Explosive Cascade and Firebrand

[Pinotage]

Nope, the line can bend, zig-zag or twist, but needs to be continous, however you need it to fall. You cannot hit the same target twice with one cascade though, by having it circle back onto him. That's the advantage of cascade, you can slice right through a melee, leaving your allies intact and unsinged

I don't understand what you mean by 'need it to fall'. Does that mean it can't under any circumstances go in a direction other than its initial direction. So, e.g. if you were on a grid, it could go A1, A2, B3, B4, C5, C6 etc. but not A1, A2, B2, B1, C1, C2, D3, E2?

Pinotage

 

[Thanee]

The only "balance problem" with Firebrand is, that the PHB damaging evocations of compareable level (4th through 6th) are pretty much all underbalanced. It surely looks good compared to spells like Ice Storm, Cone of Cold or Chain Lightning, but even Fireball looks good in comparison with these.

Bye
Thanee

 

[andargor]

The damage die cap for explosive cascade is the same as fireball (10d6). Definately balanced.

Ah, yes, that sounds right. Didn't have my books with me.

I don't understand what you mean by 'need it to fall'. Does that mean it can't under any circumstances go in a direction other than its initial direction. So, e.g. if you were on a grid, it could go A1, A2, B3, B4, C5, C6 etc. but not A1, A2, B2, B1, C1, C2, D3, E2?

Here are the relevant rule quotes:

Area: One 5-ft.-square/level, all of which must be connected in one continuous path (S)

(S) Shapeable: If an Area or Effect entry ends with '(S),' you can shape the spell. A shaped effect or area can have no dimension smaller than 10 feet. Many effects or areas are given as cubes to make it easy to model irregular shapes. Three-dimensional volumes are most often needed to define aerial or underwater effects and areas.

So, you can go in any direction as long as each square is connected to the last. You can even cross the line over itself, make a big square area, make a donut, a pretzel, whatever.

Don't forget that if you pass over a target twice, the effect only applies once. (same as with Firebrand, if you hit a creature twice)

Andargor