D&D General D&D isn't a simulation game, so what is???

[Oofta]

View attachment 155569

Blue is a circular effect, red is all squares effected within that effect.

This is kind of like the advertisements for aspirin that showed brand X takes effect 30% faster. What they don't show is that both take effect within 10 seconds. Make the circle small enough and extend it as far as possible so it overlaps the thick grid lines and ignore larger areas of effect. Also assume any square that has half it's volume filled is fully affected which is the opposite of the general rule.

When I do it? It looks a lot like:

Are those squares that have less than half filled considered affected? I would say no. I would have to thicken my grid lines and then extend the circle to the outside edge of the grid line like you did to even make it close.

Or take a look at a circle that actually has the same size as a fireball

Those squares at the corners aren't even touched, much less several squares that only have a tiny portion included.

On the other hand if you want to use non-euclidean geometry, feel free. It's one of the options listed.

 

[Oofta]

D&D is and historically has been completely unaware of the existence of a third dimension.

This is why in the past designers and DMs have feared flying PCs beyond the concept of death itself.

Where did you get that? I mean, flying is kind of annoying because it limits options for melee builds. It's more of a pain to calculate distance because some of us prefer measurements that actually work like the real world. The crappy options for strength based builds just makes it worse.

This 'issue' also exists in the mess of a weird flower the previous AOE template was.

I thought they worked rather well. Much better for me than fire squares. I switched to playing on a hex grid though so I don't have to worry about it. Different strokes for different folks.

 

[Cadence]

No.

But think of the fun of adding another 20 minutes to where the mage wants to center the spherical effect spell!

Why are you discriminating against the geometrically inclined folks with unlimited game time

;-)

 

[Cadence]

D&D is and historically has been completely unaware of the existence of a third dimension.

Which explains some of the things going on between the floors of old modules where things don't line up).

This is why in the past designers and DMs have feared flying PCs beyond the concept of death itself.

Everyone flying would make things easier...

 

[Thomas Shey]

They were more simulationist (except 4th), or at least could be looked at in a more simulationist mindset without having to jump through too many mental hoops (for me, anyway). The further the current design philosophy goes, the harder it is to do that.

But that's you. I never could take any edition of D&D seriously in a simulationist sense. They produced too many nonsensical results when viewed through that lens. Current versions aren't any easier but they aren't notably harder, either.

 

[Vaalingrade]

But think of the fun of adding another 20 minutes to where the mage wants to center the spherical effect spell!

I was! That's why I said no!

Why are you discriminating against the geometrically inclined folks with unlimited game time

;-)

It's what I was put on this Earth to do.

 

[DND_Reborn]

Should there be saving throw mods on the dex saves for those on the edges?

No, but the creature in the center should have disadvantage.

 

[Scars Unseen]

This is kind of like the advertisements for aspirin that showed brand X takes effect 30% faster. What they don't show is that both take effect within 10 seconds. Make the circle small enough and extend it as far as possible so it overlaps the thick grid lines and ignore larger areas of effect. Also assume any square that has half it's volume filled is fully affected which is the opposite of the general rule.

When I do it? It looks a lot like:
View attachment 155573
Are those squares that have less than half filled considered affected? I would say no. I would have to thicken my grid lines and then extend the circle to the outside edge of the grid line like you did to even make it close.

Or take a look at a circle that actually has the same size as a fireballView attachment 155575

Those squares at the corners aren't even touched, much less several squares that only have a tiny portion included.

On the other hand if you want to use non-euclidean geometry, feel free. It's one of the options listed.

If I cared enough to evaluate squares partially enveloped by the sphere differently than those fully so - which I do not - I'd probably either go with "no damage on a save" if it was a "take half on a save" type of spell or just go a die step down on the damage for those squares. But honestly, it's not a big enough deal to make a deal out of at all for me, and a fire square makes more casual sense to me than a fire plus.

 

[DND_Reborn]

Frankly, since we got on this topic, the concept of the "save", especially DEX, has always bothered me unless the environment supports a place to find cover or actually moving out of the fireball (for instance). So, what does the save really represent? I mean, you could "cover up" your face or vital regions as best as you can, but you are still (since you don't actually move) in the same spot, surrounded by fire...

I can get CON, INT, WIS, and CHA for the most part in their application, and even STR often isn't too bad, but DEX in area of effects sort of miffs me a lot.

 

[Vaalingrade]

Frankly, since we got on this topic, the concept of the "save", especially DEX, has always bothered me unless the environment supports a place to find cover or actually moving out of the fireball (for instance). So, what does the save really represent? I mean, you could "cover up" your face or vital regions as best as you can, but you are still (since you don't actually move) in the same spot, surrounded by fire...

Keeping yourself from inhaling smoke and superheated gas would be pretty important.