Here is a Demonstration of how casting Cone Spells works in the Infinity Engine games (Rays work the same).

Here is a Demonstration of how casting Cone Spells works in Pillars of Eternity

Cones (and Rays) are handled better in the Infinity Engine games where you can select a target or a spot on the ground to cast the spell and the Wizard will walk up to the destination and cast it. That's much better than just having it come from the Wizard's feet with no range.

A range finder for distance AoEs etc would be nice too where it's green by default and goes red once you select a range too far away, indicating that the wizard will have to move to the green point on the range finder to cast the spell

 

 

Yes, I could not agree more about this.  I've been playing the beta for a while now and I have had little utility for much of the magic since it is such a pain to use many of the spells.  Most of the spells I have had no chance to actually try given the limited circumstances in which they can safely be used with a party.