Immoth ice runes problem

[jabberwocky]

I've been playing with the idea of making an Immoth character, but their Ice Runes ability is causing some difficulty. The ability allows the Immoth to create an ice rune that stores any spell it has prepared, which can then be activated as a free action. The text says that Immoths always have at least 3d4+2 spells prepared in this way. The problem is that Immoths cast as sorcerors, so they don't have any spells prepared for use with this ability. the other problem is that there is no upper limit on this ability. Being able to have dozens of high level spells as a free action could quickly get out of hand. What would be the best way to rule this ability? I was toying with the idea of making the Immoth cast as a wizard rather than a sorceror, and allow one ice rune per caster level. Any other ideas?

 

[Telperion]

There's a similar class ability in a PrC in Relics and Rituals 2. I think it was something like the "Astromancer" or something similar. These guys could hang 1 spell, and that was it. There was no level limit other than the spell is expended for the day as per' usual rules. Basically the PrC allows a character to cast a spell at the beginning of a day and then leave it "hanging around" until he needs it and can then cast it as a free action.

They had a bunch of other class abilities, but this is the one that I remember the best. It is a very nice NPC class, especially if you are going with the "geek in the tower with a magic telescope" look . And it is possible that some PC might take it at some point. Doubt it though...

 

[Joshua Randall]

The only thing I have to say is that the immoth, as written, is horribly broken. There was a WotC free online adventure featuring an immoth as the main bad guy, and he absolutely cleaned the clocks of my PCs. Anecdotal and all that, but I will never use an immoth again.

 

[Altamont Ravenard]

There's been another thread on the subject (I thought it was longer...)

http://www.enworld.org/forums/showthread.php?t=78701

You could always make the Ice Rune activation a Swift action instead of a Free action (ie only one such action per round). It basically amounts to 3.0 haste, but it's better than having the Immoth cast 3d4 spells at you in the first round.

AR

 

[mikebr99]

Have you looked at the Runecaster PrC in Forgotten Realms? I think the latest incarnation is in the Player's guide.


Mike