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[3.5] scorching ray?
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<blockquote data-quote="Technik4" data-source="post: 1024793" data-attributes="member: 7211"><p><strong>A tale of 3 flames</strong></p><p></p><p>Ok, to compare 3 fire spells: Flaming Sphere, Scorching Ray, Aganazzer's Scorcher.</p><p></p><p>All 2nd level, all evocations, all fire descriptors (Aganazzer's Scorcher can be found in FRCS).</p><p></p><p>-The Max-</p><p>This is the most damage eah spell could deal out.</p><p></p><p>Flaming Sphere: 40d6 (potential)</p><p>Scorching Ray: 12d6</p><p>Aganazzer's Scorcher: 5d8 (Line Area Attack)</p><p></p><p>So clearly Flaming Sphere has the greatest potential, but it would also take 20 rounds, 20 failed reflex saves, and 19 move-equivelant actions to do that much damage. If you hit at least 2 people with Aganazzer's Scorcher you've got a chance for 10d8, but its also got a reflex save. Scorching Ray has no reflex save, but it requires a ranged touch. At high levels, there are more ranged touch attacks to fail (or critical), but this is true of the other spells (basically, because of saves more chances for the spell to fail - if the defender rolls a 20).</p><p></p><p>-The Min-</p><p>This is the damage each spell does when it is acquired at 3rd level.</p><p></p><p>Flaming Sphere: 6d6 (potential)</p><p>Scorching Ray: 4d6</p><p>Aganazzer's Scorcher: 3d8 (Line Area Attack)</p><p></p><p>Flaming Sphere requires 3 rounds, 2 extra move-equivelants, and 3 saves to do 6d6, but its range is medium. Scorching Ray is a a simple rta, so only 1 chance of failing. Aganazzer's Scorcher is a line effect, so it will always "hit", but because of reflex saves and evasion sometimes it will have no effect (or half effect).</p><p></p><p>They are all affected by SR, which hurts especially in the case of Flaming Sphere (rolling SR every round). At this point I fully believe flaming sphere should be a conjuration. You are "summoning" a ball of fire, then wielding it for rounds to come. While its damage potential is usually higher than the other spells, the time involved makes it unwieldy.</p><p></p><p>Scorching Ray is nice for pegging rogues and monks since Evasion isn't a factor. Its harder to nail wizards and other magicked up opponents however. Aganazzer's Scorcher is a 2nd level area effect spell, which makes it powerful right off the bat. As a 4th level wizard or sorceror, you can't do any better for damage (4d8) and this lasts until 7th level when scorching ray gets another ray. Even then, A.S. is still potentially more powerful, as it has the same range but affects a line worth of enemies.</p><p></p><p>Of course, know we may be wondering if Aganazzer's Scorcher is too good for a 2nd level spell... On another note, anyone use Flaming Sphere as a Conjuration?</p><p></p><p>Technik</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Technik4, post: 1024793, member: 7211"] [b]A tale of 3 flames[/b] Ok, to compare 3 fire spells: Flaming Sphere, Scorching Ray, Aganazzer's Scorcher. All 2nd level, all evocations, all fire descriptors (Aganazzer's Scorcher can be found in FRCS). -The Max- This is the most damage eah spell could deal out. Flaming Sphere: 40d6 (potential) Scorching Ray: 12d6 Aganazzer's Scorcher: 5d8 (Line Area Attack) So clearly Flaming Sphere has the greatest potential, but it would also take 20 rounds, 20 failed reflex saves, and 19 move-equivelant actions to do that much damage. If you hit at least 2 people with Aganazzer's Scorcher you've got a chance for 10d8, but its also got a reflex save. Scorching Ray has no reflex save, but it requires a ranged touch. At high levels, there are more ranged touch attacks to fail (or critical), but this is true of the other spells (basically, because of saves more chances for the spell to fail - if the defender rolls a 20). -The Min- This is the damage each spell does when it is acquired at 3rd level. Flaming Sphere: 6d6 (potential) Scorching Ray: 4d6 Aganazzer's Scorcher: 3d8 (Line Area Attack) Flaming Sphere requires 3 rounds, 2 extra move-equivelants, and 3 saves to do 6d6, but its range is medium. Scorching Ray is a a simple rta, so only 1 chance of failing. Aganazzer's Scorcher is a line effect, so it will always "hit", but because of reflex saves and evasion sometimes it will have no effect (or half effect). They are all affected by SR, which hurts especially in the case of Flaming Sphere (rolling SR every round). At this point I fully believe flaming sphere should be a conjuration. You are "summoning" a ball of fire, then wielding it for rounds to come. While its damage potential is usually higher than the other spells, the time involved makes it unwieldy. Scorching Ray is nice for pegging rogues and monks since Evasion isn't a factor. Its harder to nail wizards and other magicked up opponents however. Aganazzer's Scorcher is a 2nd level area effect spell, which makes it powerful right off the bat. As a 4th level wizard or sorceror, you can't do any better for damage (4d8) and this lasts until 7th level when scorching ray gets another ray. Even then, A.S. is still potentially more powerful, as it has the same range but affects a line worth of enemies. Of course, know we may be wondering if Aganazzer's Scorcher is too good for a 2nd level spell... On another note, anyone use Flaming Sphere as a Conjuration? Technik [/QUOTE]
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[3.5] scorching ray?
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