Burning Hands area of effect

[Li Shenron]

So... how do you play it usually? Considering that the picture in PHB is completely unuseful...

I think it's better to center the area of effect on a grid's intersection and count 10ft on the right, on the left and on the front.

In this way, if you cast horizontally/vertically it should be (C is the caster):

X00X
0000
XXCX

or

X00X
0000
XCXX

While if you cast it diagonally:

0XXX
X00X
XC00
XXX0

or

00XX
X00X
XC0X
XXX0

...well doesn't look very nice actually

I think the diagonals are wrong, I can't figure it out! But it MUST still cover the same number of squares.

Suggestions?

 

[Li Shenron]

X00X
X000
XC00
XXXX

This way looks better (no square is farther than 10ft, if you count a single diagonal 5ft and 2 diagonals 15ft), but it has 7 squares instead of 6

 

[0-hr]

I always try to center a spell effect on a grid intersection, rather than on the center of a square. I think that it makes most of thise range/radius calculations easier. I usually count off the cardinal points and then free-hand the arcs in between. So far, that level of precision has been enough for us.

 

[kreynolds]

So... how do you play it usually?

In accord with the DMG. See page 69. There is an illustration of it.

 

[Zaruthustran]

Alas, the illustration is not mapped out in neat little squares.

But the spell description is more helpful:
"Area: Semicircular burst of flames 10 ft. long, centered on the character's hands"


So, treat it as a 10' radius burst. But chop the burst in half, leaving only a semicicle. That's your area of effect.

We usually place centers of bursts on intersections of squares, so a ten foot burst in the middle of the board below would look like:

XXXXXX
XXOOXX
XOooOX
XOooOX
XXOOXX
XXXXXX

The lower-case o's show the squares bordering the center of the burst.

So, a burning hands (being a hemisphere) would be:

XXXXXX
XXOOXX
XOooOX
XXCCXX
XXXXXX
XXXXXX

With the caster being in either of the two "C" squares.

So if forced into picking individual squares, I agree with Li Shenron...

-z

PS: ...but instead of squares, I just use a paper template (one half of a 10' radius circle). I place the template where the caster casts the spell (not paying attention to angles, squares, or whatever). If a figure is 50% covered by the template, that figure has to make a save. Faster, easier, and in accordance with the illustration in the rule book.

 

[kreynolds]

Alas, the illustration is not mapped out in neat little squares.

Huh? It's mapped out perfectly in "neat little squares". It effects 6 squares, 4 directly in front of the caster and 2 more beyond those.

 

[Li Shenron]

Huh? It's mapped out perfectly in "neat little squares". It effects 6 squares, 4 directly in front of the caster and 2 more beyond those.

I think it's the PHB which has a very interesting picture with a 10ft-radius semicircle for Burning Hands, just like we didn't know how a semicircle looks like .

My problem was only with the diagonal version, but I have found from another thread this very useful page at dcollin's site (actually it's you who provides the link ):

http://home.attbi.com/~superdan.net/spellar/spellar1.html

BTW, I guess you may also want to cast BH half way between horizontal and diagonal?

 

[Darklone]

Huhm, do you guys allow Burning Hands with that feat that doubles the range ? I mean, do you use it like a half 20ft radius burst then?

I know it's probably not in accordance with the rules, but cones work the same...

 

[Mulkhoran]

I think it's the PHB which has a very interesting picture with a 10ft-radius semicircle for Burning Hands, just like we didn't know how a semicircle looks like .

No, REALLY, like he said, it's in the DMG. Page 69. It's one of the example spell illustrations for the "Area Spells" section. The only confusing thing about it is that they lazily put the "C" for caster on the line between 2 squares.

But still, it's not that hard to use. 4 squares in front of the caster, 2 squares beyond that, in the middle of the 4. Choose left or right orientation.