Basilisk Venomous Gaze - Requires line of sight?

[mwiedmann]

Does the Venomous Gaze attack of a Basilisk require line of sight? Its a strange burst 1 ranged Gaze attack and it's poison based.

Let's assume he does need line of sight. Does he then only need line of sight to the target square (since this is an area burst 1), or could someone in the burst be safe if they are around a corner or something?

 

[Mort_Q]

Area burst 1 within 10; so he needs line of effect to the target square. No?

 

[mwiedmann]

Line of effect yes, but I'm talking about line of sight. What if the Basilik is behind (or in) a Stinking Cloud and can't see the characters. Can he still use his Gaze attack? A gaze I would think implies (perhaps) that you need to see your target(s).

 

[DracoSuave]

No, you don't. (and yes it's odd.)

The Gaze keyword DOES make it so you can't use it if you're blinded.

 

[Flipguarder]

Looks like I have yet another house-rule...

 

[fuzzlewump]

No, you don't. (and yes it's odd.)

The Gaze keyword DOES make it so you can't use it if you're blinded.

Is there really a difference between attacking something while blinded and attacking something you can't see? Blah at rules.

 

[DracoSuave]

Is there really a difference between attacking something while blinded and attacking something you can't see? Blah at rules.

Yes.

Yes there actually is.

 

[Turtlejay]

Really? This makes perfect sense. If I remember my stories (and Clash of the Titans), it wasn't that the Medusa had to look at you, it was that you had to look at her. You could be invisible and still look, and be turned to stone.

Same here, the attack (vs Will? Fort) represents your likelyhood of looking at the Basilisk and being poisoned by its gaze. It doesn't even have to see you.

Jay

 

[frankthedm]

It sounds like an eyebeam that explodes rather than a gaze attack. As long as it's eyes work, the beam shoots and blows up in the target square.