Area of Effect & Where to place the Spell

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Spells like Fireball and Dispel Magic have an Area of Effect.

Many years ago I played the Champions of Krynn series, and when these types of spells were cast, it was easy to determine the "blast radius". If I recall correctly, the combat was on a rectangular type grid, and each grid square represented a set distance. Determining where to place spells like Fireball was easy. (I think the Area of Effect was highlighted?)

Is there anything like that in BGII? I'm new to the game, and have experimented with Fireball, Ice Storm, etc. and have "blasted" my party several times. I'd like to find a method to calculate or accurately place my Spells.

Thanks in advance.

 

Welcome to the Forums!
Unfortunately, there's no way to accurately determine the range of certain spells during gameplay short of familiarization. (as Blackthorne put it)

You can work out this problem by bringing along a lot of clerics, so at least you can heal your party after you blast it a few times.

 

Items that grant Fire Resistance are a must for your tanks. I end up fireballing my own guys all too often! LOL!

 

Thanks for the help.

I'll have to get more experience. Perhaps I'll try the "ruler" trick.

At any rate, thanks!

 

Take some time and cast some spells in a room that has no one in it. See how big a blast, where the gas ends, ice stops falling ect. Try rooms of different sizes. You will soon know how close you can be. Some times I have to call down some heavy firepower on top of my guys, you will win the battle and you can always raise the ones that fall.

 

Ah, a fellow gamer from the Dragonlance series at last.

Trial and error is the best way probably.

Here's some other differences between Champions and BG2:

Stinking Cloud is now as big as a fireball - use this spell to "see" the fireball's blast radius

Lightning bolt has gone from a reliable must-have spell to an unpredictable self destructive one. (unless you learn how to target it)

Paralyzation spells like hold person are no longer 3 targets - they are now single target plus a little area around it. (Terrible change IMHO)

Sleep sucks now. Load up on magic missile instead. And charm person almost never works too.

Fireshields are weaker. They don't deal double damage in return, they now deal 1-8 damage or something.

At lastly, you won't be simultaneously fighting three ancient red dragons in this game!