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Post by Scott on Oct 20, 2016 9:54:48 GMT -5
Does a lightning Bolt spell cause a clap of thunder?
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Post by geneweigel on Oct 20, 2016 11:16:26 GMT -5
According to Frank Mentzer in SPELLING BEE in POLYHEDRON #4 (FEB 1982):
AND
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foster1941
Warlock
Duke of California, Earl of Los Angeles, Knight Bachelor
Posts: 475
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Post by foster1941 on Oct 20, 2016 12:03:06 GMT -5
I've always said that lightning bolts do make a thunderclap sound (not loud enough to cause deafness, but definitely loud enough to be heard by anyone in the area) and also leave behind a strong ozone smell that lingers in the area for a few minutes, but fireballs make more of a "fwoosh" noise than an explosive BOOM.
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Post by GRWelsh on Oct 20, 2016 12:35:03 GMT -5
They always make noise, but it varies with the power level. From low hit dice to high:
LIGHTNING BOLT: ranges from sizzling hum to thunderclap FIRE BALL: ranges from fwoosh/whump to boom
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Post by Scott on Oct 20, 2016 13:30:39 GMT -5
Yeah, that's pretty much how I've run them. But just because that's how I've always run them.
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Post by geneweigel on Oct 20, 2016 16:02:22 GMT -5
I was going to write back earlier but its been a busy day.
I ruled that Lightning and Fireball are higher than a dragon roar (24 men talking, singing, or shouting, and/or walking, marching or running) on the Audible Glamer scale so about 28 men with magic-user casting at 9th level.
The question that has always been on my mind is how loud is a Magic Missile? I don't base it on the caster, I base it on what was hit (in the way) based on the scene from ARTIFACT OF EVIL (1986) where Melf believes his target (the brigand leader) is on a horse but its an illusion:
BTW: Ralishaz mentioned as " 'Shaz " here sneering at him is obviously a reference to a game so perhaps "Roll the Shakers" is where the name is derived.
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Post by grodog on Oct 24, 2016 23:42:25 GMT -5
Gene: I just figured it meant he'd had bad luck?
Definitely noisy, and treasure and other items need to make item saves too!---another good reason to figure out some workable rules for illusions....
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Post by simonsays on Nov 2, 2016 23:17:08 GMT -5
It was my impression that fireballs only made a low roar (isn't that in the description?). I always thought lightning bolts sizzled and cracked a little.
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Post by Scott on Nov 3, 2016 6:17:35 GMT -5
Yeah, I think fireball makes a low roar, doesn't say with lightning bolt, but I don't see it as a sizling, crackling, Sith lightning, just an instantaneous bolt.
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Post by Scott on Nov 3, 2016 8:17:02 GMT -5
By the way, welcome to the board!
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Post by geneweigel on Nov 3, 2016 8:25:39 GMT -5
Here are some examples of fireball activity in the Gord novels:
from ARTIFACT OF EVIL (1986)
Chapter 4: Hints of lightning bolts and fireballs on the other side of a hill:
Chapter 6: Casting up close:
Capter 13: A more detailed description of the sounds and explosion attracting.
In SEA OF DEATH (1987) Chapter 17 a fireball can't be heard a mile away:
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Post by geneweigel on Nov 3, 2016 11:16:27 GMT -5
As a campaign rule, I mention to players that verbal communication and violent attacks make attracting noise unless remedied (secret languages [only regarding primary subject; druid:nature, thieves;stealing, underground:trade, alignment:morals, etc.], all psionics, magical silence, etc.).
In the case of page 97 of the DMG (1979) highlighted in red:
This has been raised time and again by longtime players as the "silent fireball" but its a misread of monsters locating the direction of the noise from a precise area versus monsters who just happen to be passing nearby.
This is comparable to one of those things like where people forget that superior sensed characters (infravision, ultravision, keen-eared, etc.) usually negate surprise.
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