Energy Substitution

[Thanee]

Has Energy Substitution been updated to 3.5 somewhere (well, Complete Arcane might have it...), or is it being replaced by Energy Affinity (MiniHB)?

Bye
Thanee

 

[Hypersmurf]

A lot of people seem to consider Energy Affinity to be "the 3.5 E-Sub".

I suspect it will be either confirmed or denied in Complete Arcane... until then, it's up to the DM, I think.

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

-Hyp.

 

[cidak]

Sonic Damage

I think dropping the ability to change the damage type to sonic is a good thing as there are no monsters with Sonic resistance. To me, it makes it too powerful.

Why would you bother with any type of energy other than Sonic?

 

[Scion]

no monsters with Sonic resistance.

Well, that isnt true even in the core

Why would you bother with any type of energy other than Sonic?

How about cold vs 'fire subtype' and all sorts of examples like that?

 

[GM Iago]

How about cold vs 'fire subtype' and all sorts of examples like that?

I think the problem most players see with this course of action is that while cold-based creatures have a great scare of fire (and such for all the other opposing elements), it again goes back to many many creatures not having any protection or damage reduction from sonics.

By taking fire or water (ice) or earth (poison), its a form of over-specialization where you could run into a creature that has protection or immunity from such. While sonics might not do double damage to many creatures, it's guaranteed to at least do normal damage to most creatures.

Speaking of big baddies, at higher levels many groups run into demons and devils. Some of these guys are resistant to all of the four major elements. I think some are also resistant to sonics, but (if I remember right) many are not resistant.

Sonics is a nice and, I agree, easy way around such means. As a DM, the only way I'd generally allow it is if the character made sonics into his very character. I remember a PrC in one of the Dragon magazines that focused on sonics. Otherwise, I do agree that its an easy metagaming trick.

 

[CRGreathouse]

I think dropping the ability to change the damage type to sonic is a good thing as there are no monsters with Sonic resistance. To me, it makes it too powerful.

Why would you bother with any type of energy other than Sonic?

Resistances (Ex): All formians have fire, electricity, and sonic resistance 20.

I can't think of anything else off the top of my head, though, so it's a legitimate point. I've replaced the Energy Substitution feat with six of my own, some of which increase the effective level -- Force and Sonic, for example.

 

[Scion]

While sonics might not do double damage to many creatures, it's guaranteed to at least do normal damage to most creatures.

hey, he asked why bother useing anything else, my answer was perfectly valid for that

Also, silence is a pretty uber spell anyway, and it grants complete immunity to sonic damage. Possibly even to several people at once.

 

[GM Iago]

hey, he asked why bother useing anything else, my answer was perfectly valid for that

Very true.

Also, silence is a pretty uber spell anyway, and it grants complete immunity to sonic damage. Possibly even to several people at once.

Very doubly true.

Silence is a very very handy spell and, in my book, a very underrated one.

 

[Al'Kelhar]

Resistances (Ex): All formians have fire, electricity, and sonic resistance 20.

I can't think of anything else off the top of my head, though, so it's a legitimate point. I've replaced the Energy Substitution feat with six of my own, some of which increase the effective level -- Force and Sonic, for example.

I believe slaadi have sonic resistance too.

IMO Energy Substitution [acid] is almost as powerful as Energy Substitution [sonic], for the simple reason that there are relatively few creatures with acid resistance. Besides, almost all acid spells are Conjuration, which is only balanced against other combat-intensive spell schools by because of this.

I don't permit Energy Substitution IMC at all. I do permit arcane spellcasters to research and learn spells which duplicate the effects of one spell with a non-sonic energy descriptor in another non-sonic energy type, however. This provides balance with the flexibility for players who really want the chain lighting that does fire damage.

On the other hand, when my wizard eventually makes archmage, one of the first higher powers she'll learn is Mastery of Elements!

Cheers, Al'Kelhar

 

[CalrinAlshaw]

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