lightning bolt cover?

[KnowTheToe]

Oh my Eris. This game gets more complex every time I visit these boards.

I know what you mean. I first loved 3E because it seemed simple and followed a consistant set of rules. Then I came he to EN University home of the rules lawyer, and now my head hurts. Although it is nice to have so much knowledge and help in one area.

 

[melkoriii]

I know what you mean. I first loved 3E because it seemed simple and followed a consistant set of rules. Then I came he to EN University home of the rules lawyer, and now my head hurts. Although it is nice to have so much knowledge and help in one area.

For the most part the game is simple. Just there was a lot that they did not cover in the Core books first time though.

Still its better than 1st/2nd ed and give way more freedom.

 

[AGGEMAM]

For the most part the game is simple. Just there was a lot that they did not cover in the Core books first time though.

What do you mean ?

 

[Xeoble]

Man, double lightning bolts from two salads is rough...but at least they weren't using their ultrapowerful croutons of death!

 

[SpikeyFreak]

Man, double lightning bolts from two salads is rough...but at least they weren't using their ultrapowerful croutons of death!

Just be glad they weren't tossed salads.

--Inmate Spikey

 

[dkilgo]

No. As far as the game map is concerned, a Reflex save does not move you or change your position. You still give cover to the same direction in the same amount.

That is not the way that I understand it. Just like in a ranged attack when cover is invovled, if the attack has a chance of hitting both the intended target or the cover then the cover has the opportunity to make a reflex save. Depending on the success or failure of the save determines what happens next. If the save is a success then the intended target gets hit, but albeit the attack roll has to be good enough. If the save is a failure then the cover is hit, but albeit the attack has to be good enough in this instance, too.

 

[kreynolds]

Okay, how about with a fireball? Say point Y is the place the fireball explodes and both 1 and 2 are withing the radius. Would 2 get the cover bonus to the reflex save there?

Probably. A tower shield will provide half-cover from a fireball, and only half because the spread effect might reach around the shield. I think the same would apply to standing behind someone else that's as big as you.

 

[Celtavian]

Re

You have to use common sense in these situations, not "the rule says" blindness.

The only time a person provides cover is when they can actually impede the weapon. They specifically talk about cover and reach weapons for two individuals of the same size. This is totally understandable considering that a weapon can be impeded by an individual standing in front or another individual.

This is however not the case with a lightning bolt. A lightning bolt will fry the first person and keep going until it is stopped. For example, a wooden wall will provide no cover for the lightning bolt if the bolt destroys the wall itself. It will just keep right on going and strike anyone else in the path.

A person does not count as a wall or cover against an attack that strikes everything in a straight line unless it full obstructs its movement. So a person cannot provide cover for a lightning bolt.

I might allow a cover bonus if the person had completely covered the other person as their action and they were larger than the other person. For example, if an adult wanted to cover a child, then I might allow this.

However, I would never allow someone to simply stand in front of someone and provide them with cover from a lightning bolt.

 

[Stalker0]

Oh man, not this argument again

The guy does not get cover for a fireball, because Guy 1 is not stopping the fireball, nor hindering it in anyway. The fireball will go right through him and fill in the space behind him. Since the fireball is not blocked in any way, this is not a cover situation. It would be like me holding up a sheet of paper in front of my face as "cover" against an arrow. When the arrow goes flying, that paper will do as much good is if it hadn't even been there.

Now Lightning Bolt may be different if its not a spread, I'll have to check, but its too early to do that

 

[AGGEMAM]

The guy does not get cover for a fireball, because Guy 1 is not stopping the fireball, nor hindering it in anyway. The fireball will go right through him and fill in the space behind him. Since the fireball is not blocked in any way, this is not a cover situation. It would be like me holding up a sheet of paper in front of my face as "cover" against an arrow. When the arrow goes flying, that paper will do as much good is if it hadn't even been there.

Please. Just read the PHB or the SRD quote I posted above.