Grease - Uses of and effectivity.

[Jeff Wilder]

You mean like Summon Monster I?

Again, this makes one creature sneak attackable, and the creature summoned can be killed with one attack, ending the effect, even in those situations where the flank can't be avoided. Not even close to what you want to give grease.

 

[Jeff Wilder]

Because if a rogue gains their sneak attack on every single attack, then they just barely become balanced.

Well, that's an interesting statement.

So, your arguments of "this can't work because it's not balanced" are futile.

Right.


Jeff

P.S. "Pardon me, miss, but your agenda is showing."

 

[Jeff Wilder]

You mean as opposed to the numerous first level spells which leave one completely unable to act, if not totally helpless? (Tasha's Hideous Laughter, Color Spray, Sleep)

Sheesh.

(1) Hideous laughter isn't even a first-level spell.
(2) Color spray is limited by target hit dice and by being a very short cone. It also does not have an ongoing saving throw required.
(3) Sleep is severely limited by hit dice, with a duration controlled by any non-affected enemy. It also does not have an ongoing saving throw required.

If the best argument you can make is that grease as you want it is only a lot better than two of the best first-level spells, and one of the best second-level spells, maybe -- just maybe -- you could take a step back and give it another thought.

Once again: grease is a perfectly fine spell without turning it into a munchkin's dream. Clearly, some of y'all disagree.

 

[Infiniti2000]

Once again: grease is a perfectly fine spell without turning it into a munchkin's dream. Clearly, some of y'all disagree.

Agreed on one point. It's a perfectly fine spell, so stop creating houserules to nerf it for no reason.

 

[dagger]

Its really good against Giants......low reflex and all.

 

[Jeff Wilder]

Its really good against Giants......low reflex and all.

Yep. Nothing like a first-level spell that does 50d6 of damage to a giant.

 

[dagger]

Lets say during the PC wizards turn he cast grease on a Frost Giant. The giant passes his reflex save. Should I move him out of the grease area right then, or wait until the giants turn and move him with no penalty?

 

[Shadowdweller]

Sheesh.

(1) Hideous laughter isn't even a first-level spell.

Bard 1. Did you read that part?

(2) Color spray is limited by target hit dice and by being a very short cone. It also does not have an ongoing saving throw required.

No. I) Color spray stuns for at least one round regardless of HD (if the save is failed). II) Small cone as opposed to the tiny area of a Grease spell? III) Grease also happens to have a save. Consider, in this case: Is the victim flat-footed from balancing if they 'fail' the save?

And consider that since even while prone one can crawl five feet as a move action, even having failed the save shouldn't prevent the victim from escaping the area (at least if medium size or smaller).

(3) Sleep is severely limited by hit dice, with a duration controlled by any non-affected enemy. It also does not have an ongoing saving throw required.

And helpless is considerably worse than being merely flatfooted. Moreover, by the time the HD limit makes the spell obsolete, there are OTHER similar spells that become available.

 

[Mista Collins]

I like grease, it makes food taste good. Why do you think hamburgers are so delicous! Because they are so greasy!

Daily hi-jack

 

[Zandel]

Ok there seems to be some confusion here as to how skills work and what 'balancing' is.

From the SRD
Some skill checks are instant and represent reactions to an event, or are included as part of an action.

The balance skill is included as part of a move action.

From the SRD
A successful check lets you move at half your speed along the surface for 1 round.

When you move and make a balance check in a round you are considered 'balancing' until the start of your next turn next round.

From the SRD
Being Attacked while Balancing: You are considered flat-footed while balancing, since you can’t move to avoid a blow, and thus you lose your Dexterity bonus to AC (if any). If you have 5 or more ranks in Balance, you aren’t considered flat-footed while balancing.

And with all that.....

From the SRD
A creature can walk within or through the area of grease at half normal speed with a DC 10 Balance check. Failure means it can’t move that round (and must then make a Reflex save or fall), while failure by 5 or more means it falls (see the Balance skill for details).

You are flat-footed in any round that you are in the grease area and have moved or tried to move but not any other time.

BTW very good thinking with that spell. Most 'balanced' spells are kinda weak anyway so if you can come up with a way to make more use of them more power to ya!