Creating an Epic Spell HELP!

[sithramir]

All,

My epic character just gained Epic spell casting. I'm trying to create an interesting attack spell for him.

The Spellcraft DC has to be 24 or less. What i'm trying to gain is a spell that doesn't deal normal damage and that isn't stopped by SR if possible (or at least has a very large +caster level to beat SR).

The plans were to have it 1-action and do 46d6 backlash and up to 2000 exp used to cast. I was hoping someone with some epic creation skills would be willing to help me with it.

Basically assume that this spell is used to beat a creature with Damage Reduction and Spell Resistance and that I'll be unable to beat either with normal spell levels.

It's a 3.0 game.

I'm a specialist in abjuration if that matters but i'm basically a

Abjurer3/Cleric3/Mystic Theurge10/Dweormkeeper10/Heirophant1

SO level 27. I'd be willing to take the maximum 54d6 damage possibly if need be to meet the Spellcraft DC 24 but I just lost all my con boosting items and have 198 hps max.

Have fun and enjoy!... I'm going to do some work on it tomorrow but figured i'd post tonight to see if anyone was interested.

 

[Falling Icicle]

The plans were to have it 1-action and do 46d6 backlash and up to 2000 exp used to cast. I was hoping someone with some epic creation skills would be willing to help me with it.

46d6 backlash? As in forty-six six sided dice? Do you have any idea what will happen to your character if you cast that?!

Maybe you should try being a little bit more conservative with your first Epic Spell. You know, something that won't annihilate your character when cast?

 

[James McMurray]

With 198 hit points you cannot kill yourself with the spell at 54d6 if your DM allows using the average dice roll optional rules. Even if he doesn't, the bell curve on 54d6 is so flat you aren't very likely to kill yourself. However, it sounds to me like you don't really care if you kill yourself or not (although you'd rather not).

Are there any other casters in the party that can donate spell slots to a ritual? Two readied actions and 2 9th level spell slots means another -34 to the DC. The 2,000xp cutoff makes me assume you are using a Rod of Excellent Magic. If this is true, I'd seriously think about spending more XP on the casting. Anything you need to use this spell on is likely to be worth quite a bit of XP. Also, if you need the spell for only a single casting (which is what it sounds like) each 100 xp spent on the casting saves you 260xp and 9000gp at crafting time by lowering the DC 1 point.

Destroy Seed: DC 29 (20d6 base)
+11d6 damage: +22 DC
+15 to spell penetration: +30 DC
1 action casting: +20 DC
2 slots donated: -34 DC
3,000xp: -30 DC
54d6 backlash: -54 DC
Increase damage die to d20 (+40 DC)*
Final DC: 23

Your final damage is 31d20 (average 325) and you get +15 versus SR. If you don't have friends that can help and/or can't spend more XP, you'll lose out quite a bit.

You ma want to play around with the numbers a bit, but 10.5 * 20 is better than 3.5 * 40, and I don't have the time to make sure that my assumption si correct that increasing the damage die is always better when you've got 20+ d6 to start with.

Depending on how mich tim you have, you could go the super-chese route and make it a contingent spell activation.This increase the DC by 28, but lets you spend up to 100 days and 10 minutes casting it, for a decrease of up to 220 to the DC. That would add another 106 d20s to the total (average 1,113 damage). Its incredibly cheesy though, and uless your DM is an "everything by the book no matter what" type of person, Idoubt it'll fly. Can't hurt to ask though.

 

[someonebored]

um, why 24? Don't you mean 34 because of the take ten on spellcraft check that you get whenever you cast an epic spell. And I'd be suprised if you didn't have a decent int modification as an epic lvl arcane/divine caster. Honestly I think it's easier just to iinstagib people then to actually damage them in 3.0, so just go with the slay spell seed, up the HD max if you have too, put a +10 into the caster check for beating spell resistance and then just ramp up the DC to insane lvls. With 46d6 backlash, 2000xp and a spellcraft DC of at least 37 (cause you need int to be able to cast all those arcane spells), you should have an instant death spell with a DC in the 40's or 50's. I don't have my book on me so I can't work out the math right now, sorry.

If that doesn't work, have you thought about summoning a dragon or two? Just fiddle with the spell in the Epic lvl hand book until you get the numbers you like.

 

[James McMurray]

I assumed the 24 limit was there because of funding, time restraints, or XP spendability issues. It doesn't matter how high your spellcraft checks are if you've only got 216,000gp , 8,640xp, or 216 days to spend on crafting.

 

[Krafen]

Epic spells generally suck for direct damage. They excel, however at protecting and buffing you and your party. As an abjurer, look at the Ward seed. Aim for spells with a Spellcraft DC of 1 or 2.

If you just need to destroy something, use gate. You can control a creature of up to 54 HD. Pick a good creature from the ELH. In my experience, Force Dragons are pretty scary. Not much stops force damage.

 

[sithramir]

Yes the dc is based on money constraints. The backlash is acceptable. I do have another caster but I want to be able to do the spell myself. You basically did what I had looked at previously. I'll chat more on this once thissession is up. I doubt any fightswill happen anyways. Thanks!