Form of Winter's Herald: Iceman or Aura?

[Stoat]

I'm having a little brain failure re: this Warden power. Among other things, the power says the following:

Each square within 2 squares of you, wherever you move, is difficult terrain for your enemies.

Does this mean that the Warden using this power spreads a layer of frost everywhere he goes, like Iceman? Or does it just provide an aura of difficult terrain that moves along with the Warden?

In other words, if the Warden starts at point A and moves to point B are the squares around point A still considered difficult terrain?

 

[Saeviomagy]

I'm having a little brain failure re: this Warden power. Among other things, the power says the following:



Does this mean that the Warden using this power spreads a layer of frost everywhere he goes, like Iceman? Or does it just provide an aura of difficult terrain that moves along with the Warden?

In other words, if the Warden starts at point A and moves to point B are the squares around point A still considered difficult terrain?

For balance's sake, it's an aura. Consider also that it only applies to your enemies, not your allies: we're not talking about real frost here, it's magic enemy-seeking frost.

 

[AbdulAlhazred]

It really is very poorly worded. Couldn't they have simply stated it plainly? I agree its unbalanced if you make it every square you EVER move within 2 squares of, but some day they gotta get some people over there that can write a rule...

 

[Stoat]

For balance's sake, it's an aura. Consider also that it only applies to your enemies, not your allies: we're not talking about real frost here, it's magic enemy-seeking frost.

Oh yeah, I know it's enemy only. That's what makes the Iceman interpretation game wrecking.

For context, I run quickie delve-style games when I can't get enough of folks together to play my regular campaign. Last night one of the players tried out a Warden, and we went with the Iceman interpretation. After two rounds, 70% of the battlemat was coated in enemy-specific ice. Add in Weight of Earth . . .

It was a slaughter

 

[lukelightning]

It takes some linguistic acrobatics, but I can make it interpreted as an aura (which is surely the intent). The area within 2 squares of the warden is difficult terrain. When the warden moves, ask, "is that square within 2 squares of the warden? no? then it is not difficult terrain."

If they had worded it "the space becomes difficult terrain" then it would be iceman.

 

[Legildur]

A agree with Lukelightning - you test the range of the power whenever an enemy tries to move. This doesn't necessarily only occur outside of the Warden's turn, as there may be immediate interrupts/reactions (including Ready actions) that the enemy may take on the Warden getting within 2 squares before the Warden has finished moving.

 

[Sanzuo]

Form of Winter's Herald; great power or greatest power?

 

[Nebulous]

I'm having a little brain failure re: this Warden power. Among other things, the power says the following:

Does this mean that the Warden using this power spreads a layer of frost everywhere he goes, like Iceman? Or does it just provide an aura of difficult terrain that moves along with the Warden?

In other words, if the Warden starts at point A and moves to point B are the squares around point A still considered difficult terrain?

We've seen this spell in use a lot. For a DM, it's a pain, and the players often forget to enforce it too. Consider it an aura.

 

[Destil]

Form of Winter's Herald; great power or greatest power?

Indeed, even the weak 'aura' version I think the rules best support is still one of the strongest warlord dailies in the game.

 

[Colmarr]

It takes some linguistic acrobatics, but I can make it interpreted as an aura (which is surely the intent). The area within 2 squares of the warden is difficult terrain. When the warden moves, ask, "is that square within 2 squares of the warden? no? then it is not difficult terrain."

If they had worded it "the space becomes difficult terrain" then it would be iceman.

I agree with your interpretation, but just wanted to say that I don't think reaching it requires "linguistic acrobatics". In fact, I think your interpretation is the easiest and most obvious one.

EEMMV