Can you cast shapeable spells around corners?

[Pielorinho]

Everything's dark, and I'm being chased through twisty caverns by giant skeletons. Thud, thud, thud say their footsteps behind me. There are hundreds of them back there, far too many for me to take on.

Fortunately, I've got Transmute Rock to Mud prepared. I duck around a corner and cast it at the ceiling of the cavernous tunnels, starting at the point I can see and willing the spell to affect the tunnel ceilings back behind me for 180 feet back. I can't see back that far, the tunnels are far too twisty, but I remember the path I took.

Is this legal? When casting a spell with a shapeable AoE, do you need to have line of sight to every point within the area? Every 10' cube or square within the area? Only one point within the area?

I've read the rules for Line of Sight spells, but they're unclear on this point.

Daniel

 

[EvilGM]

warning: not official!

Rules shmules. They just slow the game down.

I'd say yes if I was DMing.

Would this always be the case? I don't know - depends on the circumstances.

You had just run through said tunnels so ya, I'd let you do it.

I am generally more flexible on fun spells like this (i.e. not your basic nuke). Isn't that the reason you take spells like this? Besides its cool to visualize the twisting halls going muddy and creatures getting stuck.

Good use of the spell.

 

[LokiDR]

I think it is unclear and the DM can reasonable rule either way.

That aside, I would let it go. It opens up new tatics. You don't know the enemies always following. It follows the same concept of fireball flowing around corners.

 

[Maitre Du Donjon]

Re: warning: not official!

Rules shmules. They just slow the game down.

I'd say yes if I was DMing.

Would this always be the case? I don't know - depends on the circumstances.

You had just run through said tunnels so ya, I'd let you do it.

I am generally more flexible on fun spells like this (i.e. not your basic nuke). Isn't that the reason you take spells like this? Besides its cool to visualize the twisting halls going muddy and creatures getting stuck.

Good use of the spell.

Then you aren't really evil then, eh?

How would you convince me that this part of the PHB doesn't apply to the described attempt? (p. 150)

You must have a clear line of effect [...] to any space in which you wish to create an effect

I admit that it is a fun use of the spell, but i'm not sure its feasible, rule-wise.

Maitre D

 

[Maitre Du Donjon]

It follows the same concept of fireball flowing around corners.

Not quite, since the Area isn't described as a spread or burst...

Maitre D

 

[Pielorinho]

Re: Re: warning: not official!

Then you aren't really evil then, eh?

How would you convince me that this part of the PHB doesn't apply to the described attempt? (p. 150)

Maitre D

By pointing out that I'm affecting the stone 10 feet above the ceiling of the corridor when I cast it, and certainly I can't see ten feet into the roof; also by pointing out that for many spells with an AoE, you don't need to have a line of effect to the entire AoE, but simply to one portion of the AoE.

Nevertheless, I agree that this portion seems to suggest you can't do it, if interpreted strictly; however, I think the strict interpretation doesn't allow the spell to work at all, since you can clearly affect portions of a 10' cube to which you don't have a LoE.

Daniel

 

[spunky_mutters]

I think it's reasonable to allow it. I might have the character need to make an Int test to correctly remember the route through the tunnels, depending on how fast your trip was.

 

[EvilGM]

Then you aren't really evil then, eh?

I assure you, I'm still evil. However, I applaud players who take and use non damaging spells, creatively or not.

Let him have his moment. It just makes it that much sweeter when he runs into the real terror of the tunnels...and now he can no longer backtrack

 

[Maitre Du Donjon]

I assure you, I'm still evil. However, I applaud players who take and use non damaging spells, creatively or not.

Let him have his moment. It just makes it that much sweeter when he runs into the real terror of the tunnels...and now he can no longer backtrack

Ahh... your Evil Fu is strong...

Maitre D

 

[andargor]

Ahh... your Evil Fu is strong...

Evil foo?

Andargor