2 new spells

[shadyizok]

Hey guys, I'm playing a wizard right now and I feel like I want to augment my spell list with some homebrewn spells.
The first spell I want is basicly the counterpart of unluck from the spell compendium. The other is a spell version of the Retributive Spell feat from complete mage, because it I think it sucks to have to blow a feat on something like that. I'dd love to get your guys input on possible tweaks and/or spell lvl.

LUCK
Divination
Level: Bard 3, sorcerer/wizard 3
Components: V, S, M
Casting Time: 1 standard action
Range: Close (25 ft. + 5 ft./2 levels)
Target: One creature
Duration: 1 round/level
Saving Throw: Will negates (harmless)
Spell Resistance: Yes (harmless)
Mumbling a blessing of good luck, you fling a penny at your target. The penny dissipates harmlessly as soon as it leaves your hand, and the sound of rolling dice is perceptible for an instant.
When you cast this spell, you positively influence the randomness of fortune for the target. Whenever the affected creature undertakes an action involving random chance (specifically, whenever any die roll is made for the creature, including attack rolls, damage rolls, and saving throws), two separate rolls are made and the best result applied.
A creature carrying a stone of good luck is immune to the effect of luck.
Material Component: A penny (copper piece).


Surtur’s Retributive Spell
Abjuration
Level: Sorcerer/Wizard 3
Components: V, S, M, F
Casting Time: At least 10 minutes; see text
Range: Personal
Target: You
Duration: 1 hour/level (D) or until discharged

When you finish casting the spell you feel a tingling sensation creeping all over your skin and a feeling of security falls over you.
You can place another spell upon your person so that it comes into effect when a foe causes you harm. The Retributive Spell and the companion spell are cast at the same time. The 10-minute casting time is the minimum total for both castings; if the companion spell has a casting time longer than 10 minutes, use that instead.
Any time you are dealt damage by a melee attack during the duration of the Retributive Spell you can choose to cast the companion spell on that attacker as an immediate action. Once activated, a retributive spell disappears.
The companion spell to be brought into effect by the Retributive Spell must be one that targets a creature (the spell can target only the attacker that triggered it, even if the spell would normally allow you to target multiple creatures).
You can have only one retributive spell cast at a time. Casting a second retributive spell cancels the first (eliminating it with no effect). If you prepare or ready spells while you have a retributive spell cast, the spell dissipates with no effect.

Material Component: That of the companion spell, plus a drop of your own blood.
Focus: A small ivory statuette that resembles you (for example if you are a human it must be humanoid shaped) decorated with mystic runes and gems (worth at least 300gp).


Any thoughts?

 

[Dandu]

Seems ok.

 

[shadyizok]

Personnaly I'm doubting if luck should be lvl 4 or not. I know it's counterpart is lvl 3 and that these type of spells are always the same lvl as long as the harmfull one gets a save (haste-slow; cure-inflict) but still... The luck one is the most importent one, I wanna make that one first so any thoughts would be nice.

 

[Dandu]

One consideration is that enemies must make will saves with Unluck, while allies do not need to make saves from Luck.

I still think it's fine at level 3 though.

 

[Jhaelen]

The LUCK spell is completely broken as written. Consider the Second Chance power:

You take a hand in influencing the probable outcomes of your immediate environment. You see the many alternative branches that reality could take in the next few seconds, and with this foreknowledge you gain the ability to reroll one attack roll, one saving throw, one ability check, or one skill check each round. You must take the result of the reroll, even if it’s worse than the original roll. You do not have to make another roll if satisfied with your original roll

It is 5th level and strictly worse than your proposal:
- you don't get to roll twice and take the better one, you only get a reroll (which might be worse than the initial roll)
- you only get to do this for a single roll each round for the power's duration

Surtur’s Retributive Spell is obviously (intended to be) a (slightly) weaker version of Contingency which is a sixth level spell.
However it's both stronger and weaker than Contingency:
+ you get to choose if the companion spell is cast or not
+ there is no limit to the companion spell's level
+ it works in addition to a Contingency spell
- it requires an immediate action
- you don't get to freely define a trigger
- the choice of the companion spell is more limited

I definitely wouldn't allow it as written. At the very least the companion spell level must be limited. Given the precedent it cannot have a lower level than 4.

 

[shadyizok]

The LUCK spell is completely broken as written. Consider the Second Chance power:

It is 5th level and strictly worse than your proposal:
- you don't get to roll twice and take the better one, you only get a reroll (which might be worse than the initial roll)
- you only get to do this for a single roll each round for the power's duration

Surtur’s Retributive Spell is obviously (intended to be) a (slightly) weaker version of Contingency which is a sixth level spell.
However it's both stronger and weaker than Contingency:
+ you get to choose if the companion spell is cast or not
+ there is no limit to the companion spell's level
+ it works in addition to a Contingency spell
- it requires an immediate action
- you don't get to freely define a trigger
- the choice of the companion spell is more limited

I definitely wouldn't allow it as written. At the very least the companion spell level must be limited. Given the precedent it cannot have a lower level than 4.

I can see how second chance is a lot less good then my Luck spell, but wouldn't that make unluck a rather broken spell aswell? Why is that one not so broken?

About Surtur’s Retributive Spell, that is a good point, limiting the spell lvl of the companion spell. How about I make the companion spell lvl 3 or lower and Surtur’s Retributive Spell lvl 4. Would that be more fair?

 

[Dandu]

Honestly, I think you should post these spells on the BG House Rules and Creations subforum and see what they think.

 

[Dandu]

Hm. Noticed that Retributive Spell is third level. Thought it was fourth. You might want to consider bumping it up to fourth.

 

[Jhaelen]

I can see how second chance is a lot less good then my Luck spell, but wouldn't that make unluck a rather broken spell aswell? Why is that one not so broken?

I don't have the Spell Compendium, so, I can only guess what makes it balanced. Does it allow a save to negate the effect and does Spell Resistance apply?
If it doesn't it's quite possible that it is too strong for its level.

About Surtur’s Retributive Spell, that is a good point, limiting the spell lvl of the companion spell. How about I make the companion spell lvl 3 or lower and Surtur’s Retributive Spell lvl 4. Would that be more fair?

That's definitely better, yes.