Prismatic Walls and Wardings

[Armendil]

Can anyone point to some text in the core books or official errata regarding whether a primatic wall (or the initiate of the sevenfold veil's warding ability) works both ways? In other words, can you shoot arrows throw a wall with the red color still functioning, or cast spells through an indigo veil that you created?

My instinct is that veils, whether in a prismatic wall or a warding, should also block the creator's attacks, but I can't find a definitive statement to that effect. The best evidence I have found is in the description of a Prismatic sphere (PHB pg 264) which states "You can pass into and out of the prismatic sphere and remain near it without harm. However, when you're inside it, the sphere blocks any attempt to project something through the sphere (including spells)." THis text (although it could be clearer) seems to say that the caster cannot project any attack through the sphere. By implication, if one cannot attack through one's own 9th level sphere one ought not be able to attack through one's own 8th level wall (or warding).

I would appreciate any comments from someone who disagrees with this analysis or can point to some more definite evidence to support it.

Thanks,

Armendil

 

[reveal]

Well, I have a player who is an Initiate of the Sevenfold Veil. When using the wall feature of the veil, the Initiate chooses which side can be passed through safely. Since it specifies that the wall grants creatures on the other side concealment (CA pg 46), we've always assumed that caster can continue to cast spells through it and archers can fire through it, using the concealment rules for the enemies on the other side.

 

[Armendil]

But Why?

On what are you basing this assumption?

I don't have the book in front of me, but I believe that an Initiate can create 3 types of wardings: personal, area, and wall. The first two give the caster, or those in an area warding, concealment from those outside, but the caster and his allies can see through normally. The wall grants concealment to both sides. But none of this bears on the permeability if you will of the veils. The fact that the wall can be passed through safely in one direction doesn't seem to shed too much light either.

Anybody got anything else?

In fact, forget the initiate of a sevenfold veil. Let's make this simple. Can anyone tell me if a prismatic wall blocks attacks from both sides?

 

[reveal]

On what are you basing this assumption?

I don't have the book in front of me, but I believe that an Initiate can create 3 types of wardings: personal, area, and wall. The first two give the caster, or those in an area warding, concealment from those outside, but the caster and his allies can see through normally. The wall grants concealment to both sides. But none of this bears on the permeability if you will of the veils. The fact that the wall can be passed through safely in one direction doesn't seem to shed too much light either.

A wall is simply a veil put into a specific type; personal, area, and wall. Each veil specifies who, or what, can pass through it. For example, a red veil blocks all nonmagical ranged attacks and missiles. It also specifies that creatures can cross the red veil but take fire damage. The fire damage would be taken by the creature if they passed through the side of the wall designated by the caster as "unsafe."

 

[reveal]

In fact, forget the initiate of a sevenfold veil. Let's make this simple. Can anyone tell me if a prismatic wall blocks attacks from both sides?

Yes, it blocks it from both sides. The spell says that each color blocks a certain something and does not specify that it only blocks them if they come from a specific direction.

 

[Armendil]

If that's your ruling on prismatic wall (and I agree with it) then why would your ruling be any different with an intiate's warding wall. And how would you rule on an initiate's personal or area warding?

 

[reveal]

If that's your ruling on prismatic wall (and I agree with it) then why would your ruling be any different with an intiate's warding wall.

And how would you rule on an initiate's personal or area warding?

The initiate only throws up one veil at a time as a warding, wall or otherwise. Each veil can block specific things but no one veil blocks everything.

In the prismatic wall all the veils that the initiate can put up individually are collectively in the wall, effectively blocking all attacks.

 

[Liquidsabre]

"Prismatic wall creates a vertical, opaque wall--"

Opaque means it can't be seen through. No line of sight means no casting or atacking through it.

 

[Armendil]

Actually a violet veil does block everything. And an indigo veil blocks all spells which is powerful enough in itself. Also, higher lever initiates can throw up two veils simultaneously.

The CA states (this is from memory, so call me on it if I'm incorrect) that the veils "duplicate the effects of the prismatic wall spell". If the spell is impermeable both ways, it seems evident that the all of the initiate's veils should be impermeable both ways. Regardlees of whether it's a personal, area, or wall warding.

 

[Armendil]

Liquidsabre, You can cast many spells without line of sight as long as you have line of effect. For example I can cast a fireball at an orc hidden by a globe of darkness. But I agree that a prismatic wall blocks attacks originating from either side. I'd just like stronger language making that point explicit.