Howdy Folks!
FYI, I have been somewhat disgruntled at the way Blade Barrier is defined to work in 3.0, acting much as a larger fireball that has some flakey side stuff, and sticks around. What I really don't like is the whole idea of a horizontal buzz saw that lasts a long time -- that is not a "barrier", that is death magic, almost! And since it is a clerical spell, not an arcane spell, it seemed to be far too powerful compared to the clerical scale of damage-dealing spells.
Anyway, I, Eric and Orion discussed this at length last night, and while trying to figure out if we were implementing the spell correctly, we checked into the 3.5 version of the spell -- which is MUCH more like an actual wall or barrier than it is a mass-blowup spell. Evidently Blade Barrier was one of the spells they decided needed definite adjustment when they were doing 3.5, and I agree with them. So I have decided that Blade Barrier will now act as the 3.5 version of the spell.
Thus the spell now generates an "immobile, vertical curtain of whirling blades shaped of pure force" per the 3.5 description. The possible shapes of the barrier are identical to the possible shapes of a wall of fire. The damage cap is now 15d6 rather than 20d6 -- more in line with clerical spell damage at that level of spells. When cast such that one or more creatures are "in" the barrier, they get a Reflex save to take no damage and be on one side of the barrier or the other, their choice, otherwise they take the damage. A creature passing through the barrier gets a Reflex save for half damage -- which means that creatures with evasion can potentially duck through the blades quickly enough to avoid damage, if they make their saves.
So compared to a wall of fire, the actual barrier itself does more damage but the damage can be avoided with a reflex save, and there is no effect beyond the barrier, while a wall of fire does have a heat zone that extends out in one direction. The spell is also dismissable -- unlike a wall of fire, which can be maintained indefinitely with concentration but only lasts (level) rounds after that concentration lapses, the barrier lasts for one minute per level but may be dismissed by the caster. It also has the advantage that it is a force effect, which means it affects incorporeal opponents -- and as a GM or a player, no longer need to figure out exactly what type of damage is being done, since force effects are well defined.
Another difference is that a wall of fire is essentially opaque, while a blade barrier gives cover to creatures on the other side -- +4 AC and +2 Reflex saves vs attacks coming through the barrier. So for example archers on one side of the barrier can take shots at targets on the other side, spells like magic missile and fireball can be fired through the barrier at targets on the other side, and so on... :-)
Which means that I can foresee uses for Ashiko's Blade Barrier and Noku's Wall of Fire in combination. Noku places a Wall of Fire behind a bunch of foes, and Ashiko places a Blade Barrier in front of them, with both spells being pretty durn wide. The heat zone fills the space between the two, the wall of fire will burn anyone who runs away, the blade barrier will chop up anyone who charges forward, and your allies can shoot missiles and spells at those caught in the middle...
And of course Ashiko's Winds can be used to blow enemies into a wall of fire or a blade barrier...
Anyway, this definition of the spell makes it consistent with other wall-type spells in form and usage, while keeping its effectiveness consistent with its status as a 6th level spell, and at the same time it no longer steps on the toes of the arcane spellcasters' specialty, that of true area effect damage spells. Its definition now fits its primary intent as a "barrier" spell. It is less able to be used to "puree" opponents; though that is still a possibility when the spell is used in combination with other effects, or in specific circumstances, Ashiko cannot simply lay it down as a horizontal blenderizer... It is still quite a nice spell, just different. (Orion did feel like he was losing some of the power of the spell as used so far, but was willing to admit that the 3.5 version was more reasonable, and could still be (ab)used quite effectively.)
-- Ernie III / DrakaraGM