Unusual Spell Area

[Yorae]

Was browsing spells today when I noticed something in Complete Divine - the Doomtide spell has an unusually described area and I'm not really sure how the targetting works. It says it has an area of "Eight 10-ft. cubes extending from the caster's location".

My tentative interpretation is that they can be in any configuration, as long as they begin near you and are contiguous. Does anyone happen to know if that was the intention?

[lsfreak]

Spell Compedium says they extend "straight from you," which kinda makes it seem like a line with a duration. It's not worded the best.

I think the intention is to have a wave shape, centered in front of you, and (optionally) moving away from you. Usually if it's any configuration, it's listed as (S)hapeable. So, it's like:

....You....... |optional movement thataway
DOOMDOOM v

[nedz]

Multiple 10' cubes are uncommon, but they do exist: 5 10' cubes is one of the standard areas for Sculpt Spell

Examples
Silent Image, et al
Wall of Thorns

Hallucinatory Terrain is multiple 30' cubes.