Case Study: Wraithstrike

[Arravis]

Yeah, the problem in my opinion isn't pure casters using it, but rogue/assassins or rogue/wizards, etc. That combo is quite lethal. The way the spell should have been handled is to look at other spells that grant the equivalent to a +4 weapon buff. Wraithstrike is essentially a Brilliant Energy weapon.

 

[Kae'Yoss]

What about a wizard casting persistant wraith strike as a miracle. Of course, there's the whole thing whether miracle allows metamagic.

 

[Mistwell]

Yeah, the problem in my opinion isn't pure casters using it, but rogue/assassins or rogue/wizards, etc. That combo is quite lethal. The way the spell should have been handled is to look at other spells that grant the equivalent to a +4 weapon buff. Wraithstrike is essentially a Brilliant Energy weapon.

For ONE ROUND.

Seriously, what is the big deal about burning one of your very few precious spell slots (which is the situation you face as an assassin or rogue/wizard) to get that benefit for one round?

I really feel this is like the initial response to the Warlock, when so many people said "Oh my gosh, they can use their blast ability ALL DAY! Gads!" only to figure out later with time that the class was quite balanced and actually possibly a but underpowered. It LOOKS powerful on first read, but has ANYONE seen balance in one of their games being thrown off by this thing without some sort of funky additional effect being applied to it (like persistant spell for wraithstrike)?

 

[Thanee]

The only real problem could arise, if you have a melee-capable character with lots of spell slots (i.e. Eldritch Knight would be rather good with the spell).

The question then is, would they be just very good, or rather too good.

Bye
Thanee

 

[RigaMortus2]

What is the actual text for Wraithstrike? And the actual duration that is listed?

 

[Thanee]

Duration is 1 round (can be extended and be made persistent (at which point it would be truely broken )).

While this spell is in effect, your melee attacks are resolved as melee touch attacks rather than normal melee attacks.

(That's not the complete text, but a direct quote from the relevent part.)

Bye
Thanee

 

[Lord Pendragon]

Would Wraithstrike still be a swift action if cast from a Ring of Spell Storing?

 

[Lonely Tylenol]

Would Wraithstrike still be a swift action if cast from a Ring of Spell Storing?

The activation time for the ring is same as the casting time for the relevant spell, with a minimum of 1 standard action.

So, no.

Edit: also:

the casting time of a spell is the time required to activate the same power in an item, regardless of the type of magic item, unless the item description specifically states otherwise.

Activating a spell completion item is a standard action and provokes attacks of opportunity exactly as casting a spell does.

Activating a spell trigger item is a standard action and does not provoke attacks of opportunity.

So that rules out wands, staves, scrolls, and rings of spell storing.

 

[Iku Rex]

Sure, my wizard can hit you with his staff for weak damage. Right before he gets his head chopped off.

15th level (first time you can get persistent wraithstrike) wizard. Draconic polymorph into war troll (MM3, 31+8 Str). +1 skillful greatsword (CArc) made +3 with greater magic weapon. +4 enhancement to Str item. Max Power Attack (+11 BAB).

Each hit does 3d6 + 24 (Str) +22 (Power Attack) + 3 enhancement = 3d6 + 49 damage.

That's an automatic "Death from Massive Damage" save after all hits. Not my idea of "weak damage"... :\

 

[Rystil Arden]

Yeah, the problem in my opinion isn't pure casters using it, but rogue/assassins or rogue/wizards, etc. That combo is quite lethal. The way the spell should have been handled is to look at other spells that grant the equivalent to a +4 weapon buff. Wraithstrike is essentially a Brilliant Energy weapon.

Nope. It's much much better than Brilliant Energy. Because it cuts through Natural Armour. It brings the Great Wyrm Gold Dragon's AC down from 42 to 2!!!!! That's +40 to hit for the whole round as a swift action