Energy Substitution

[DreamChaser]

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 is something that the XPH finally got right.

Acid is not an ENERGY it is a LIQUID. Acid spells are pretty universally conjuration while as the others are almost universally evocation.

I also like the "Energy X" powers, where X is the effect (ray, bolt, burst, etc). I personally think that the magical versions should be limited to one energy per time learning (since even sorcerers get more spells than psions get powers).

Perhaps, create a line of spells Energy X (for fire, cold, electricity, force, and sonic) where each energy has its own secondary effect. Then create a line of Matter X spells (acid, stones, needles, blades, poison) with their own effects.

DC

 

[Merlion]

In Arcana Unearthed there are a lot of "Energy" and "Element" spells that you choose at the time of casting which energy or element they use. I think DnD would be well served to move more in this direction

 

[Thanee]

(since even sorcerers get more spells than psions get powers).

Yeah, more 0 level powers... Wow!

Bye
Thanee

 

[Knight Otu]

The idea that Energy Affinity replaces Energy Substitution comes from the LG guidelines, where that is a rule. Admittedly, it is not really official, but I think it is logical.

 

[Kalendraf]

IIRC, creatures with the Anarchic or Axiomatic templates (MotP) get Sonic resistance, but otherwise it is true that very few creatures seem to have sonic resistance.

I like some of the aspects of how different energy types are handled in the Expanded Psionics book. All energy spells let the user choose one of 4 types (acid is the one dropped there), and each has a slightly different effect. Sonic is the least damaging of them, at least to living creatures. I know that Fireballs, Icestorms and Lightning bolts are tried'n'true D&D spells that will likely always be there, but I'm very much in favor of allowing more choice of the elements evoked by those spells. Spending a whole feat to get that ability seems a bit more expensive than it needs to be. Rather, it would be cool if the spell itself let the wizard pick its mode when cast. There could be some balances put into place, such as sonic dealing 1 less damage per dice, or other options to keep each version having a preferred form that everyone is familiar with.

 

[Nail]

...right.

I've toyed with sonic damage spells having half the area or range (whichever is most appropriate).

IMC: currently a Wiz has Energy Sub.(sonic), and it rocks way too hard on the bad guys.

 

[Bauglir]

I made a sorcerer once that was themed around telekinetics - ie force effects and the like. Instead of fireball he used a custom 3rd level spell which did 10d4 sonic damage in a 20ft radius burst. Didn't seem too bad.

 

[Eldragon]

I Don't like allowing substitution with sonic damage to maintain consistency in the game universe.

In general fantasy mythology there are 4 elements, each with its own energy type. Earth (Acid), Air (Electricity), Water (Ice), Fire (Fire). There is no element that can replicate the Sound energy type. There are no sound elementals as there are Earth and Air elementals.

Furthermore, I roll my eyes when a PC comes to me and explains how his wizard needs sonic damage in all his spells because that is the character concept. Who ever heard the mighty "Bob" who's only tactic is to make his opponents go deaf in many different ways... cones, rays, arrows, spheres etc.

Finally, Sound does not have the tangible shape that Ice, Acid, Fire, and Electricity does. Its fairly hard to decern the boundry between where the radius of the Sonic-Sub Fireball begins and where it ends. If I am 19 feet from the center of the blast, I am hurt. But if I am 21 feet away from the blast, I hear it but do not take any damage. You can get close to fire, ice, acid, and electricity and not get burned in real life, the same is not true for sound. Sure this is a fantasy game, and real life does not apply, but having real world similarities help the suspention of disbelief.

 

[Scion]

You can get close to fire, ice, acid, and electricity and not get burned in real life, the same is not true for sound.

Actually.. the same is true in real life. It is much harder to see (generally impossible without help for the naked eye in fact) but it is very possible. 'Walls of sound' actually exist in very controlled circumstances.

I dont know if this is here or there, probably not, but saying it destroys suspension of disbelieve, when it does occur in the real world (I have done something similar in the lab myself).. well

 

[Merlion]

I can agree with what he's saying though. To me Sonic stuff unless its some sort of "thunderclap" or something like shout has an almost "technological" feel, which doesnt really fit with fantasy. To me