Houseruling the Blasphemy and Holy Word spells

[Plecak]

Hi,

In my opinion the Blasphemy, Holy Word, Word of Chaos and Dictum spells are way to powerful. They can do anything that the Power Word spells can do, while being only level 7.

For example:
Power Word Kill kills one creature with 100hp or less (no save). Blasphemy, when cast by a 20th level character can not only duplicate this effect, but even overshadow it, as there is no limit on the number of creatures effected (no save).
The paralyzed, weakened and dazed effect of Blasphemy is much stronger than that of the Power Word Stun spell.

Moreover, these spells have no cap on caster level, so, in theory, a 90th level caster could use one of them to kill 80HD creatures and paralyze those with 85HD or less for 1d10 minutes.

The idea behind these spells is nice, but I will definitely allow a saving throw (possibly with a -4 penalty) against their effects and iimpose the cap of 25 on maximum caster level.

What is your take on these spells?

 

[airwalkrr]

IMC I simply allow a Will save to negate. Seems to work fine. If you want to fine tune it a little, giving it a Will save to negate, but applying a -4 penalty if the character is of the opposite alignment as the spell seems like a decent idea.

 

[Matafuego]

Well it is a very powerful spell, I will agree on that.
Maybe it needs a makeover? lol
IMC every spellcaster runs around with a spell immunity against it, so i believe it to be very powerful. Even more powerful than implosion...

Do you think a ST will solve the issue?
I don't like the idea of ST with built in penalties... But a will save will be way too easy for spellcasters and too hard for fighters.
Maybe spellcasters can tolerate blasphemy?
or should it be the other way round?
i don't know...

 

[Shin Ji]

Holy Word is not really that much of a problem, since all it does is deafen people that are equal in HD to caster level, and blind those with a few less HD. Being deafened is pretty inconsequential, and even being bilnded is not an autokill.

The real problem is the daze effect on Blasphemy. I suggest changing that to deafened. Boom. Problem solved.

Also, note the range on those spells. You have to be pretty close in to use them effectively. Generally, Clerics have a hard time closing in, at least that was true in my games.

 

[Plecak]

Thanks guys,

airwalkrr and Matafuego,
Looking at the effects of these spells, I think that a Fortitude saving throw would be more appropriate than a Will save.

Shin Ji,
Holy Word has similar effects to Blasphemy. It just affects neutral or evil creatures. And the real problem is that your are either paralyzed (creatures with 5 HD less than the caster) or killed (creatures with 10 HD less than the caster) automatically.

 

[DreamChaser]

I think basing the effect on the intensity of the creatures aura of good/evil/law/chaos would make the most sense. The more powerful the aura, the more devistating the effect. This way, most creatures would be only slightly put out, clerics and paladins/blackguards would be hurting, angels and infernals would be in real trouble.

Of course, this could easily take it into the category of new spell.

DC