Is Solid Fog "broken"

[Thurbane]

I hate to use the term "broken", as it's such a cliche, and usually overused anyway.

Anyhow, on to the topic: Solid Fog...a Beguiler in my game is running roughshod over their opponents with this spell, and since he is a Beguiler, he gets it multiple times per day without memorizing it before hand.

Short of having all enemies loaded up with Dispel Magic, Gust of Wind or Dimnesion Door (which would be horribly unfair and unrealistic), I'm thinking of houseruling it slightly down in power.

My main concerns are:
A. No SR (pretty standard for Conjurations)
B. No save :\
C. The effect - limiting movement to 5 feet (sticking someone in the cloud for up to 6 rounds, potentially)

If my players were so inclined (not that they are), they could trap someone in the fog then hammer them with Fireballs, Lightning Bolts and Cloudkills.

I don't understand why this spell hampers the movement of a Kobold or an Iron Golem equally well. My belief is that it should be more akin to (but better than) Web or Entanglement. I'm thinking of houeruling in some kind of Strength check to move further than 5 feet, and/or allowing a Reflex save to move to the outer edge of the area when it's cast.

Any thoughts would be welcome.

 

[DogBackward]

Make it so the spell Entangles them. A very simple fix, reducing speed by 1/2 and imposing other penalties. It's probably about the same power level, since you get penalties to rolls and spellcasting and such, but your speed is only 1/2, not 5ft.

 

[Nifft]

It's a great spell. But it's 4th level, it's supposed to be great! (The effect is 20 ft. high, 20 ft. radius -- that's at most 4 rounds, not six, right?)

Is it better than fireball? Depends, but fireball can end a fight immediately, while solid fog merely splits the opposition for a few rounds.

Is it better than greater invisibility? Not if you have a TWF Rogue handy.

Is it better than confusion? Depends what you're fighting.

Is it better than black tentacles? I'd say about even. They do combine well.

Cheers, -- N

 

[Kunimatyu]

Solid Fog at 4th is why I love E6 -- spell access caps at 3rd level, meaning stuff like this doesn't show up.

 

[Thurbane]

It's a great spell. But it's 4th level, it's supposed to be great! (The effect is 20 ft. high, 20 ft. radius -- that's at most 4 rounds, not six, right?)

Is it better than fireball? Depends, but fireball can end a fight immediately, while solid fog merely splits the opposition for a few rounds.

Is it better than greater invisibility? Not if you have a TWF Rogue handy.

Is it better than confusion? Depends what you're fighting.

Is it better than black tentacles? I'd say about even. They do combine well.

Cheers, -- N

All points noted, but it is still causing some problems in my game, moreso than any of the other spells you mentioned (Fireball needs to overcome SR, has a save for 1/2, and many creatures have resistance to fire; Greater Invisibility - not much of an issue since the party is currently Rogue-free, not to mention scent, listen checks etc.; Confusion - save to negate, many creatures are immune to mind effects; Black Tentacles - almost as "bad" as Solid Fog, but at least there are grapple checks, and only the party Transmuter can cast it, needing to memorize it ahead of time).

In regards to 6 rounds, if a large creature in only 5-ft into the fog, and only moves at 10-ft per round, it could be 5 or 6 rounds until he is completely clear of the other side (assuming he is, for whatever reason, going straight through the middle)...

 

[Nifft]

So what's happening when the PC casts this spell? What do the bad guys do to respond?

Being given free total concealment isn't always a bad thing, if you're not worried about fireballs, which it sounds like your guys are not.

Cheers, -- N

 

[Thurbane]

So what's happening when the PC casts this spell? What do the bad guys do to respond?

Being given free total concealment isn't always a bad thing, if you're not worried about fireballs, which it sounds like your guys are not.

Cheers, -- N

Basically they are using to isolate individual opponents and slaughter them one at a time.

It's not a HUGE problem as such, I just feel that the spell itself is problematic with its no save/no SR aspect...

 

[Quartz]

Try hitting your players with it (turnabout is fair play) and take notes. But there are plenty of ways to escape. There are spells galore - Freedom of Movement, Dimension Door to name but two - and the target doesn't need to be able to see you to attack you with area effect spells like Fireball.

 

[green slime]

No, its not a problem in the least.

 

[Nifft]

Basically they are using to isolate individual opponents and slaughter them one at a time.

Do you have an example? Perhaps we can help you with your NPC tactics, so the PCs keep their cool spell, but it no longer overwhelms every encounter?

For example, do your "isloated" NPCs ever run into the fog to escape the PCs? The PCs can't follow faster than 5 ft. per round, after all.

Cheers, -- N