A grid intersection is about the size of a bulls eye on a target... Grab a ball and throw it at a target from 30' or so away. Do you think you will hit it 75% of the time?
Fireball targeting
- Thread starter Old_school_overlord
- Start date
A grid intersection is about the size of a bulls eye on a target... Grab a ball and throw it at a target from 30' or so away. Do you think you will hit it 75% of the time?
azhrei_fje
First Post
So what's an archery bullseye? About 4" round?
And the analogy of throwing a ball 30' isn't a very good one. In some cultures, throwing a rock 30' and hitting a 4" round target is child's play. I know I wouldn't have a chance in h*** of hitting it, though!
A better analogy (for modern day) might be lining up a laser pointer without turning it on. Can you aim a laser pointer at a 3"-wide slot at a distance of 100'+ (since fireball has Medium range) and get the light through the arrow slit when you turn on the laser pointer? This is about as close as I can get to the act of pointing with a finger to a distant target.
Maybe mounting the laser pointer onto a stick would be even better?
In any case, the rules state that line of effect requires "1 square foot" of opening in a 5' square. It doesn't say what the shape of that 144 square inches has to be, though. However, I think it's entirely reasonable to set a lower limit. For example, could the "1 square foot" actually be a shape like a letter "S" where each of the 144 square inches make up one section of the letter? I think we can all agree that the "1 square foot" is supposed to be a rectangular shape of contiguous 1 square inch gaps.
So what's the lower boundary? And whatever that boundary is (assuming there is one), wouldn't you build your arrow slits to be just below that boundary condition? I know I would.
And if we assume that the "contiguous" aspect is important (which seems reasonable to me), then a single 5' square could have two smaller arrow slits in it and still avoid the line of effect issue. Which means there also needs to be a upper limit as well. Otherwise, a 5' section of wall would have a bunch of small holes in it, each one being less than 1 square foot.
Perhaps something like, "1 square foot of contiguous space as long as neither height nor width is less than 4 inches, or any 5' square with at least 4 square feet of space in any configuration."
And then just allow line of effect to be there or not. And keep in mind that the people building these things will know these limits (through experimentation if nothing else).
Comments?
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"You point your finger and determine the range (distance and height) at which the fireball is to burst."
Even harder. Ever try to accurately name an exact distance?
Vegepygmy
First Post
Why? The human isn't immobile, just slower to react than usual. ("No bonus to AC" is still +5 better than "can't move at all.")
azhrei_fje
First Post
Heh-heh, that's great!
I'll just set MapTool so that the current map is no longer visible to the players and then say, "Okay, what is the distance and height that you want?"
And if they complain I'll point to the spell description and then ask, "Where in the rules does it say that I'm required to give you an accurate map? Or any map at all, for that matter?"
Heh-heh, I love it! (Of course, I probably wouldn't do that unless the player were being a PIMA, but it's nice to know I could and still be within the rules.)
Heh-heh, that's great!
I'll just set MapTool so that the current map is no longer visible to the players and then say, "Okay, what is the distance and height that you want?"
And if they complain I'll point to the spell description and then ask, "Where in the rules does it say that I'm required to give you an accurate map? Or any map at all, for that matter?"
Heh-heh, I love it! (Of course, I probably wouldn't do that unless the player were being a PIMA, but it's nice to know I could and still be within the rules.)
Actually the rules assume that a PC can accurately measure distance (I know it doesn't make sense but that is the assumption).
As a point of reference as to why this is so:
The point of origin of an area effect spell is always at a grid intersection - chosen by the caster. So that means that the grid must be laid out in the first place.
billd91
Not your screen monkey (he/him) 🇺🇦🇵🇸🏳️⚧️
Actually, a grid intersection doesn't really exist to the character. He's aiming at nothing but a particular spot he can see. So how big is it? We don't really know.
Nope. It is up to the PC to figure out the distance per RAW.
How does he determine the grid intersection where a spell starts then?
This is one of the peculiarities of the system.
Also see splash weapons
PHB pg 158
The PC states the distance. The DM determines the rest...
