Into the Barrier Peaks

Interesting geometry ponder: A fireball has a radius of 20', so if it can expand fully in each direction it will have a total volume of ~948 cubic meters. But what if the fireball is constrained in some way? Say, for example, by a corridor that is 10' wide by 15' high? In order to fill the same volume, the third side of the space would need to be about 223 feet in length.

So, if we were trying to use that logic, a fireball could be cast at the far end of the hall to the north, and it would come screaming toward you, only to flare out at the 4-way intersection and blast anything down that hallway as well. Possibly it could come south and catch the rest of you, and for game purposes party members would get advantage on their dex save, but it would still be pretty cool to watch... lucky for us, Bram has good control of his spell effects. :D

Since the 6 of us fill the south corridor and half of the intersection it would extend to the end of the eastern corridor as well as the end of the western corridor and, most probably the north corridor. The bubble of protection covering Bram and his colleagues can be and was shaped to cover the lower half of the intersection to the ceiling as well as the entire corridor to the south to the ceiling. If there is any additional spread it could only double back on itself and only intensify the flames rather than cancel themselves out.

Unfortunately, it will only protect 4 other people. That's the way I read the rule. One other person plus the spell's level. The rule, as I read it, saves the caster in addition to the other 4 specified. One of the last people in line would not be protected. The rule also states that save is an automatic success and those members who would ordinarily suffer half damage if they save against fire, would suffer no damage. So, depending on how Sean rules, either Etna or Merriweather may not be protected.

Based on my updated image, I am ruling that Caedwyn, Ilwyn and Hraefn will need to roll dexterity saving throws to avoid the fireball effects.

Rolling for Ilwyn

Creature Saving Throws

Caedwyn and Ilwyn both suffer 12 HP of burn damage. I will wait until tomorrow to see if Ilwyn can post, if not, I'll roll her attacks. Etna, you and Hraefn and also post if you would like, just be aware that Ilwyn will come first, and the thorny attacks come before Hraefn.

I would also like to remind everyone to track your HP and spell usage if you have not already. I am tracking everything via DnD Beyond, but I don't want you to lose track of your PC.

Etna, the thorny you had Hunter's Marked is dead, so you can move the mark if you wish as well.

IIRC Ilwyn's sword confers resistance to fire. Also, as Bedzone said, Ilwyn's gives everyone in 10ft(?) +3(?) to saves, although I'm not sure it would save either of you.

Oh and as for hunter's mark, the moving the target is a bonus action on my turn, so for the moment nothing is marked.

I don't know what to say. I spent quite a bit of time pouring over the rules and setting up the entire fireball thing and then having the GM totally ignore everything is completely beyond my understanding. Caedwyn, Ilwyn and Hraefn should not have suffered any damage and should not have even had to roll a save since. by the rules, it would be automatic. And that says nothing about the shape of the fireball which should have followed the contours of the corridors not just a big circle. This is totally unacceptable to me and I don't think I can continue this game if this is the way it's going to be played.

Yo, chill. Mistakes can be made and fixed.

Table talk still alive and well Aldrusian, let's talk out the Fireball step by step.

I didn't think I was ignoring anything. I forgot that Ilwyn was resistant to fire, but i did take into account that everyone got a +3 added to their saving throws. With regard to the sculpt spell feat, yes, i did misinterpret it. I knew it said saves were automatic, but I thought that was in regard to an all-or-nothing attack. Since the save was for half-damage,I thought those involved had to make a save and if they made it they would then take no-damage. I'll 'take the heat' on that one.

With regard to the spell area, if you want to get specific, everyone in the party would be engulfed by flames. It is a 20 RADIUS, meaning a full 40' across. The spot you chose to to center your fireball was 14 feet away. I elected to stop the the flames right about Bram, when in fact it would have blown past all of you both north and south.

As long as we have gamed, and as many games we've been in together, never have I blatantly ignored a character of yours, and I did not ignore you this time, either. This is why you guys are the players. You know your skills and abilities better than I do, so if I make a mistake, call me on it. I have no issue recanting on the damage.... As already stated, relax... we are in a game... shit happens... no more OOC in this thread. If you want to continue the discussion, we will move to the GENERAL thread.

Assume that any damage taken by the party is negated... but the flames were still friggan hot.... clothing, flamable material, etc... ignited

Produce Flame on Thorny 3. Edited for crit damage

We will just double crit damage, so no edit/roll required. Assume you do 24 damage instead of 20.