Fire Storm and (S)

[kevin video]

What is the (S) in Fire Storm when it reads "Two 10-ft. cubes per level (S)"

[Garryl]

It's a shapeable area.

(S) Shapeable

If an Area or Effect entry ends with "(S)," you can shape the spell. A shaped effect or area can have no dimension smaller than 10 feet. Many effects or areas are given as cubes to make it easy to model irregular shapes. Three-dimensional volumes are most often needed to define aerial or underwater effects and areas.

[Kethrian]

Note that nowhere does it state that the cubes must be adjacent to each other...

Also, Explosive Cascade should not have the (S) on it, as that spell is measured in 5' squares, and would necessarily violate the 10' minimum every time the caster's level is odd.  That, or remove the 10' minimum from (S), because it's blatantly stupid...

[kevin video]

Last night, since we didn't know any of this (other than Shapeable), we just rules that they had to be attached and the caster made a huge snake pattern that engulfed all of the enemies (17th level caster).

[Kethrian]

I believe that's how shapeable worked in 3.0e, but they removed the adjacent part when they converted to 3.5e.  Still, 34 10' squares should be plenty of area, even attached, to hit everything he wanted....

[kevin video]

I believe that's how shapeable worked in 3.0e, but they removed the adjacent part when they converted to 3.5e.  Still, 34 10' squares should be plenty of area, even attached, to hit everything he wanted....

Oh yeah. It's his new fav spell apparently. I get to experience for the rest of the game. He just has to worry about getting past SR. He's currently +21.

[Kethrian]

Well, don't forget the spell has a 1 round casting time, not a standard action.  That will be very exploitable.

[ariasderros]

Issues I have with Fire Storm:
(A) Its casting time.
(B) The fact that it deals the damage type that is most commonly resisted or immune to. Needing Energy Substitution or similar to work well.
(C) Its casting time.
(D) Its casting time.

Seriously. I hate dealing with 1 round casting time. Full-round action now, then it takes effect at the start of your next round. All that time to disrupt your casting.

Rapid spell that and it is awesome. Otherwise, as great as it is, there are better ways of doling out the damage.

ninja'd in a way by Keth

[kevin video]

Well, don't forget the spell has a 1 round casting time, not a standard action.  That will be very exploitable.

Oh that's not a problem. Now that everyone knows about the spell, he's being protected and staying fairly far away from all the enemies.