Spell range and Fireball

[Piratecat]

You know, I'm still learning stuff.

For instance, when trying to place an extremely effective transmute rock to mud the other day, we ran across this definition of range in the rules:

A spell’s range is the maximum distance from you that the spell’s effect can occur, as well as the maximum distance at which you can designate the spell’s point of origin. If any portion of the spell’s area would extend beyond this range, that area is wasted.

I had always thought that the range was to the spell's originating point, but i'm clearly wrong. Am I correct in assuming that if you shot a fireball out to its maximum range, it would become a fire-half-a-ball, its flame only extending in a 180 degree sphere towards the caster? Wacky. That seems really odd, but I guess I can see the point.

This makes spells like fire storm a lot tougher to position; it has medium range, but takes up quite a bit of area (two 10' cubes per lvl.)

 

[Thanee]

You know, I'm still learning stuff.

With this game you can learn something new every day!

That seems really odd...

Indeed.

Bye
Thanee

 

[UltimaGabe]

Am I correct in assuming that if you shot a fireball out to its maximum range, it would become a fire-half-a-ball, its flame only extending in a 180 degree sphere towards the caster? Wacky. That seems really odd, but I guess I can see the point.

Wow... that's weird. I honestly didn't know that. In my experience, the way I (and, as it seems, you) have been doing it hasn't caused any problems, so I'm just gonna ignore that little clause, and suggest you do the same.

 

[Darkness]

Yeah, while I've known this rule for a long time now, I was surprised as well when I first saw it.

 

[shilsen]

I always knew about that rule, but I can count on the fingers of one pegleg the number of times it's come up in game.

 

[Hypersmurf]

Am I correct in assuming that if you shot a fireball out to its maximum range, it would become a fire-half-a-ball, its flame only extending in a 180 degree sphere towards the caster?

Absolutely.

Now read Darkness or Light, and try to apply the rule

-Hyp.

 

[Darkness]

Now read Darkness or Light, and try to apply the rule

I'll try.

*searches PHB*

Range: Touch

Oh.

 

[DreamChaser]

Absolutely.

Now read Darkness or Light, and try to apply the rule

-Hyp.

LMAO! I love you sometimes Hype!

This actually came up in a discussion of Blur and Mirror Image in a twisted way. The overlap between range, target, and area are always weird.

Of course, I imagine that since Darkness and Light have a Target rather than an area, it works. A spell's "Area" description cannot exceed its range but the effect on a target can (for example, a person doesn't stop being blinded. Also, a person with "bless" continues to gain the benefits even if the leave the orginal area.

DC

 

[Nightcloak]

Absolutely.

Now read Darkness or Light, and try to apply the rule

-Hyp.

Hypersmurf: 1 WotC: 0


You da man!

 

[Darkness]

Hypersmurf: 1 WotC: 0

Only 1? Ask him about balor farming some day. Among other things.