Dance of ruin a little overpowered

[Jack Simth]

BOVD
brd2,clr 2, sorc/wiz2
1 full round action.

Area effect
All non demons within 25ft +5ft per level take 2d20 points of damage.
reflex for half.
A bit much for a cleric?

Let's see...

Most of the people who cast that particular spell will be within 25+5ft per level of the caster. Does it make an exemption for the caster, or does the caster need to be a demon to avoid the effect?

Do note that Spell Resistance doesn't apply to spells you cast yourself, so things like Spell Immunity don't help with this.

But otherwise, decent for getting rid of the mooks. Average 21 damage, same average as 6d6 - but this is a tad more chaotic. For something you'll potentially be casting at 3rd level? Yeah, it's definately on the over-strong side.

 

[Hypersmurf]

Does it make an exemption for the caster, or does the caster need to be a demon to avoid the effect?

No exemption. A non-demon caster eats the damage.

-Hyp.

 

[Jack Simth]

No exemption. A non-demon caster eats the damage.

-Hyp.

So in an ECL 3 game, casting this spell is potential suicide for most characters? Interesting.

 

[calighis]

that ought to be mentioned in the spell description. That being said what is the lowest level adjusted demon PC could play?

 

[Jack Simth]

that ought to be mentioned in the spell description. That being said what is the lowest level adjusted demon PC could play?

Technically, it's there, it's just not spelled out. You're within the specified range, so if you're a non-demon, the damage applies. That, in an of itself, does the bulk of the work of keeping the spell reasonably balanced - at a level where it's liable to wipe out your opponents, it's also liable to wipe out the caster. At the point where you can reasonably expect to survive casting, it's unlikely that it'll kill your opponents outright.

 

[Hypersmurf]

Technically, it's there, it's just not spelled out. You're within the specified range, so if you're a non-demon, the damage applies.

I've had a cleric cast Sound Burst centred on himself before - he was surrounded by hobgoblins, and low on hit points, but figured he probably had a couple more than they did. So if he rolled just right, he could take them out without knocking himself out.

And it came close to working, too - his roll took most of the hobgoblins to exactly 0 and staggered. And he was left with about 2 hit points, and just needed to survive any hit-and-collapse attacks the staggered hobgoblins might choose to make...

-Hyp.

 

[StreamOfTheSky]

That, in an of itself, does the bulk of the work of keeping the spell reasonably balanced - at a level where it's liable to wipe out your opponents, it's also liable to wipe out the caster. At the point where you can reasonably expect to survive casting, it's unlikely that it'll kill your opponents outright.

Yeah, I suppose that balances it...if you like a game with such abilities to let a near-defeated character wipe out a whole bunch of others with him cause he's dead anyway. The "suicide bomber" approach. For me, I'd rather avoid that nonsense. Still banning it.

 

[el-remmen]

I find the difficulties in using this spell effectively more than make up for its power.

 

[David Holmes]

massive thing you guys seem to be overlooking in the omg this is to op thing you are in its effect it states all non demons so unless you are a demon which is a fair amount of ecl this is going to punch you too most level 5 clerics arnt going to like being belted about for up to 40 damage by their own spell.

evil is power but it comes at a price good guys dont do like blowing up their own party so are limited to less powefull genrally safer options. the worst you can expect to happen pvp wise in a good party is oh no the rogue took more than his share of loot lets shake him upside down till it falls out. evil parties a the cleric probs wont heal much and b they may just nuke ing everyone with this. also this spell could very well do 2 damage.

 

[ChaosGenerators]

massive thing you guys....

This thread is from 10 years ago! That's some thread necromancy skills