Cloud Kill

[Aramis Simara]

Hello all,

I have a question about Cloud Kill.

Cloudkill
Conjuration (Creation)
Level: Sor/Wiz 5
Components: V, S
Casting Time: 1 standard action
Range: Medium (100 ft. + 10 ft./level)
Effect: Cloud spreads in 20-ft. radius, 20 ft. high
Duration: 1 min./level
Saving Throw: Fortitude partial; see text
Spell Resistance: No
This spell generates a bank of fog, similar to a fog cloud, except that its vapors are yellowish green and poisonous. These vapors automatically kill any living creature with 3 or fewer HD (no save). A living creature with 4 to 6 HD is slain unless it succeeds on a Fortitude save (in which case it takes 1d4 points of Constitution damage on your turn each round while in the cloud).

A living creature with 6 or more HD takes 1d4 points of Constitution damage on your turn each round while in the cloud (a successful Fortitude save halves this damage). Holding one’s breath doesn’t help, but creatures immune to poison are unaffected by the spell.

Unlike a fog cloud, the cloudkill moves away from you at 10 feet per round, rolling along the surface of the ground.

Figure out the cloud’s new spread each round based on its new point of origin, which is 10 feet farther away from the point of origin where you cast the spell.

Because the vapors are heavier than air, they sink to the lowest level of the land, even pouring down den or sinkhole openings. It cannot penetrate liquids, nor can it be cast underwater.

Questions:
1) Does this mean the spell expands outward at 10' a round in a circle that gets bigger and bigger or a donut shaped circle that becomes bigger each round but is only 20' thick

2) Does this cloud continue to expand for the duration of the spell? If cast by a 10th level caster it continues to expand for 10 minutes or 100 rounds for a circle with a 110' radius.

 

[Darklone]

1) yes. see below.

2) we always used it as a given volume. So yes, it expands, but pretty soon you're not affected anymore if you're standing. Sitting in a hole/at the lower end of stairs in a room is pretty unhealthy though.

 

[ElectricDragon]

1. No.
2. No.

Donut? Bigger and bigger circle?

No, the cloud stays the same size; it just moves away from the caster at the stated 10 feet per round. 20 ft. radius is a circle not a donut.
Refigure the spread each round from the new starting point (10 feet further away from the caster each round).

Ciao
Dave

P.S.

XXXXXXCCXXXXX
XXXXXCCCCXXXX
XXXXCCCCCCXXX
XXXCCCCCCCCXX
WXXCCCCCCCCXX
XXXXCCCCCCXXX
XXXXXCCCCXXXX
XXXXXXCCXXXXX

Red squares surround the point of origin (always an intersection). The cloud spreads 20 ft in every direction from that point.
Next round it moves 10 feet away from the wizard (W):

XXXXXXXXCCXXXX
XXXXXXXCCCCXXX
XXXXXXCCCCCCXX
XXXXXCCCCCCCCX
WXXXXCCCCCCCCX
XXXXXXCCCCCCXX
XXXXXXXCCCCXXX
XXXXXXXXCCXXXX

 

[Blue]

I'm with ElectricDragon - the center point moves away form you each round by 10 ft. The size stays the same the entire time.

Cheers,
=Blue

 

[Darklone]

Clound: Dog shaped cloud ?

 

[Infiniti2000]

ElectricDragon has it right. I think you might be confused by the word 'spreads' which is only there to indicate that the effect is a spread, not a burst or emanation. The area does not get bigger or change shape, but it moves. Note that 'circle' isn't correct either. It should be a sphere (or perhaps a cylinder).

 

[ElectricDragon]

Cylinder. always 20 ft. high.

Ciao
Dave

(Anybody like my example?)

 

[Aramis Simara]

I'm with ElectricDragon - the center point moves away form you each round by 10 ft. The size stays the same the entire time.

OK, next question(s) does the caster control the movement of the cloud or does wind direction. Does the cloud have to move?

 

[isoChron]

Caster sets the direction at casting. Just take the line from caster through center of cloud kill and beyond. That's the direction.
The cloud is heavier than air and therefore drops always to the lowest level possible along the path.

The effect of wind and obstacles isn't that clear to me, but the cloud must move every round 10 ft. (except it is trapped where movement along the line isn't possible).

 

[Aramis Simara]

Clound: Dog shaped cloud ?

And not to confused with Clown kill.

Opps fixed the title.