D&D 3E/3.5 List of Problem 3.5e spells? Where?

[Scion]

I've seen some people say scorching ray is a broken spell, seems all right to me though.

Alter self is either an incredibly weak spell, a nice spell, or vastly overpowered depending on what forms you allow the caster to take.

 

[Nail]

Somewhat back on topic though, do you consider polymorph a problem? Its serious lack of out-of-combat uses isnt good

Or are you going for 'problems' that are game breaking rather than too limiting?

No problem too small! ....or something.

Once 3.0e had matured, there was a fairly agreed upon list of spells that were either too powerful, too weak, or too ambiguous (Haste, Harm, False Vision, ...).

For 3.5e, I'd like to either find such a list, or begin compiling one myself. Surely someone else, greater than I, has already started such a thing?

 

[Storm Raven]

The vorpal sword does not dissapear when your spell ends. Read the spell description where it says: "Parts of your body or pieces of equipment that are separated from you do not revert to their original forms." Show said piece to yer DM.

Cry when he laughs at you and points out that the description doesn't also state that shapechanged items that are separated from your body remain at all when the spell duration ends.

 

[Storm Raven]

Actually, if you gate in 2 Efreet (requires caster level 20 or above) you can get *6* wishes per 1000xp, for a +5 inherent bonus and a free magic item. And it's not even an evil spell (Efreet aren't [Evil] creatures).

Only if the Efreet agree to cast those wishes, which is up to the DM's discretion.

 

[Nail]

Cry when he laughs at you and points out that the description doesn't also state that shapechanged items that are separated from your body remain at all when the spell duration ends.

Nice try at solving the problem, but this too will fail.

If items and peices cease to exist when the spell ends, extrodinary abilities like poison and disease will also cease to exist when the spell ends.

The spell does NOT say the peices or items dissapear when the spell ends. The spell implies quite the opposite.

 

[Camarath]

I think that the new Freedom of Movement spell is a problem, specifically this text from the spell "The subject automatically succeeds on any grapple check made to resist a grapple attempt". That means one can enter a grapple and one's opponent can only use the Attack Your Opponent, Activate a Magic Item, Cast a Spell, and Retrieve a Spell Component options, all other grappling options are rendered automatically unsuccessful by the spell.

 

[Storm Raven]

Nice try at solving the problem, but this too will fail.

If items and peices cease to exist when the spell ends, extrodinary abilities like poison and disease will also cease to exist when the spell ends.

Yes. So?

The spell does NOT say the peices or items dissapear when the spell ends. The spell implies quite the opposite.

"Implies" and "says" are different things. It doesn't say that pieces detached from the body remain after the end of the spell's duration. Therefore, I rule that they don't, based upon the spell's description.

I now laugh at any player silly enough to try "Balor Mining".

 

[Nail]

Only if the Efreet agree to cast those wishes, which is up to the DM's discretion.

Again, nice try.

The spell description, OTOH, disagrees with you.

"A controlled creature can be commanded to perform a service for you."

No "Efreet agreement" required.

Now look: Obviously, rule zero is available, so let's not belabor this point. Are there any other spells in 3.5e that can be abused? Or any that are especially weak?

 

[Nail]

I now laugh at any player silly enough to try "Balor Mining".

As you should. Hopefully it didn't take this thread to make that possible, though.

 

[Intrope]

Only if the Efreet agree to cast those wishes, which is up to the DM's discretion.

Well, not actually. You see, if the task you want can be done in 1 round/caster level or less (and using a spell-like ability 3 times would take only 3 rounds), it's an immediate task--you command them, they do it, no negotiations, no payment. If it takes longer, you've got to bargain with them (and pay them).

Naturally, as a DM I'd quash this and the Balor Mining.

To get back on the original topic (sorta): Wish as a Spell-like ability is a broken ability also, since:
1. Wish can be used to generate or improve magic items; this has an XP cost of 5000 + 2 * normal XP cost for the item (or improvement).
2. Using Spell-like abilities doesn't cost the creature XP.

Actually, now that I think about this, this make Efreet-gating even more abusive: Gate 2 Efreets, get 6 wishes, wish for 6 rings of 3 wishes. Net: 18 wishes. Now you get 3 and a half +5 inherent bonuses per 1000xp!

Naturally, any DM that allows a party to get away with that is headed for ruin...