I am making spell shape templates for my casters and wanna make sure I have the correct shape. Are these images correct? One is for casting in front of you the other at an angle. The blue square is the square the caster is on, the red is the spell. The cone is 15 feet. oh and each square is 5 feet
If you're using the grid rules in the DMG then neither is correct. You'd use a cone-shaped template and whichever squares it overlaps with are in the spell's area.
For instance, these are the 15', 30' and 60' cone templates I use on roll20 (70 pixels = 5 feet):
Each change in color represents a 5' increase (or decrease) in altitude assuming the cone is parallel with the ground. Helps with figuring out if a cone would reach a flying creature.
Whenever a player casts a cone spell they drop this on the map and rotate it however they like as long as the tip is touching their space and the cone is aimed directly outwards.
If you are using a grid, Xanathar's gives a great template for making a cone on a grid. A cone can be diagonal (and would look similar to yours but stop after 15', where yours reaches 25') The sides of a diagonal cone are the length of the cone, 3 squares for 15'.
A frontal cone includes ONE square in front of you, TWO in front of that (the one directly in front of the first and then you have a choice of one to the left or one to the right) and THREE in front of that (the one in line with you and both the one to the left of that one and the one to the right). A frontal cone has a line of squares emanating from you that is its length (3 squares in this case). A longer 'frontal' cone would give you a choice at every even distance where to put the "extra" piece, and that can be up to you. The templates in Xanathar's show them all either to the left or to the right.
Note that each of these cones has the same number of affected grid squares - 6.
The biggest hint that xanathar's gives (which is really useful) is that the width of the cone at any distance from you is equal to the distance away: At 5', it is 5' wide. At 15', it is 15' wide. This means that at 15', it's width is 3 squares (either 3 in a diagonal or straight line, depending if you are doing a diagonal or 'frontal' cone).
Very interesting I need to get some grid outlines then. Or at least modify my own. Basically the side and the end farthest from the caster have to be the same size if i understand?
Yes. A 15' cone is three squares long and three squares wide at that range. a 30' cone is 6 squares long and 6 squares wide at that range. Your frontal cone was 2 squares too wide in the first row, 3 squares too wide in the 2nd row, and 4 squares too wide in the third row.
Your diagonal cone was a 25' cone but otherwise ok for that.
ok so I made some new ones and wanna see if they are correct for a square grid, again the squares are 5 feet and the blue one is where the caster is standing and the red is the spells effect.
Frontal cones: your 15' one has one too many squares covered (only 10' wide at a distance of 10' - you get ONE, EITHER to the right OR to the left of the 5' distance sqare). Your 30' frontal cone is tilted to one side. it is legal (covers the correct number of sqares) but you could also make it so that the squares were more centered: shift rows 3 and 4 one square right, shift rows 5 and 6 two squares right. You might also arrange things slightly differently.
Radius: I always took that to mean "total radius" and not "radius from targeted square."
Radius: I always took that to mean "total radius" and not "radius from targeted square."
"Radius from targeted square" is "total radius." That's what radius means.
His picture shows a radius extending 20' in all directions around a central square, so the diameter is 45' in his picture. That is what I'd call "extends 20' from a creature" (or some such wording), not "A 20' radius" for a spell which targets a point.
Frontal cones: your 15' one has one too many squares covered (only 10' wide at a distance of 10' - you get ONE, EITHER to the right OR to the left of the 5' distance sqare). Your 30' frontal cone is tilted to one side. it is legal (covers the correct number of sqares) but you could also make it so that the squares were more centered: shift rows 3 and 4 one square right, shift rows 5 and 6 two squares right. You might also arrange things slightly differently.
Radius: I always took that to mean "total radius" and not "radius from targeted square."
Ring: not sure I've seen that one.
Ring is for the wall of fire spell.
For radius I believe you're thinking of diameter. But hey I could be wrong also.
For co es definitely gotta look at those... who woulda thought this would be this confusing... that's only directed at me btw.
Frontal cones: your 15' one has one too many squares covered (only 10' wide at a distance of 10' - you get ONE, EITHER to the right OR to the left of the 5' distance sqare). Your 30' frontal cone is tilted to one side. it is legal (covers the correct number of sqares) but you could also make it so that the squares were more centered: shift rows 3 and 4 one square right, shift rows 5 and 6 two squares right. You might also arrange things slightly differently.
Radius: I always took that to mean "total radius" and not "radius from targeted square."
Ring: not sure I've seen that one.
Ring is for the wall of fire spell.
Ah. forgot about that one. Your drawing is fine then.
For radius I believe you're thinking of diameter. But hey I could be wrong also.
No, I mean that a 20' radius should give a 40' diameter (i.e. just using squares, an 8x8 square) not 45'. A spell that "extends 20' in all directions from a creature" gives the square you drew. Many spells that create a radius target a point, not a space, and extend from the point. I think only occasionally spells extend from a creature (and for those, I think you can use your drawing).
Radius: I always took that to mean "total radius" and not "radius from targeted square."
"Radius from targeted square" is "total radius." That's what radius means.
His picture shows a radius extending 20' in all directions around a central square, so the diameter is 45' in his picture. That is what I'd call "extends 20' from a creature" (or some such wording), not "A 20' radius" for a spell which targets a point.
You're right, my mistake. If you're snapping your AoE to a grid rather than using an actual template, you should be placing the center of your circle on a corner.
Radius: I always took that to mean "total radius" and not "radius from targeted square."
"Radius from targeted square" is "total radius." That's what radius means.
