Blasts

[keterys]

A blast N is a square N x N that originates at a target, like so:

Blast 5 from B(lack Dragon)
xxxxx
xxxxx
xxxxxBB
xxxxxBB


A _Burst_ N depends on whether it is a 'close burst' which radiates out from a creature or an 'area burst' which radiates out from a target square. If said Black dragon had a close burst 2 and an area burst 2, it would look like so:

Close Burst 2

xxxxxx
xxxxxx
xxBBxx
xxBBxx
xxxxxx
xxxxxx

and an area burst 2 within 10

xxxxx........
xxxxx........
xxxxx.....BB
xxxxx.....BB
xxxxx........

 

[keterys]

Not only did Logan Bonner submit before me, he's wotc so his cred is cooler _and_ his forum mapmaking skills were better than mine. *hides in shame*

 

[fafhrd]

Thanks, Logan. Does the entirety of a ranged burst have to be within the listed range or just the central square?

 

[Falling Icicle]

I'm still not really seeing the difference between a blast and burst. They're both cubes.

And are there still going to be lines? I'll cry if lightning bolt has become lightning cube.

Oh, and why is Eldritch Blast still called that, being that it only hits a single target? Wouldn't Eldritch Bolt be a less confusing name?

 

[keterys]

A blast starts from you and goes out to its number. This creates a cube of size N _next to you_

A burst radiates out from a point and goes out its number spaces. This creates a cube of size 2N+X (X = 1 if area, face of creature if close) _around a point_

A close blast 5 and area burst 2 are both a 5x5 square.

 

[fafhrd]

I'm still not really seeing the difference between a blast and burst. They're both cubes.

It seems that the reason for the blast is that the 'close burst' originates in your square. They needed something to function as a cone, not occupying your square but not detached from your position either.

 

[Saishu_Heiki]

Burst - has an epicenter and radiates outward to n.

Blast - has an originating square and fills a given area of size n.

A blast (as in a the dragon's breath weapon) must start from a given spot and spread to fill the required area. A burst (as in Scorching Burst) must start from a given spot (which may or may not be the caster) and expands outward in all directions.

 

[FitzTheRuke]

Okay, Thank you, Logan (and Keterys) I get it now. So blasts are significantly smaller than bursts of the same value, and are positioned differently.

Personally I don't have a problem with the "Fire Cube" because it's not like a large Dragon is a 10' cube, nor does anyone imagine him to be, in spite of that being his base size, so why should a blast 5 acid breath spray be imagined as a 25' cube, just because that's its effective area.

The dragon simply snakes his head around spewing acid somewhat within a 25' cubic area, to try to get everyone inside said area. It's not like he even necessarily succeeds, after all, he could just as easily miss the guy in the middle as the one on the outside.

Fitz

('Course this thing with the blast area means when I ran the dragon it should have hit a few more PCs....)

 

[keterys]

You got to make up for the _scads_ of DMs who hit too many people with it... I almost suspect that more DMs hit _too many_ by doing it wrong than did it right

 

[Iron Sky]

... it's not like a large Dragon is a 10' cube, nor does anyone imagine him to be...

Maybe it's the hour, but the idea of a big stack of 10' Dragon cubes for an encounter struck me as hilarious. Like a Gelatinous Cube, but more... Dragony...

Man is it late...