Blade barrier - I don't get it...
- Thread starter Maitre Du Donjon
- Start date
Hypersmurf
Moderatarrrrh...
It does make them more powerful, though.
-Hyp.
Camarath
Pale Master Tarrasque
I think that in a roleplaying game the rules and realism will not always coincide. When they don't you either have to change the mechanics to fit the description, change the description to fit the mechanics, or keep both the same and just deal with it. Also in D&D the way you interpret a certain situation can vary greatly base on your interpretation of key phrases.
The key phrase for Blade Barrier is "Passes Through". If this means moving then you cease taking damage after you enter the barrier if you do not continue to move. If this means temporarily occupying the same space as the barrier then you take damage each round you occupy that same space as the barrier.
For Flame Sphere I think the disagreement centers on two sentences (from the SRD). "If it enters a space with a creature, it stops moving for the round and deals 2d6 points of fire damage to that creature." "The sphere moves as long as the character actively directs it (a move-equivalent action for the character); otherwise, it merely stays at rest and burns." The first sentance can be read to say that the sphere must move to deal damage. Since damage is only talked about in this sentance and here it is if it enters a space with a creature, I think that this the correct game mechanic. The second sentence say it rests and burns. This can mean it does not move but continues to deal damage because it "burns". Or it can mean the sphere stops move and dealing damage but is not extinguished.
That is my opinion on the contention in this thread. I hope it was helpful to someone.
The key phrase for Blade Barrier is "Passes Through". If this means moving then you cease taking damage after you enter the barrier if you do not continue to move. If this means temporarily occupying the same space as the barrier then you take damage each round you occupy that same space as the barrier.
For Flame Sphere I think the disagreement centers on two sentences (from the SRD). "If it enters a space with a creature, it stops moving for the round and deals 2d6 points of fire damage to that creature." "The sphere moves as long as the character actively directs it (a move-equivalent action for the character); otherwise, it merely stays at rest and burns." The first sentance can be read to say that the sphere must move to deal damage. Since damage is only talked about in this sentance and here it is if it enters a space with a creature, I think that this the correct game mechanic. The second sentence say it rests and burns. This can mean it does not move but continues to deal damage because it "burns". Or it can mean the sphere stops move and dealing damage but is not extinguished.
That is my opinion on the contention in this thread. I hope it was helpful to someone.
Vert or Horiz
I just realized that I didn't know if a blade barrier is supposed to be horizontal or vertical. Like a wall, or like a table top.
I presume that either way its maybe a few inches thick.
If you walk through a vertical blade barrier, then it seems that you will take damage when you move through the barrier. You could perhaps choose to remain with the plane of the barrier intersecting you, and keep taking damage, but usually you will be pushed out of the barrier.
Cover bonuses for the wall make sense here: The blades simply get in the way.
More troublesome, the other way: horizontal blades. Then, if its a couple of feet off the ground, one could duck under it. But what if its only inches off the ground? Picture a monster at the center of a 30' room, with a horizontal blade barrier cast into the room. Then what?
I just realized that I didn't know if a blade barrier is supposed to be horizontal or vertical. Like a wall, or like a table top.
I presume that either way its maybe a few inches thick.
If you walk through a vertical blade barrier, then it seems that you will take damage when you move through the barrier. You could perhaps choose to remain with the plane of the barrier intersecting you, and keep taking damage, but usually you will be pushed out of the barrier.
Cover bonuses for the wall make sense here: The blades simply get in the way.
More troublesome, the other way: horizontal blades. Then, if its a couple of feet off the ground, one could duck under it. But what if its only inches off the ground? Picture a monster at the center of a 30' room, with a horizontal blade barrier cast into the room. Then what?
Hypersmurf
Moderatarrrrh...
Re: Vert or Horiz
By the wording of the spell? If he can and does leave the area by the shortest possible route, he gets a Reflex Save. Successful save, no damage; failed save, can't move, or elects not to move, he takes the damage when the spell comes into effect.
Subsequent to that, creatures take damage if they enter or if they pass through. If they're doing neither then, by the wording of the spell, there's no reason for them to take damage.
-Hyp.
By the wording of the spell? If he can and does leave the area by the shortest possible route, he gets a Reflex Save. Successful save, no damage; failed save, can't move, or elects not to move, he takes the damage when the spell comes into effect.
Subsequent to that, creatures take damage if they enter or if they pass through. If they're doing neither then, by the wording of the spell, there's no reason for them to take damage.
-Hyp.
How hard to exit area of effect?
Well, leaving the area of effect of a vertical barrier that is tending to push you away, that seems pretty easy. Leaving the area of effect of a horizontal barrier, when the edge is 15' away, that seems harder, but I suppose the cross sections work out to be about the same.
But, what about the 'take damage initially, when entering, or when leaving' issue? With a vertical wall, it's easy to imagine that the entering/leaving would be done with pretty quick, so they can be made instantaneous. For the horizontal example,
its a bit harder to do.
(Hmm, purple worm is squirming, slowly, through a tight passage. There is a brief widening and a connecting passage that the worm is halfway past. Cast a vertical barrier there, which the worm takes a couple of rounds to pass by. What happens now?)
Well, leaving the area of effect of a vertical barrier that is tending to push you away, that seems pretty easy. Leaving the area of effect of a horizontal barrier, when the edge is 15' away, that seems harder, but I suppose the cross sections work out to be about the same.
But, what about the 'take damage initially, when entering, or when leaving' issue? With a vertical wall, it's easy to imagine that the entering/leaving would be done with pretty quick, so they can be made instantaneous. For the horizontal example,
its a bit harder to do.
(Hmm, purple worm is squirming, slowly, through a tight passage. There is a brief widening and a connecting passage that the worm is halfway past. Cast a vertical barrier there, which the worm takes a couple of rounds to pass by. What happens now?)
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