Fireball vs. Wind Wall

[Jdvn1]

Why do you say this? Nowhere in the spell description is such mentioned. It claims to be ineffective against huge boulders and siege weapons. It says nothing about magical effects. Fireball creates a small pebble, and fires it at a set point, at which point it "blossoms into a fireball." The pebble can't bypass an arrow slit any more than a non-magical arrow can. Why is it able to ignore a wall of wind?

Why do I say fireball is a magical effect? Because it's a spell?

Additionally, the spell can be dispelled, right? Can the pebble be dispelled? I think the logical conclusion is yes. Which leads to the idea that the pebble is magic.

Granted, Wind Wall on a fireball is a neat idea, but it doesn't seem tofollow the RAW.

 

[Sejs]

the pellet -- be it flavor or not -- is a magical effect. Wind Wall doesn't help.

"Gases, most gaseous breath weapons, and creatures in gaseous form cannot pass through the wall"

A Cloudkill cloud, a green dragon's breath, or a gaseuous creature can't pass the wall - and the Wind Wall protects agains all of them, even though they're all magical effects.

 

[Ankh-Morpork Guard]

If the Fireball were targetted at the monk, then I'd certainly rule he could snatch the pellet. Which would then explode upon contact with his hand.

That would be such a great in game moment.

Monk: *catches the bead* HA!

The Monk would have just enough time to realize what he'd caught, look horrified, and then explode.

And on topic...its a good question. I think I'd rule that Wind Wall doesn't effect the fireball. Yes, I know that you need a ranged touch attack in a special case, but that's only in ONE case. Looking at the description of Wind Wall, the Fireball doesn't fit any of the descriptions(IMO, of course) used as examples to what are effected and how. So, I'd say no. But I'd be willing to change this ruling with a convincing argument.

 

[Jdvn1]

"Gases, most gaseous breath weapons, and creatures in gaseous form cannot pass through the wall"

A Cloudkill cloud, a green dragon's breath, or a gaseuous creature can't pass the wall - and the Wind Wall protects agains all of them, even though they're all magical effects.

Okay, caveat: unless otherwise noted. I think that's clear enough, though.

 

[Wonko the Sane]

The Monk would have just enough time to realize what he'd caught, look horrified, and then explode.

...which (IMO) would deny him his Evasion ability too, since it explodes in/on his hand.

 

[Wonko the Sane]

This is making me wonder that since you have to make a ranged touch attack to "hit" an arrow slit, would it be unreasonable to make a ranged touch attack to hit someone with the bead, and thus deny them a Reflex save altogether (as per most other touch attack spells)? I think it makes fireball a little better, especially at higher levels.

 

[Jeff Wilder]

Except that when fired at an arrow slit, you have to make a ranged attack roll to get it into the room.

If the bead intersects a solid object before reaching its target, it detonates prematurely. [...] The bead has a function beyond pure fluff.

Gee whiz, I wonder what I could possibly have had in mind when I wrote "almost entirely flavor text"?


Jeff

 

[Lord Pendragon]

Looking at the description of Wind Wall, the Fireball doesn't fit any of the descriptions(IMO, of course) used as examples to what are effected and how.

My thought is that the pellet produced by the Fireball spell is like a sling stone with a special power. The spell shoots the pellet off (you don't need a sling), and upon reaching a certain point (or contact with a solid object), it explodes in a fireball. I'm basing this on the fact, if fired at an arrow slit, it requires a ranged touch attack to enter the room, or it explodes against the wall. This indicates, to me, that it is not infallibly directed or propelled. It's basically a normal missile with a range of 400' + 40'/level, until it comes into contact with a solid object, or reaches the designated detonation range.

Since any other sling stone or thrown pebble would be deflected by the Wind Wall, I see no reason why the pellet created by the Fireball spell shouldn't. Yes, the pellet is magical in nature, but Wind Wall can affect magical objects/substances as well as non-magical ones, so I see no problem.

 

[Ankh-Morpork Guard]

Hmm, actually, here's a thought. If a Wind Wall CAN effect a Fireball, it wouldn't actually deflect it at all. Instead, by the description of Fireball, it would simply explode.

 

[Jeff Wilder]

My thought is that the pellet produced by the Fireball spell is like a sling stone with a special power. [...] Since any other sling stone or thrown pebble would be deflected by the Wind Wall, I see no reason why the pellet created by the Fireball spell shouldn't.

It sounds as if you've already made up your mind to make a house rule and are seeking validation by making spurious arguments designed specifically to fit the conclusion you've already decided to reach.

You really don't need validation. It's your game. House rule away.


Jeff