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Blade Barrier - Overpowered? I think so.
- Thread starter Anabstercorian
- Start date
War Golem
First Post
Hi folks,
I don't think Blade Barrier is overpowered, but I do have some questions about its use.
1- The AoE is a disk up to 30' radius, but it cannot affect solid objects. If the spell is cast in a long corridor that is only 20' wide, is the spell confined to a full circle 20' across, or would if expand to fill the limit of its range along the corridor, while merely filling up the 20' in the other direction? (Hope that made sense.)
2- When the spell is cast, creatures in the AoE get a Reflex save to avoid the spell - basically to get out of the way of the blades. But on the battlemat, what happens to the creature that just made his save, but should be smack in the middle of a 30' radius disk of slashing blades? Does the victim stay there unharmed? Does the victim automatically move to the edge of the disk (even though it is not their initiative... and they may have already moved there full amount earlier in the round)?
3- A creature fails its initial Reflex save and is now standing in the middle of a Blade Barrier. On its next action, what happens? Does it automatically take damage again? Does it get another Reflex save (and if it succeeds, see Question 2 above)? Should it only get an additional save if it attempts to move out of the AoE (in other words, should it automatically take damage if it does NOT try to move out of the AoE)? If it attempts to move out of ther AoE, when should it make its save - at the beginning of its move? Or... would it not have to make another save until the cleric's intiative, and the creature can act freely and without harm on its initiative?
Thanks for any insights!
Cheers,
-War Golem
I don't think Blade Barrier is overpowered, but I do have some questions about its use.
1- The AoE is a disk up to 30' radius, but it cannot affect solid objects. If the spell is cast in a long corridor that is only 20' wide, is the spell confined to a full circle 20' across, or would if expand to fill the limit of its range along the corridor, while merely filling up the 20' in the other direction? (Hope that made sense.)
2- When the spell is cast, creatures in the AoE get a Reflex save to avoid the spell - basically to get out of the way of the blades. But on the battlemat, what happens to the creature that just made his save, but should be smack in the middle of a 30' radius disk of slashing blades? Does the victim stay there unharmed? Does the victim automatically move to the edge of the disk (even though it is not their initiative... and they may have already moved there full amount earlier in the round)?
3- A creature fails its initial Reflex save and is now standing in the middle of a Blade Barrier. On its next action, what happens? Does it automatically take damage again? Does it get another Reflex save (and if it succeeds, see Question 2 above)? Should it only get an additional save if it attempts to move out of the AoE (in other words, should it automatically take damage if it does NOT try to move out of the AoE)? If it attempts to move out of ther AoE, when should it make its save - at the beginning of its move? Or... would it not have to make another save until the cleric's intiative, and the creature can act freely and without harm on its initiative?
Thanks for any insights!
Cheers,
-War Golem
I believe the spell states something like if they make the save, they must move out of the area by the quickest way possible. When I run it, I have them more out immediately (during the spellcasters turn) but they only get a partial action (or no action, if they had to take a double move) on their next action. Having them just stay where they are, but they have to more directly out on their next move would be another way to run it. The question I then have is if they fail the save, do they get a chance to move directly out so they only take damage once? I would say yes, but this might run into some odd situations regarding who runs through the blades when.
War Golem
First Post
Vaxalon said:
Hi Vaxalon,
That seems problematic in use, though. In an open field, or a large room, there may well not be any such suitable object on which to leap. And that is quite a different way to play it than, for instance, saying the creature that makes its save automatically moves out of the AoE; in your case the creature may be effectively trapped withink the blade barrier for the duraction fo the spell, while the other guy would be free and clear.
Cheers,
-War Golem
War Golem
First Post
radferth said:
Hi radferth,
My issue with this way to play it is Blade Barrier, as I understand it, is not intended to have any adverse effect on the creature if the creature makes its save... but this penalizes the creature by taking away its next action, even though it did make its save. Seems against the spirit of the spell?
I think this is the way I am leaning to play this spell. Make your save, take no damage but remain where you are (within the blades, but avoiding them somehow). On the creature's initiative, they can immediately take a move action to leave the area without a chance of additional harm - if they do anything else, another save is required... or maybe no save, just automatic damage since at that point they are willingly remaining within the AoE?
Here I think I'm leaning towards fail your save and get another one next round IF you immediately try and leave the AoE; any other action, automatic damage.
Cheers,
-War Golem
Last edited:
War Golem
First Post
Vaxalon said:
Hi Vaxalon,
Even though the spell description states very explicitly that those angles are allowable?
From the SRD:
This spell creates a spinning disk of razor-sharp blades. These whirl and flash around a central point, creating an immobile, circular barrier. Any creature passing through the blade barrier takes 1d6 points of slashing damage per caster level (maximum 20d6). The plane of rotation of the blades can be horizontal, vertical, or slanted.
Cheers,
-War Golem