His picture shows a radius extending 20' in all directions around a central square, so the diameter is 45' in his picture. That is what I'd call "extends 20' from a creature" (or some such wording), not "A 20' radius" for a spell which targets a point.
You're right, my mistake. If you're snapping your AoE to a grid rather than using an actual template, you should be placing the center of your circle on a corner.
Well, the simplest way to deal with radii is as you've done, make a square. But the difference is that if a spell targets a point then your square should have a length that is equal to the diameter. In this case, if you want a 20' radius, make a 40' square (8x8). Then place it however seems appropriate to you, generally centered around your central target (i.e. there is some flexibility on the caster's part as to the exact positioning). Since there is no "central square" in an 8x8 grid, you can choose to have the center in between 4 squares, with your main target in one of the 4 central squares.
I am making spell shape templates for my casters and wanna make sure I have the correct shape. Are these images correct? One is for casting in front of you the other at an angle. The blue square is the square the caster is on, the red is the spell. The cone is 15 feet. oh and each square is 5 feet
Frontal: frontal
Diagonal: Diagonal
A 15ft cone is 15ft long and 15ft wide at the end. Personally I go with 7 tiles and let the caster choose exactly which ones. (within reason)
Hmmm. Anyone else got any info?
If you're using the grid rules in the DMG then neither is correct. You'd use a cone-shaped template and whichever squares it overlaps with are in the spell's area.
For instance, these are the 15', 30' and 60' cone templates I use on roll20 (70 pixels = 5 feet):
Each change in color represents a 5' increase (or decrease) in altitude assuming the cone is parallel with the ground. Helps with figuring out if a cone would reach a flying creature.
Whenever a player casts a cone spell they drop this on the map and rotate it however they like as long as the tip is touching their space and the cone is aimed directly outwards.
If you are using a grid, Xanathar's gives a great template for making a cone on a grid. A cone can be diagonal (and would look similar to yours but stop after 15', where yours reaches 25') The sides of a diagonal cone are the length of the cone, 3 squares for 15'.
A frontal cone includes ONE square in front of you, TWO in front of that (the one directly in front of the first and then you have a choice of one to the left or one to the right) and THREE in front of that (the one in line with you and both the one to the left of that one and the one to the right). A frontal cone has a line of squares emanating from you that is its length (3 squares in this case). A longer 'frontal' cone would give you a choice at every even distance where to put the "extra" piece, and that can be up to you. The templates in Xanathar's show them all either to the left or to the right.
Note that each of these cones has the same number of affected grid squares - 6.
The biggest hint that xanathar's gives (which is really useful) is that the width of the cone at any distance from you is equal to the distance away: At 5', it is 5' wide. At 15', it is 15' wide. This means that at 15', it's width is 3 squares (either 3 in a diagonal or straight line, depending if you are doing a diagonal or 'frontal' cone).
Very interesting I need to get some grid outlines then. Or at least modify my own. Basically the side and the end farthest from the caster have to be the same size if i understand?
Yes. A 15' cone is three squares long and three squares wide at that range. a 30' cone is 6 squares long and 6 squares wide at that range. Your frontal cone was 2 squares too wide in the first row, 3 squares too wide in the 2nd row, and 4 squares too wide in the third row.
Your diagonal cone was a 25' cone but otherwise ok for that.
Dang I had this all wrong. Anyone know of some good spell effect cut outs? Having trouble with the ring shape and others also
ok so I made some new ones and wanna see if they are correct for a square grid, again the squares are 5 feet and the blue one is where the caster is standing and the red is the spells effect.
frontal cone 15 feet
angled cone 15 feet
angled cone 30 feet
frontal cone 30 feet
radius 20 feet (the black square is the impact point which would also be affected)
ring 20 feet
Frontal cones: your 15' one has one too many squares covered (only 10' wide at a distance of 10' - you get ONE, EITHER to the right OR to the left of the 5' distance sqare). Your 30' frontal cone is tilted to one side. it is legal (covers the correct number of sqares) but you could also make it so that the squares were more centered: shift rows 3 and 4 one square right, shift rows 5 and 6 two squares right. You might also arrange things slightly differently.
Radius: I always took that to mean "total radius" and not "radius from targeted square."
Ring: not sure I've seen that one.
"Radius from targeted square" is "total radius." That's what radius means.
His picture shows a radius extending 20' in all directions around a central square, so the diameter is 45' in his picture. That is what I'd call "extends 20' from a creature" (or some such wording), not "A 20' radius" for a spell which targets a point.
Ring is for the wall of fire spell.
For radius I believe you're thinking of diameter. But hey I could be wrong also.
For co es definitely gotta look at those... who woulda thought this would be this confusing... that's only directed at me btw.
Ah. forgot about that one. Your drawing is fine then.
No, I mean that a 20' radius should give a 40' diameter (i.e. just using squares, an 8x8 square) not 45'. A spell that "extends 20' in all directions from a creature" gives the square you drew. Many spells that create a radius target a point, not a space, and extend from the point. I think only occasionally spells extend from a creature (and for those, I think you can use your drawing).
You're right, my mistake. If you're snapping your AoE to a grid rather than using an actual template, you should be placing the center of your circle on a corner.
How would one do that on a grid map though?
Well, the simplest way to deal with radii is as you've done, make a square. But the difference is that if a spell targets a point then your square should have a length that is equal to the diameter. In this case, if you want a 20' radius, make a 40' square (8x8). Then place it however seems appropriate to you, generally centered around your central target (i.e. there is some flexibility on the caster's part as to the exact positioning). Since there is no "central square" in an 8x8 grid, you can choose to have the center in between 4 squares, with your main target in one of the 4 central squares.
Males sense. I will be updating my images.