How long does a thunderstone deafen a creature?

[Dr_Rictus]

At the time he defended it by saying it wasn't that bad a penalty since it's so easy in D&D to get magical healing (remove deafness).

It's not that bad a penalty. Remove deafness is only a second-level spell. 60 gp to get someone to cast it. Not a big deal at all.

 

[KarinsDad]

It's not that bad a penalty. Remove deafness is only a second-level spell. 60 gp to get someone to cast it. Not a big deal at all.

What level spell do you have to cast to get permanent deafness? Blindness/Deafness, second or third level, one target.

Thunderstone, 30 GP to get a better effect than a second or third level spell because it has a 10 foot radius and can affect multiple targets.

As you say, getting someone to cast Deafness would cost 60 GP (or 150 GP if you could only find a Cleric to cast it) and then it would only affect one target instead of multiple ones.

Personally, I think making a 30 GP mundane item (that any thieves guild can buy in quantity) more potent than a second or third level spell is a very dumb ruling. JMO.

 

[Steverooo]

What level spell do you have to cast to get permanent deafness? Blindness/Deafness, second or third level, one target.

Thunderstone, 30 GP to get a better effect than a second or third level spell because it has a 10 foot radius and can affect multiple targets.

As you say, getting someone to cast Deafness would cost 60 GP (or 150 GP if you could only find a Cleric to cast it) and then it would only affect one target instead of multiple ones.

Personally, I think making a 30 GP mundane item (that any thieves guild can buy in quantity) more potent than a second or third level spell is a very dumb ruling. JMO.

But don't forget the "Permanent, until removed" vs. the "one hour" duration. That's worth 30 - 110 GP!

 

[KarinsDad]

But don't forget the "Permanent, until removed" vs. the "one hour" duration. That's worth 30 - 110 GP!

I was responding to Dr_Rictus who thought that the Sages 3E ruling of pemanent for the Thunderstone was ok. I was trying to economically illustrate that it was not ok.

I agree that a one hour duration is fine (both for 3E and for 3.5).

 

[James McMurray]

What's the DC for a Thunderstone? What's the DC for a Deafness spell cast by the party cleric?

How useful is Deafness (the spell) when trying to silently infiltrate a place? How useful is a Thunderstone when trying that same thing?

How much fun is it to deafen your own party members while also trying to deafen their foe?

I think the Thunderstone is fine at 30gp. It ususally more of an inconvenience for the DM to hit the players with than it is a weapon in the hands of the PCs.

I once had a imp rogue drop thunderstones on the party from above so they couldn't her hm flying around. Then he sneak attacked every other round (and flew away real fast when he was visible).

 

[KarinsDad]

What's the DC for a Thunderstone? What's the DC for a Deafness spell cast by the party cleric?

How useful is Deafness (the spell) when trying to silently infiltrate a place? How useful is a Thunderstone when trying that same thing?

How much fun is it to deafen your own party members while also trying to deafen their foe?

I think the Thunderstone is fine at 30gp. It ususally more of an inconvenience for the DM to hit the players with than it is a weapon in the hands of the PCs.

It is fine at 30 GP as long as the duration is not permanent. It is a mundane item. How many mundane items in the real world cause permanent deafness from one short burst of loud sound, but only in a 10 foot radius? The item is nonsensical if it causes permanent deafness.

As to the DC, the spell can have a lower DC, but typically it is higher than the stone at 15. Give or take, the spell has a DC range of 13 (minimum arcane) to maybe 23 (maximum divine) at very high level with a stat boost item and a feat thrown in.

But, considering that the Thunderstone can affect multiple enemies, it is similar to a "Mass Deafness" type of spell (except that you cannot choose targets and the DC would be somewhat lower). As such, it is very close to a 4th level spell equivalent. That's extremely potent for 30 GP.

Drop the permanency aspect (like 3.5 did), and the stone is closer to 1st/2nd level and 30 GP is an ok price.