Shatterfloor questions..

[Bronn Spellforger]

My Wizard has been really enjoying the 3rd level spell Shatterfloor from FRCS (or is it MOF? I forget). In any case, there's been some arguments over how it can be used. I'll paraphrase the description:

Shatterfloor (Evocation - Sonic)
3rd Level
VSF
Med Range
15 ft radius
Will 1/2
Creatures and objects in area take 1d4/level (max 10d4) sonic damage. If floor is stone, wood, ice, or like material, the floor is pulverized to a depth of 6 inches, resulting in a fragmented area which reduces speed of creatures moving over it to 1/2.

Last adventure, I used this spell to destroy the staircase that a group of 10 troglodytes were standing on... killing them all with sonic and fall damage. Later, my DM (magnificent bastard that he is) mentioned that he didn't think I could do that since I'm not targeting the "floor."

Could this spell be turned on its side to destroy some steps? Could it be used to destroy a ceiling or a wall? Could it be used on a flying creature so that he takes damage or would it have no effect since there's no floor? It mentions objects in the area take damage... would this destoy potions they were carrying as "shatter" might?

Thanks in advance!

 

[Henrix]

As the spell description does not specifically say that it targets all carried items, they do not take any damage. (Unless a 1 is rolled on the save, of course.) Compare the spell description of Shatter.

The spell does not target the floor, it is a 15' spread, and thus can be made to go off anywhere you want.

I think your DM is in the full right to determine whether a staircase shatters or not. The full spell description (in MoF) does not really say anything, so he must be allowed to judge as he wishes.

 

[drnuncheon]

Creatures and objects in area take 1d4/level (max 10d4) sonic damage. If floor is stone, wood, ice, or like material, the floor is pulverized to a depth of 6 inches, resulting in a fragmented area which reduces speed of creatures moving over it to 1/2.

Last adventure, I used this spell to destroy the staircase that a group of 10 troglodytes were standing on... killing them all with sonic and fall damage. Later, my DM (magnificent bastard that he is) mentioned that he didn't think I could do that since I'm not targeting the "floor."

Could this spell be turned on its side to destroy some steps?

I would have to say 'yes', from a logical perspective. Otherwise you wind up with some very strange results.

"Why can't I target the staircase?"
"Because it's not level."

Does that mean that if the floor has a 1 degree slope, you can't target it? How about a 5 degree slope? Is the spell useless in 99% of the places it could be cast? (How many perfectly flat areas do you know? Here in Pittsburgh, even the parking lots are on slopes...)

Better to allow it and avoid such goofiness.

Could it be used to destroy a ceiling or a wall?

I can see two arguments. One would extend the argument above to say it was OK. The other would say that such are not floors in the way that nonlevel floors and even staircases are - that is to say, surfaces that gravity allows you to walk on.

My inclination would be 'you can only cast it on the ground' - no walls, no ceilings (unless you cast it on the other side of the ceiling, naturally - if it were less than 6" thick there would definitely be a nice pit)

"The ground" is here defined as 'something a normal person can walk on unaided'.

Could it be used on a flying creature so that he takes damage or would it have no effect since there's no floor? It mentions objects in the area take damage... would this destoy potions they were carrying as "shatter" might?

I'd have to say 'no floor - no effect'. Also, I believe that the 'and objects' is usually used to refer to unattended objects - this is not a 'neutron bomb' effect that kills people but leaves the furniture standing.

J

 

[Henrix]

If you read the full spell description in MoF, you'll find:

"You create a loud, thrumming vibration that builds to a crescendo before fading. Creatures and objects in the area take 1d4 points of sonic damage per caster level (maximum 10d4), and can make a Will saving throw for half damage. If the floor of the area is made of stone, wood, ice, or material any softer than that, the floor is pulverized to a depth of 6 inches, resulting in an area of soft dust, wood fragments, or loose crushed ice, as appropriate. Any creature moving across this surface is reduced to half speed."

It is a medium range spell with an area of 15' radius spread. There is no "target" specified.

You do not need to cast it on a floor, any more than you need to cast Fireball on a floor.

If there's a floor in the area it is affected as above.

 

[Forrester]

Last adventure, I used this spell to destroy the staircase that a group of 10 troglodytes were standing on... killing them all with sonic and fall damage. Later, my DM (magnificent bastard that he is) mentioned that he didn't think I could do that since I'm not targeting the "floor."

Fall damage? Because 6 inches deep of stairs were pulverized?

Those are some REALLY clumsy trogs. Unless the stairs were only six inches thick . . . ??

 

[Artoomis]

Re: Re: Shatterfloor questions..

Fall damage? Because 6 inches deep of stairs were pulverized?

Those are some REALLY clumsy trogs. Unless the stairs were only six inches thick . . . ??

How many stairs are more than six inches think? Not many - unless they are carved into the earth.

 

[Crothian]

Re: Re: Re: Shatterfloor questions..

How many stairs are more than six inches think? Not many - unless they are carved into the earth.

My steps are much less then six inches thick.

I think that anything in the area is effected. You should have no trouble trying to get a wall or even a ceiling in that area.

 

[Henrix]

Isn't it getting a bit on the powerful side for a 3rd level spell?
Not to mention downright dangerous to use indoors?

 

[Magus_Jerel]

It's from the realms - go figure...

Magic of Faerun, and FRCS ... it has to be a tad bit broken...

 

[Tom Cashel]

Get a grip. It does less damage than a fireball or lightning bolt, and has the side effect of slowing movement within a 15' radius. As Henrix said, if there is a floor in the area then it is affected.

Not too powerful for third level. Certainly not "broken."

If you extrapolate a spell called "ShatterFLOOR" into a spell that can shatter walls, ceilings, objects, carried objects, golems, dice, armor, shields, and whatever else, then yes: it would be broken.

The only reason the (stone, tower) stairs collapsed in that instance is because they were in a 400-year old half-ruined gatehouse. I know this, because I was DMing!