TwoHeadsBarking
First Post
The answer is that both squares are hindering terrain.
The Blind creature gets it because it is actually hindering terrain, even if he does not know it.
The unblind creature gets it because it is actually hindering terrain. Lightning firing into those squares is no different than the DMG example of fire in a square.
The criteria the DMG lists for Hindering Terrain is that it prevents/punishes movement or it damages those who enter. A fake acid pit in an otherwise normal square is not Hindering Terrain, since there's no movement penalty and there's no acid damage. I agree that a blind character gets saves against Hindering Terrain.
Cite a quotation that a square that causes damage when entered is not unsafe. Cite a quotation that a square must do constant damage in order to be unsafe. Cite a quotation that the unsafe square has to be a zone or an aura.
You won't find such rules.
Is it a safe square? No. Will a creature take immediate damage when it enters the square? Yes. Hence, it is unsafe. DMG requirement for an unsafe square satisfied.
Well, I'm not going to find any such rules, because unlike "Hindering Terrain", "safe" is not a technical term. I never made claims about what was safe. I've only been talking about Hindering Terrain. I don't like "safe". "Safe" is vague. You certainly don't get saves for being forced into "unsafe" squares. But you do get them for being forced into Hindering Terrain.
I also never said that Hindering Terrain was only caused by zones or auras. In fact, I would never say that. I am unaware of any powers or abilities that create Hindering Terrain, although more on that later.
Squares, in general, are not filled with Hindering Terrain. Since 4e is exception-based (PHB, pg 11), squares do not become Hindering Terrain unless it is explicitly stated that they are so.
Are you claiming that the adjacent squares to the Storm Pillar are safe squares to enter???
No. I'm not. Obviously, if you enter those squares you're going to take damage. What I am saying is that "Hindering Terrain" is a specific feature, and not interchangeable with "unsafe square". Just like "Difficult Terrain" is a specific feature, which some powers and abilities interact with in certain ways. For example, the power Prismatic Wall creates a wall that costs one extra square of movement to go through. It is not difficult terrain, which means elves can't shift through it.
The second part of my claim is that if Storm Pillar (and other damage zones) were creating Hindering Terrain, they would explicitly say so. Hindering Terrain is listed with Difficult Terrain, and there are powers that explicitly create Difficult Terrain, so why doesn't Storm Pillar state that it creates Hindering Terrain.
Fair enough regarding Rain of Blows. I should have used the Archlich ED as my example instead, since that causes damage when enemies move too close and when they start their turn too close. So... Archliches? Surrounded by Hindering Terrain?
I realize that I probably come off as a huge pedant for emphasizing the difference between unsafe and Hindering Terrain, which I apologize for. But I think the distinction is crucial. Squares can be unsafe for many reasons, but that does not make them Hindering Terrain. Just like Prismatic Wall can wreck movement without being Difficult Terrain.