Storm Pillar Wizard Power

[scottchiefbaker]

The wizard at-will storm pill has text that reads below:

Effect: You conjure a pillar of crackling energy in an unoccupied square within range. The pillar occupies 1 square and lasts until the end of your next turn. Each enemy that moves into a square adjacent to the pillar on its turn takes 1d6 + your Intelligence modifier lightning damage.
Level 21: 2d6 + Intelligence modifier lightning damage.

Does the pillar occupy that square in that an enemy (or ally) can't walk through the same square as the pillar?

If cast this on a square adjacent to an enemy will they take the damage when they start their turn? It reads like it only occurs when they MOVE next to it. What if they start their turn adjacent to it and then move away?

 

[mneme]

The pillar occupies a square -- that means that enemies and allies cannot walk through it (but allies can walk around it without taking damage).

Your second supposition is correct. Only when an enemy moves into a square next to the pillar do they take damage. Being forced adjacent to the square, starting their turn adjacent to it -- none of that causes damage.

The pillar is best when you've got some space you want to block -- or when a mostly ranged enemy meets a mostly melee party in a small corridor, and you can use it to force them to take damage (1d6+Int+damage bonuses -per square-) to close with you.

If you want to be able to damage enemies by moving them around and get automatic damage, rather than control, you need Cloud of Daggers (which is much worse for control than the Pillar, but much better for likely damage and forced movement tricks).

 

[Aulirophile]

Whoops! Browser Settings Incompatible

 

[Alex319]

Another trick is to put the Storm Pillar one square directly above an enemy. Then he cannot move at all without taking the damage.