Arcane Spell Research

[pogre]

Greetings,

I have been looking through the SRD and cannot find rules on creating new spells. Could you lend me some guidance?

I have a PC who wishes to create a Mass Grease spell that affects more people and a greater area. What level would be appropriate for such a spell? 3rd? 4th? higher? How long would it take to research?

The second spell he wants combines three second level spells - all buffs. What level spell should this be? 5th, 6th, or 7th? How long would this spell take to research?

I know some of this info is in the DMG, but it is not available to me right at this instance. Any help you can give me is greatly appreciated!

 

[nittanytbone]

For a mass grease spell, he could just use metamagic. So, I would find the appropriate metamagic feat, in this case, it seems like widen spell (+3 levels). I would take the original spell level (1) + the metamagic adjustment (3) + one level to represent it being inferior to having the feat (1). So, uber grease would be a 5th level spell. Definitely not overpowered.

For a spell effect that combines multiple spells, my general rule of thumb is to add all the spell levels together and then add one. So, an uber buff that does Bull's Str, Bear's Con, and Cat's Grace all at once would be (2+2+2+1) for a 7th level spell.

Now, that's not "RAW" or anything but I think they are good guidelines for making sure that new spells aren't more powerful than the given ones, especially when dealing with non-HP damage type spells.

 

[Storm Raven]

Greetings,

I have been looking through the SRD and cannot find rules on creating new spells. Could you lend me some guidance?

I have a PC who wishes to create a Mass Grease spell that affects more people and a greater area. What level would be appropriate for such a spell? 3rd? 4th? higher? How long would it take to research?

Compare it in area an effect to other area based spells. It would probably not be as effective as fireball, because it deals no damage, unless it had a really big area of effect. I'd say it sounds like something like solid fog, except it does not obscure sight, and doesn't have as severe movment penalties. I'd peg this at 2nd level, or 3rd level at the outside.

The second spell he wants combines three second level spells - all buffs. What level spell should this be? 5th, 6th, or 7th? How long would this spell take to research?

I'd compare this spells to spells like mass bear's endurance in terms of power. Those spells are 6th level, which seems about right.

 

[TheGogmagog]

Greetings,
I have been looking through the SRD and cannot find rules on creating new spells. Could you lend me some guidance?

The level portion is up to the DM, I would use the addition of metamagic as a basis for the mass grease. Mass chain lighning is an example of that where there is not an additional +1 as nittanytbone suggested for fourth level. You can also compare to effectiveness of similar level spells. In that case I agree with Storm Raven that it's closer on par with solid fog, which is also 4th level.

For the three buffs, I agree with nittanybone, adding the three 2nd level spells and add 1 for the ability to effectivly cast three spells in one round. To compare with like spells you have the mass buffs 6th level, Righteous Might (+4,+2,DR/3-9,size) 5th level. If you have third party books like visage of the deity and whatnot, I'd consider it 6th level. If you are more core, I would stick with 7th level.

The second part that I couldn't find in SRD either is the cost and time to do research. Anyone see in the DMG? While we are at it, a poster in another thread commented that the player does not find out the level or acceptability of a spell until the time and money was sent. Hopefully the DMG doesn't support that idea.

 

[irdeggman]

Researching Original Spells (DMG pg 198)

1,000 gp per week.

1 week per spell level

Character makes a Spellcraft DC 10 + spell level made at the end of the research time.

Don't tell the player whether you (the DM) think the spell is viable when research begins. (That is the point of research).

 

[pogre]

Thank you friends! I appreciate your help very much! It is so nice to have a venue like this to bounce questions around with fellow players and GMs.