Question about the Grease spell...

[RigaMortus]

I will only quote the relevant parts of the spell as they pertain to my questions.

Range: Close (25 ft. + 5 ft./2 levels)
Target or Area: one object or a 10-ft square
Duration: 1 round/level (D)

A grease spell covers a solid surface with a layer of slippery grease. Any creature in the area when the spell is cast must make a successful Reflex save or fall. The save is repeated on your turn each round that the creature remains within the area. A creature can walk within or through the area of grease at half normal speed with a DC 10 Balance check. Failure means it can't move that round (and must then make a Reflex save or fall), while failure by 5 or more means it falls (see the Balance skill for details).

If the creature in the Grease spell makes his saving throw, but does not move/walk, but they do attack (ranged, melee, spell), do they have to make a Balance check?

If they take a 5ft. step, do they have to make a Balance check?

If they are on the edge of grease spell, and step out of it, do they have to make a Balance check? They are not walking in it, and they are not walking through it, they are walking out of it though. Then again, how many steps does one normally make from one 5 ft. spot to another? I can understand if you took one giant step to step out of the grease, but if you took multiple steps, to me that means you are walking through the grease spell. The game doesn't break down movement less than 5 ft.

Within your little 5 ft. square, you can do a lot of movement and shifting around (such as when you are dodging). Wouldn't this count as "walking" the grease spell?

 

[dcollins]

Non-moving creature: No Balance check, but still a Reflex save or fall down.

5-foot step: Presumably still a Balance check, since it is movement (spell language doesn't restrict it only to a move action).

Precedent in D&D is that moving out of a space counts as moving through it, so it seems even at the edge a Balance check is required.