Attacking An Empty Space

[chaotix42]

Tonight the wizard wanted to attack an empty space with a shock sphere so that, when it exploded, it would catch as many hobgoblins as possible.

Is this allowed? Our group thought it was fine, but I'm curious if the "rules as written" have anything to say about this.

 

[Kordeth]

Tonight the wizard wanted to attack an empty space with a shock sphere so that, when it exploded, it would catch as many hobgoblins as possible.

Is this allowed? Our group thought it was fine, but I'm curious if the "rules as written" have anything to say about this.

Burst attacks don't require that you target a creature as the origin point of the attack, so yes, this is allowed.

Now, had it been a shock orb, you'd be on shakier ground.

 

[chaotix42]

Ok cool, thanks. What's shock orb, again?

 

[Kordeth]

Ok cool, thanks. What's shock orb, again?

Sorry, meant force orb.

 

[IceFractal]

Even for Force Orb, you can always decide to believe that there's an invisible creature in the square and fire the orb at it.

 

[doctorhook]

Even for Force Orb, you can always decide to believe that there's an invisible creature in the square and fire the orb at it.

...? Page number, bro?

IIRC, Force Orb isn't an area attack, it's a ranged attack with a secondary attack against enemies adjacent to the primary target. You have to hit with it against your primary target before you can even try making secondary attacks, and so you can't make your primary target an imaginary one in order to turn the power into an area attack.

This is how we've been using Force Orb in my group. Did I miss something?

 

[James McMurray]

You may not be able to target the empty air "because there might be someone invisible there" but you can definitely target the ground at the group's feet and have the secondary attacks originate from there.

 

[Chen_93]

You may not be able to target the empty air "because there might be someone invisible there" but you can definitely target the ground at the group's feet and have the secondary attacks originate from there.

Only true if your DM allows Force Orb to target objects (as per the errata). Otherwise its target is one creature (or enemy I don't have my books here).

 

[James McMurray]

Force Orb specifies it can target an object in its target line.

 

[Larrin]

Force orb only makes the secondary attack if it hits. So logically you can't target "nothing" with it and just have it explode, it needs to smash on something. you could target the floor to about as much effect, or a chair or a flag pole. I'd probably draw the line somewhere before dandelions and floating dust, though.

You couldn't, however, just have it explode mid air to hit multiple flying targets. You can't target air with it, hitting air is a miss. (note: this is only for force orb and similar ranged attacks, any burst can be centered on open air just fine)