push -1 squares? thunderwave...

[James McMurray]

I can't imagine anyone in our group ever doing it, but if they do, I'll probably go with the minimum of 1 rule as well.

 

[WalterKovacs]

I would go with the minimum of zero, since there are a number of powers or magic items that go out of their way to specify a minimum of 1.

 

[Goumindong]

I think that the OP's point about thunderwave is wroth thinking. A wizard with a wisdom of 8 is perfectly viable. Say that wizard picked up thunderwave (maybe just in case he was stuck in melee). He uses the power and on a hit pushes the target -1 square.

Of course I'd rule that he pushes zero squares instead, but I can't find RAW to back me up.

Every square of a push needs to be 1 square further away from the origin of the push than the last. Since a push of -1 would move the target 1 square closer to the origin of the push the push is illegal and cannot occur.

 

[MarkB]

I'd also rule that it pushes zero squares. But if the player really wants to get cute about the -1 push, I'd rule that it creates a negative feedback and pushes the wizard himself one square towards the spell's area of effect.

 

[DracoSuave]

Just a notion:

I find it odd, that thunderwaves and other powers push the target WIS modifier squares... I think they didn´t thought about using such powers when the associated secondary ability is lower than 10.

My oven also doesn't carry instructions on how I might bake myself in it.

That isn't a flaw with the oven.

But regardless, push -1 squares results in an impossible push situation any way you look at it. So, no push occurs, which is the same as if you had a push 0.

I liked the distinction in 3.x between ability modifier and ability bonus...

Also healers lore of clerics may also be wis bonus instead of modifier, so that a cleric with low wis could be viable...

It -may- be, but it isn't. Some attributes are necessary for certain classes. Fighters need Strength. Swordmages need Intellegence. Clerics need Wisdom (in one way or another.) If you want to play a low-wisdom leader, then crank out a Bard or a Warlord.

 

[NMcCoy]

Alternatively, you could houserule that if you try to apply a negative amount of forced movement to an enemy, the enemy can slide itself that many squares in whichever direction it likes instead...

 

[UngeheuerLich]

ok, i thought about the healing lore penalty as borderline reasonable^^

@ thunderwave: squares are not counted from your position, so you coud "pull" the target -1 squares to push him further away...

but imagine slides with -1... its as good as slide 1^^

One solution i come to think off: with negative slides you could let the enemy decide where he wants to be slid^^

Just as clarification: I don´t think it will ever be a problem in my games... but I wondered why the distinction between bonus and modifier isn´t used anymore...

 

[Mustrum_Ridcully]

ok, i thought about the healing lore penalty as borderline reasonable^^

@ thunderwave: squares are not counted from your position, so you coud "pull" the target -1 squares to push him further away...

but imagine slides with -1... its as good as slide 1^^

One solution i come to think off: with negative slides you could let the enemy decide where he wants to be slid^^

Just as clarification: I don´t think it will ever be a problem in my games... but I wondered why the distinction between bonus and modifier isn´t used anymore...

Possibly because too many people already tripped about the "fineprint" of modifier vs bonus in 3E, and so a common sense approach and "do it as you find it works for you" is enough.