Should you be able to dodge a fireball by readying an action?

[RangerWickett]

This came up in a game this weekend. I was on horseback, and was being chased by a flying spellcaster. I was low on hitpoints and just wanted to make sure I could dodge the fireballs he was hurling from his wand. I told the GM I was going to spend my full action, or ready, or whatever was necessary to be able to get the horse to react to an incoming attack and move to avoid it.

My thought was, the mage would use his wand or cast some sort of spell, and I'd see where he's aiming, and then turn the horse to move some place else. The fireball would explode behind me, and I'd get that nice cinematic "fleeing while weapons hit all around you" scene as I made for cover.

The GM said I could ready an action to move when the mage attacked, and that sounded like a yes to me, so I did it. Then on the mage's turn, he shot a fireball, and I said, "Okay, where he aiming?"

The GM shook his head and said that my readied action was in response to him using the wand, and that there was no chance to respond to the actual fireball targeting. After a bit of arguing, the GM agreed to rewind time, saying that my character would have known that fireballs apparently travel at the speed of light or something and cannot be dodged. So I drank a potion instead, and ended up at 4 hit points after the fireball.



So, in your game, would it be possible to react to where a fireball is headed and move out of the way? Maybe still require a reflex save, but give the person evasion for the round?

 

[el-remmen]

I would say you would not be able to tell exactly where he was aiming, but it is a pretty safe bet it is at you.

I would let the PC ready his action to move. Decide where the wizard was aiming, let the readied action to move off and then announce where the fireball explodes based on my previous decision. If the PC is still in the area of effect then he saves as normal.

 

[Kahuna Burger]

IMO, it should definitely be possible. You tried to use a not very useful mechanic in a way that was both tactical and cinematic. Good show.

 

[XCorvis]

Should this be in rules, or perhaps house rules?

RAW, I don't think it's OK. It doesn't work for an arrow either. However, I'd happily allow a bonus to the reflex save for someone who wants to ready an action to get out of the way.

 

[pawsplay]

You do get to move, and you can interrupt a specific action. You cannot, however, interrupt a discrete event. For instance, you cannot take a move after an opponent hits but before he does damage. If you do this move, you would somewhere that seemed reasonably safe to you. Then, on the caster's turn, he can still set his parameters... if you only have a corner granting corner, he may be able to corner you still. You cannot, however, wait for the bead of energy to stop, then suddenly move thirty feet before it explodes.

 

[RangerWickett]

Well, here are the events in my mind:

1. Wizard aims and fires
2. Fireball travels from wizard to target
3. Fireball reaches its target and explodes

I wanted to move after 1, before 3, since I figure it takes at least some amount of time for the fireball bead to travel, and that once the spell has been cast, it will travel to the target area chosen at step 1. The GM said that once the fireball is cast, there is no time to move. It goes from 1 to 3, with no 2 in the middle. Apparently the fireball can travel 400 ft. or more faster than a horse can move 40 ft.

 

[Vegepygmy]

I would let the PC ready his action to move. Decide where the wizard was aiming, let the readied action to move off and then announce where the fireball explodes based on my previous decision. If the PC is still in the area of effect then he saves as normal.

I agree with el-remmen.

 

[FalcWP]

I'd probably allow it, but I wouldn't make it an automatic 'Ok, I move over here when he fires, I'm safe now'. I'd probably look at one of these options:

• The caster makes some sort of a check (I'm thinking maybe Reflex, Intelligence, or Wisdom) to re-aim the spell, and possibly still hit you.
• You make a Bluff check, opposed by the caster's Sense Motive, as you juke left before fleeing right, throwing off his aim.
• You have to make a Sense Motive check (don't know what I'd have oppose this, flat DC or opposed check, etc) - if you succeed, you know the general location being targeted, and can head somewhere else.

Instead of flat-out avoiding the spell, I might instead let you temporarily gain the benefit of Evasion, and possibly give you a bonus on your Reflex save - you're anticipating the spell and are ready to leap/run/tumble out of the way, as opposed to merely trying to limit the damage while being hit by the spell.

 

[Nifft]

I'd probably give you a Spellcraft check to see if you could tell where he's aiming it. Otherwise, you'd know he used his wand, and you'd get your move -- then things would play out like el-remmen says.

Cheers, -- N

 

[RangerWickett]

I would say you would not be able to tell exactly where he was aiming, but it is a pretty safe bet it is at you.

I would let the PC ready his action to move. Decide where the wizard was aiming, let the readied action to move off and then announce where the fireball explodes based on my previous decision. If the PC is still in the area of effect then he saves as normal.

I like this suggestion.