Prismatic Walls and Wardings

[Transit]

Actually, the exact wording of the Prismatic Wall says:

Each color in the wall has a special effect. The accompanying table shows the seven colors of the wall, the order in which they appear, their effects on creatures trying to attack you or pass through the wall, and the magic needed to negate each color.

The table then goes on to describe the effects of each color.

Personally, I think the wall should effect anyone or anything entering from either side, but if someone wanted to be a stickler for "rules as written" the wall seems to have no effect on the caster, only on creatures trying to attack the caster or pass through the wall.

 

[Armendil]

It is unfortunate language. Read literally, one could interpret the spell to inflict the appropriate damage or effect to any creature trying to attack the caster. In other words an archer trying to shoot the caster would take 20 fire damage even if he didn't cross the wall. Isn't that the plain meaning of "The accompanying table shows the seven colors of the wall, the order in which they appear, their effects on creatures trying to attack you or pass through the wall, and the magic needed to negate each color?"

I think we can all agree that this is not the intended interpretation of the spell. It should be equally evident that the wall would protect creatures other than the caster who are behind the wall or within the sphere. I don't think we can take the phrase "creatures trying to attack you or pass through the wall" literally. This is poorly chosen language meant to convey the concept that the various colors block various attacks directed at or through the wall, and deal damage or impose effects on creatures trying to pass through the wall.

It still doesn't answer the question of whether the wall blocks attacks originating from the caster's side of the wall.

Also, how do you square this with the following language in the primatic sphere spell?

"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)."