Couple Spell Questions for a Cleric

[MuL]

First Question : Magic Stone 1st level can I hurl all 3 pebbles at once if I only have a base attack of +5 I would assume I can only throw one per round
correct?

Question Two : Spike Stones 4th level Do I have to use the whole area of effect
(one 20-ft. square/level) or can I chose how large I want it? Also if creatures are in the area when I cast it do they take 1-8 dam even if they don't move?

Question Three : I have Dwarven plate dam reduction 3/- and cast Shield Other 2nd level on a friend he takes 10 dam so I would then take 5 damage but does the Dam reduction lower that to 2? What if I had Shield Other up and it was 10 fire dam and I had Protection from Energy on would this protect me from the half damage I should take?

Thanks in advance
MuL

 

[Chronosome]

Hey. MuL.

1. You can only throw one stone at a time. They're treated just like any other thrown weapon. Shuriken (which can be thrown in "clusters") are freaky, and go against the norm. If magic stones were freaky, the spell description would say so.

2. You can always cast a spell at a lower level than you have it prepared as, a la:

(SRD) You can cast a spell at a lower caster level than normal, but the caster level you choose must be high enough for you to cast the spell in question, and all level-dependent features must be based on the same caster level.

(edit--DC stays the same)

2b. No. The spell only damages those who are moving through its area. If the opponent stays still, no damage is incurred.

3. The protection from energy (fire) would help, but the armor wouldn't. At least that's how I'd rule it, since the armor stops damage from the "outside", and shield other transfers damage without having to go through the mail. I'm confident that that's how an official would rule on it, too.

Hope that helps.

 

[MuL]

Thanks for the quick reply

I have to agree with all your rulings just a little bummed about not being able to take the dam reduction but I figured as much.

 

[Lord Pendragon]

I agree with Chronosome with the following exceptions/additions:

Unfortunately, the spell's DC goes down, too.

Actually, since the DC of a spell is 10 + spell level + ability mod, the DC won't go down at all. Casting something at a lower caster level will never affect the DC of the spell, though all other variables (duration, range, effect) will be affected.

The protection from energy (fire) would help, but the armor wouldn't. At least that's how I'd rule it, since the armor stops damage from the "outside", and shield other transfers damage without having to go through the mail. I'm confident that that's how an official would rule on it, too.

Actually, I don't think the Protection from Energy would work either. Shield Other transfers damage directly. You don't get burned if the other guy is roasted. You don't get impaled if the other guy is stabbed. Rather, it's a magical transfer of damage. Simply put: nothing is going to protect you from that damage. The trick is to throw Protection from Energy on the other guy, since he'll take less damage, and thus you will too.

 

[Chronosome]

You're welcome, MuL.

Good call on the spell DC, Pendragon. My bad; it is late.

I'm gonna stick with my protection from energy opinion, though, since it's not just general damage he'd be taking...it's got that special "fire" stamp. Tricky call, for sure.

 

[Teslacoil1138]

I'd say the protection from energy (on you) wouldn't reduce damage to you. Saying that it is specified as fire damage doesn't help IMO, because DR only stops physical damage, which is also specified (if not implicitly). I view magical transfer of damage from spells like shield other as "pain damage", and nothing will stop that from occuring to you.

 

[Lord Pendragon]

I'm gonna stick with my protection from energy opinion, though, since it's not just general damage he'd be taking...it's got that special "fire" stamp. Tricky call, for sure.

But that's just it, it doesn't have that "fire" stamp on it. Only the damage the other guy took has that on it. The damage you take is caused by the Shield Other spell, which does not specify a damage type.

 

[Chronosome]

Sorry, guys. I'm still not seeing it.

I still see the stamp. Let me put it another way--if someone punched Mr. Shield Other's buddy in the face, would that buddy take half the nonlethal damage while he takes normal damage? I say no, since it's not general damage (usually indicated by the single word "damage") but a special kind of damage indicated by a phrase (in this case "nonlethal damage"). "Fire damage" is another special kind which, in my opinion, doesn't morph into general just because it's been shared via spell.

Maybe I'm completely wacked on that, but I don't see it any other way.