Shunting

[Imre]

I'm running an epic evil campaign. My party elected to use their arcane caster as a scout. Using ethereal jaunt, he began exploring the underground cavern of a brass dragon. He happened into a room where he was detected by opposing caster(s).

The PC was moving along upside-down with just his head emerging from the ceiling. One Forcecage (solid type) and Mord. Disjuntion later, the question is what does 'shunting' mean?

There are two ways it can reasonably go. First, you actually physically transverse the path from where you are to the 'nearest open space', partially manifesting in each square as you go which gives rise to the d6 damage/5'. In this case, I would think the PC dies as a result of having no where to go and manifesting in the ceiling. Or second, you don't actually transverse the path, you simply appear in the nearest open space and take damage from some unknown law of the multiverse. In this case, the PC would pop up on the other side of the forcecage and simply take d6 damage (plus subsequent falling damage, of course).

Opinions welcome, rules citations prefered.

 

[Lorgrom]

Wouldn't the disjuction destroy the forcecage?

 

[werk]

"If you end the spell and become material while inside a material object (such as a solid wall), you are shunted off to the nearest open space and take 1d6 points of damage per 5 feet that you so travel."

Seems pretty clear to me. In your example, since he is adjacent to an open space he'd be shunted 5' for 1d6.

EDIT: I don't understand the OP's reference to forcecage or it's relationship or relevance to the question of shunting.

 

[Imre]

The relevance is to the basic question of whether or not you need to be able to physically transverse the path between yourself and the "nearest open space".

 

[werk]

The relevance is to the basic question of whether or not you need to be able to physically transverse the path between yourself and the "nearest open space".

If there is an obstacle, then it's not an open space, or at least not the nearest open space. Calculate the distance shunted to the nearest legal open space.

 

[Imre]

Maybe I'm not being clear.

You occupy a square. The nearest open space is the adjacent square. There is a wall of force between you and the adjacent square. This, of course, further assumes that force walls have infinitesimal thickness and occupy the line separating two 5' squares. Does the shunting ignore the force wall?

 

[nute]

Okay, imagine this set of 5x5 squares

1234
5678
90ab
cdef

Forcecage covers 6-7-0-a. 1234 are solid rock. Anywhere that scout is, he can still shunt 5' to open space (5 or 8).

Thus, the presence of the forcecage is irrelevant.

 

[werk]

There is a wall of force between you and the adjacent square. This, of course, further assumes that force walls have infinitesimal thickness and occupy the line separating two 5' squares.

I don't think the forcecage can be inside of the wall, surrounding the creature.

"You must have a clear line of effect to any target that you cast a spell on or to any space in which you wish to create an effect. "

Since the wall blocks line of sight and line of effect, you could only create the cage wholly outside of the wall unless the forcecage caster were ethereal as well...I think.

Does the shunting ignore the force wall?

No, how could it?

 

[nute]

Also - the forcecage acts just like solid matter except that it blocks ethereal creatures.

However, if the ethereal jaunt is dispelled by Morty's Disjunction, then the scout is no longer ethereal. He becomes solid INSIDE THE WALL and is yanked into an open space, hence why he takes the damage. If he is being yanked through solid rock, why wouldn't he be yanked through the force cage as well?

 

[szilard]

How about he gets shunted upwards?

-Stuart