Does Your Group Allow "Orb of Acid" As Written in Your Game

Do you use the Complete Arcane and the Orb of Acid spell?

  • Yes we use Complete Arcane and No the Orb of Acid spell is left as is

    Votes: 57 57.0%
  • Yes we use the Complete Arcane but we have changed the Orb of Acid spell

    Votes: 16 16.0%
  • Yes we use the Complete Arcane and Yes we have banned the spell outright

    Votes: 10 10.0%
  • No, we do not use the Complete Arcane and as such, we do not use the Orb of Acid spell

    Votes: 7 7.0%
  • Other (The poll does not allow me the full breadth of expression I have on this topic)

    Votes: 10 10.0%

Herremann the Wise said:
It was a Demilich construct type thing (not exactly sure of the specs) that was immune to all magical effects - although it used it's own magic.

Does the creature actually say that? 'Immune to all magical effects'? If so, then the orb wouldn't work on it. It's a magical effect. Spells, spell-like abilities, supernatural abilities, Magic weapons, things with buffs on them like 'enchanted weapon', etc; all those are 'magical effects'.

The Golem thing? Not a problem. It says 'spells' and thus it means 'spells', not magic weapons or supernatual abilities, etc. That's what I like about 3.5. It means what it says and says what it means. Unless some errata disputes that.
 

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Considering that it's a 4th lv spell that only affects one target (albeit for more than a fireball can dish out) I don't think it's excessively powerful, in fact I think it's kind of weak. Especially since it requires a touch attack as well, rather than an auto hit spell like fireball or cone of cold. Granted True Strike makes it much easier to hit with it, but then you are spending two full rounds to pull off this attack. It is also subject to energy resistances and immunities as well, if not SR.
 

I predict most DMs are going to act like the one our 3.5 game. Non-core spells are added on a case by case basis. These spells in particular have just never come up. (our arcane caster is a sorceror)
 


Orb of Acid is actively encouraged. I hate spell resistance. :cool: By the time you're fighting "demilich construct things," 15d6 should be a drop in the bucket, and, in point of fact, acid damage is a type smart opponents should plan for.
 


Whimsical said:
The orb spells are Evocations with Spell Resistance: yes.

Summon Monster spells are good spells to use that bypass SR. Use these Conjurations instead if that's what you want to do.
If it ever came up in my games, that's the rule I'd use, too.
 

Rackhir said:
Considering that it's a 4th lv spell that only affects one target (albeit for more than a fireball can dish out) I don't think it's excessively powerful, in fact I think it's kind of weak. Especially since it requires a touch attack as well, rather than an auto hit spell like fireball or cone of cold. Granted True Strike makes it much easier to hit with it, but then you are spending two full rounds to pull off this attack. It is also subject to energy resistances and immunities as well, if not SR.

It's a touch attack that does as much damage as a 5th level cone of cold, only to one target. And with no save. And as written in 3.5 no SR. According to the chart in the 3.0 DMG and the 2e to 3e conversion doc 4th level spells should do 15d6 to a single target. Taking out the SR I would expect some other aspect of the spell to be weakened to remain balanced against other spells that fit the guidelines.

Acid arrow ignores SR but is less damage than the equivalent level evocation scorching ray and is easier to suck up with energy resistance.
 

I think spell resistance should not work vs. damaging spells. There should be some mechanic like DR instead, that doesn't differentiate between evocation/conjuration damage. If something is immune to magical fire it should be immune to regular fire as well.
 

lukelightning said:
I think spell resistance should not work vs. damaging spells. There should be some mechanic like DR instead, that doesn't differentiate between evocation/conjuration damage. If something is immune to magical fire it should be immune to regular fire as well.

There IS such a mechanisim, it's called energy resistance and many monsters and pretty much all outsiders have it. It's usually listed under "Special Abilities" along with the SR and DR.
 

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