Do creatures block line of effect?

[Uncle Pine]

Pretty much what's in the title.
I failed at finding a rule that specify whether or not creatures block line of effect. SRD only specify that solid barriers block line of effect. That said, even if I'm pretty sure that a muscular orc standing in front of you could be depicted as a solid barrier, I never treated creatures as barriers in my games nor was they treated as such in the games I played as a player.

So, does anyone have an official reference about this? If not, do creatures block line of effect in your games?

[TuggyNE]

They don't block line of effect, as evidenced by the ability to shoot rays and arrows past one creature into another (albeit at a penalty from soft cover). Nor do they block line of sight.

Anything that a moderate Tumble check (DC 25) can let you move through is not a solid barrier.

[Uncle Pine]

Does this mean that if I manifest astral construct (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/psionic/powers/astralConstruct.htm) around me to create an all-purpose ectoplasmic suit that I can redirect as a free action without wasting my own move actions I can safely manifest through it because it doesn't block line of effect since it's a creature (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/psionic/monsters/astralConstruct.htm)?

[Aracor]

Where do you get the idea you can create an astral construct as a suit?

[Silva Stormrage]

Where do you get the idea you can create an astral construct as a suit?

Its a fairly popular trick with the construct. Essentially since you can design the construct however you want within reason you can construct a hollow astral construct and summon it around you. It works better if you are a small race IMO but ya RAW it seems to work.

[Yukitsu]

Does this mean that if I manifest astral construct (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/psionic/powers/astralConstruct.htm) around me to create an all-purpose ectoplasmic suit that I can redirect as a free action without wasting my own move actions I can safely manifest through it because it doesn't block line of effect since it's a creature (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/psionic/monsters/astralConstruct.htm)?

To be fair, by that same logic, anything that targets you doesn't really take much of a penalty either.

[Curmudgeon]

Does this mean that if I manifest astral construct (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/psionic/powers/astralConstruct.htm) around me to create an all-purpose ectoplasmic suit ...?
You can't be in the same square as your "suit" unless the Astral Construct is at least 3 sizes larger than your character (ex: a 9th-Level Astral Construct and a Small manifester). An Astral Construct is a creature.
Ending Your Movement

You can’t end your movement in the same square as another creature unless it is helpless.


Square Occupied by Creature Three Sizes Larger or Smaller

Any creature can move through a square occupied by a creature three size categories larger than it is.

A big creature can move through a square occupied by a creature three size categories smaller than it is.

[Uncle Pine]

To be fair, by that same logic, anything that targets you doesn't really take much of a penalty either.

Sure, if I have line of effect with an enemy the opposite is necessary true. The point is, do I have line of effect with the enemy?


You can't be in the same square as your "suit" unless the Astral Construct is at least 3 sizes larger than your character (ex: a 9th-Level Astral Construct and a Small manifester). An Astral Construct is a creature.

I admit I never thought about this, nor did I see such a thing addressed while talking about astral construct "suits". Your point seems really valid, though, so I'll probably have to rethink about Medium psion in Medium "suits".
However, this only brings up another question: does the aforementioned Small psion enchased inside his Huge "suit" have line of effect with his enemies?

[TuggyNE]

I admit I never thought about this, nor did I see such a thing addressed while talking about astral construct "suits". Your point seems really valid, though, so I'll probably have to rethink about Medium psion in Medium "suits".
However, this only brings up another question: does the aforementioned Small psion enchased inside his Huge "suit" have line of effect with his enemies?

Unclear, but by strict RAW probably so, since there's no particular rules support for being "inside" another creature except through e.g. Swallow Whole.

[Uncle Pine]

Unclear, but by strict RAW probably so, since there's no particular rules support for being "inside" another creature except through e.g. Swallow Whole.

Ok, thank you all for the clarifications and the inputs. You've been really helpful.