General spell mechanics: Area of effect and duration
After coming across this question on the main AEG board, I couldn't find any answer in the RAW or forums: Ok in regards to the Phoenix dragon channeler school, many of the unique spells have a radius effect around you that can help allies and whatnot. What I need to know is: 1) Do these allies need to remain in range of your spell for the full duration of 1 to 2 hours and lose benefits if they leave? 2) Do the effects affect all allies within range and remain for the duration even if they leave the area of effect? I ask because this is relevant to our campaign. I'm turning this into a more general question: When not specified by the individual spell, how does Duration interact with Area of Effect? 1. Do characters need to be in the AoE at the time of castng to benefit? No. Any and all specified targets will be affected whenever they are in the specified area or range. 2. Do characters have to remain within the AoE to benefit? Yes. -A. If they leave the AoE and return, do they benefit again? Yes. -aa. When applicable (expendable FR's, cumulative damage reduction, or whatever), is this a resuming of the previous benefit that retains previous bookkeeping or a new benefit altogether with new totals? The effect resumes and values are not refreshed. 3. If the original target is not stationary, does the AoE move with them? Yes. -A. Does it make a difference if the target is a living thing (or Self)? No. By a casual reading, it appears that you create a field that allies can enter or leave freely and that they gain the benefit only while within the area, regardless of whether they were in that area when the effect started. I would assume the AoE moves to keep centered on the target unless otherwise specified in the spell, and that anyone who has used up some or all of their benefit still has that benefit used up if they leave the AoE and return. However, other games can be more strict in this regard and it's worth going over it here. Edit: after talking to Doji Tsukaede in IM, these have been answered. (Thursday June 26, 2008)

I would have answered same as Tsukaede.