Need clarification - Cube of Force
us00...@interramp.com
I need to know how other DMs handle the Cube of Force. One of
my players had a drastically different interpretation of it than I did. I
ruled, as DMs often do, that my interpretation takes precedence, but
I wanted to check with this group just to see how others interpret this
Item.
The dispute came because the wording says the cube keeps out
this or that, and also gives a list of spells which either into or out of
the cube.
The player feels that keeps out means keeps out, but not keeps in.
His intent is to activate it around certain party members keeping "out"
all things, but allowing them to cast spells and shoot arrows from
within the cube (as long as they are not spells in the specified list).
This would be the ultimate munchkin item. It takes 6 charges to use
in this manner, but it lasts 10 rounds, and it has 36 charges each day,
so it could be used in this manner 6 times a day.
My interpretation is that when used it creates a cubic wall of force
impervious to the attack form, but working both ways. If magic
can't come in, then magic can't go out.
Why then do they list certain spells, and specifically say these cannot
be cast either into or out of the cube? Since they also have catapult like
missiles on the list I believe that they are just trying to express the fact
that if the cube sustain exceptionally hard hits, it has to use up more
charges to stay in affect. I don't think there is anything otherwise special
about the spells in this group, and as similar spells are brought in from
new source material, I feel that other big damage spells would likewise be
able to cost extra charges from the cube.
Please give me your opinions, I felt this was very reasonable, and although
the player didn't like it, he did accept it. He likes to jockey with the wording,
but he realizes that once I have made a ruling it stands.
Mike Williams
Rob Hall
I just reread the entry in the DMG (contrary to most people, I *do* HTMWM.
:)) I agree completely with your interpritation. It doesn't say selectivly
permiable membrane; it says wall of force and lists specific things that are
blocked for the different settings.
>Why then do they list certain spells, and specifically say these
>cannot be cast either into or out of the cube?
Possibly because they wanted to say it didn't matter which direction the
spell was going, or what setting the cube is on, it *still* cost extra to
block it. i.e. Even if the holder of the cube has it on setting one, and is
the caster of a fireball, it would hit the cube, and require the 3 charges to
keep it active, even if it doesn't actually *block* the fireball. (It would
need to be on setting 4 to do that.)
lu...@imgavx.bo.cnr.it
In article <us001506.3...@interramp.com>, us00...@interramp.com writes:
|>
|>
|> I need to know how other DMs handle the Cube of Force. One of
|>my players had a drastically different interpretation of it than I did. I
|>ruled, as DMs often do, that my interpretation takes precedence, but
|>I wanted to check with this group just to see how others interpret this
|>Item.
|>
|> The dispute came because the wording says the cube keeps out
|>this or that, and also gives a list of spells which either into or out of
|>the cube.
|>
|>The player feels that keeps out means keeps out, but not keeps in.
|>His intent is to activate it around certain party members keeping "out"
|>all things, but allowing them to cast spells and shoot arrows from
|>within the cube (as long as they are not spells in the specified list).
|>
|>This would be the ultimate munchkin item. It takes 6 charges to use
|>in this manner, but it lasts 10 rounds, and it has 36 charges each day,
|>so it could be used in this manner 6 times a day.
|>
|>My interpretation is that when used it creates a cubic wall of force
|>impervious to the attack form, but working both ways. If magic
|>can't come in, then magic can't go out.
|>
|>missiles on the list I believe that they are just trying to express the fact
|>that if the cube sustain exceptionally hard hits, it has to use up more
|>charges to stay in affect. I don't think there is anything otherwise special
|>about the spells in this group, and as similar spells are brought in from
|>new source material, I feel that other big damage spells would likewise be
|>able to cost extra charges from the cube.
|>
|>Please give me your opinions, I felt this was very reasonable, and although
|>the player didn't like it, he did accept it. He likes to jockey with the wording,
|>but he realizes that once I have made a ruling it stands.
|>
|>Mike Williams
|>
|>
|>
|>
Hi,
I'm a DM and I had the same problem with my players:
I agree with you and I got your's interpretation !
Is much more reasonable.
