Sending a Fireball through an arrow slit.

[Shin Okada]

Some of you may still remember my previous post regarding a wall with arrow slits. Now there are only 4 days before PCs of my friends face that wall.

This is the situation. There is a stone wall with some allow slits. Behind the slits are archers.

Now, as a PC mage really loves Fireball, I am expecting him to use it. He can throw a Fireball through one of the slit and it is not so difficult. Just a ranged touch attack against AC 7 (tiny, immobile target). But at what point the Fireball detonate? They just go through the slit, continue to go straight until it hits the wall on the opposite side? Are there any chance to actually hit the archer and detonate there?

 

[kreynolds]

But at what point the Fireball detonate?

Wherever the caster specifies that he wants it to detonate. Even though he has to make an attack roll to send the bead through the arrow slit, he still has to specify at what distance the bead will travel before detonating. Make sense?f

Also, medium-size creatures are not big enough to block a fireball bead, but you might have to make an on-the-fly ruling if an archer is right up against the arrow slit when the bead comes through.

Tell you what I would do. If an archer is right in front of the slit, I would give him a Reflex save (DC 15, 20, something like that) as the bead comes through. That would give him a chance to duck out of the way. If he succeeds, the bead continues on and detonates when it reaches the distance specified by the caster. If he fails the Reflex save, have it blow up in his face.

 

[Dingleberry]

But at what point the Fireball detonate? They just go through the slit, continue to go straight until it hits the wall on the opposite side? Are there any chance to actually hit the archer and detonate there?

The caster determines at what range it is to detonate (see spell description), though it detonates if it hits anything first. If your player's primarily interested in hitting the archer at the slit, he can just have it detonate as soon as it goes through. He might also say he wants it to detonate 20 feet past the slit - if it doesn't strike anything before then, the radius will still get the archer, and also maybe a bunch of his archer buddies.

Also remember that any arrows that aren't "attended" (e.g., a communal pile for all archers, or extra quivers set nearby) might be ignited by the blast.

 

[mirivor]

I believe that the spell description states that the fireball bursts if it strikes any barrier between it and its destination. If, then that is how I would rule the situation.

 

[kreynolds]

I believe that the spell description states that the fireball bursts if it strikes any barrier between it and its destination.

A medium-size creature usually does not constitute a barrier (except for maybe a 5 x 5 x 5 cubical ooze) for something as a small as an arrow or fireball bead, so it's really not as cut-and-dry as you think.

 

[Dash Dannigan]

Are there range modifiers for doing that?

 

[kreynolds]

Are there range modifiers for doing that?

Nope. Out of curiosity though, why would there be?

EDIT: I'm asking just in case I'm missing something that I shouldn't.

 

[Shin Okada]

Thanks guys! Somehow, I have been thinking that a Fireball detonate only when it struck something.

 

[kreynolds]

Somehow, I have been thinking that a Fireball detonate only when it struck something.

Ah-ha! Now it all makes sense!

Same thing has happened to me, actually...but shhh!...don't tell anyone!

 

[Dash Dannigan]

no you're fine Kreynolds, I had a mental slip for a sec there is all.

As for the Reflex save I wouldnt bother with it at all. The numbers are already there for us, so use 'em.

The Touch AC for an archer is 10 base + 10 cover + dex (~22 for a dex 14) so roll the touch and if you get 22 or above on the roll he didn't get out of the way in time. Anything between 7and 22 then it goes through the slit and impacts on the wall behind him.