Empirate
First Post
We are, of course, free to disagree with each other on topics like this. That's kind of why they end up here to be discussed, after all.
I'm curious, though, why you don't think the bead from the Fireball doesn't need a line of effect between caster and target area? As far as I know, the bead flies in a straight line from the caster's hand (i.e. corner of their square, for precise range measurements) to the target. What could break "Line of Effect" that the bead could pass through?
And if you don't mind my asking, why don't you think that Solid Fog is "solid"? It will slow or stop a falling person, and impedes melee attacks (-2 to hit, -2 damage).
Wasn't it you yourself who called it "Summon Jello IV"? The solid fog slows a person, but won't stop it. In fact, there is no evidence in the spell description that the movement of anything is actually stopped in a solid fog. It just slows stuff down, and doesn't interact with magical missiles (rays and other; I'd imagine an Acid Arrow would likewise pass right through).
As for the Fireball line of sight/effect thing: The spell description states you just decide on a distance and height where the fireball will detonate, so I read this as not needing LoS. Line of effect has in fact an error on my part, as I see upon rethinking the whole thing. I would alter my earlier statement and say that the fireball bead does need line of effect (but not LoS); however, Solid Fog doesn't block line of effect for magical stuff.
"Mass" would be a term of convenience, implying that the bead acts like a physical object.
And it does act as a physical object- a very fragile one like a glass bead or a vial of alchemist's fire: by the spell's own description, it detonates in contact with even the slightest contact with the walls of an arrow slit or narrow passage.
(You're right about the light thing, though- my bad.)
The spell's name, "Solid" Fog implies how it works- it is a physical barrier. It slows ANY creature to a movement of 5/round, regardless of its initial speed. That's akin to a terminal velocity fall into a body of water. Hit the surface, and the surface hits back, hard.
(Had I designed the spell, I probably would have added that it did damage based on your movement over a certain amount on entering the fog- the faster the velocity, the more the damage.)
Your comparison of solid fog and water is interesting. In fact, the attack/damage penalties within a solid fog spell are suspiciously similar to those incurred for fighting underwater, as is the falling damage reduction. The movement penalties are even harsher than those for moving underwater.
However, a Solid Fog can be breathed by air-breathing creatures. So it doesn't exist in a different aggregate state from normal air. Therefore, it doesn't act as a physical "barrier", which can only mean a phase interface if we're talking physics.
As far as real-world comparisons are concerned, I'm not convinced by the water comparison and wouldn't call Solid Fog "solid", despite the name (for other unfittingly named spells, consider "Doom", which produces minor penalties instead of doom, or "Darkness", which can be used to make the surroundings brighter). Since the fireball's bead doesn't encounter a phase interface, I'd say it travels on unhindered.
If we're talking pure rules, I'm still unmoved. Since the Solid Fog spell description states that magical missiles like rays aren't stopped, I'd say the fireball bead would behave likewise and still travels on unhindered.