Brilliant Gameologists Forum

Play Like You Have To! => D&D Deliberations => : tusk January 03, 2009, 10:28:56 AM

: A spell concept (P.E.A.C.H needed!)
: tusk January 03, 2009, 10:28:56 AM
(needs a flavorful name)
Enchantment (Compulsion)
Level: Wiz/Sor 6, Clr 6, Beguiler 5
Components:    V, S, M
Casting Time:    single action
Range:    Close (25 ft. + 5 ft./2 levels)
Targets:    Single creature designated by the caster
Duration:    3 rounds + 1 round/2 level
Saving Throw:    Will Partial
Spell Resistance:    Yes

  As you utter the word, a ripple of near-invisible energy shoots out between your eyebrows. The energy makes its way unerringly to the target, the impact of the spell is apparent. Her eyes are not as focus, her determination seemed to be swayed, as if a shackle of gigantic proportion has been put on her mind.

  This spell drops the victim's Initiative to 1. Any boost to the target's Initiative is suppressed during the spell's duration. If a single effect includes elements other than altering Initiative, those elements are unaffected. Any boost to target's Initiative that takes effect during the duration is consider suppressed.

Arcane Focus: A jade figurine with shackle to its ankle, worth at least 300 GP.

This spell is credited being researched by a Beguiler whose name is long lost, with a feverish love for amateur court-dueling. With his body not being in the top-notch condition his opponents has, he researched this spell to gain him a upper hand in those matches, sometime it's crucial. When this secret disclosed, he was promptly thrown out of his social circle.And this is all the known facts one can discover about this spell.
: Re: A spell concept (P.E.A.C.H needed!)
: Kaelik January 03, 2009, 12:01:05 PM
A terrible useless spell.

It costs a standard action to do what? If they fail a save you may get another standard action. And this for a 6th level compulsion spell?

Yeah, totally not worth ever casting by anyone.

What you are looking for is Shock and Awe, which actually works because it's 3rd level, has no save, and is a swift action cast.

If they fail a 6th level will save it could be Dominate Person instead. That's much better.
: Re: A spell concept (P.E.A.C.H needed!)
: veekie January 03, 2009, 12:47:12 PM
Way too high level for what it does.
: Re: A spell concept (P.E.A.C.H needed!)
: TheWordSlinger January 03, 2009, 02:29:18 PM
Also, the spell block and text disagree. The table lists a material component while the spell requires a focus. Also, the save entry says will partial but no partial effect is given.
: Re: A spell concept (P.E.A.C.H needed!)
: BowenSilverclaw January 03, 2009, 02:44:36 PM
Text over table ;)

But yeah, I do agree that this spell is of too high level to be useful when compared to other level 6 spells.
: Re: A spell concept (P.E.A.C.H needed!)
: tusk January 03, 2009, 05:52:05 PM
Enchantment (Compulsion)
Level: Wiz/Sor 4, Clr 4, Beguiler 3
Components:    V, S, F
Casting Time:    swift action
Range:    Close (25 ft. + 5 ft./2 levels)
Targets:    Single creature designated by the caster
Duration:    3 rounds + 1 round/2 level(see text)
Saving Throw:    Will Partial
Spell Resistance:    No

  If target failed his will save, the spell behaves as follow:At the start of target's action, roll a D20. If the result is greater than caster's CL, the target retain his action, but treat his initiative as 1. If less than, target lose his action. The spell ends as the target loses 3 rounds + 1 round/2 level. These rounds need not to be continued.

 If the target passed the will save, his will save suffer from a -4 penalty in 3 rounds + 1 round/2 level


So how's this one look?
: Re: A spell concept (P.E.A.C.H needed!)
: Kaelik January 03, 2009, 06:06:53 PM
Needlessly complex duration that makes the spell much better with level,

Why should a level 6 Beguiler who casts the spell be worse at effecting a level 1 character then a level 20 Beguiler is at effecting a level 20 Beguiler?

Just make it a normal duration. And if they succeed the Will save, they should lose Int or something, not suffer a will save penalty, since that makes this a spell that beguilers cast in the hopes someone will fail.
: Re: A spell concept (P.E.A.C.H needed!)
: Wih January 03, 2009, 11:26:29 PM
Personally, I'd have it function as a reverse Nerveskitter - Immediate action to use when starting combat. Perhaps a Will save partial, with success lowering their score by 1/2 CL, and a fail owering them to last in the initiative?
Most 3.5 games I've been in don't keep track of the numbers after the order has been established, so keeping the number changes in effect when the numbers are rolled would IMHO be best. 
: Re: A spell concept (P.E.A.C.H needed!)
: Psychic Robot January 08, 2009, 03:46:23 PM
I second "reverse nerveskitter."  Too complicated--why would it have a duration?  That would be a pain in the ass--shifting initiative more than once.
: Re: A spell concept (P.E.A.C.H needed!)
: Lycanthromancer January 13, 2009, 03:38:44 AM
I second (or is that seventh? eighth?) the idea that it's a horribly underpowered spell for its level.