3.5 Call Lightning

[Staffan]

It would have been nice if they just canceled the requirement of stormy weather (as they did with this spell) and left the rest untouched.

You do realize that the 3.0 spell gave you one bolt per 10 minutes and took forever to cast, right? 10 minutes = 100 rounds, which made the 3.0 spell worthless.

 

[Elvinis75]

I would have let them call down one for an attack action rather then a standard action however it still can be used outdoor to deliver attacks while the player is hidden in animal form.

 

[ForceUser]

You do realize that the 3.0 spell gave you one bolt per 10 minutes and took forever to cast, right? 10 minutes = 100 rounds, which made the 3.0 spell worthless.

Worthless in your standard D&D combat encounter. It has its uses though, for a clever player. Still, given the choice, I'll take the 3.5 version.

 

[youspoonybard]

Produce flame is a level 1 spell now.

Yay. Still, my money's on Call Lightning.

It seems like the Druid is the best at wearing things down. Kinda like Nature, huh?

 

[dagger]

With Energy Substitution Acid or Sonic this really rocks.

 

[Nightfall]

Well now my druids of Lethene don't have to wait until they can control weather to cast the darn thing. Good for them!

 

[AuraSeer]

The spell doesn't damage as quickly as a flame strike or other standard attack spell, but it does more damage overall. The total is 15d6 at minimum caster level, and is capped at 30d6. This could be very useful with the right tactics. For instance, sneak up on the enemy caravan (or guard post or whatever), fire a bolt, then fade into the trees and come around from a different direction. Or wild shape into a sparrow, and hide in the foliage.

This version fits my vision of druids as clever, sneaky foes, who prefer tactics and preparation over brute force. I like it.

 

[JacktheRabbit]

What I want to know is if you can cast the spell multiple times to have several active call lightnings.. then you walk into your enemies camp and wham! 4 lightning bolts per round for 3d6. could be nasty. (granted, it takes 4 3rd level spell slots, so its good and bad. if you got a decent amount of time to prep, blast away! heck, burn all your 3rd level and 4th level slots, lets say 8 active.... hmmm

Wouldnt this be disallowed under the simple rule that like effects do not stack? Casting the spell a second time I would expect would merely extend the duration and reset the number of bolts you can call down to number equal to your level.

 

[ForceUser]

Well now my druids of Lethene don't have to wait until they can control weather to cast the darn thing. Good for them!

Another option with the 3.0 call lightning is to use a weather eye spell once per week to determine when appropriate weather's coming, then just prepare call lightning on those days.

 

[JacktheRabbit]

With Energy Substitution Acid or Sonic this really rocks.

While its technically legal per the rules would you really allow energy substitution in this case?

You are not creating the lightning. You are directing it out of existing storm clouds.