The fireball spell through the editions

[Plane Sailing]

One of the hot topics of discussion in OD&D days (in the APA's) was whether fireball damage should be applied equally to all targets or divided between the targets equally. Not many people agreed with the divided between targets since it would make large swarms of rats almost immune (and might have led to the 'original bag of rats' silliness!)

I only mention it because it is probably why the 1e text expressly says "If creatures fail their saving throws, they all take full hit point damage from the blast."

Cheers

 

[Obryn]

I missed the earlier parts of this thread. IIRC the OD&D/AD&D conversions for feet to yards was strictly regarding range considerations and did not in fact increase the area of effect.

I almost replied about this last night, but then I noticed the 2006 date.

From recently reading the 1e rules, this is correct. Your fireball does not get bigger if you're outdoors.

It is one of those areas where 1e is confusing and self-contradictory. Still wonderful, but undeniably confusing and self-contradictory.

-O

 

[diaglo]

I remember d4 for monks, but didn't remember d4 for thieves. Ah well, I'm not too ashamed of misremembering a detail that I've not looked at for about 30 years!

but i think that was one of the few errors in the rules as written which was carried into 1edADnD without correction.

the monk was supposed to be a cleric class... d6
and the assassin a thief class... d4

they are listed in the same supplement on the same page swapped. monk d4, assassin d6.

i use the corrected form.

 

[Nikosandros]

It is one of those areas where 1e is confusing and self-contradictory. Still wonderful, but undeniably confusing and self-contradictory.

Actually, I think that the rule about range and area of effect is crystal clear. One might not like it very much, but it is clear.

It's a very gamist rule. In gives spells and missile weapons a decent range outdoors, while avoiding a practically infinite range indoors.

 

[Nikosandros]

but i think that was one of the few errors in the rules as written which was carried into 1edADnD without correction.

the monk was supposed to be a cleric class... d6
and the assassin a thief class... d4

they are listed in the same supplement on the same page swapped. monk d4, assassin d6.

i use the corrected form.

I'm glad for the d6 for thieves. In AD&D thieves are already extremely weak and with d4 they would be IMHO awful.

 

[diaglo]

I'm glad for the d6 for thieves. In AD&D thieves are already extremely weak and with d4 they would be IMHO awful.

oh, i didn't mean that. they adjusted hps for 1edADnD.
fighters d10
clerics d8
and thieves d6

i just meant they keep the poor monk in the wrong group... and stuck with d4... no wonder they didn't get much action. besides being very hard to qualify for the prereqs.

 

[Obryn]

Actually, I think that the rule about range and area of effect is crystal clear. One might not like it very much, but it is clear.

It's a very gamist rule. In gives spells and missile weapons a decent range outdoors, while avoiding a practically infinite range indoors.

I was talking specifically about how range scales and AoE does not, and yet both use the same unit of measurement in the game. I think it's fine that bows can go further outdoors; you can arc your shots a lot better, after all!

-O

 

[ExploderWizard]

I was talking specifically about how range scales and AoE does not, and yet both use the same unit of measurement in the game. I think it's fine that bows can go further outdoors; you can arc your shots a lot better, after all!

-O

Yes indeed. Fireballs too. Mortar fire FTW

 

[S'mon]

In 1e, after I wiped out a high level PC's entire army of 150 or so men at arms with a fireball cast by a drow Wizard in a confined tunnel, I decided fireball was a bit overpowered.

 

[TerraDave]

...
I must confess that in most AD&D games that I ran (including my very long campaign), I used a "non-expanding" fireball, 3e-style. Did anyone else ever do the same in AD&D?

Most AD&D campaigns I know of did.