Help me construct this Necromantic spell!

[Tuzenbach]

Needed:

1. A level
2. A duration
3. A name
4. Components
5. Casting time
6. Special Variables

Rough description (all I really have to go on): The Necromancer removes one of his eyes and immediately and instantaneously grafts it to the back of one of his hands (preferrable the "off-hand"). The Necromancer then hacks off one of his ears and, as with the eye, grafts this to the back of the same hand, probably next to the eye. Lastly, the Necromancer hacks off this newly modified hand.

The hand moves per the will of the Necromancer. The owner can see and hear everywhere the hand travels.

A ring of invisibility will cloak this unit, though other rings will not function on the hand.

For the spell's duration, it's assumed that the hand can move as per the "Spider Climb" spell if necessary.

An improved version of the spell would allow the Necromancer to use other rings and/or (perhaps) cast spells through the hand.


1. How long does the spell last?

2. At least 3rd level, but probably not above 6th, yes?

3. If the spell's duration expires and the hand unit isn't close enough to the Necromancer for him to re-attach the pieces, are they lost forever?

4. If the hand unit is destroyed, is the Necromancer fated to lose those body parts forever?

5. How many hps does the unit have? 10% of the Necromancer's or something? Does enabling the unit take away hps from the Necromancer? (in theory, the amount possessed by the unit would be the same amount subtracted from the Necromancer until the pieces are re-attached...erm, I think!)

6. This is for all of you who'll now suggest "why don't you just use a familiar or homonculous or scrying device or similar divination technique?" Well, what if the Necromancer has none of these things? Besides, if there is an "improved" version of the spell which allows the Necromancer to cast spells through the unit, the spell's usefulness then supercedes the other "usual" means of gathering information.

Thanks in advance!

 

[Tuzenbach]

Two hours, 5 views (my own included), and no feedback? What up with that? Did I catch the board at some Universal Dinner Time? LoL

 

[Ferret]

For one your asking for a lot when most would just do it themselves, (not ask someone else to) but if this is your first time I can help.

By the sounds it should be over 5th level, you have an invisible scout that is tiny size (two sizes smaller then caster).

Make it last to long and you might be able to scout out an entire dungeon (if it can open or squeeze under doors), too little and it can only look round corners.

I would say that 3. and 4. are up to you but a % of chance to loose them looks good. 5. Maybe not 10% thats only 2hp from a 9th level caster with full hps! The reast (about the caster taking damage) looks good.

 

[Tuzenbach]

For one your asking for a lot when most would just do it themselves, (not ask someone else to) but if this is your first time I can help.

By the sounds it should be over 5th level, you have an invisible scout that is tiny size (two sizes smaller then caster).

Make it last to long and you might be able to scout out an entire dungeon (if it can open or squeeze under doors), too little and it can only look round corners.

I would say that 3. and 4. are up to you but a % of chance to loose them looks good. 5. Maybe not 10% thats only 2hp from a 9th level caster with full hps! The reast (about the caster taking damage) looks good.

Thanks! I didn't think I asked for too much. Do you know how many times I've read through threads talking about newly crafted, uber-detailed spells/feats/PrC's only to see the first half dozen responses go something like:

1. Too powerful. I'd do this.......
2. Too weak. I'd do this......
3. Balanced, but your premise is wrong because..........
4. Both too weak AND too powerful. This is based upon...........
5. Great concept, wrong game!
6. Well, at least one part of your idea was good...........



I figured I'd save myself the hassle of the painful critique and all the critics the hassle of writing them. Little did I know! LoL

Also, I figured there'd be people out there who'd love to give input to a new potential spell...........I FIGURED WRONG! LoL! What a contradictory-filled forum!

Anyway, yes, 5th level sounds good. I'm not sure about the hps, though. The Necromancer's CON score? Or how about 1 hp per level? Yes, that's about right. One hp per level.

Oh, the "invisible" part would only be due to 2 different things:
1. The Nec. happens to have a ring of this and puts it on the detached hand.
2. The Nec. puts a further spell on the hand (be it 'improved invis.' or whatever).

The only "built-in" spell effect would be the Spider Climb ability, unless you think Invisibility should be built-in?

Thanks again!

 

[Tuzenbach]

Duration: 10 minutes per level? YES!

Casting time: 10 rounds, I'm thinking. Rearrangement of body parts is no mean feat! Wait, that's still only like, 60 seconds, yes? How about (wipes the cobwebs off the frontal lobes) 6 minutes? I think that's suitable time for chanting/cutting/grafting and such. That or a round 10 minutes, which is better?

 

[Tuzenbach]

Ah crap! I just remembered.........MOVEMENT RATE! I want the thing to move as fast as a spider of the same size or quicker.

*runs to the book shelf to look things up*

Speed: 30 ft., climb 20 ft.

 

[Ferret]

Have you got Monster of faerun they have hands in there. Also it might work better if it cansee and hear on it's on but you only contribuete a hand. You should say that you can augment it with various spells and items.

 

[JimAde]

This spell is very icky. I like it.

The Spectral Hand spell takes 1d4 points from the caster (which is then the Hand's HP). If the Hand is destroyed these HPs are lost, but can be healed normally. Taking that as a comparison, I'd say your 1 HP per level seems reasonable. Unlike Spectral Hand, though, I'd say those HPs are gone permanently if the construct is destroyed. They could be restored with powerful magic like Regenerate.

I'd keep the casting time at 10 rounds. That's kind of a "standard" length (lots of spells use it) and is long enough to keep the spell from being useful in combat. In most cases the difference between 1 minute and 6 minutes won't matter for game purposes.

The rule "Invisibility Rings work but no others do" seems odd. Why not just say no rings work? The necromancer will just have to cast Invisibility or whatever on the construct. Of course he won't be able to use a metamagic rod when he does (no free hand).

You should probably include a sentence to the effect that the caster can see and hear what the construct can, only on the same plane (unless you want it to work across planes).

My 2 coppers