Blade Barrier

[Fritz666]

The Blade Barrier spell allows for "Creatures within the Blade Barrier when it is invoked ... can negate damage with a succesful Reflex saving throw, provided they can and do physically leave the area of the blades by the shortest possible route."

Now my questions concerns the method of how this is achieved.

1. Does the Reflex save allow you an extra move to get out of the area of effect ? For example, if you had already completed your action before the Blade Barrier appeared are you allowed an extra move ( Reflex Save ) to get out of the area of effect.

2. If you have not already had your action, do you take your Reflex save and move, or do you take your reflex save and move on your action ??

3. If you fail the reflex save, can you still move out of the area of effect even though you failed the save ( taking damage, of course ) ?

Cheers, Chris

 

[Claude Raines]

Hmm, good questions.

1. Yes. Otherwise you wouldn't get a reflex save at all, which is a bit unfair. So extra movement is allowed.

2. Take reflex save and move immediately. If I'm going to allow the extra movement in case one because it is a saving throw, then I have to give the movement for free here as well.

3. Yes, but you have to wait until your turn to move and take damage accordingly. You can only move as far as your normal movement would allow you.

 

[Mal Malenkirk]

My take on this is that the player who succeed his reflex save does not get an extra move. But on his next action he must leave by the shortest possible route or take the full damage.

A good way to avoid trouble is to ask for a saving throw only on the victim's turn instead of the caster's turn.

 

[Shard O'Glase]

Despite the fact that I think blade barrier is too good a spell for clerics to have at that level, I like Mals way better even if it does make BB better than Claudes method.

So I'm for the reflex save stops the damage but as soon as you act you have to move out of the area.

 

[Fritz666]

Despite the fact that I think blade barrier is too good a spell for clerics to have at that level, I like Mals way better even if it does make BB better than Claudes method.

So I'm for the reflex save stops the damage but as soon as you act you have to move out of the area.

I think that is the best way to handke it as well, at least until I can get an official clarification

 

[Mahali]

Answered on Wizards web site but here it is as well for those that have gotten it incorrect.

1. No. Saving throws never allow you to do anything extra.
2. You make your reflex save when the spell is cast. If you succeed to avoid taking damage you need to be able to move out of range and must do so by the shortest/quickest route possible.
3. Yes, of course. There is nothing stopping you from moving. You can always move through blade barrier. It does deal it's damage when you do move through it unless escape when it's
cast.

 

[Shard O'Glase]

OK mahali but what if you've already moved and make your reflex save, and you move out of the area the shortest possible way out, on your turn next round, do you take full damage, or does that count for shortest possible route even though it is in the next round. I think yes, but I'm not sure on it.

 

[Mahali]

It doesn't matter if you've already gone on your next turn you take no damage because it only matters that you can and do physically leave the area of the blades by the shortest possible route.

Remember that combat doesn't go 6 seconds, stop, and reset, 6 seconds, stop and reset. It "flows".
If you were allowed a move because you make your reflex save you'd have your side casting area effect spells and monks moving faster than the speed of light as they make their reflex saves.