How to place a spell area on a grid?

[Marimmar@Home]

True, but that's how it works right now.

~Marimmar

 

[Vrecknidj]

If a spell is centered on you, and you're in the center of a 5' square (an assumption we do not have to make, I realize), then if we use this one:

....X
..XXX
XXCXX
..XXX
....X

we end up with the potential problem that the radius of the effect is reallt 12.5 feet instead of 10 feet, since, in one direction, it covers half of your square, plus two more squares.

However, that's what I use, so I'm effectively expanding the radius. I'm not a fan of the "pick a corner" or the "pick an intersection" options either.

Dave

 

[Jeff Wilder]

I'm not a fan of the "pick a corner" or the "pick an intersection" options either.

I'm curious ... why do people have a problem with "pick an intersection"? It's the same rule used for determining line of sight and cover; do people have a problem with it in that context? If no, why the distinction?


Jeff

 

[DreamChaser]

I was wondering that myself. Every caster has 4 grid intersections around him (at least) that could be the focus of a spell that follows him. It is one of the (many) times when the smooth flow of the rules (10 feet being 10 feet and not 12.5 feet) overrules the completely "realistic" aspect.

So:

Does the spell emanate from the caster (or is it centered on him)? YES

Does the flow of play make it easier to have that spell be slightly off center from the caster (by placing it on an intersection)? YES

The other option is playing sans grid and measuring all spell effects out by hand. And that would be tedious.

DC

 

[cordell]

No, what they really need to do is change the description of the area which is affected. For example:

"This spell affects the 5 foot square the caster is standing in, plus two squares in each direction, including the diagonals."

Then there isn't an issue - Except of course when the caster is Large.

 

[Jdvn1]

Oh, actually, yeah. It's seems pretty clear here.

Burst, Emanation, or Spread: Most spells that affect an area function as a burst, an emanation, or a spread. In each case, you select the spell’s point of origin and measure its effect from that point

Changed vote. Pick the intersection.

 

[bfallin]

Pick an intersection or make life really easy make a bunch of cone shape and radius grids from some graph paper and lay it on the map if you use one.
Any square not covered more then 50% doesnt affect it

 

[kjenks]

The point of origin of a spell is always a grid intersection. When determining whether a given creature is within the area of a spell, count out the distance from the point of origin in squares just as you do when moving a character or when determining the range for a ranged attack. The only difference is that instead of counting from the center of one square to the center of the next, you count from intersection to intersection.

http://www.d20srd.org/srd/magicOverview/spellDescriptions.htm#area

And check out the description of an emanation spell, too.