How Often Does Your Group Cast Stoneskin?

[Patlin]

Too expensive. To justify the cost, it would have to be substantially better than other spells of the same level, and I don't find it so.

Polymorphing the M.A.D. monk or casting greater invisibility on the rogue will get me a greater benefit, and doesn't cost me gold. Increasing the damage output in either way will tend to make the battle shorter, which means less damage for everyone.

 

[Nail]

Too expensive. To justify the cost, it would have to be substantially better than other spells of the same level, and I don't find it so.

Careful.

It's clear that you think it's not substantially better. I'm guessing this comes from experience. Does that mean there are no situations in which it is substantially better?

At 12th level (where the group(s) I saw it used in), there are often battles against groups of mooks -- but these mooks are opponents that are significant combatants in their own right. Gaining DR 10/adamantine often means taking virtually no damage the entire fight.

Add to that the duration of the spell. Given the spell lasts for 2 hours at that level, that means at least 2 - if not more - fights. That's significant, IMO.

 

[hanniball]

Too expensive. To justify the cost, it would have to be substantially better than other spells of the same level, and I don't find it so.

Hmm, Stoneskin, a 4th lvl spell, has the potential to prevent 150 points of damage. Heal can restore 150 points of damage, but is a 6th level spell for Clerics (7th for Druids, IIRC). I know, it's kind of an abstract way of looking at it, but it seems to be quite powerful for it's level despite the cost.

 

[Thanee]

It does not prevent 150 in one batch, though.

Bye
Thanee

 

[Choranzanus]

It is a classic "scroll spell", but I actually used it a lot as a druid (either on myself or on a fighter).

 

[Wolfwood2]

Of course, it's now been replaced by Heart of Earth from Complete Mage.

4th level for wiz/sorc and druids.

Normally lasts for 1 hr/level and gives bonuses to checks to resist being tripped and bull rushed. However, as a free action you can activate it for 1 rd/level (basically, a single battle) during which you gain the effects of Stoneskin. (After which the spell expires.)

Have it active in conjuction with another "Heart of" spell and you gain 25% fortification. Active in conjuction with all three other "Heart of" spells and you get 100% fortification.

No material component.

Why would any wizard learn Stoneskin when they could learn Heart of Earth?

 

[Patlin]

Careful.

It's clear that you think it's not substantially better. I'm guessing this comes from experience. Does that mean there are no situations in which it is substantially better?

At 12th level (where the group(s) I saw it used in), there are often battles against groups of mooks -- but these mooks are opponents that are significant combatants in their own right. Gaining DR 10/adamantine often means taking virtually no damage the entire fight.

Add to that the duration of the spell. Given the spell lasts for 2 hours at that level, that means at least 2 - if not more - fights. That's significant, IMO.

It's not a bad spell, I just think it's not good enough to justify the gp cost compared to other spells you could be casting. The duration is definitely one of its selling points, though that is mitigated by the fact that it can be discharged.

My opinion is probably highly influenced by my groups typical campaign style:

1) Gold is highly usefull and can be readilly converted into magic items.
2) We tend to play relatively high power games, and it's unlikely at level 12 even mooks would be doing as little as 10 damage a shot -- "taking virtually no damage the entire fight" is just not my experience with the spell.

Spending that money on material components means being that much further away from my next prized widget, such as a ring of wizardry or a better headband of intellect. That's hard to justify unless Stoneskin is much better than polymorph and other such spells of the same level. It may be better under some circumstances, but not enough to get me to reach into my gold reserve.

It might also be a personality issue. I dislike spending cash IRL too, when I can avoid it... and I tend to hold unpopularly frugal views such as "the lottery is a tax on people who can't do math."

 

[Brother MacLaren]

My druid casts it on the barbarian/bard in most major fights. Our DM seems to prefer physical damage to spell damage or save-or-dies, even at 19th level, so that extra 150 hp is useful (and once the fight starts, I'm not always in position to cast Heal).

Now that he has Quicken Spell, it's great... there is little else at 9th level for a druid unless I resort to Complete Divine, and I've been reluctant to take any spells from there as many of them seem quite broken to me (e.g. Quill Blast).

 

[Olaf the Stout]

I voted not applicable.

The group has only just reached 7th level and neither of the Sorcerers know the spell. In the last fight that the party had the BBEG cast it on himself. That was the first time that I have used the spell in 3.xE but I haven't played much 3.xE D&D over 7th level.

If it matters, it used to be used semi-frequently in the group that I played in in 2E.

Olaf the Stout

 

[donremus]

So Olaf, how did the BBEG fare with said spell protecting it?