Widen Spell and Lines
- Thread starter Scharlata
- Start date
Hypersmurf
Moderatarrrrh...
As far as I can tell? Nothing.
The feat doubles numeric measurements of the spell's area. Line spells don't have numeric measurements of area. They affect 'squares the line passes through', and they extend 'to the limit of the spell's range'.
If we take Lightning Bolt as an example:
Range: 120 ft.
Area: 120-ft. line
Well, there is a numeric measurement of area listed here - 120-ft line. So a Widened Lightning Bolt has a Range of 120 ft., and an Area of 240-ft. line.
And, of course:
A spell’s range is the maximum distance from you that the spell’s effect can occur, as well as the maximum distance at which you can designate the spell’s point of origin. If any portion of the spell’s area would extend beyond this range, that area is wasted.
So, a Lightning Bolt creates a 120 ft line. A Widened Lightning Bolt creates a 240 ft line, but 120 ft of that area (which would extend beyond the range of the spell) is wasted.
And, of course, the feat that increases range (Enlarge Spell) doesn't work on Lightning Bolt, since the range is not Close, Medium, or Long.
-Hyp.
The feat doubles numeric measurements of the spell's area. Line spells don't have numeric measurements of area. They affect 'squares the line passes through', and they extend 'to the limit of the spell's range'.
If we take Lightning Bolt as an example:
Range: 120 ft.
Area: 120-ft. line
Well, there is a numeric measurement of area listed here - 120-ft line. So a Widened Lightning Bolt has a Range of 120 ft., and an Area of 240-ft. line.
And, of course:
A spell’s range is the maximum distance from you that the spell’s effect can occur, as well as the maximum distance at which you can designate the spell’s point of origin. If any portion of the spell’s area would extend beyond this range, that area is wasted.
So, a Lightning Bolt creates a 120 ft line. A Widened Lightning Bolt creates a 240 ft line, but 120 ft of that area (which would extend beyond the range of the spell) is wasted.
And, of course, the feat that increases range (Enlarge Spell) doesn't work on Lightning Bolt, since the range is not Close, Medium, or Long.
-Hyp.
Li Shenron
Legend
The purpose of Widen Spell is to basically quadruple the area, by doubling each size (if rectangular) or the radius (if spherical).
Therefore, I'd let it quadruple the area of the line, by doubling both the width and the range.
I think it would make sense and be balanced. It actually has the same area increase as using Enlarge Spell three times - when it was possible to use the same MM more than once - which costed the same +3 to slot level.
But, in this case I care more for the spirit than the letter, if you want to follow the second ignore my suggestion.
Therefore, I'd let it quadruple the area of the line, by doubling both the width and the range.
I think it would make sense and be balanced. It actually has the same area increase as using Enlarge Spell three times - when it was possible to use the same MM more than once - which costed the same +3 to slot level.
But, in this case I care more for the spirit than the letter, if you want to follow the second ignore my suggestion.
Plane Sailing
Astral Admin - Mwahahaha!
Yet another reason why the introduction of the 'line' in 3.5 confused me no end. The old 5ft wide or 10ft wide strokes of lightning made much more sense to me. More nicely balanced with fireball too, and I'd *never* heard any complaints about adjudicating lightning bolts prior to 3.5. Not ever!
ranting over, I agree with Hyp. By default widen shouldn't have any effect on a line (although I can understand completely why a DM may choose to rule otherwise).
Cheers
ranting over, I agree with Hyp. By default widen shouldn't have any effect on a line (although I can understand completely why a DM may choose to rule otherwise).
Cheers
Hypersmurf
Moderatarrrrh...
Scharlata said:
Well, the way I read it:
You cannot cast Widened Magic Missile. The spell is not one to which the feat can be applied.
You can cast Widened Lightning Bolt. The feat can be applied... it just doesn't have a practical effect on how the spell behaves.
-Hyp.
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