Horrid Wilting

[Droid101]

I have never actually used it as a DM. How does it work? How many people can it effect? All it says is like Creatures, no two of which can be more than 5 feet apart. So does that mean if there is an army, perse, with 500 orcs, and as long as they don't go outside the range of the spell, splash bang, anyone want orc jerky?

This just happend in my campaign and I used it just that way; many orcs lost their lives that day.

 

[Hypersmurf]

All it says is like Creatures, no two of which can be more than 60 feet apart. So does that mean if there is an army, perse, with 500 orcs, and as long as they don't go outside the range of the spell, splash bang, anyone want orc jerky?

How many orcs can you fit in a 30' radius sphere?

That's how many you can wilt.

-Hyp.

 

[shilsen]

As Hypersmurf said. Each target must be within 60 feet of every other target.

 

[Dinkeldog]

Makes me wish they would have just gone with 30' radius burst or emanation or spread or something like that.

 

[Hypersmurf]

There are lots of differences, though.

For targetted spells, you have to be able to see your targets.

For area spells, you can't pick and choose who's affected.

For targetted spells, effects like Spell Turning can work.

For area spells, they can't.

Horrid Wilting is essentially a targetted spell that can target any creature in a '30' radius spread', subject to all the normal restrictions of a targetted spell.

-Hyp.

 

[gvbezoff]

An exceptionally good reply, Hypersmurf. Exactly on the mark. Just like Magic Missile, for example, Horrid Wilting is a targetted spell with multiple targets within a limited area. Since it is targetted, the targets must be seen (or tremorsensed or blindsighted or whatever), and the spell can be turned back upon the caster by Spell Turning.

Now, here is an interesting question. Suppose a wizard casts Magic Missile and targets each of five different targets with one missile. I think it is clear that, should all those targets have Spell Turning active, all five missiles are turned back upon the caster. Suppose instead a 18th level wizard casts Horrid Wilting five targets, all of whom have Spell Turning acitve. Does the casting wizard get hit with 90 dice of damage (18 x 5) or just 18. The kindly part of me says just the 18, but the evil part deep within me wants to say 90.

Greg

 

[Piratecat]

Holy crap, Greg. You're a bad man.

I think in this case, I'd say the damage overlaps. I might make him make five saves, though, and then take full damage if he fails any one of those saving throws.

 

[shilsen]

By the book I think it would be all 90. And that's the way I'd do it