Arcane Searing Light?

[Darklone]

Would Searing Light (e.g. compared to Scorching Ray) be suitable as a 2nd level arcane spell? Or would it be too strong?

 

[Merlion]

I would think it'd be fine..

 

[Geoff Watson]

It's a bit on the strong side; with no energy type it's hard to stop.

I'd reduce the range to Close, or add a save for half damage, if you want it at 2nd level.

Geoff.

 

[Khaalis]

I agree with Geoff on that. As is - I think Arcane 3rd, or need to give a better defense to the spell to keep it at second.

 

[Nifft]

Here's a thought: since it's light, let it be defeated by Invisibility -- even if you can see the target, you can only hit them if they're visible.

-- N

 

[Darklone]

I tend to handle it like Flamestrike... E.g. Fire resistance may beat half of it.

 

[the Jester]

I don't think searing light is suited to be an arcane spell because I think it has a very specific, very 'cleric' flavor.

 

[Darklone]

I don't think searing light is suited to be an arcane spell because I think it has a very specific, very 'cleric' flavor.

That's one of the various reasons why I put it into the houserules section

I'm not that keen on enforcing the divine/arcane stuff in my games, I'm still annoyed that the best D&D necromancer is a cleric.

 

[Merlion]

I agree Dark.

Searing Light does not have "Cleric flavour". Clerics are supposedly priests, and therefore should have the flavour of their patron god. It does have "Cleric of Pelor" flavour. But, since its on the base cleric spell list a cleric of a god of darkness, like Nerul or Shar could use it just as well. Which I find silly. Of course I find pretty much everything about the cleric class silly, especialy as far as spell selection.

I also contend that if Searing Light is too good, mechanically, to be a 2nd level Wizard/Sorcerer spell (which I dont actually think it is) it would also be to good to be a 3rd level Cleric spell, since the idea is that Clerics have much lesser magical damage dealing powers. Supposedly.