LA for Innate Spell-like Abilities?

[Angel Tarragon]

This is something that has been on my mind for a while. If a creature or character has an innate spell-like ability, should its LA be increased? My best guess would be that it should be, but not sure by how much. How much of an increase for one spell-like ability of each spell level [inidividually]?

 

[Nifft]

Generally speaking, you shouldn't grant spell-like abilities earlier than the spell itself would be available. So, wish 1/day would be LA +16 or so. (That's an absurd example to illustrate a point.)

What spell-like abilities do you want to grant?

-- N

 

[Destil]

It really depends on the spell. fly at will is huge in most games, and would completely rule in any with many outdoor encounters. Illusory script... not so much in most campaigns, though potentially in something very cloak and dagger.

 

[Wolfwood2]

Gnomes get a selection of spell-like abilities which can be quite useful in early levels, and they're LA +0. Still, their spell-likes are only cantrips.

So to echo the chorus, it depends.

 

[Angel Tarragon]

Generally speaking, you shouldn't grant spell-like abilities earlier than the spell itself would be available. So, wish 1/day would be LA +16 or so. (That's an absurd example to illustrate a point.)

What spell-like abilities do you want to grant?

In the process of creating a critter, lets say I wanted to give the ability to use Superior Invisibility (Complete Arcane, page 125, 9th Level Spell) 1/day. What would be the LA for that?

What would be the LA for granting the same feature (Superioir Invisibility 1/day) as a Supernatural Ability?

 

[Nifft]

If it's for a critter, than the CR is more important than the LA, right?

-- N

 

[kirinke]

I'd say it probably depend on the type of spell. For first level spells or cantrips/orisons, I wouldn't bother.

I mean would you give an LA penalty for being able to cast light or daylight 1 to 3 times a day? Not exactly game-breaking there.

 

[Angel Tarragon]

If it's for a critter, than the CR is more important than the LA, right?

Yeah, my bad. Thats what I meant from the start.

 

[Nifft]

So, it's an 8th level spell, which for 1 minute/level renders the critter immune to detection by anything except true seeing.

Clearly it shouldn't be thrown at PCs who couldn't have access to true seeing, which is a 5th, 6th and 7th level spell... let's call it 7th level just in case the party has a Sorcerer + Druid instead of Cleric + Wizard, or in case the Cleric is a cohort.

So. The critter should be stealth-oriented, deal Sneak Attack or Sudden Strike damage, and be around CR 15, or CR 13 if it attacks in pairs. Clearly this spell-like ability just by itself won't justify the CR... but that's the range of the package you should be looking at, IMHO.

Cheers, -- N

 

[Pyrex]

How much of an increase for one spell-like ability of each spell level [inidividually]?

It depends muchly on the specific spells, but using the half-fiend as an example, I'd say approximately LA+4 and specifically list at which HD which spells become available.