D&D 5E Phantasmal Killer

[GX.Sigma]

I think the idea is that the target takes the damage at the start of their turn, then saves at the end (just like 4e). At least, that's how I'm going to run it.

Edit: According to the updated text, that's not how it works. Oh well. I still like my version better.

 

[I'm A Banana]

Where do you get the initial 4d10 damage? I didn't see anything in the errata about the damage occurring at any time other than if the end-of-turn saves are missed.

Ah, my bad, I didn't link the damage to the save, I linked it to the start of the turn, so the save would just be for the persistence. As written, I think you've got it.

 

[CapnZapp]

Could we please have the full, errataed, text.

As in not the change. The full, errataed, text.

Thank you.

 

[emeraldury]

It's not weaker. Even if the target successfully makes the second save, they still spend a turn frightened. As in: Cannot move closer to the caster and takes disadvantage on all attack rolls as long as they're within line of sight of the caster. Previously if they had made the second save, they would have suffered no appreciable ill effects (except for disadvantage on any attacks of opportunity made after failing the initial save but before the beginning of their next turn).

Okay, i understand that the author thought Frightened is that good and that it now stays 1round on a failed save. I just looked up the spells that apply Frightened and realized, that there is only a few of them (although Level 1 Wrathful Smite does it just as easily).
I personally don't think Frightened alone (you really won't get the damage ever) is worth a Level 4 slot, especially since someone with an ability that targets a save can just ignore it (wack you ranged or simply someone else). And if the target has some way to damage the caster or some allies that could do so, there now is even one+ more chance to avoid the damage by breaking concentration.

Compare that to Dissonant Whispers: more damage (because of half damage on successful save), instant application of it and forcing opportunity attacks, too. If the target has no ranged attack, it won't be able to attack the caster during the next round, too, because it will be to far away. And it's Level 1, so you can to it with lower slots.

I hoped that i was stupid and missed something that would have made Phantasmal Kill worth it. I guess it will be the Fireball - again.

Thank you for your input!

 

[bmcdaniel]

Could we please have the full, errataed, text.

As in not the change. The full, errataed, text.

Thank you.

Here is the full text including errata


Phantasmal Killer
4th-level illusion
Casting Time: 1 action
Range: 120 feet
Components: V, S
Duration: Concentration, up to 1 minute
You tap into the nightmares of a creature you
can see within range and create an illusory
manifestation of its deepest fears, visible only to that creature. The target must make a Wisdom saving throw. On a failed save, the target becomes frightened for the duration and takes 4d10 psychic
damage at the beginning of its turns. At the end of its turn, the target makes a Wisdom saving throw.
On a successful save, the spell ends.
At Higher Levels...


Seems obvious to me that if the tartegt fails its initial saving throw (ie the one on the casters turn) it will be frightened at least one round and take at least 4d10 damage.

 

[CapnZapp]

Yes, the confusion was, as I expected, entirely due to looking at bits and pieces separate from the whole.

Thanks

 

[Mouseferatu]

Yep. I hadn't seen the full text of the errata. I'd only seen--and only knew of the existence of--the correction which said the target makes its save at the end of the turn, not the start.

I appreciate the clarification, and feel a lot better about the spell.

 

[Shadowdweller00]

Okay, i understand that the author thought Frightened is that good and that it now stays 1round on a failed save. I just looked up the spells that apply Frightened and realized, that there is only a few of them (although Level 1 Wrathful Smite does it just as easily).
I personally don't think Frightened alone (you really won't get the damage ever) is worth a Level 4 slot, especially since someone with an ability that targets a save can just ignore it (wack you ranged or simply someone else). And if the target has some way to damage the caster or some allies that could do so, there now is even one+ more chance to avoid the damage by breaking concentration.

Well...I said that the errata didn't make the spell weaker; I did not say that Phantasmal Killer is a good spell

 

[GX.Sigma]

Here is the full text including errata

...

The target must make a Wisdom saving throw. On a failed save, the target becomes frightened for the duration and takes 4d10 psychic
damage at the beginning of its turns. At the end of its turn, the target makes a Wisdom saving throw.
On a successful save, the spell ends.

What is your source? I'm looking at the original PHB and the SRD, and they both read as follows:

The target must make a Wisdom saving throw. On a failed save, the target becomes frightened for the duration. At the [start/end] of each of the target’s turns before the spell ends, the target must succeed on a Wisdom saving throw or take 4d10 psychic damage. On a successful save, the spell ends.

 

[FormerlyHemlock]

Hmmm. Looks like I misread the errata. That's unfortunate--looks like they made a bad fix. Should be "at the start of its turn... take 4d10 damage... at end of turn, save vs. Wisdom to end the spell."

But that isn't what they wrote at all. Unless someone has a revised copy of the PHB? Is that what bcmcdaniel was quoting from?