Gestating Putrescence & other fun bits

[Beholder Bob]

Looking for feedback on this spell. What level, details missing, other stuff?

Gestating Putrescence
Wizard 5
Necromancy
Components: V S M
Casting Time: 1 Action
Range: Touch
Duration: 3 R
Target: 1 Creature
Save: Fortitude Negates
Spell Resist: Yes

This spell causes a target who fails its save to experience sudden stages of illness as material in the abdomen begins rotting. A Cure Disease spell has a chance of stopping this spell from running its course: the caster of Remove Disease rolls d20 + Caster LV (maximum of +10) against a DC = 11 + LV of Gestating Putrescence caster. A Heal spell is treated the same way except it has a maximum of +20.
1st Round: swelling in the abdomen causing 1d6 damage, +2d6 damage to victims wearing armor. Concentration check required to manifest powers or cast spells, DC 20.
2nd Round: the victim takes 1d6 STR and 1d6 DEX damage as tremors, chills & shock wrack their body. Concentration check required to manifest powers or cast spells, DC 20.
3rd Round: abscesses blossom on the stomach and chest, spewing out pus and blood and doing 1d6 normal and 1d6 CON damage. The victim is now fatigued. Concentration check required to manifest powers or cast spells, DC 20.
Material Component: Rotting meat


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[Beholder Bob]

Honest, feedback wanted. I've already updated it once, but still looking for feedback.



A forlorn bump.

 

[Anabstercorian]

It's fine, I'd say. Compare to Slay Living: Perfectly balanced.

 

[rkanodia]

How is it balanced against slay living? I don't get it. Slay living kills (instantly) on a failed save, and does damage on a successful save. Gestating putrescence does something less than death (over three rounds) on a failed save, and does nothing on a successful save. Or is it precisely the lack of a death descriptor making it equal, so that death ward doesn't block it?

 

[Piratecat]

I really like it. It's a great NPC spell: a ton more flavor than slay living (which is boring), and great to use on PCs because it freaks them out without being immediately and irrevocably deadly.

Incidentally, Gestating Putrescence is a good name for a band.

 

[Kemrain]

Incidentally, Gestating Putrescence is a good name for a band.

You're scary, PKitty. Awsome, but totally scary..

- Kemrain the Fearful.

EDIT: How about this.. For their debut album.. We'll call it "Stillborn."

- Kemrain the Ill.

 

[Ferret]

I would move the cureing of said spell to the end (get to meaty bits faster), and also make the +2d6 damage from the first round, subduel unless the swelling is lots, as it seems like it would simply hurt. And on the second it would seem appropriate that they might fall over, so perhaps a fort save of collapse? Low Dc so it's just cinematic?

Why is there no nausiation effect?!? It seems perfect, the spell makes you sick!

And also when the pustuals burst do they stay? Deal bleeding damage?

I would say that it might be under powered. In the end it only deals 1d6 damage to all physical abilities. Maybe a third level spell (IMB). If this was cast on joe commoner, it could only reduce his stats to about 4/5 max or 7/8 on average.

Oh yeah I love the flavour (not the right word) of the spell. Superb.

Maybe a slower, mass version would be good to.

 

[Beholder Bob]

The spell does 2d6 to 4d6 damage total - and the CON dmg adds 1.5 HP/HD extra. The damage is just token, the real kick is the stat damage and fatigue. Then again, adding more damage wouldn't put it over the top, either.

While it only does 1d6 damage to STR & DEX, the fatigue adds (for 'bout 8 hr) another -2. That, and the ongoing effect makes spell caster's lives more difficult. I suppose I could add more damage.....

Adding Nausea fits but would push it up a level (I think)

I had all the damage as normal, though I suppose the swelling while in armor could be non-lethal. My (vivid) imagination pictured internal organs swelling but with no place to go, so splitting open and spreading the pus filled goodness into the stomach cavity, so I just figured lethal - but for balance purpose it wouldn't matter much.

I like the falling over idea, but I do not want to make the spell to detailed. If the chance to fall over is too small, it isn't worth the mechanics.

The pustules are expelling the tainted matter & some blood - but not in 'kill you' quantity. The blood loss was the CON damage (less for the poor stirges to suck from ya)

Cool feedback!

Check out my other spell thread too (suggestion spell, 3rd level - did you save?)

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