Precision targeting of spells

[Astos]

While not exactly the same, I like to compare this counting out distances. Do you let your PCs count the squares before they decide to charge or to determine the number of range increments before they choose to fire?

If so, then I think it would only be fair to allow accurate placements of area if you allow accurate calculations of range.

 

[Arnwyn]

We don't allow fully precise targeting of area-of-effect spells, so our group has a house rule: If you are in melee with someone who will be hit with an area-of-effect spell (and you're not in that area as shown on the battlemat), you must make the save as well, but with a +4 circumstance bonus.

Works for us.

 

[Someone]

I have cardboard circles of various sizes. The player hold them half a foot above the battlemat and lets them fall. It has an error margin of about 5 feet, and it adds a new meaning to "I drop a fireball there"

 

[smetzger]

My house rule is that if an ally is right on the edge of an area of effect then the caster needs to make a spellcraft check with DC = number of squares to the center of the effect. If he fails then the center has shifted 5 ft and caught his buddy.

 

[Elder-Basilisk]

Area effect damage spells are already weak enough in D&D without weakening them further. As a player, I wouldn't touch them with a ten foot pole if I had to go making checks (unless it's easy enough to autosucceed) to place them properly.

Like other people, here, I let the player point out the center spot on the grid or place the template within a reasonable amount of time (6-10 seconds usually). If a player is clever enough to figure out what the area on the ground will be, I'll even let them detonate an area effect above the ground (thus reducing their footprint on the ground or catching the heads of tall opponents but not their allies). Once the area is decided, it's time to apply the hurt. I don't make fighters roll to miss their charges, or to hit their friends, archers have no chance of hitting cover in 3.5. I see no reason to institute some rule just for spellcasters.

 

[Saeviomagy]

In some wargames (notably games workshop), there are certain units which fire in a sort of "indirect" manner.

Typically this involves picking a direction and guessing a distance (no measuring allowed). Usually the weapon has slightly above-average statistics to counter the difficulty of picking the shot.

These weapons are considered, by everyone I know, to be far, far too good when used by an experienced (read: someone who's used them in a couple of battles) player. Why? Because after about the third battle's worth of practise, you're dropping the things with pinpoint accuracy wherever you want, and the weapons liability (having to guess a distance) is eliminated, leaving it's superior characteristics. And we're talking about inch accuracy (admittedly from a much closer distance...)

So - I would have to say that if it's someone's profession and devotion, then placing stuff like that with 5-foot accuracy at longer ranges would be a fairly simple task to master.

 

[Jolly Giant]

As long as the caster has a clear line of sight, I have no problem with AoE being exactly where the caster wants it.

 

[Crothian]

The caster gets to place it exactly where he wants. It works for both PCs and NPCs keeping it very even.

 

[shilsen]

The caster gets to place it exactly where he wants. It works for both PCs and NPCs keeping it very even.

That's my take on it too. I considered using spellcraft checks to place it precisely, but decided that really didn't add anything useful to the game.

 

[Someone]

I´d add that I don´t use that house rule to add realism, but to help players with suspension of disbelief. When I use the battlemat I remind them constantly that the miniatures represent actual people: they are moving in and out, jumping out of the giant´s club path, and so forth. I noticed they found strange they could place a fireball so exactly that they could hit with full force an orc without harming at all the PC who´s fighting with it, specially when they´re dancing all around the battlefield. So instead a rule for randomly moving miniatures, I came up with an easier rule to slightly adjust area effects.

So far, It hasn´t harmed significantly those spells (and there´s a trigger happy wizard with a wand of fireballs in the party) I only remember he´s ever damaged a companion once, and they´re level 12 now.