What does Dimension Step (PHB2) do?

[RangerWickett]

Lets you and your friends teleport a short distance each round for several rounds, instead of a long distance once.

I'm trying to figure out a common set of circumstances where that'd be the preferable mode of transport, but I'm coming up blank.

Combat manueverability. I think it'd be a great spell for an archer eldritch knight, especially when facing opponents with limited ranged capacity. Keep out of range from even the fastest foes, and still be able to attack.

 

[MarkB]

Combat manueverability. I think it'd be a great spell for an archer eldritch knight, especially when facing opponents with limited ranged capacity. Keep out of range from even the fastest foes, and still be able to attack.

Given that it's a move action to teleport, and the teleport range is Close, it's not actually taking you a great deal further than a single move action. And you have to shoot then move each round, as the dimension door caveat that you cannot take any action thereafter until your next turn still applies.

One thing that's not clear is whether you choose all targets at casting time (and can thereafter move them even if not touching them), or if you have to remain in contact with the targets. The former interpretation would allow the caster to perform excellent battlefield control, tactically rearranging the party on a round-by-round basis, with no movement cost except to himself. However, I tend to think that the latter interpretation is correct.

 

[szilard]

Lets you and your friends teleport a short distance each round for several rounds, instead of a long distance once.

I'm trying to figure out a common set of circumstances where that'd be the preferable mode of transport, but I'm coming up blank.

Who controls it round-to-round? The caster? The individual targets?

-Stuart

 

[Vanye]

Who controls it round-to-round? The caster? The individual targets?

Sounds like the caster.

From the SCp64
This spell functions like dimension door except as noted above (touch, you and touched objects or other touched willing creatures; Duration 1rnd/2 levels), and that you can transfer the targets once per roud, up to a distance of 25ft + 5ft/2 levels, as a move action that does not provoke attacks of opportunity.


For a 5th level spell, color me less than impressed. Dimension step is, in general, a much better spell, for a lower level. The duration for this one is nice, but the limited distance travelled is not all that good; combine it with the dazed result from a dimensional door, and it frankly sucks. "I dim door you just far enough away....that the troll can still get to you next round and smack you while your'e dazed. Damnit.""

 

[MarkB]

For a 5th level spell, color me less than impressed. Dimension step is, in general, a much better spell, for a lower level. The duration for this one is nice, but the limited distance travelled is not all that good; combine it with the dazed result from a dimensional door, and it frankly sucks. "I dim door you just far enough away....that the troll can still get to you next round and smack you while your'e dazed. Damnit.""

Bear in mind that Dimension Door only leaves you unable to act until your next turn - it doesn't impose any penalties to AC or the like. And for characters other than the caster, their next turn might start at the next initiative count, so they'd be hardly affected at all.

 

[redhawk]

Combat manueverability. I think it'd be a great spell for an archer eldritch knight, especially when facing opponents with limited ranged capacity. Keep out of range from even the fastest foes, and still be able to attack.

Might I humbly suggest you sit down with a copy of X2 and watch Nightcrawler's attack on the White House?

That's the perfect example of this spell and what it does.

Redhawk

 

[RangerWickett]

Might I humbly suggest you sit down with a copy of X2 and watch Nightcrawler's attack on the White House?

That's the perfect example of this spell and what it does.

Redhawk

If there were a spell that was that good in D&D, it'd probably be 9th level. Nightcrawler can teleport several times per round in such a way that he catches his foes flat-footed. He can apparently teleport in the middle of a move action, or even in the middle of a full attack. He can teleport as an immediate action so that someone who's trying to shoot him misses.