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Emma Drake
Learned Scribe
USA
206 Posts |
 Posted - 25 Nov 2013 : 18:24:17
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In our 2e campaign, a character is learning the spell Life Bolt. The way it works is like so (if I need to paraphrase for copyright reasons, just let me know!):
Life Bolt
(Alteration, Necromancy)
Range: 10 yds./level
Components: V, S
Duration: Permanent
Casting Time: 6
Area of Effect: 1 undead creature
Saving Throw: ½
This spell uses the energy of the caster’s own life force offensively against undead. The spell has no effect on living creatures. By holding an open palm toward the undead creature and uttering the incantation, the caster sends a pulse of living energy toward the undead (color of the energy depends on the caster’s general alignment; lawful is white, chaotic is red, and neutral is blue). The caster sacrifices 1d4 hit points to cast this spell; for each hit point lost, the caster causes 1d6 points of damage to the undead target. The undead creature is allowed a saving throw vs. spell against this attack, with successful saving throws limiting the damage to half.
I was shocked to see that the spell is fourth level, given how little damage it does (with a save for half!). Does anyone know why it's 4th level??? Why would anyone waste a 4th level slot on a spell that MIGHT do 4d6 damage, at the cost of 4 hit points to yourself, but is probably going to do 2d6 or 3d6 (avg damage; with a save for half)? Is it meant to be that the caster CHOOSES how much damage to take (in which case s/he can take less for a less powerful undead and be assured of 4d6 if against a more powerful one) or that s/he rolls 1d4 and it's random?
Am I reading this wrong? It seems like it should be more like 2nd or 3rd level...
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"I am always here, all about you. You are never truly alone. I flow wherever life flows, wherever winds blow and water runs and the sun and moon chase each other, for there is magic in all things."
- Mystra (Ed Greenwood, Silverfall) |
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Kentinal
Great Reader
4688 Posts |
Posted - 25 Nov 2013 : 19:25:28
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I can not even find the spell on my Core Rules CD, it must be one of the splat books.
All things considered magic missile is better better then this spell by far. No save and no hit point cost to cast. Possible damage with bad dice (All 1's ) by level 3 causes the same damage:
LB 4d6 = 4 MM 2d4+2 = 4 (This is minimum damage,if undead does not save vs. LB)
To be able to cast a 4th level spell the caster needs to be class level 7. At that level of casting the MM will cause a minimum damage of 4d4+4 = 8
The maximum damage that LB can cause with level 7 caster is:
LB 24 (or 12 if save made) MM 20 (4d4 + 4 ).
The spell Life Bolt is either too weak or clearly far too high a level IMO.
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"Small beings can have small wisdom," the dragon said. "And small wise beings are better than small fools. Listen: Wisdom is caring for afterwards."
"Caring for afterwards ...? Ker repeated this without understanding.
"After action, afterwards," the dragon said. "Choose the afterwards first, then the action. Fools choose action first."
"Judgement" copyright 2003 by Elizabeth Moon |
Edited by - Kentinal on 25 Nov 2013 19:26:53 |
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Emma Drake
Learned Scribe
USA
206 Posts |
Posted - 25 Nov 2013 : 19:31:26
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It's from one of the 2e waterdeep books in the box set.
quote:
Originally posted by Kentinal
I can not even find the spell on my Core Rules CD, it must be one of the splat books.
All things considered magic missile is better better then this spell by far. No save and no hit point cost to cast. Possible damage with bad dice (All 1's ) by level 3 causes the same damage:
LB 4d6 = 4 MM 2d4+2 = 4 (This is minimum damage,if undead does not save vs. LB)
To be able to cast a 4th level spell the caster needs to be class level 7. At that level of casting the MM will cause a minimum damage of 4d4+4 = 8
The maximum damage that LB can cause with level 7 caster is:
LB 24 (or 12 if save made) MM 20 (4d4 + 4 ).
The spell Life Bolt is either too weak or clearly far too high a level IMO.
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"I am always here, all about you. You are never truly alone. I flow wherever life flows, wherever winds blow and water runs and the sun and moon chase each other, for there is magic in all things."
- Mystra (Ed Greenwood, Silverfall) |
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Ayrik
Great Reader
Canada
7989 Posts |
Posted - 25 Nov 2013 : 22:42:21
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Spells from late 2E were imbalanced and overspecialized more often than not; this is a problem in every edition of the game, and always one of the issues which prompts a newer-edition cleanup/rewrite. All spells are not created equal, some of them are always a bit uber while some others always suck.
Perhaps this spell argues for the supremacy of priests over necromancers when it comes to blasting undead. Although, as written, I would personally make it a 1st-level spell. Or I‘d change how it‘s written; scale the damage upwards at higher casting levels. |
[/Ayrik] |
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rjfras
Learned Scribe
261 Posts |
Posted - 26 Nov 2013 : 01:20:05
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in Magic of Faerun (3.0), Life Bolt was made a 2nd level spell, creating 1 ray for every 2 levels (max of 5 rays at 9th) doing 2d4 damage per bolt with no save, but SR is effective against it and it deals you 1 point of damage to create each the bolt
in the Spell Compendium (3.5) each beam you create deals you 1 point of nonlethal damage, not regular damage |
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Emma Drake
Learned Scribe
USA
206 Posts |
Posted - 26 Nov 2013 : 01:28:39
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| I wasn't sure if I was off my rocker or missing something or what. Thanks for the feedback! |
"I am always here, all about you. You are never truly alone. I flow wherever life flows, wherever winds blow and water runs and the sun and moon chase each other, for there is magic in all things."
- Mystra (Ed Greenwood, Silverfall) |
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Thauramarth
Senior Scribe
United Kingdom
729 Posts |
Posted - 26 Nov 2013 : 14:56:22
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| I seem to have a vague recollection that in the 2E Wizards' Spell Compendium, Lifebolt was already brought down to 2nd level. Need to check. |
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2e Life Bolt Spell
