A couple of spell questions

[moritheil]

1. For area-effect spells, you must have line of effect to the point of origin of the spell, but not to every square that it affects. I'd allow a wizard to extend a wall spell in a straight line either side of a point that he could see, simply reducing the spell's area when it came to a solid object. No shaping of the spell outside the area that he can see, though.

2. The confused creature is more or less lashing out at anything, and will attack its target in the most direct and destructive way that it has. I'd certainly allow a full attack or move and attack. I'm not sure about a charge or using feats that require decision-making, but if the confused creature can cast spells, it can probably use smart tactics provided they are apparent to a moment's thought.

I'd agree with your interpretation for an attack of opportunity on the confused creature.

Excellent. These rulings are more or less how I would rule them. Your mention of shaping, however, tickled my mind. Allow me to pose a related question.

Suppose the wizard in the above scenario has a fighter friend that would be in the area of effect if the line extended wall-to-wall. What can he do to avoid cooking his ally? It seems that, since he can't shape it beyond what he can see, he is forced to specify that the spell spreads out only to the south wall, and not to the north beyond the extent of his sight.

Now, suppose the wizard has the feat that allows an area effect spell to ignore one ally. Does this enable him to cast the full wall of fire, wall-to-wall, as it were, and not hit his ally? Or does he still need to prematurely terminate one end of his fire wall?