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Message: <blockquote data-quote="N'raac" data-source="post: 6688251" data-attributes="member: 6681948">I assume we're moving to an "inspired by" spell, as anything this effective is too high level for the Mouser (a talented apprentice) to cast anyway.It's been a long time since I read the stories, but I seem to recall the spell acted pretty slowly (maybe I am misrecalling).  Maybe the damage should be a small fraction of the total each round, or each turn.  Maybe it's based on the target's spellcaster level, or even his INT, but that takes away the possible "dismiss your spells to slow the damage" effect."It does damage" seems pretty limited. Perhaps it should have other effects.  I'm reminded of the Nightmare spell, 5th level.  Small amounts of damage every day, but the target is fatigued and unable to regain arcane spells.  This spell is both more versatile (target need not be sleeping; probably acts faster) and less versatile (arcane casters only), as well as being slower to kill the target.  But it is a "death from afar" spell, which needs to act slowly to create a race to save the victim.   I don't think "only wizards" should lower the spell level.  It's not a spell you carry every day, but one hauled out for the appropriate target.Nightmare also gives us a possible mechanic limiting the spell, being saves that vary with knowledge of the target.  To Greenfield's point on material components, riffing from the Nightmare spell, perhaps you need that lock of hair, fingernail clipping, etc. for the spell to work on any given target.  Now we have an adventure hook instead of a cash cost.Overall, I don't like "ZAP - save or take huge damage" for this spell.  The source suggested a slow wasting, not a huge, immediate damage hit .The more I think on it, the more I think I have departed from the source material.  But does the game really need a "make a will save or your wizard is done" spell?  Why not just Feeblemind him - same net effect and all casters are affected, arcane ones with a save penalty.  Wow, 5th level spells are unkind to arcane casters...</blockquote>

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