Beholder's Ray Attacks

[Oryan77]

I have a gentlemans agreement in my game that I won't use Save-or-Die spells on the PC's as long as they don't use them on NPC's.

I will be using a Beholder for the first time in the game. What would be a good spell I could swap out with the Finger of Death spell? I may keep the Disintegrate spell in case it uses the spell on something other than a PC. But if anyone has a good idea for a spell to swap with Disintegrate; I'm open to suggestions.

Will this have any real affect on the game?

 

[Corsair]

Empowered Enervation.

 

[Caliban]

How about changing them to "Save or be at -8". That way they are still scary, but don't immediately kill the character, and you don't have to remember what spells you swapped them for.

 

[Oryan77]

Empowered Enervation.

Good idea, that could work well. I also use the Spell Compendium if there's anything better in there.

 

[accipiter]

How about changing them to "Save or be at -8". That way they are still scary, but don't immediately kill the character, and you don't have to remember what spells you swapped them for.

That's an interesting idea! I'm not a big fan of save or die spells myself, but I haven't had one come up yet as my players are just short of third level.

I wonder what the ramifications would be of a tweak like that?

 

[blargney the second]

How about changing them to "Save or be at -8". That way they are still scary, but don't immediately kill the character, and you don't have to remember what spells you swapped them for.

Save Or Brink is what I like as well.
-blarg

 

[darthkilmor]

I will be using a Beholder for the first time in the game. What would be a good spell I could swap out with the Finger of Death spell?

Some other 7th lvl spell? mass hold person or forcecage would be my pick. Incapaciation can be frustrating but better than dead.

 

[punkorange]

I'm in the save or dying boat. It still captures the feel of the spell without making it as harsh.

 

[phindar]

I always liked Save or Dies leave a character at 0 hp. It's still scary, but its not a deal-breaker.

 

[frankthedm]

Maximised enervation.

Save or Die is important at higher level because the parties lives are a part of thier resourses at high level play.