A few New Spells for critique

[Galethorn]

Ever been bored with fireball? Ever think it wasn't enough of an explosion? Well, I did, and here's what I've come up with. They go along with my own version of the UA generic classes, hence the "SplX" instead of "Sor/WisX".

Explosion
Evocation [Fire]
Level: Spl3
Components: V, S
Casting Time: 1 standard action
Range: Medium (100 ft. +10 ft./level)
Area: 20-ft.-radius sphere
Duration: Instantaneous
Saving Throw: See Text
Spell Resistance: Yes

An Explosion spell causes a massive, thundering explosion at a designated point.
This explosion does 4d6 points of fire damage, and an additional
1d6 points of sonic damage per two levels (to a maximum of 8d6).

On a successful reflex save, the defender takes only half of the fire damage
and a successful fortitude save halves the sonic damage. A character that fails
a DC10 strength check is thrown five feet (one square) away from the
epicenter of the explosion, and falls prone. Any character that fails the fortitude
save vs. sonic damage is stunned and deafened for 1d4 rounds.

Greater Explosion
Evocation [Fire]
Level: Spl6
Components: V, S
Casting Time: 1 standard action
Range: Medium (100 ft. +10 ft./level)
Area: 40-ft.-radius sphere
Duration: Instantaneous
Saving Throw: See Text
Spell Resistance: Yes

As Explosion, but 8d6 fire, and 1d6 sonic per single level (to a maximum of 15d6).
The strength check DC increases to 20, and the distance thrown is 15 feet (three squares).
_________________________

So, how do those sound? Are the levels about right? I tried to balance the first one with fireball...the second one...well...who knows. I'm not sure exactly what level it should be.

 

[Galethorn]

Here's another. I'm too lazy to format it any more than it is...

Cone of Force
Evocation
Level: Spl?
Components: V, S
Casting Time: 1 standard action
Range: 30ft.
Area: Cone-shaped burst
Duration: Instantaneous
Saving Throw: No
Spell Resistance: Yes

When you cast Cone of Force, a powerful burst of light (red,
orange, yellow, green, blue, purple, or white—your choice) radiates
forward from your outstretched hand, damaging all creatures within
the cone. The blast is a force effect (like magic missile), and
therefore is not subject to a saving throw or energy resistance.

This burst does 1d8+1 points of force damage per two
levels, to a maximum of 6d8+6 at level 12.

 

[Galethorn]

Well, since nobody is saying anything, I'll start by adding my ideas for changes.

Explosion ought to be level 4, Greater should be level 7, and Cone of Force should be about...oh...let's say...level 3.

So, does that sound any better?

 

[rkanodia]

Cone of force averages {4.5 * 6 + 8 =} 35 points of damage at 12th level... the same as fireball. I'd kick that up to 4th level, since Force damage is just so much better than fire damage, even if the area of effect is trickier to use.

 

[the Jester]

They look pretty good (at 4/7/4 level).

Nice work.

 

[Galethorn]

Hmm, you're added 8 instead of 6...it's actually 33 average...at a higher level (12) than fireball reaches its highest (10). Maybe I should drop the +1...so it would just be 6d8 at 12th level? That way at level 10 it's only 5d8 (average of 22) when fireball does 10d6 to an average of 35. Would that make it work better as a level 3 spell?

Compared to fireball: less damage, harder to 'aim' to maximum effect, and it gets to maximum damage two levels higher.

 

[the Jester]

But it's still a force effect. Honestly, if you want it at third level, I'd change it to d6s and lose the +1/level.

 

[Galethorn]

Well, here's how I look at it...

Magic missile is a level 1 spell. Its minimum damage to a target (once you get up to five missiles) is 10, it's average is 17, and the maximum is 25. My spell does a minimum of 6, an average of 27, and a maximum of 48. So, it does more damage, and effects more targets, provided they actually stand fairly close together. If I dropped it to d6s, then it would be 6 minimum, 21 average, and 36 maximum. That seems kind of...I dunno...crappy for a third level spell. So what if it's a force effect; I wouldn't take that spell over fireball or lightning bolt unless I knew for a fact that the DM was going to include a lot of rogues and wraiths in the campaign.

However, you might want to remember that this would only ever be cast by spontaneous spellcasters, so there isn't the usual problem with spells that have a fairly specific area in which they shine; if you have this spell, it means you don't get fireball or lightning bolt.

 

[rkanodia]

You're right, I should have put 33. Even so, 33 damage with no save and no energy resistance is much, much stronger than 35 damage with a Reflex save and possible damage resistance. You're correct that magic missile can do 25 points of damage, but it also does that damage to only one target.

If you think the 6d6 maximum version of your spell is crappy, compare it to a rather similar spell - ice storm. Ice storm does only a total of 5d6 damage, each of which is subject to some sort of resistance (damage reduction for the impact damage, cold resistance for the cold damage). Your spell would still do more damage than ice storm - a higher-level spell - and be less resistable.

 

[Graywolf-ELM]

I'm gonna suggest these spells for review by our local resident review, and see what he says, in the next couple of weeks. I like the idea behind these.

GW