Fireball (Evocation)
Level: 3 Components: V, S
Range: 10" + I"/level
Duration: Instantaneous Saving Throw: !4
Area of Effect: 2"radius sphere
Explanation/Description: A fireball is an explosive burst of flame, which
detonates with a low roar, and delivers damage proportionate to the level
of the magic-user who cast it, i.e. 1 six-sided die (d6) for each level of
experience of the spell caster. Exception: Magic fireball wands deliver 6
die fireballs (6d6), magic staves with this capability deliver 8 die fireballs,
and scroll spells of this type deliver a fireball of from 5 to 10 dice (d6 + 4)
of damage. The burst of the fireball does not expend a considerable
amount of pressure, and the burst will generally conform to the shape of
the area in which it occurs, thus covering an area equal to its normal
spherical volume. [The area which is covered by the fireball is a total
volume of roughly 33,000 cubic feet (or yards)]. Besides causing damage
to creatures, the fireball ignites all combustible materials within its burst
radius, and the heat of the fireball will melt soft metals such as gold,
copper, silver, etc. Items exposed to the spell's effects must be rolled for to
determine if they are affected. Items with a creature which makes its
saving throw are considered as unaffected. The magic-u,ser points his or
her finger and speaks the range (distance and height) at which the fireball
is to borst. A streak flashes from the pointing digit and, unless it impacts
upon a material body prior to attaining the prescribed range, flowers into
the fireball If creatures fail their saving throws, they all take full hit point
damage frqm the blast. Those who make saving throws manage to dodge,
fall flat or roll aside, taking '/1 the full hit point damage - each and every
one within the blast area. The material component of this spell is a tiny
ball composed of bat guano and sulphur.
Holy 1st edition Batman! Looks like objects are effected here as well.
Shall we continue?
AD&D Lightning Bolt (save for half spell) affects items as well
lightning Bolt (Evocation)
Level: 3
Range: 4" + 1"Aevel
Duration: lnstontaneous
Area of Effect: Special
Components: V, S, M
Casting Time: 3 segments
Saving Throw: M
Explanation/Description: Upon casting this spell, the magic user releases a
powerful stroke of electrical energy which causes damage equal to 1 sixsided
die (d6) for each level of experience of the spell caster to creatures
within its area of effect, or 50% of such damage to such creatures which
successfully save versus the attack form. The range of the bolt is the
location of the commencement of the stroke, i.e. if shot to 6", the bolt
would extend from this point to n inches further distance.
The lightning
bolt will set fire to combustibles, sunder wooden doors, splinter up to 1'
thickness of stone, and melt metals with a low melting point (lead, gold,
copper, silver, bronze). Saving throws must be made for objects which
withstand the full force of a stroke (cf. fireball). The area of the lightning
bolt's effect is determined by the spell caster, just as its distance is. The
stroke can be either a forking bolt 1" wide and 4" long, or a single bolt %"
wide and 8" long. If a 12th level magic-user cast the spell at its maximum
range, 16" in this case, the stroke would begin at 16" and flash outward
from there, as a forked bolt ending at 20" or a single one ending at 24". If
the full length of the stroke is not possible due to the interposition of CI nonconducting
barrier (such as a stone wall), the lightning bolt will double
and rebound towards its caster, its length being the normal total from
beginning to end of stroke, damage caused to interposing barriers
notwithstanding. Example: An 8' stroke is begun at a range of 4", but the
possible space in the desired direction is only 3%"; so the bolt begins at
the 3%" maximum, and it rebounds 8" in the direction of its creator. The
material components of the spell are a bit of fur and an amber, crystal or
glass rod.
Back in those days players cared about realism and wanted Lightning Bolts and Fireballs to act like Lightning Bolts and Fireballs. There weren't just attacks that take away HP. People who don't like realism and detail of course wanted those bolded parts removed from spell descriptions like they did in 4th edition.
