Ridley's Cohort
First Post
It is simpler to assume that most AoE spells only "sort of" fill the area. Characters that do not die outright can be assumed to use some sort of evasion. That is what HPs are, after all.
If you were to watch a 3rd level 15 HP Rogue and a 12th level 150 HP Barbarian both make their saves to a 5d6 Fireball, from the average Joe's POV they both did exactly the same thing: miraculously avoided a lethal amount of fire damage with no noticeable affect.
It just so happens that Rogues and Monk get good at doing this against AoE spells much more quickly than other character classes.
If you were to watch a 3rd level 15 HP Rogue and a 12th level 150 HP Barbarian both make their saves to a 5d6 Fireball, from the average Joe's POV they both did exactly the same thing: miraculously avoided a lethal amount of fire damage with no noticeable affect.
It just so happens that Rogues and Monk get good at doing this against AoE spells much more quickly than other character classes.