Casting spells in Antimagic Fields
- Thread starter Jimlock
- Start date
airwalkrr
Adventurer
I was wondering when Dandu was going to sneak in and unleash a one-liner into this conversation.
Hi Guys,
Sorry to resurrect this old thread - but I was looking for AMF rules clarifications and this was an early hit.
This might actually end the argument once and for all:
Rules of the Game: Reading Spell Descriptions (Part One)
This is an actual quote from Skip Williams:
"Line of Effect: A straight, unblocked line between two locations on the battlefield. Line of effect is just like line of sight, except that restrictions on vision don't apply.
On the other hand, some things that you can see through can block line of effect, such as a wall of force or an antimagic field. Though the rules don't specifically say so, you always have line of effect to yourself."
With LoE blocked - you effectively can't cast aggressively out of the AMF. Combined with the PoO stipulations this means:
You can *buff yourself* inside a AMF, but cannot cast OUT of a AMF because you can't target things without LoE (but always have LoE to yourself.)
Sorry to resurrect this old thread - but I was looking for AMF rules clarifications and this was an early hit.
This might actually end the argument once and for all:
Rules of the Game: Reading Spell Descriptions (Part One)
This is an actual quote from Skip Williams:
"Line of Effect: A straight, unblocked line between two locations on the battlefield. Line of effect is just like line of sight, except that restrictions on vision don't apply.
On the other hand, some things that you can see through can block line of effect, such as a wall of force or an antimagic field. Though the rules don't specifically say so, you always have line of effect to yourself."
With LoE blocked - you effectively can't cast aggressively out of the AMF. Combined with the PoO stipulations this means:
You can *buff yourself* inside a AMF, but cannot cast OUT of a AMF because you can't target things without LoE (but always have LoE to yourself.)
Greenfield
Adventurer
And, to point, you may be able to buff yourself in an AMF, but the buffing won't actually have any effect while you're in there.
There's been some debate on whether you can cast in an AMF. There is really no debate on whether spells affect anyone in an AMF though, including the caster.
There's been some debate on whether you can cast in an AMF. There is really no debate on whether spells affect anyone in an AMF though, including the caster.
Someone specifically asks Skip Williams to chime in on the subject... and he has. RAI? Antimagic field blocks Line of Effect.
Since he's one of the 3e designers, pulling it out of a bag of holding makes it pretty much RAW and/or RAI
Correct
I suppose it doesn't completely clear it up, since he didn't explicitly say so - but for my mind it seems quite obvious that it's allowed. By blocking LoE, the only thing worth casting is self-buffs since the ONLY thing you have LoE to is yourself.
Greenfield
Adventurer
The problem is that what Skip said runs 100% contrary to the written rules.
Throw a Fireball through an AMF and, as written, the spell will reach it's destination on the far side of the field. It just won't exist within the AMF.
According to Skip, however, the "line of effect" between caster and detonation point is interrupted by the AMF, and the spell fails.
So I'll have to say that Skip is wrong, in that his position runs directly contrary to what the rules actually say. It isn't a matter of interpretation, it's a matter of reading comprehension.
Throw a Fireball through an AMF and, as written, the spell will reach it's destination on the far side of the field. It just won't exist within the AMF.
According to Skip, however, the "line of effect" between caster and detonation point is interrupted by the AMF, and the spell fails.
So I'll have to say that Skip is wrong, in that his position runs directly contrary to what the rules actually say. It isn't a matter of interpretation, it's a matter of reading comprehension.
Please quote the rules that specifically say you can cast through a AMF. I haven't played 3.5 in a while - but looking at the OP of this thread, and there is no mention.
3.75 is the same (no mention) and is what I actually play (and why I stumbled on this thread.)
Unless it is mentioned elsewhere specifically that you can cast THROUGH the AMF, it is definitely NOT 100% contrary to the rules. The rules merely do not mention one way or the other - this is where clarification by one of the designers is helpful.
Actually I wanted to add a bit more:
Yes, the rules as written certainly do imply you can through a fireball through it (by the omission of it being blocked) - which is the concern for many players and the cause of so many AMF debates.
Yes, according to Skip the LoE is blocked, and you CAN'T do that. That's exactly what I'm saying: The rules never specified, so some people assumed that they could simply cast through an AMF. This didn't make much sense, but the rules didn't say you couldn't....... now they do due to a clarification by one of the designers.
Yes, the rules as written certainly do imply you can through a fireball through it (by the omission of it being blocked) - which is the concern for many players and the cause of so many AMF debates.
Yes, according to Skip the LoE is blocked, and you CAN'T do that. That's exactly what I'm saying: The rules never specified, so some people assumed that they could simply cast through an AMF. This didn't make much sense, but the rules didn't say you couldn't....... now they do due to a clarification by one of the designers.
