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Message: <blockquote data-quote="eamon" data-source="post: 4951977" data-attributes="member: 51942">The rules minutiae regarding attacking empty squares distract from the actual question here:Why should a DM permit or forbid this action?Pros:<ol> <li data-xf-list-type="ol">If a power sometimes triggers and sometimes does not when used on an empty square - depending on whether the PC believes an invisible enemy is there - you've got a consistency problem.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol">The effect of the power is not contingent on a hit, merely on an attack.  If the attack doesn't matter for the effect, there's an argument that forgoing the attack shouldn't affect the effect. There a related (though imperfect) precedent: <a href="http://wizards.custhelp.com/cgi-bin/wizards.cfg/php/enduser/popup_adp.php?p_faqid=1695&p_created=1236097568" target="_blank">The Player's Handbook 2 FAQ</a> states that you can forgo the secondary attack of the sorcerer power chaos bolt if the only valid targets would be allies.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol">Saying no may encourage the truly ridiculous -- say, if the swordmage sheaths his sword, takes a run action, and then attacks the party member with the highest defense score (who's a total defense action), there's likely to bevirtually no risk of hitting, providing a valid almost risk-free (if ludicrous) target for the power.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol">Allowing the player to forgo the attack does not cause direct balance issues.  This being the case, it's generally nice to say yes.</li> </ol>Cons:<ol> <li data-xf-list-type="ol">Attacking nothing is ridiculous, and undermines the ambiance you're aiming for.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol">Though there is a rule that seems to apply, it is written to apply in a different scenario.  If you permit forgoing the attack now, then for consistency, you may be pressed into permitting all other attacks without valid enemies, and that risks being imbalanced.</li> </ol>For me, the pro's outweigh the cons:  in particular the consistency argument (1) and the why-not(4) argument hold much weight for me.  Due to counter argument (1), I would require the player to flavor his teleport appropriately - no pretending the air is your mortal enemy.</blockquote>

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