Wall of Stone with holes in it

[Pielorinho]

So it looks like I might be swapping out Wall of Thorns for Wall of Stone in my repertoire. My thinking was that I'd use it primarily to set up cover for me and my allies: ideally, I'd like to create a wall with arrow-slits in it.

However, if I read the spell correctly, creating a wall with holes in it halves the Area of Effect: instead of a 10th-level PC being able to create a 10' by 25' wall, he'd only be able to create a 5' by 25' wall, if the wall has holes in it.

Am I misreading things?

Also, when it talks about having the wall "merge with and be solidly supported by existing stone," does this mean it has to be connected to existing stone on several sides, or is it sufficient for it to connect to the floor?

The spell's description:

Wall of Stone
Conjuration (Creation)
Level: Clr 5, Drd 6, Earth 5, Sor/Wiz 5
Components: V, S, M/DF
Casting Time: 1 action
Range: Medium (100 ft. + 10 ft./level)
Effect: Stone wall whose area is up to one 5-ft. square/level (S)
Duration: Instantaneous
Saving Throw: See text
Spell Resistance: No
This spell creates a wall of rock that merges into adjoining rock surfaces. The wall of stone is 1 inch thick per four caster levels and composed of up to one 5-foot square per level. The character can double the wall’s area by halving its thickness. The wall cannot be conjured so that it occupies the same space as a creature or another object.
The character can create a wall of stone in almost any shape the character desires. The wall created need not be vertical, nor rest upon any firm foundation; however, it must merge with and be solidly supported by existing stone. It can be used to bridge a chasm, for instance, or as a ramp. For this use, if the span is more than 20 feet, the wall must be arched and buttressed. This requirement reduces the spell’s area by half. The wall can be crudely shaped to allow crenellations, battlements, and so forth by likewise reducing the area.
Each 5-foot square has 15 hit points per inch of thickness. Creatures can hit the wall automatically, but the wall is so hard that the first 8 points of damage from each blow are ignored. A section of wall whose hit points drop to 0 is breached. If a creature tries to break through the wall with a single attack, the DC for the Strength check is 20 + 2 per inch of thickness.
It is possible, but difficult, to trap mobile opponents within or under a wall of stone, provided the wall is shaped so it can hold the creatures. Creatures avoid entrapment with successful Reflex saves.

Daniel

 

[Shard O'Glase]

you seem to be reading it right to me, and I've always run it as only need one side to merge.

Heck I think it should be able to merge with any solid with a hardness value = to or less than itself, not just stone.