Energy Substitution

[UltimaGabe]

True, Sonic is extremely useful as an element... but of all of the elements, it's the easiest to defend against.

 

[Thanee]

Isn't the primary difference "Sonic yes" vs "Sonic no"?

The Prerequisites are also different, I think. You need to know a spell from each of the four available elements to choose Energy Affinity.

Ok, but I also think (since Substitution hasn't been reprinted yet, which was my question basically), that Affinity will be the 3.5 Substitution then.

Makes sense to dish sonic, as it is clearly by far superior to any other element. Actually, I think sonic shouldn't be an element in the first place... More like a special effect for some spells, like death, divine, etc.

Ultima: You mean the silence spell? Only a minority of opponents has this available, don't forget to figure that in.

Bye
Thanee

 

[ThoughtfulOwl]

Sonic is also the only energy type other than Acid that deals full damage to objects (fire and electricity are halved, cold is divided by 4).

 

[Bauglir]

Well, if your thinking on pure hack n slash bash things to death game, sonics is great. If your party in any way uses stealth, sonics is crappy, except for distractions. Not only that, I'd make sonics cause cave-ins and building-damage that could be potentially lethal to players who want to abuse such a thing. How many people here let fireballs blow up those unattended doors? My DM doesn't have it happen very often at all. Acid? Ohh, damn, you know that acid that stuck to them and did continual damage...looks like it burned out their +5 vorpal sword too...poor party. Get creative.

Calrin Alshaw

+5 you say?
Hardness 20, 60HP and iirc acid damage is halved on objects

(if someone knows where this is noted and could direct me to it I'd be grateful )

Who needs +5 vorpal swords when your spells can deal out that much damage.

Edit: Guess idrc Where is that noted ThoughtfulOwl?

 

[Merlion]

I dont really get the big deal with sonic. Its consistent, but never does anything additional. Fire or Cold deal increased damage to many creatures, and Fire or Acid can bypass most regeneration.
And, some creatures do have sonic resistance...besides which the spells Resist Energy and Protection from Energy can all be keyed to Sonic, as can some items.
Plus the Silence spell. Not everyone has it no...but it, a 2nd level spell, can negate a Soniced Meteor Swarm. besides which, I dont really get why Wizards and other mages dont get Silence..

Although I will agree that flavour wise "sonic energy" seems more sci fi than fantasy (accept maybe in the form of "thunderclap" type spells).

My problem with Energy Substitution is that only the damage type changes...none of the secondary effects even ones dependant on energy type, change. It just seems silly

 

[Thanee]

besides which, I dont really get why Wizards and other mages dont get Silence.

There's an arcane silence spell in Magic of Faerûn, which is 3rd level, but has a built-in trigger ability and can be left dormant permanently, so you can prepare the item and later activate it when needed (once only, of course), but you don't need to waste spell slots on silence to have it available. Pretty nice one.

My problem with Energy Substitution is that only the damage type changes...none of the secondary effects even ones dependant on energy type, change. It just seems silly

What do you mean by that?

Does a fire substituted cone of cold not prevent troll regeneration (for example)?

Bye
Thanee

 

[Merlion]

Ahh yes I forgot about that spell. However I still dont get why Wizards dont have silence in core ~shrug~


Yes that it would do as thats a function of energy type. But for instance, a Fire substituted Ice Storm would still reduce ground speed, as an example.

And a whatever-substituited Melfs Acid Arrow would still do continuing damage (something I see steming from the acid itself clinging to you etc and less logical with, say, electricity or fire)

This diffaculty is most prononounced when non-core spells are allowed, since there are almost no core damaging spells that have secondary effects..

 

[Hypersmurf]

This diffaculty is most prononounced when non-core spells are allowed, since there are almost no core damaging spells that have secondary effects..

Shout is one. A Cold-Sub Shout will deal cold damage, and deafen you.

The rules in Tome and Blood for what's a secondary effect that is changed, and what isn't, though, were weird. A C-Sub Shout still deafens, but a C-Sub Fireball doesn't set anything on fire.

No obvious way to see how they drew the distinction.

-Hyp.

 

[Merlion]

They seem to have left alone certain really obvious things (like a Fireball with no fire not setting things on fire, or a Fire Cone of Cold still doing lethal damage to trolls)

But yea, the Sonic/Deafness thing you would think would be pretty obvious to.

me, I think it should have stated that these things were up to DM adjudication, but sadly, DnD has an aversion to DM adjudication

 

[Thanee]

I guess you can't hear too well with your ears stuffed with snow.

Bye
Thanee