Fireball or Lightning Bolt?

[ThirdWizard]

It's kind of sad how many people are worried about maxing damage or AoE or what have you...a sign of the times, I think.

But, fireball has always been more popular. How is that a sign of the times?

Personally, I don't see why people think lightning bolt has more style than fireball. Perhaps they're equating "style" with "individuality." Lightning bolt is the SUV of 3rd level spells. Highly inefficient, but flashy.

 

[Anti-Sean]

Fireballs all the way!

But... but... your username! How can this be? Brain hurts - can't process paradox!

*head explodiates messily*

 

[lukelightning]

True, I'll admit that lightningbolt can be just as blocky and what not. I guess it's just my experience with the two different spells...

Now that I think about it, I generally see fireball casters carefully choosing where to center the blast...here....no, here.... while lightningbolters are more likely to say "look, three ogres in a row! I'll totally pwn them!" and blast away. So your point that fireballers seem to take advantage of the blocks is valid (I didn't mean to sound like such a snot in my reply.. )

I think it's that the lightning bolt area is harder to figure out...people think of it as a 5' wide beam but it is measured from the corner of a square, so it acutally is more like 10' wide.

 

[Storm Raven]

Neither?

 

[ThirdWizard]

I think it's that the lightning bolt area is harder to figure out...people think of it as a 5' wide beam but it is measured from the corner of a square, so it acutally is more like 10' wide.

I agree. Fireball's area is always the same. Lightning bolt's area changes depending on the angle you choose, calculating which squares your line touches. Another reason I like fireball better, although usually, we can just eyeball either in a few seconds, no square counting needed.

 

[genshou]

Give me a Lightning Bolt anyday. Most DMs in my playgroup give a 2 point penalty to saves for those in metal armor, so I might be biased.

first post after board revival WOOT!

frankthedm, have you ever heard of a Faraday cage? It's very interesting the effect that metal armor can have when attempting to avoid electricity.

 

[genshou]

Neither?

Same here. I use Elements of Magic, so I just construct whatever spell I want at the time. Most of my mages who specialize in Evoke choose ice (the freezing side effect is just too fun).

 

[genshou]

being able to count 100ft to see if that last goblin is just within the range of your bow, etc. I mean really, does the character have magical Range-Finding eyes or something?

See this post from this thread. Having learned archery from my grandfather, I couldn't tell you how many feet away a target is, but I can instantly gauge how to aim in order to hit it.

 

[genshou]

I too love the Lightning Bolt for stylistic purposes, and my characters usually pick it over Fireball..... Fireball's too common and obviously superior for most situations (enemies just don't like to stand in line for some reason.....), but I prefer flinging Lightning Bolts in play..... I miss the 2E version where the Lightning Bolt could ricochet around until traveling its full range in distance, however chaotic and gleefully devastating it could be (to both sides). Lightning Bolt is still great for hurling down long corridors though, and it's less likely to be resisted or negated.

Somehow I get the sense that you players would have loved a Lightning Bolt Billiards skill if you were using this kind of lightning bolt in 3rd Ed.

I never liked the ricochet effect, myself, which is why I avoided the spell... but in 3E it's not so bad. Very useful in dungeon hallways...

 

[LostSoul]

Lightning bolts were much more fun when they bounced

Memories of Pool of Radiance come flooding back to me...