RE: Warlock's Eld. Blast question

[Judou Ashita]

RE: Warlock's Eld. Blast question

Hello, guys! I'm a relatively new face to the 3.5 D&D world, and it's already becoming obsolete thanks to the 4th edition...

Anyway, since I'm new and a little lost on a few things, I'd like a clarification on one of my favourite classes, the Warlock, and its signature ability, Eldritch Blast.

Complete Arcane says that an Eldritch Blast is a spell-like ability that *IS* subject to Spell Resistance, unless stated otherwise. A golem, which cannot be damaged by any magical or supernatural effect that allows SR, is therefore unharmed by a Warlock's Eld. Blast, unless said Warlock applied the vitriolic blast invocation to it, am I right? That leaves the Warlock somewhat helpless against the big lumps of animate matter...

Another thing: the golem's above-mentioned immunity should NOT apply to the globe spells, such as globe of fire, globe of force, globe of electricity and such, since these spells' description mentions that SR does not apply to them... or is my interpretation off?

Thank you very much, guys! I hope I'll be able to contribute, no matter how little, to this forum with some interesting ideas of mine!

 

[werk]

A golem, which cannot be damaged by any magical or supernatural effect that allows SR, is therefore unharmed by a Warlock's Eld. Blast, unless said Warlock applied the vitriolic blast invocation to it, am I right?

Right, the EB is subject to SR, so wouldn't work on a golem. Vitriolic blast allows it to ignore SR and deal additional DOT.

Another thing: the golem's above-mentioned immunity should NOT apply to the globe spells, such as globe of fire, globe of force, globe of electricity and such, since these spells' description mentions that SR does not apply to them... or is my interpretation off?

Right, basically the magic (Conjuration:Creation) makes the substance and hurls it onto the golem and the substance then causes harm, rather than a magical effect. Some think this is a stretch...

 

[Aidan Milvus]

Correct on both counts... However, just remember to NEVER use vitriolic blast on clay golems... *shudder* If you see a clay golem... run... just run...

 

[Shin Okada]

A warlock can always use some scrolls or wands which contain Orb spells. Now most warlocks can fly and most golems don't have ranged attacks.

 

[sukael]

Right, basically the magic (Conjuration:Creation) makes the substance and hurls it onto the golem and the substance then causes harm, rather than a magical effect. Some think this is a stretch...

Yep.

Think of it this way: conjuration attack spells work by creating something nonmagical that, by itself, damages an enemy.

...so does this mean that anybody casting orb of force at enemies is leaving a bunch of little non-magical orbs of invisible force laying around?

 

[Shin Okada]

...so does this mean that anybody casting orb of force at enemies is leaving a bunch of little non-magical orbs of invisible force laying around?

Well, I am trying to think that "force" has a nature that it dissipates into nothing (or sinks down into astral plane or somewhere) unless continually supported by some magical powers. So, after damaging the target, that orb "naturally" dissipates very soon.

This theory prevent creatures from playing "Dodge Ball" with an orb of force.

 

[sukael]

Well, I am trying to think that "force" has a nature that it dissipates into nothing (or sinks down into astral plane or somewhere) unless continually supported by some magical powers. So, after damaging the target, that orb "naturally" dissipates very soon.

This theory prevent creatures from playing "Dodge Ball" with an orb of force.

Not by the RAW, though!

If the spell has an instantaneous duration, the created object or creature is merely assembled through magic. It lasts indefinitely and does not depend on magic for its existence.

See why people have problems with the orb spells - or, at the very least, the orb of force spell?

 

[Simm]

The idefinate duration doesn't really matter because the energy orb spells create just that, an orb of energy. A fire or cold orb would quickly reach thermal equilibrium, an electricity orb would groud, an acid orb neutralize a sonic orb propagate.

I've always rationalized force damage as a magical projection of kinetic energy. So an orb of force would create a localized transfer of non-magical kinetic energy at the target, dealing damage.

 

[Shin Okada]

Yeah, created force will continue to exist in the material plane or at least within D&D cosmology forever. But it does not mean that will remain in a form of a tangible, throwable ball. Who knows how a mass of "natural" force behave? It may have tendency to disintegrate into harmless tiny particles and spread into all the directions in light speed. Or it may soon "sink" into ethereal or astral planes. Even if so, it "lasts forever" and "still existing".

 

[Judou Ashita]

Thanks for your answers, guys! BTW, I said 'globe' spells when I should have said 'orb' spells... that's because my manuals are in Italian (I'm from Venice), and so I'm not too familiar with the English names. :\

*chuckles* That's the kind of question that arises when real-world physics and fantasy fiction collide...