AoO and Spell Range questions

[Dog Faced God]

Question 1:

Consider 8th level fighters 'a' and 'z'. They are meandering past a pool of acid when a hidden wizard casts Rainbow Pattern next to them. 'a' makes his save, but 'z' fails and is entranced. The hidden wizard moves the Rainbow Pattern out to the center of the pool of acid. 'z' wants to follow it.

Here's the question: 'a' and 'z' are allies. When 'z' moves to be near the Rainbow Pattern , can 'a' take an attack of opportunity and trip 'z' to prevent him from walking into the lake of acid?

Question 2:

If I'm a 9th level wizard casting Cone of Cold my range is 45 ft. Am I forced to cast a 45' cone, or can I cast a 35 ft. cone if I choose to?

Thanks for your advice!!

 

[Dreaddisease]

Yes and yes.

Trip may be a good one but also putting a blanket over the guy's head is good too. Anything to get their eyes off the pattern.

 

[Xeriar]

Question 1:

Here's the question: 'a' and 'z' are allies. When 'z' moves to be near the Rainbow Pattern , can 'a' take an attack of opportunity and trip 'z' to prevent him from walking into the lake of acid?

Well, I'd grapple him instead. I haven't read the spell, but generally being warned of an illusion or enchantment will often grant another save (sometimes at a bonus).

Unless 'z' did not have any reason to suspect the lake was a pool of acid, I would grant another save. Something like this takes another illusion, IMO.

Question 2:

If I'm a 9th level wizard casting Cone of Cold my range is 45 ft. Am I forced to cast a 45' cone, or can I cast a 35 ft. cone if I choose to?

Thanks for your advice!!

Isn't Cone of Cold a 6th level spell? Anyways, I would rule yes, but some would claim that the minimum caster level dictates the minimum dimensions of the spell.

 

[Gwarthkam]

"meandering past a pool" hehe that would be two very drunk fighters then?

appart from that: yes and probably-yes (sounds very reasonable and we use that "house rule")

 

[Dr. Zoom]

Question 1: No AoO if all A does is move but not run.

Question 2: You cannot change the cone's area of effect/range because it does not have the "shapeable" (S) designator. The only way the cone will not go 45 feet is if it is blocked by a wall or something.