Magic Missile on Constructs

[Pielorinho]

So would you also rule that Ice Storm would not deal bludgening damage to such creatures, because it has multiple hailstones?

I once caught a duo of fiendish trolls in a wall of thorns. I figured it'd slow them down.

I'm not sure, but I think my DM ruled that since the 25 points of damage the spell inflicts for moving obviously doesn't come from one big honkin' thorn, it must come from lots of little honkin' thorns, and that therefore, DR would protect against it.

The DM's always right, but grr. Grr, I say.

Daniel

 

[Shallown]

I'm not sure what the questionis now so I will copy it here.

Do most of you allow Magic Missile to work on constructs or only "living" creatures? I have seen it handled different by different DMs.

As psoetd above the text of the spell allows it to hit constructs. Living as a discription is not mentioned. DR has no effect since it is magic. As far as hardness goes I am not sure but I assume since the spell auto targets they all f go to the same point of impact so it will be like most other spells in its mechanical effect and total the damage to bypass hardness. But that is tpo keep it simple and consistant as most other spells since MM bends lots of rules. One of the few auto hits without a save or area effect.

 

[Destil]

I once caught a duo of fiendish trolls in a wall of thorns. I figured it'd slow them down.

I'm not sure, but I think my DM ruled that since the 25 points of damage the spell inflicts for moving obviously doesn't come from one big honkin' thorn, it must come from lots of little honkin' thorns, and that therefore, DR would protect against it.

The DM's always right, but grr. Grr, I say.

Daniel

For the spell to work in that reguard the 'magic' would have to be in the creation of the wall, and not the non-magical thorns themselves...

Given that Wall of Thorns dosn't allow SR, I think it's a rather reasonable call...

 

[kreynolds]

Given that Wall of Thorns dosn't allow SR, I think it's a rather reasonable call...

That makes blade barrier a bit useless now, doesn't it? I think a small ruling is going a little too far at this point.

 

[Janos Antero]

Except Blade Barrier does specifically allow SR, whereas Wall of Thorns doesn't as of their spell descriptions.

 

[kreynolds]

Except Blade Barrier does specifically allow SR, whereas Wall of Thorns doesn't.

Oh, I realize that, but I don't see the distinction. The 20d6 points of damage doesn't come from a single bit fat blade. It comes from a disk with many blades. Tiny blades. Lots of them. That ruling, in its simplicity, can easily be carried forward, and that's my problem with it.

 

[Janos Antero]

Ah ok, I misunderstood you then.

But honestly, how I always mentally pictured Blade Barrier was a central ring, sharpened on both outside and inside, with spikes/blades sticking off it. That's basically what the spell description implies too, a single connected object, and it's own movement does the damage, which is clearly from the spell.

Whereas Wall of Thorns, while a single solid object at first, actually does damage by breaking off and sticking thorns in you as you move (which is vaguely implied by the text description, I realize that can be taken as subjective). Damage is taken by your own movement and actions as you thrust yourself on/through the spikes, rather than them thrusting at you.

If you stop moving in a Wall of Thorns you stop taking damage, whereas any movement within the radius of a Blade Barrier cuts you up.

Plus Wall of Thorns is a creation, whereas Blade Barrier is Evocation. Real matter vs raw energy.

The energy of Blade Barrier lasts as long as the spell is active, whereas Wall of Thorns basically creates temporary matter, spell ends, then the matter decays and poofs a bit afterward.

 

[Hypersmurf]

If you stop moving in a Wall of Thorns you stop taking damage, whereas any movement within the radius of a Blade Barrier cuts you up.

If you stop moving in a Blade Barrier you stop taking damage as well. The damage only applies a/ when the Barrier first appears, b/ when entering the Barrier, or c/ when passing through the Barrier.

-Hyp.

 

[Destil]

Oh, I realize that, but I don't see the distinction. The 20d6 points of damage doesn't come from a single bit fat blade. It comes from a disk with many blades. Tiny blades. Lots of them. That ruling, in its simplicity, can easily be carried forward, and that's my problem with it.

But the point is the magic is in the blades themselves. With wall of thorns there's no real magic within the thorns, the're just created magicaly. With a blade barrier the blades are created and supported magicaly (it's an evocation, even!). Dirrect magic ignores DR, but is subject SR. Thus blade barrier, allowing SR, shouldn't allow DR. It's like ice storm.