the 6th level spell that destroyed our party (Acid Fog)

[azmodean]

Most of the strangeness surrounding area spells goes away if you visualize a successful reflex save as projecting a anime-ish field around the character that blocks (most of) the spell, but I'm an anime freak so your mileage may vary.

Although I did like the spiderman-gargoyle fight during the cosmic spider-man story arc where the gargoyle kept burning the spiderman costume away and spiderman was complaining about it "giving him a headache" to keep synthesizing new costumes from the atmosphere

Go-go cosmic spidey powers!

-how about the power of flight? that do something for you?

 

[Ridley's Cohort]

Oh, it used to be glorious! I still remember the time when someone wearing a helm of brilliance failed a fireball saving throw and so did the helm, and as a result every remaining power of the helm went off at once.

Glorious I tell you!

I cannot argue with THAT!

 

[Ridley's Cohort]

Most of the strangeness surrounding area spells goes away if you visualize a successful reflex save as projecting a anime-ish field around the character that blocks (most of) the spell, but I'm an anime freak so your mileage may vary.

It is much simpler if you just assume that area of effects spell generally to not fill the entire area of effect, at least not at any instant in time. There are many, many bubbles and gap swirling within the burst of a Fireball. I would go so far as to say there are more holes in a Fireball than fire, though it swirls & mixes enough to very reliably hit inanimate objects.

For mechanical convenience we just assume every inanimate object gets hammered by the fire. The intrisic nature of magic allows unattended magic items to sometimes stave off the effects -- they get a save.

Now you just assume that every single creature that survived the Fireball mostly wiggled away from the worst of the heat. Those that died did not; they were either not quick enough (maybe they were too green to know how, maybe they were dog tired) or their luck ran out.

 

[KarinsDad]

Oh, gotcha. Yup, my mistake.

Wow!

I'm stunned!

 

[Aenghus]

I've nicknamed the magic item Necklace of magic missiles the Necklace of Explosive Decapitation ever since an unfortunate incident in a campaign oh, quite a long time ago now.

The nickname certainly makes new players less eager to take such an item if one shows up.

Aenghus

 

[Krafen]

It is much simpler if you just assume that area of effects spell generally to not fill the entire area of effect, at least not at any instant in time. There are many, many bubbles and gap swirling within the burst of a Fireball. I would go so far as to say there are more holes in a Fireball than fire, though it swirls & mixes enough to very reliably hit inanimate objects.

For mechanical convenience we just assume every inanimate object gets hammered by the fire. The intrisic nature of magic allows unattended magic items to sometimes stave off the effects -- they get a save.

Now you just assume that every single creature that survived the Fireball mostly wiggled away from the worst of the heat. Those that died did not; they were either not quick enough (maybe they were too green to know how, maybe they were dog tired) or their luck ran out.

Great idea.

 

[Hypersmurf]

Wow!

I'm stunned!

Hey, I'm always happy to admit my mistakes...

-Hyp.

 

[KarinsDad]

Hey, I'm always happy to admit my mistakes...

I wasn't stunned that you admitted your mistake. You've always seemed like a straight up guy to me.

I was stunned that you MADE a mistake.

 

[boolean]

Oh, it used to be glorious! I still remember the time when someone wearing a helm of brilliance failed a fireball saving throw and so did the helm, and as a result every remaining power of the helm went off at once.
Glorious I tell you!

Cheer up!

Helm of Brilliance: If a creature wearing the helm is damaged by magical fire (after the fire protection is taken into account) and fails an additional DC 15 Will save, the remaining gems on the helm overload and detonate. Remaining diamonds become prismatic sprays that each randomly target a creature within range (possibly the wearer), rubies become straight-line walls of fire extending outward in a random direction from the helm wearer, and fire opals become fireballs centered on the helm wearer. The opals and the helm itself are destroyed.

It can still happen! Even in the character makes the initial save, 31 points of fire damage (to get past the resistance 30 supplied by the helm) can make their 125,000 gp helmet explode, (probably) killing the owner, and any other nearby party members!