Date:         Tue, 22 Feb 1994 10:55:20 -0500
From: NUNC LENTO DICUNT MORIOUS <SMITHJ@HARTWICK.EDU>
Subject:      ADND-L: FIREBALL CATCHING & NEW SPELL

Fireball Catching:
        For what its worth, IMHO, I never thought of a fireball as
something that travelled toward a target. I always considered it to
just blossom. In the book "Realms of Valor", when Elminster cast a fireball
there was no mention of it rushing towards its target (at least, not that
I can remember, correct me if I am wrong). It just simply started at its
"epicenter" and blossomed outward. But this does make me wonder something
that is REALLY stretching the mechanics of the game: A fireball that is
cast (for example) has to take up, say,.. 20 cubic feet. I think that
we are all in agreement that if the corridor is too small, than it will
travel up and down the corridor until it takes up that specific amount of
space. Now, the PC's are matter. They take up space. When the spell
is cast, wouldn't they also limit the space the fireball has to take up
and therefore, make it travel farther down the corridor than expected by
the caster ? ( and possibly causing the caster to get hit as well ).
This is something to consider, though rather lightly consider because
(once again) IHMO, this would make things really complicated by trying
to figure out how many cubic feet each pc takes up, so that the DM knows
how much farther the fireball would expand down the corridor.

NEW SPELL: (needs your collective help)

Name: THUNDERBALL
(Invocation/Evocation)
Level: 2 or 3 (haven't decided yet)
Area of effect: 20' radius
Casting time: 3
Components: Rain water from thunderstorm, Verbal, Somatic
            (maybe change material component ?)
Effects:
        When the spell is cast a ball of fire is blossomed (like a fireball)
that does 10pts. of damage. (save for 1/2 damage) If the person fails
their saving throw, then they are also stunned for 1rd/per level of caster
because it also hits you like a concussion grenade. Because of the concussion
aspect of it things such as skeletons are also effected. A very simple spell,
but not one to be used underground, as the concussion could cause a
cave-in.

*****Question/Answer Section*****

1. Do you think it should be of a higher level ? Lower level ? (as
opposed to what I have suggested)

2. For the concussion aspect of it: Should mindless creatures be immune ?
As with the skeleton example; they are mindless so how can they be
stunned ? OR should it be (vs. mindless creatures) 1 pt. of damage
per level of caster because the jarring on the creature would cause it
damage  ?

3. Any other advice ?

A friend of mine came up with this last night, and these are the problems
that we have run into trying to put the finishing touches on it.
Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

                                        -Jeff
                                           smithj@hartwick.edu