Fair 1st level Spell?

[Sigurd]

This spell is from an ezine called "current events" at http://roger.carbol.com/rpg/K_CE/K_CE.htm the spell was marked as Open Game Content.

My question is it too powerful for 1st Level.


Ray of Incapacitation
OGC Current Events #8

Evocation [Electricity]
Level: Sor/Wiz 1
Components: V, S, M
Casting Time: 1 standard action
Range: Close (25 ft. + 5 ft./2 levels)
Effect: Ray
Duration: Instantaneous
Saving Throw: Fortitude partial; see text
Spell Resistance: Yes
A ray of electrical energy projects from your pointing finger. You must succeed on a ranged touch attack with the ray to strike a target. You gain a +3 bonus on attack rolls if the opponent is wearing metal armor (or made out of metal, carrying a lot of metal, or the like).
The ray deals 1d4 points of electrical nonlethal damage and the target must make a Fortitude saving throw or be stunned for 1d4 rounds. On a critical hit, the target takes 2d4 points of electrical damage. This is normal, rather than nonlethal, damage.
Material Component: A scale from a shocker lizard.



What do people think?

 

[Jack Simth]

The effect is roughly in line with Sleep, Color Spray, or Hideous Laughter, but with no HD limit on the Stunning, and no Mind-affecting tag, it stays strong throughout levels. Overall, it's slightly stronger than existing Core 1st level spells.

Put me down as "not reasonable"

 

[Sigurd]

Presumably as a ray spell its only one target. Maybe I'm assuming to much though. You'd have a HD limit even with one target?

A "Mind affecting" tag would lump it with spells creatures have immunities to but would that be right if its really 'nervous system' affecting. Its an evocation not an enchantment.


I imagine creatures with resistance to electricity would be unaffected by the stun affects..


Sigurd

 

[Celebrim]

Bump the stunning effect down to 1 round. Increase the base damage to 1d8.

I'm not sure whether the critical should be lethal or nonlethal damage. That seems more like a flavor issue. Either way, I think it would be better if it was written, "On a critical, damage from Incapacitating ray is lethal rather than non-lethal." The fact that damage is (normally) doubled is implied, and by not writing out what it is you interact better with other feats or abilities which modify damage.

 

[Ilium]

This would be best used to stun an opponent and let an ally do a CDG, so I think Hold Person is the spell to compare it to (the damage is pretty trivial). It doesn't seem quite as strong as that spell.

As it is, I'd say a bit too strong. But if you took the duration down to 1 round I think it would be fine.

EDIT: Of course as one of the very few spells that does non-lethal damage, you should compare it to the Whelm spells (which I think are in Complete Mage?). I don't have the books handy so I'm not sure how they compare.

 

[Nadaka]

This would be best used to stun an opponent and let an ally do a CDG, so I think Hold Person is the spell to compare it to (the damage is pretty trivial). It doesn't seem quite as strong as that spell.

As it is, I'd say a bit too strong. But if you took the duration down to 1 round I think it would be fine.

EDIT: Of course as one of the very few spells that does non-lethal damage, you should compare it to the Whelm spells (which I think are in Complete Mage?). I don't have the books handy so I'm not sure how they compare.

a stunned creature is not helpless, so an ally could not CDG.

 

[Sigurd]

I really like the nonlethal damage option.

The spell is not going to be a bad ass killer. I'm thinking it would be very affective in a low to almost non combat situation. Sort of like a taser for capturing rather than killing. If you're chasing someone you want to question its really bad form to put an arrow into them.

I haven't checked on the fortitude saves for horses but I think they would be a prime candidate for this spell in a chase.

Sigurd

 

[Philodendron]

EDIT: Of course as one of the very few spells that does non-lethal damage, you should compare it to the Whelm spells (which I think are in Complete Mage?). I don't have the books handy so I'm not sure how they compare.

Whelm spells are in the Player's Handbook II, FWIW.

 

[Quartz]

Monks get Stunning Fist at first level. Also, this spell has a range of Close, which is very iffy for a wizard, so it looks like a good first level spell. However, I'm thinking about how it can be abused: consider a fighter who takes a level of sorceror to get this spell. Or a fighter with an item that can cast this spell. The lethal damage on a crit is also annoying. Cut out the stunning effect and it's underpowered compared to Whelm (1d6 per 2 levels, max 5d6 at L9).

I find the stunning effect without HD limit OTT for a first level spell.

 

[Sigurd]

On thoughts and consideration with my DM it became a 2nd level spell. He added 1/2 caster level to the stun duration.

General agreement?


Sigurd