How wide is a "line", i.e. Lightning Bolt?

[allenw]

The 3.5 rules introduce a new standard spell area type, the "line," for such old standbys as Lightning Bolt. Unfortunately, the SRD and PHB descriptions of a "line" are confusing, written entirely in "squares" terminology, and leave me *guessing* that a "line" is probably meant to be 10' wide, but not certain. A simple statement that "A line is 10' wide" (or "5' wide" if that's the case) would have made the whole issue crystal-clear. Even "A line is 2 squares wide" would have worked. The PHB does have a diagram, but it's for an obscure corner (literally) case that clarifies little. The DMG lacks any "line" templates.

The SRD text reads:

Quote:
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A line-shaped spell shoots away from you in a line in the direction you designate. It starts from any corner of your square and extends to the limit of its range or until it strikes a barrier that blocks line of effect. A line-shaped spell affects all creatures in squares that the line passes through.
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Read literally, this implies that if you send a Lightning Bolt from "any corner of your square" along one of the grid axes (i.e., the lines that define the squares), probably the most common situation, it affects *no* squares whatsoever, as a line drawn along edges of squares "passes through" none of them.
The PHB has some text that clarifies that a square is affected if the line touches its "far side," which implies that a Lightning Bolt sent "straight ahead" down a square-edge would affect a column 2 squares wide (i.e., 10')... including the caster's own square (oops!). However, I'm still not sure if the implication was intended. Even if it was, however, if I cast Lightning Bolt from the front-right corner of my square to a point 120' from the front-left corner of my square, it only affects a 5'-wide column (except for a 10' wide bit at both ends, including my square - oops again!)

I note that Line-shaped Dragon breath weapons are still 5' wide, but I also note that Cone-shaped Dragon breath weapons are still "as wide as they are long" rather than quarter-circles, so I suspect that no effort was made to coordinate them with spell areas.

 

[Kirowan]

From the diagram in the PH, it seems that you pick a corner to cast the spell from and then pick any intersection of squares out until the range limit of the spell. Then you draw an imaginary line between the two points and out until the range of the spell. Any square that the line goes through is affected. The intersection you used to target your spell affects the four squares surrounding it.

At least, that's how I see it.

Nick

 

[allenw]

Any square that the line goes through is affected. The intersection you used to target your spell affects the four squares surrounding it.

Where "goes through" includes "touches an edge or corner?" That what I *think* it means as well, although as remarked that could include the caster's own square.

 

[Tabarnak Smokeblower]

Here are 2 examples that represent what is affected by a line spell. (the line is black, the "c" is the caster and the yellow squares are the squares that are affected)

TS

Edit: crap, can't remove an attachment and put in a new one...

 

[AGGEMAM]

What TS said!

 

[Tabarnak Smokeblower]

What TS said!

haha.

2nd try:

Edit: attachments are crap.

 

[Caliban]

haha.

2nd try:

In your second diagram, I think it should get all 4 squares where it passes through the intersections.

 

[Cheiromancer]

In your second diagram, I think it should get all 4 squares where it passes through the intersections.

Really? That would allow it to affect 14 squares. All the others affect only 7 or 8.

[edit]Hey! Where did the pretty diagram go!? It was there a minute ago.[/edit]

 

[Tabarnak Smokeblower]

try 3.0

Here we go again.

C = caster

Line = Line

Yellow = squares that every one agrees are affected

Red = disputed squares

I agree that it makes more sense when the red squares are taken into account, otherwise the shorter line would affect more squares (9 vs 8). Nevertheless, its a LOT more squares (9 vs 14)

 

[Tabarnak Smokeblower]

[edit]Hey! Where did the pretty diagram go!? It was there a minute ago.[/edit]

I don'T know what's going on with diagrams. It seems you were seeing the correct one, but I still had the old one up. Oh well, the new one is there, and everything is yipeedoo.

TS