lightning bolt cover?

[kreynolds]

I wonder if he means objects in hand.

 

[Hypersmurf]

I wonder if he means objects in hand.

I still can't find it

-Hyp.

 

[Celtavian]

Re

The tower shield might survive a few hits from a lightning bolt or other such attack, but eventually, it will be wiped out. Better not use your magic tower shield unless it has some kind of electricity resistance.

 

[Hypersmurf]

Re: Re

Better not use your magic tower shield unless it has some kind of electricity resistance.

Magic tower shield?

No, no. You carry half a dozen mundane tower shields as little pieces of cloth, 1/2000th their original volume.

-Hyp.

 

[Hypersmurf]

Or my favourite cheapie items in the game - Quall's Feather Token: Tree!

-Hyp.

 

[AGGEMAM]

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re

... they do?

Do you have a source on that?

(And that's one of the funniest things I've heard today... a table is better at dodging than a 9th level Rogue? )

Total brain fart on my part, that is what you get when you are posting at 4:30 am ...

 

[Rel]

As a small aside, I'd just point out that if you don't want to have to mess with the Reflex Save cover bonus for Fireball, just have it detonate above the heads of the targets (assuming there is room available to do so). Of course, if you set the altitude of detonation too high, you will start to diminish the effective radius at ground level. Then there starts to be a lot of math and not much fun.

Still wouldn't help you with Lightning Bolt though.

 

[kreynolds]

Then there starts to be a lot of math and not much fun.

Actually, it's not difficult at all, and takes less than a minute. Basically, just keep some 8.5 x 11 paper around with an accurate grid and draw the exact same circle (or use a chunk of your battlemat off to the side), and turn it on its side in your head. Make note of both points of origin, then make note of which squares will be affected on your battlemat. Basically, it just takes about twice as long as normal.

 

[Rel]

Actually, it's not difficult at all, and takes less than a minute. Basically, just keep some 8.5 x 11 paper around with an accurate grid and draw the exact same circle (or use a chunk of your battlemat off to the side), and turn it on its side in your head. Make note of both points of origin, then make note of which squares will be affected on your battlemat. Basically, it just takes about twice as long as normal.

THAT is an absolutely fantastic idea, kreynolds. Brilliant in its elegance and simplicity. Really.

The only problem then becomes whether the targets near the edge of the effect gain any cover from those closer to the center based on the angle of the blast.

I insist on making this more complicated than it should be, don't I?

 

[kreynolds]

The only problem then becomes whether the targets near the edge of the effect gain any cover from those closer to the center based on the angle of the blast.

Really, its not that bad, and its something that I've had to consider when there was a goblin behind an ogre at the edge of the blast. To figure it out, I again used the circle that represented the height of the fireball. I then made note of the ogre's and goblin's position on the paper, taking their height into account. Then, using the point of origin, I drew two lines that stretched from the point of origin, one that connected to the top square where the ogre was (his head), and the second connected to the bottom square where the ogre was (his feet). Granted, in the case of a goblin behind an ogre, with the blast in "front" of the ogre, its pretty much a no-brainer how much cover the goblin has. However, the same process works quite well for two same-size creatures.

Basically, you connect the two lines, or just use a ruler as a guide without needing to make any marks, and connect them from the origin to the top and bottom of the squares occupied by the "frontmost" creature, then continue the lines beyond it, past the "rear" creature. That'll give you a pretty good idea as to how much of the blast is being absorbed by the "frontmost" creature. It will also illustrate if the "rear" creature will be taking any of the blast at all (such as total cover). Basically, you're winging it, but at least its an edjucated guess.