Area spells and evasion in closed rooms

[varzil]

Hi,

I wonder, whether a rogue or anybody else having the evasion feature is by the rules actually able to avoid the effects of an area spell although there is no room to dodge the spell because the closed room is filled by the area spell.

Example: within our local mage-tower casts someone a meteor swarm to kill intruders. The meteorswarm fills the whole level with fire.

1. does everybody get saving throws? - I guess so
2. may rogues use evasion? - I would guess not

What is the official rule on that?

thx
varzil the good

 

[Li Shenron]

I think the official rule is that both the ST and the use of Evasion are allowed.

The restrictions kick in when you are squeezing through spaces (so where width/height of the place is smaller than your facing - which is 5ft for madium/small creatures) or when you're bound in some way, but not just because the area of the spell is equal of greater than the area of the room.

And by the way, "meteor swarm fills the room with fire" is nowhere in the rules, your DM just made it up (which is not forbidden, of course).

 

[varzil]

if four spheres explode in 40ft radius spreads in a 15ft radius room with 15ft high ceiling - that seems to fill the room - doesnt it? :\

btw. I am the DM

 

[blargney the second]

I find it helps to think of Evasion as the heroic ability to avoid taking serious damage, as opposed to avoiding the spell effect. Sort of like running your hand through a candle flame on a much bigger scale.

 

[Darklone]

Nope. A fireball causes damage in a certain area, but there's still enough room inside to get away without being hurt. Imagine it as darting flames into many directions, not one huge ball of flames.

 

[Bagpuss]

Plus you can do things like duck under tables, throw your shield up, wrap your leather cloak around you, throw yourself to the floor, etc. etc. Hence you get the save and evasion even if it seems there is nowhere to run. Squeezing on the other had is a different matter since you don't have that freedom.

 

[TheEvil]

Evasion would work just fine in the above situation. Basically put, Evasion is just one of many things in D&D that don't make sense if you think about it too hard or look for a logical reason why it works.

 

[Darklone]

You mean... like hitpoints ?

 

[TheEvil]

You mean... like hitpoints ?

Are you kidding!?!?!?!?! The bullet proof logic and realism of hit points is SO well established I feel no need to go into it here!

 

[Hypersmurf]

I wonder, whether a rogue or anybody else having the evasion feature is by the rules actually able to avoid the effects of an area spell although there is no room to dodge the spell because the closed room is filled by the area spell.

Remember, if a rogue is in the centre of a 30' radius circular room, and someone casts fireball centred on that point (so that much of the room, for 20 feet in every direction, is contained within the spell's area), the rogue is allowed both saving throw and Evasion... and success means he takes no damage. He does not, however, suddenly appear in the outer ten feet of the room (which were not affected by the spell). His Evasion takes place within his own square... at the centre of the spell's area.

Now shrink the room to 20 foot radius. The entire room is now contained within the spell's area. What effect does this have on the rogue's save and Evasion? None whatsoever... he still performs his entire Evasion within his own square. The fact that some squares 20 feet away that were open are now solid rock makes no difference.

Now we chain the rogue to a rock in the centre of the room. He now cannot use Evasion, as he is bound. Arguably, he cannot make a Reflex save either, since "As with a Reflex save for any creature, a character must have room to move in order to use Evasion".

-Hyp.