Pathfinder 1E Leif's Whirtlestaff's Wizards' Academy Reprise, [Pfdr] [OOC 03]

[Scotley]

Don't forget Gnurl, though that game is sort of in limbo right now. No worries on the delay. As I mentioned in another thread, business is too good at the company I run as we have been asked to take over a significant portion of a competitor's business as they exit the local market. I'm working way beyond capacity right now, so a little delay is welcome.

 

[Leif]

That's EXCELLENT news, Scotty! I feared that the game with Gnurl in it was over and I had given it up for dead. The revivification of "Island Empire" will be greeted with much rejoicing! [For those of you who don't know, Gnurl Whiskerling is my gnomish wizard whose likeness is my avatar here on ENWorld.]

 

[Scott DeWar]

[For those of you who don't know, Gnurl Whiskerling is my gnomish wizard whose likeness is my avatar here on ENWorld.]

Ah, clarification is appreciated.

 

[Lou]

The Manyjaws spell grants a REF ST for half damage.

Francheska has added a Knowledge Check (the planes) for the Xorn to her initiative entry. As an elemental creature, she has resistances, so she expects the Xorn to have some too.

 

[Leif]

Gettin' Jiggy with Magic Missile

So okay, here's an idea that I just had: Say your wizard advances to 6th level, and as his new 3rd level spell he selects Magic Missile again, having already learned the first level version. What this would do, according to my nefarious idea is increase the base damage of the spell to 1d6+2 per every odd-numbered level (so 3d6+6 for our hypothetical 6th level wizard, plus any applicable feats, of course, ahem). And the same would apply if the spell was learned again in place of a 5th level spell, except that in that case damage would be 1d8+3 per missile. [So we're talking 4d8+12 total damage from a first level spell that the 7th level wizard has burned a third- and a fifth-level slot upon in addition to the 1st-level slot to begin with. Regardless of those higher level slots, it would be prepared and used in a first level slot. However, for purposes of magic resistance and invulnerability effects it would be treated as a third- or a fifth-level spell. Is that too weird? Too unbalanced? Maybe barely plausible/playable?]

 

[Scott DeWar]

I understand the idea behind it. Weird? Not really. Inventive? yes. Balanced? not sure.

I have but one more question at this time (I reserve the right to recall this witness for further questioning) .. .. .. ..

As the base spell has a max of 5 missiles, do the higher level spells have a max of 5 missiles as well? If not, then the spell should take up the higher spell slot. IMHO. In fact, I think it should take the higher spell slot anyway when it comes to memorizing.

possible titles:
advanced magic missile
1d6+2 and level 3

greater magic missile
1d8+3 and level 5

grand magic missile
1d10+4 and level 7

supreme magic missile
1d2+5 and level 9

just my HUMBLE opinion.

 

[Leif]

I understand the idea behind it. Weird? Not really. Inventive? yes. Balanced? not sure.

I have but one more question at this time (I reserve the right to recall this witness for further questioning) .. .. .. ..

As the base spell has a max of 5 missiles, do the higher level spells have a max of 5 missiles as well? If not, then the spell should take up the higher spell slot. IMHO. In fact, I think it should take the higher spell slot anyway when it comes to memorizing.

possible titles:
advanced magic missile
1d6+2 and level 3

greater magic missile
1d8+3 and level 5

grand magic missile
1d10+4 and level 7

supreme magic missile
1d2+5 and level 9

just my HUMBLE opinion.

Ok, thanks for the input. I'll concede that the more powerful spells should just be higher level spells for all purposes, too. But I'd do it this way:

Advanced Magic Missile, 1 missile at L5 (up to 5 missiles total at L13)
1d8+3 damage per missile, L3 spell

Greater Magic Missile, 1 missile at L9 (up to 5 missiles total at L17)
1d10+5 damage per missile, L5 spell

Supreme Magic Missile, 1 missile at L13 (up to 5 missiles total at L21)
1d12+7 damage per missile, L7 spell

Or maybe just have the 3rd and 5th level versions, call them Greater MM and Supreme MM, and just forget about the L7 version.

 

[Scott DeWar]

i like the three spells.

 

[Leif]

i like the three spells.

Thanks. And thanks for your help, too! Without you they'd still need names, and be overpowered for their spell levels.

But the L7 Supreme Magic Missile does an average damage of 13.5 at CL 13, whereas a L1 Magic Missile does an average damage of 12.5 at it's max of CL 9. There's still something hinky about that.

 

[Leif]

Note to Self: Self, remember next time to READ full Bestiary entry for all monsters I use, and LEARN how to run them in combat properly. Either that, or stick to orcs, ogres, and maybe giants.