Glitterdust effects?

[Legildur]

From SRD:

Glitterdust

Conjuration (Creation)
Level: Brd 2, Sor/Wiz 2
Components: V, S, M
Casting Time: 1 action
Range: Medium (100 ft. + 10 ft./level)
Area: Creatures and objects within 10-ft. spread
Duration: 1 round/level
Saving Throw: Will negates (blinding only)
Spell Resistance: Yes

A cloud of glittering golden particles covers everyone and everything in the area, blinding creatures and visibly outlining invisible things. Blindness lasts for the duration of the spell. All within the area are covered by the dust, which cannot be removed and continues to sparkle until it fades.

In addition to the obvious effects, a blinded creature suffers a 50% miss chance in combat (all opponents have full concealment), loses any Dexterity bonus to AC, grants a +2 bonus to opponents’ attack rolls (they are effectively invisible), moves at half speed, and suffers a –4 penalty on most Strength- and Dexterity-based skills.

Does the effected creature have to have been in the 10ft spread when the spell was cast to be effected?

What if you walk IN to the area AFTER the casting?

What if you move OUT of the area AFTER casting?

 

[fba827]

Well, my interpretation would be that:

I think of it as a cloud of glitter dispersing at the time of casting. Therefore, all creatures in the area at the time of casting are affected. (And that the reference for duration is how long the glitter continues to sparkle on those it has already covered and for how long the blindness would last).

If you later move out of the area, you still have the glitter on you.

If you move into the area after its been cast, you do not have the glitter on you since the initial dust spreading has passed.


--

Having said that, I know someone who disagrees with me on it and thinks of it differently. The visual he has in his mind is that the glitter continues to swirl around for the entire duration of the spell. Thus, if you enter the area after it's been cast, you still get covered.

I tend not to go with that theory because of the way it's worded regarding how the blindness lasts for the duration and also the fact that it makes no mention of what happens when creatures enter / leave .... I know it is not hard core evidence, but the pattern has generally been that spells that have effects that may change as people enter / leave that it is generally stated..

just my two cents. others may disagree.

 

[Maitre Du Donjon]

I agree with fba827.

Nevertheless, the blinding effect still baffles me a bit. Why are the affected creatures blinded? Is it because the gold particules land in their eyes? Is it because the gold particules are really shiny and sparkly and prevent normal sight?

The first option would make me think that creatures coming out of the area of effect would stay blinded. The second option would make me think that the blindness stops if the affected creature gets out of the area of effect, and that other creatures that come into the area could suffer from blindness...

Anywho, like I said, i'd go with what fba827 said.

Maitre D

 

[Christian]

The 'area' line:

Area: Creatures and objects within 10-ft. spread

indicates that the subject of the spell is the creatures within the spread. Per the letter of the rules:

Subjects, Effects, and Areas: If the spell affects creatures directly, the result travels with the subjects for the spell's duration ... If the spell affects an area, then the spell stays with that area for the spell's duration. Creatures become subject to the spell when they enter the area and become no longer subject to it when they leave.

Since the spell affects the creatures directly, the result travels with the subjects for the spell's duration ... Examples of spells that affect an area, so that creatures would be subject to the spell when they enter the area and no longer subject to it when they leave, are Sleet Storm and Mind Fog.