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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Tessarael" data-source="post: 9600136" data-attributes="member: 12909">A 120' cone is a huge area of effect. Unless the party is very spread out, the dragon should be able to maneuver such that it can get breathe on all of the party. Likewise, there's a big difference going from 10' radius to 20' to 30' to 40' radius - see details below.Last session, we were hit by Meteor Swarm, and all PCs fit within the same 40' radius, though we were somewhat spread out and Meteor Swarm can strike at four different points, each with 40' radius. If that had been 20' radius and a single point, it would have hit about half of us; likewise if it had been say a 60' cone or 120' bolt.If you're above ground, with few obstructions, with a party of mostly ranged damage-dealers, and tactically chooses to spread wide, then you could probably limit the 120' dragon breath cone to hitting only two PCs, but Meteor Swarm would still get everyone.There's a good illustration of areas of effect in this thread:<a href="https://www.dndbeyond.com/forums/dungeons-dragons-discussion/rules-game-mechanics/43382-cone-spells-area-of-effect" target="_blank">https://www.dndbeyond.com/forums/dungeons-dragons-discussion/rules-game-mechanics/43382-cone-spells-area-of-effect</a>It may help to think about it in terms of area of effect, where I've calculated the cone's area as 1/2 x length^2, as the width at its furthest extent equals the length, and I'm assuming 5' wide for the line area of effects:10'square= 100 sq.ft.   15'cone= 112 sq.ft.   5'radius circle=  79 sq.ft.  20'line= 100 sq.ft.15'square= 225 sq.ft.   20'cone= 200 sq.ft.  ............................  40'line= 200 sq.ft. 20'square= 400 sq.ft.   30'cone= 450 sq.ft.  10'radius circle= 314 sq.ft.  80'line= 400 sq.ft.30'square= 900 sq.ft.   40'cone= 800 sq.ft.  15'radius circle= 707 sq.ft. 160'line= 800 sq.ft..........................................  20'radius circle=1257 sq.ft.40'square=1600 sq.ft.   60'cone=1800 sq.ft.  25'radius circle=1963 sq.ft. 320'line= 1600 sq.ft.50'square=2500 sq.ft.   70'cone=2450 sq.ft.  30'radius circle=2827 sq.ft.60'square=3600 sq.ft.   80'cone=3200 sq.ft.  35'radius circle=3848 sq.ft.70'square=4900 sq.ft.  100'cone=5000 sq.ft.  40'radius circle=5027 sq.ft.80'square=6400 sq.ft.  120'cone=7200 sq.ft.  45'radius circle=6362 sq.ft.90'square=8100 sq.ft.  130'cone=8450 sq.ft.  50'radius circle=7854 sq.ft.So roughly speaking these are the equivalents for typical areas of effect:<ul> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">10' square, 15' cone, 5' radius circle, 20' line</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">20' square, 30' cone, 10' radius circle, 80' line</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">40' square, 60' cone, 25' radius circle, 160' line</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">80' square, 120' cone, 45' radius circle, 1280' line</li> </ul>It really depends if groups are bunched up, or spread out. If they spread out so that it is say one target per 20' square (400 sq.ft.) then the number of targets hit is much less. Lines of effect don't work well to hit many combatants, except in long corridors, on straight roads, when the enemy is marching in a column, and so forth. It also depends how well the area damage dealer can maneuver to maximize the number of targets hit. In an open environment, a dragon is fast and can fly, so will easily be able to target a wide spread. Cones usually have you as the source point for the damage, so if you're surrounded and cannot maneuver, or if you won't move to avoid opportunity attacks, then the number of targets hit may only be say 25% of those around you.I've seen Lightning Bolt, a 60' line, typically hit only 2 to 3 enemies; whereas Fireball with radius 20' hits at least 2, but usually more, up to 8 opponents, though it often will catch an ally or two as well (helps if you can sculpt the spell to avoid that). Sickening Radiance with 30' radius will usually hit 3 to 12 enemies.</blockquote>

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