Borrowed Time <Spell Idea>

[Lord Zardoz]

I got bored today, and while my mind drifted, an idea occured to me for a spell. Its not exactly a 'perfectly original' idea, I am sure, but it is one that I think is worth having the various board members here at Enworld pick apart.

Borrowed Time (Wiz / Sor lvl 2)
Necromantic
Duration: 1 hour per level
Range: Touch
Effect: 1d4+1 hp per caster level or 1 point of ability damage per caster level.

This spell has an effect that is only somewhat similar to the typical cure spells. However, as its name implies, its not a substitute, merely a stopgap. This spell will temporarily restore a number of hitpoints for the target, allowing them to function as if they were healed normally. However, once the spell expires or is otherwise cancelled, all HP healed by this spell is inflicted as damage.

If a person benefiting from this spell is damaged by a cause wounds spell, then this spell will be cancelled. Multiple castings of this spell are not cumulative, the recipient benefits only from the higher total.

A person who would be brought to zero hp or less by cancelling this spell may make a DC 20 fortitude save to remain at 1 hp.

Any criticisms / suggestions?

END COMMUNICATION

 

[Kalanyr]

Examing the on par cleric spell which heals 2d8 + 1/level (cap at 10), I'd suggest the following: (changed the dice to a static number since its easier to remember since it may need to be removed). I'd also ask the following does cause wounds have the same effect on someone benefitting from the Ability restoration function of this spell and if so why ?

Borrowed Time (Wiz / Sor lvl 2)
Necromantic
Duration: 1 hour per level
Range: Touch
Effect: 6 + 1 hp per caster (maximum of +10) level or 1 point of ability damage per caster level (maximum of 10 points of ability damage).

This spell has an effect that is only somewhat similar to the typical cure spells. However, as its name implies, its not a substitute, merely a stopgap. This spell will temporarily restore a number of hitpoints for the target, allowing them to function as if they were healed normally. However, once the spell expires or is otherwise cancelled, all HP healed by this spell is inflicted as damage.

If a person benefiting from this spell is damaged by a cause wounds spell, then this spell will be cancelled. Multiple castings of this spell are not cumulative, the recipient benefits only from the higher total.

A person who would be brought to zero hp or less by cancelling this spell may make a DC 20 fortitude save to remain at 1 hp.

 

[Lord Zardoz]

The Short Answer

Yes, if someone who had a point of ability damage restored by this spell, they would suffer the ability damage once again when the spell ends.

The basic idea I have in mind for this spell is that it does a really lousy job of keeping someone healthy. The cause wounds bit is something that just makes sense to me on that basis.

Also, I like the idea of not having the spell become too effective by having open ended dice on a per level basis. So...

Borrowed Time (Wiz / Sor lvl 2)
Necromantic
Duration: 1 hour per level
Range: Touch
Effect: 1d4+ 1 hp per 4 caster levels (maximum of 5d4+5) or 1 point of ability damage per 4 caster levels (maximum of 5 points of ability damage).

This spell has an effect that is only somewhat similar to the typical cure spells. However, as its name implies, its not a substitute, merely a stopgap. This spell will temporarily restore a number of hitpoints for the target, allowing them to function as if they were healed normally. However, once the spell expires or is otherwise cancelled, all HP healed by this spell is inflicted as damage.

If a person benefiting from this spell is damaged by a cause wounds spell, then this spell will be cancelled. Multiple castings of this spell are not cumulative, the recipient benefits only from the higher total.

A person who would be brought to zero hp or less by cancelling this spell may make a DC 20 fortitude save to remain at 1 hp.

 

[Prothall]

Interesting. Change "cause wounds" to "inflict" and it looks nice, pretty, and official. Also nice would be something to the tune of "This spell is one way to cheat the reaper, but there's no escaping it when your time is up." Only perhaps, shall we say, better.