The Serge:
Well, let us take Harm in context. The devastating thing about Harm is that nice little Quickened Cause X Wounds you add to it in the same action, turning it from potentially to most damaging spell in the game to definitely the most lethal. Assuming Harm reduces the opponent to 2.5hp (average) then Quickened Cause Light Wounds (doing 9.5hp damage average) will knock them unconsicous even with a Will save for half (ignoring Mettle and such like). Quickened Cause Moderate Wounds (doing 19 damage on average) will kill on a failed save, and Quickened Cause Serious Wounds (doing 26.5 hps on average at minimum level) will kill even if the save is made.
Thus, by expending a 7th level spell and 6th level spell, it is possible to kill an opponent with no save, no hit dice cap (unlike Power Word: Kill), requiring only a touch attack (fairly easy at high level) and only subject to SR. By expending a 5th level spell and a 6th level spell, it is possible to incapacitate an opponent. If hasted, a 6th level spell and 3rd is required for the former; a 6th and 1st for the latter. This combination is one of the most devastating in the game, and circumvents counter-tactics since as Healing and Teleporting: the only thing is does not account for is Contingency. That is why Harm is regarded as broken.
Well, let us take Harm in context. The devastating thing about Harm is that nice little Quickened Cause X Wounds you add to it in the same action, turning it from potentially to most damaging spell in the game to definitely the most lethal. Assuming Harm reduces the opponent to 2.5hp (average) then Quickened Cause Light Wounds (doing 9.5hp damage average) will knock them unconsicous even with a Will save for half (ignoring Mettle and such like). Quickened Cause Moderate Wounds (doing 19 damage on average) will kill on a failed save, and Quickened Cause Serious Wounds (doing 26.5 hps on average at minimum level) will kill even if the save is made.
Thus, by expending a 7th level spell and 6th level spell, it is possible to kill an opponent with no save, no hit dice cap (unlike Power Word: Kill), requiring only a touch attack (fairly easy at high level) and only subject to SR. By expending a 5th level spell and a 6th level spell, it is possible to incapacitate an opponent. If hasted, a 6th level spell and 3rd is required for the former; a 6th and 1st for the latter. This combination is one of the most devastating in the game, and circumvents counter-tactics since as Healing and Teleporting: the only thing is does not account for is Contingency. That is why Harm is regarded as broken.
