Arcane Gate...Best Utility as an Attack spell??

[Imaro]

Ok, just wondering what others thoughts are on Arcane Gate. It's a 10th level utility spell that creates a portal between two squares (range 20 squares) as if they were adjacent. So my question is, what if you place one portal behind the monster your buddy is fighting and the other 20 squares into the air above where the monster starts. Then your buddy bull rushes the monster through the first portal. What happens? If the creature does fall through the other end that's 10d10 damage. Meanwhile your buddy takes a move action 10' back after the bull rush and readies to charge for another bull rush when you drop the creature in the square it was in at the start of the encounter. This gives him a +1 for the next charge and +2 for the monster being prone... and another 10d10 damage when he pushes him through again. So what do you guys think?

 

[Branduil]

Now you're thinking with portals.

 

[Family]

Just tell the monster there's cake on the other side.

 

[Mustrum_Ridcully]

Just tell the monster there's cake on the other side.

I've heard pies work wonders with Orcs...

I am not sure you can designate a square in free air. I would probably rule that this is not allowed (though I would otherwise be fine with shoving people around into dangerous territory.)

I am also not sure if you are automatically "forced" to use the portal. I think you can chose as you like, and I suppose the monster might not choose to drop 100 ft.

Anyway, if you rule both is possible, the only thing helping the monster (assuming the bullrush, slide, pull or push effect worked) is that it gets a single (immediate) Save. If the save fails, it goes through, if it succeeds, it lands prone. (Can't cite the reference, but there is a general rule for any forced movement effects that gets you into "hostile" terrain.)

 

[Charwoman Gene]

Weeeeeeeeeee.

 

[NMcCoy]

The wording of the power implies pretty strongly to me that you can't move creatures through the portal against their will.

 

[Mort_Q]

The wording of the power implies pretty strongly to me that you can't move creatures through the portal against their will.

This.

It's been discussed before... not sure if any consensus was reached... but I also think the use of the word can implies choice.

 

[UltimaGabe]

Even if you were able to force him into the portal, any time a creature is forced off a cliff or such, they're given a saving throw to stay on the edge. So it would be like pushing an enemy off a cliff. Possible, but there's variables to consider. (And remember, that's IF you can force a monster through the portal at all.)

Also, how's your buddy Bull Rushing, Moving, and Readying a Bull Rush all in one turn?

And, it must be said- if you start abusing this tactic on NPCs, then undoubtedly your DM will start abusing it on you.

 

[WOLead]

Well, would you say that looking through a Arcane Gate gives you Line of Sight and Line of Effect to the other rift location?

If no, then the Forced Movement rules won't allow the Push, Slide, or Pull effect to send the target through the Arcane Gate.

If yes, then you can send attacks through the Arcane Gate to the other side as well as recieve them in return as a side effect.

 

[Surgoshan]

I think someone started a thread on this a week ago and either a designer or just someone with the inside track posted saying it wasn't possible because both sides of the rift have to be anchored.