Area of Effect spells with continuing damage 2 ?

[Banjo666]

OK, we have, for example Blizzard Sphere and Suffocation, spells that have an Area of Effect and a Duration of longer than 1 turn.

What happens if you are NOT it the Area of Effect of the spell when it is cast but, on a later turn, move into the Area of Effect ??
With Blizzard Sphere I would say yes, you are affected, because it creates an area of freezing snow and ice, so a nice "area denial" spell.
With Suffocation I would lean towards no, as you were not initially exposed to the Illusion.
Am I correct ??

[Kremlin KOA]

What happens? "OW!!!"

Basically your interpretation is the one I would use. AOE zones versus AOE DoT makers.

[meerkat]

Got to say I have a different view after reading Arma's comments in "segments of effect of area attack spells"

Both Blizard and Suffocation mention targets, which must be chosen when the spell is cast. So Suffocation to me is you cast the spell chosing what targets are appropriate within the AOE at the time (and ignoring who you want) and they will continue to take damage until they flee out of the 48 yard range (as stated in the spell). Any new people entering the area weren't targeted when the spell was cast so no effect

Similarly Blizzard mentions targets, so these are chosen when the spell is cast and you can ignore allies (as Arma mentioned in the other thread). However here it states "remains stationary" and "damage is inflicted on any targets within the area of effect" so the target can stroll out in 1 rnd and not be affected next round and any new arrivals weren't targeted when the spell was cast so shouldn't be affected.

"For example Blizzard Sphere mimics a natural blizzard, but it is still targeted, and still a magical thing and not a real blizzard. You choose who is affected, and you could well choose that your buddies remain unaffected. That means that while they are standing within a blizzard that freezes opponents, they don't suffer from it."

However he did make a comment about targetting areas which complicates things but can't see how you can affect late arrivers that weren't there when the spell was cast.

As to its affects I think that makes Blazzard Area Denial only to targets that were there when cast...so I see a few possible scenarios.
1. casting it through the open window of a guard tower - useless unless you could see the guards and even then they would just leave after 1 rnd
2. Targetting a horror that is be bone danced and is surrounded by friendlies - very useful as it can't leave and you're not hurting allies
3. Area denial - not good as new arrivals are unaffected. However if surrounded by enemy will keep them at bay allowing ranged attacks or they take damage if they close..

Anyway just another intepretation..

Regards
Hiram
4.

[Banjo666]

I am now of the opinion that if you are not in the initial area of effect you are not affected by the spell at all. As it is really all about the spellcasters targets when the spell is cast.

[arma]

It's simply that AoE can be used in different ways.
You can have a spell that basically is "choose targets in the area", this usually goes against TSD (or, Defense of characters there).
Then you can have spells affecting the actual area, this is often against a fixed DN (or the Defense of the area), and then something happens when someone enters or leaves, often an Effect Test.

Blizzard Sphere has 2 AoE criteria:
1) cast on people in AoE, targets
2) then, damage to targets if they're still in the AoE
So, leaving prevents damage, entering doesn't make you a target

Another example, Bone Circle, has just one criterion:
1) The AoE limits the size of the circle
So you can go smaller even. And you don't pick targets. The other effects are then based on the actual circle drawn.

Yet another example, Life Circle of One:
1) This creates an AoE-circle, and only once something tries to enter, you see if there's a warding effect.


So: AoE isn't always the same, just as other stats and characteristics can be used in different ways for spells.
In previous editions, there was no AoE, things would be described in the spell description and vary wildly in use of measurement, and there would be confusion with Range. We simply pulled this out of the descriptions and unified things, and refer to the AoE with a placeholder in the description.
You always need to look at what the description says, the AoE line itself doesn't tell you anything, and it doesn't do anything on its own.