Create Water... Too Powerful?

[ideasmith]

Note to self: If I really want thirst to be an issue, don't let low-level water descriptor spells work in that desert. Come up with a reason that sounds good, probably involving one or more deities. Make sure the PCs (and players) hear the story before they reach the desert.

 

[Volaran]

Note to self: If I really want thirst to be an issue, don't let low-level water descriptor spells work in that desert. Come up with a reason that sounds good, probably involving one or more deities. Make sure the PCs (and players) hear the story before they reach the desert.

Weak connection to the plane of water, or strong connection to the plane of fire...or both. You can even use that as the explanation for why deserts exist.

 

[Thazar]

Weak connection to the plane of water, or strong connection to the plane of fire...or both. You can even use that as the explanation for why deserts exist.

Basically set it up as a caster level check or spell resistance of the environment. (Just like you have to when casting fireball underwater) Let the players know that in your world some locations make it hard to cast some spells.

You can use this rule in many locations when you want to make it a "Little" harder to do something. That way the average smuck NPC will fail, and the players are hero's for being able to cast Protection From Cold at the north pole or create water in Death Valley.

 

[James Jacobs]

Create Water doesn't create nearly enough water to flood deserts... but in hindsight, I really wish we'd upped it to be a 2nd level spell, because it IS a pretty disruptive spell to allow as a cantrip one can cast at will. And upping it to 2nd level gives folks two levels to play with "lost in the desert" adventures.

That said... if you have a character capable of casting the spell in your campaign, and if you haven't houseruled it up to a 2nd level spell or something, it's important NOT to "steal your players' toys." In the OP's situation, I'd go ahead and just stop tracking dehydration entirely and focus more on two other elements of survival—food and shelter. That's more or less the route I took for "Souls for Smuggler's Shiv," an adventure I wrote with PCs getting stranded on a deserted tropical island. Having to scrounge for food and shelter is, as far as feedback has indicated, more than enough to get across the survival themes without resorting to thirst as well.

 

[Scott DeWar]

Create Water doesn't create nearly enough water to flood deserts .. .. .. ..*snip* .. .. .. ..That's more or less the route I took for "Souls for Smuggler's Shiv," an adventure I wrote with PCs getting stranded on a deserted tropical island. Having to scrounge for food and shelter is, as far as feedback has indicated, more than enough to get across the survival themes without resorting to thirst as well.

I am playing in that module/adventure path here on En World (Gndalfmirandir the dm) and i have seen no one with create water at this time. it is not looking too good either. I took a pead at Mowgli's game and it looked as if no one had that orison either.