Bye,
Fabrizio
Dave Fedoruk
> Mike Williams
-This was actually answered in a sage advive about a hundred issues
ago,their ruling(such as it is)was the same as yours.Can't go in,can't
go out.They also offered suggestions on dealing with problems with
cubes,one of which I use so much,that my players stop using them even
when I let them have one.-Pile stuff ontop of
it,-earth,garbage,multi-ton rocks,black pudding,etc.-It works
exceptionally well.>
YOUR FULL NAME
As far as taking the actual meaning of the sentance in the manual, the
player is correct- BUT I'm sure your reasoning is the same as what it was
intended to mean. As far as I'm concerned, if i'm in a bastard mood i'd
use your reasoning
otherwise i'd take the player's perspective - I don't care i'm an
inconsistent DM, but that's cause I don't play D&D too much these days.
Make up your own games with their own rules. (Of course, you have your
fair share of problems doing that too.)
Dirk Holstege
>
>
> I need to know how other DMs handle the Cube of Force. One of
>my players had a drastically different interpretation of it than I did. I
>ruled, as DMs often do, that my interpretation takes precedence, but
>I wanted to check with this group just to see how others interpret this
>Item.
>
> The dispute came because the wording says the cube keeps out
>this or that, and also gives a list of spells which either into or out of
>the cube.
>
>The player feels that keeps out means keeps out, but not keeps in.
>His intent is to activate it around certain party members keeping "out"
>all things, but allowing them to cast spells and shoot arrows from
>within the cube (as long as they are not spells in the specified list).
You would think a cube of force operates as a wall of force in principle, so it
acts as a barrier in both directions. Tell your rules lawyer he's out of luck.
>
>This would be the ultimate munchkin item. It takes 6 charges to use
>in this manner, but it lasts 10 rounds, and it has 36 charges each day,
>so it could be used in this manner 6 times a day.
>
>My interpretation is that when used it creates a cubic wall of force
>impervious to the attack form, but working both ways. If magic
>can't come in, then magic can't go out.
>
>Why then do they list certain spells, and specifically say these cannot
>be cast either into or out of the cube? Since they also have catapult like
>missiles on the list I believe that they are just trying to express the fact
>that if the cube sustain exceptionally hard hits, it has to use up more
>charges to stay in affect. I don't think there is anything otherwise special
>about the spells in this group, and as similar spells are brought in from
>new source material, I feel that other big damage spells would likewise be
>able to cost extra charges from the cube.
>
Its exactly like you said, IMO.
Dirk
week...@tigger.stcloud.msus.edu
>us00...@interramp.com wrote:
>>
>>
>> I need to know how other DMs handle the Cube of Force. One of
>>my players had a drastically different interpretation of it than I did. I
>>ruled, as DMs often do, that my interpretation takes precedence, but
>>I wanted to check with this group just to see how others interpret this
>>Item.
>>
>> The dispute came because the wording says the cube keeps out
>>this or that, and also gives a list of spells which either into or out of
>>the cube.
>>
>>The player feels that keeps out means keeps out, but not keeps in.
>>His intent is to activate it around certain party members keeping "out"
>>all things, but allowing them to cast spells and shoot arrows from
>>within the cube (as long as they are not spells in the specified list).
>>
>>in this manner, but it lasts 10 rounds, and it has 36 charges each day,
>>so it could be used in this manner 6 times a day.
>>
>>My interpretation is that when used it creates a cubic wall of force
>>impervious to the attack form, but working both ways. If magic
>>can't come in, then magic can't go out.
>>
expands from the user outward, so if the player wanted to have his friends
inside it, he would have to use one of the options that would allow
_everything_ that all of the players are carrying (ie. no keep out living,
non-living, or (if they have magic items) magic)
Todd W.
Dave Fedoruk
Duggy
>>> I need to know how other DMs handle the Cube of Force. One of
>>>my players had a drastically different interpretation of it than I did. I
>>>ruled, as DMs often do, that my interpretation takes precedence, but
>>>I wanted to check with this group just to see how others interpret this
>>>Item.
>>>
Just an another question, does the Cube rest on the ground, or
what? For example, if you were on a hillside and you use the Cube and
then the hill turns into a massive mudslide for some reason... does
the Cube slide along with it? Or remain suspended where it was?
Another example, you're in a wooden building and see out the window
that a sneak attack of mages are about to fireball the foundations of
the building so it falls down around you, and you use the Cube right
before they do... do you fall with the building, or does it fall down
around you, leaving you suspended wherever you were in mid-air?
<shrug>
Doug