Is spell "Miasma" broken (from MotW)?

[Drasmir]

Broken much?

Miasma, a 4th lvl Druid spell in MotW, lets a spell be cast against a target wherein it causes the target to cough and sputter and do little else. The character can hold their breath for 2 rounds per point of constitution, but after that they must make a fortitude save at 10 + 1/round. The spell lasts for 5 rounds/level. Spell resistance applies, but does anyone besides me see a problem with this "Death spell" as I call it? What way can a character avoid this spell and its effects?

 

[Zad]

It came up once in our game.

Once.


We concluded it was hideously broken.

 

[Tyrion]

If the caster of Miasma is killed, does the Miasma effect go away? If so, this might be a balancing factor. Druids would be wary of casting the spell and drawing a monster's undivided attention.

 

[AuraSeer]

Yes, as written it's a broken spell.
There have been many threads on the subject already.

 

[dravot]

Broken much?

Miasma, a 4th lvl Druid spell in MotW, lets a spell be cast against a target wherein it causes the target to cough and sputter and do little else. The character can hold their breath for 2 rounds per point of constitution, but after that they must make a fortitude save at 10 + 1/round. The spell lasts for 5 rounds/level. Spell resistance applies, but does anyone besides me see a problem with this "Death spell" as I call it? What way can a character avoid this spell and its effects?

The only way I can see that you could avoid the effects would be a dispel magic.

Yes, I think it's horribly broken.

 

[Drasmir]

If the caster of Miasma is killed, does the Miasma effect go away? If so, this might be a balancing factor. Druids would be wary of casting the spell and drawing a monster's undivided attention.

In response to your question Tyrion, no it would not since this spell has an instantaneous effect. It is cast and lasts for the duration it is to last (5 rounds per level of caster) regardless of whether the caster dies before the spell ends. Sucks, doesn't it?

 

[kigmatzomat]

The only acceptable fix to Miasma is to make it duration:Concentration (max 2 rounds/level). Even then it is a helllish spell.

Part of the "brokenness" of Miasma is the drowning rules. Fail a check and 18 seconds later die. It really should be round 1 suck water; round 2 drop to -1 hp; round 3-11 lose 1 hp/round. That gives your buddies about a minute to drag your unconscious body to shore where it can breathe.

 

[Dash Dannigan]

So any suggestions on handling Miasma then? Or should we pursue that topic in house rules...

 

[dravot]

The only acceptable fix to Miasma is to make it duration:Concentration (max 2 rounds/level). Even then it is a helllish spell.

Part of the "brokenness" of Miasma is the drowning rules. Fail a check and 18 seconds later die. It really should be round 1 suck water; round 2 drop to -1 hp; round 3-11 lose 1 hp/round. That gives your buddies about a minute to drag your unconscious body to shore where it can breathe.

Actually, the brokenness of Miasma is the fact that you don't just make one save and deal with the results. You are forced to make save after save after save, each one increasing in difficulty.

If it's cast by a 10th level druid, the victim would have to make a save per round for 10-30 rounds (depending on constitution score). It's not save or die. It's save or die, save or die, save or die, ad infinitum.

 

[dravot]

So any suggestions on handling Miasma then? Or should we pursue that topic in house rules...

d20 Call of Cthulhu has a great spell that could be substituted instead.

It's a fort save to negate. Fail the fort save and you are subject to drowning rules as your lungs fill with water. Make it and take 2d6 damage.

But yeah, maybe move over to house rules