TwoSix
Dirty, realism-hating munchkin powergamer
Considering the amount of debate and discussion around this spell online, I wouldn't be surprised if a lot of people are avoiding it like, well, the plague.
D&D 5E The Contagion Spell
- Thread starter Celtavian
- Start date
Probably so. I expect this to be one of the few spells that gets specific errata. I hope they don't make it weak.
Well, then, neither is the proposed rewrite of contagion. I mean, now we're just arguing semantics.
The definition I've been using for "plot spell" is that it's a spell which is used outside of combat, to shape events on a scale of days, weeks, or years. The defining trait of a plot spell is that its value in a straight-up dungeon crawl is almost nil; you need a larger plot for it to matter. Sequester is a great example of a plot spell.
If you don't like "plot spell" as a term for this kind of thing, then feel free to choose a different term.
ThirdWizard
First Post
Not plot in reference to "the plot of a book" but plot in reference to "my character is plotting something."
Hope that helps.
FormerlyHemlock
Hero
Le sigh. That's what I get for trying to be punny.
Plot (noun): a plan made in secret by a group of people to do something illegal or harmful.
My PC definitely does plot with Bestow Curse, and would undoubtedly plot with Contagion (as revised by Dausuul) as well. In some ways it would be even better than the PHB Contagion because it can spread through a whole city under the right circumstances.
This is a thread necro but just wanted to say thanks for this idea. I agree that contagion is OP as written, and I think this makes a good attempt to change the spell from a combat one to a large scale true "plague" type spell.
That said, I will probably need to create some counter disease spell of equal power. Else, all you need is a few 17th level clerics in a world and that world would be plagued with endless disease of a scale that you could not overcome. Then again....sounds like a good plot
tomBitonti
Adventurer
That's an interesting idea! It definitely opens a lot of story possibilities.
It might affect the thralls before it affects the illithid's. Which would harm the illithids -- eventually. But using disease in this fashion seems evil. (If the use poison is evil, then I'd expect the use of disease to be as well.) Seems like a classic question of ends vs means.
But I'd not want to use a goblin: There is every possibility that to goblin will wander off and never reaches the citadel. Then adventurers clearing out a nearby nest of goblins bring the disease back to town. The possibility of unintended consequences seems pretty high. But even with more determined creatures than goblins, the possibility of a misfire seems high.
Of course, if it did work, the illithids should have no hard time figuring out what was done, and have a reprisal to the players. While, of course, they raided town to replenish their herd of thralls ...
Thx!
TomB
CapnZapp
Legend
It's now 2018 and we finally have a Druid high level enough to make this an issue.
CapnZapp
Legend
Ok, so far no real good solutions offered.
Turning the spell into a plot spell gives the same practical results as banning it.
The few suggestions of easy tweaks all seem to result in the spell becoming just bad enough not to get used.
Rewriting it entirely is maybe a solution but I'm not really interested - I want a minimal change that retains the player's interest level, yet removes the "I win" button.
Turning the spell into a plot spell gives the same practical results as banning it.
The few suggestions of easy tweaks all seem to result in the spell becoming just bad enough not to get used.
Rewriting it entirely is maybe a solution but I'm not really interested - I want a minimal change that retains the player's interest level, yet removes the "I win" button.
jaelis
Oh this is where the title goes?
How about:
- The disease effects occur immediately when the target is hit
- Whenever the target makes a save, the effects are suppressed for one round
- Slimy Doom is removed as an option
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