to make precise rules for" you don't 'say yes' to a player trying to avoid the natural consequences of a power. Bursts and blast have a certain size, unless you have a power or feat to change them, its pretty clear they're meant to stay that size.

As a DM if you think it will benefit your players to allow this, then you certainly may, it won't end the world. But in general, no, the size is the size and the players (and DM) need to incorporate that into their strategy.

 

[DracoSuave]

Saying 'Yes' is the correct thing to do....

As in:

'Yes, you can do that, but you'd probably need to take a particular feat in order to do so. Epic level seems fair enough given the level that you can begin excluding targets as a feat.'

That's not really saying 'No' but more often 'If you want it, there's a cost.'

 

[elecgraystone]

Just make a feat.

Reduced Power [Paragon Tier]
Prerequisite: Dex 15
Benefit: When using a burst or blast attack power, you can choose to reduce it area by up to 1 per dexterity bonus. (example, a dex bonus of 2 could reduce a burst 2 to a burst 1 or even to a burst 0 so it only effects a single square.)

 

[Walknot]

Your second sentence isn't actually right, you know... considering the DMG advice to say "yes" rather than say "no", the default mindset for 4e is supposed to be permission rather than denial.

Cheers

That's a good principle to remember!

This priciple brought to you by: "DM can always change her mind later" (!)