Mass Resilient Sphere: What Level?

[Al'Kelhar]

Here's the description of resilient sphere from the SRD:

Resilient Sphere
Evocation [Force]
Level: Sor/Wiz 4
Components: V, S, M
Casting Time: 1 standard action
Range: Close (25 ft. + 5 ft./2 levels)
Effect: 1-ft.-diameter/level sphere, centered around a creature
Duration: 1 min./level (D)
Saving Throw: Reflex negates
Spell Resistance: Yes

A globe of shimmering force encloses a creature, provided the creature is small enough to fit within the diameter of the sphere. The sphere contains its subject for the spell’s duration. The sphere is not subject to damage of any sort except from a rod of cancellation, a rod of negation, a disintegrate spell, or a targeted dispel magic spell. These effects destroy the sphere without harm to the subject. Nothing can pass through the sphere, inside or out, though the subject can breathe normally.
The subject may struggle, but the sphere cannot be physically moved either by people outside it or by the struggles of those within.
Material Component: A hemispherical piece of clear crystal and a matching hemispherical piece of gum arabic.

In my opinion, this is an excellent 4th-level spell, as it has the effect of neutralising one Medium or smaller opponent completely for at least the duration of a combat (subject to save, SR, extraplanar travel, dispels, etc. etc.). What level would you put a mass resilient sphere at?

Resilient Sphere, Mass
Evocation [Force]
Level: Sor/Wiz ?
Effect: Up to one resilient sphere per level, no two of which can be more than 30 ft. apart
Duration: 1 min./level (D); see text

As resilient sphere, except as noted above. If you choose to voluntarily dispel this spell prior to the end of its maximum duration, all spheres are dispelled simultaneously. A single sphere can be dispelled, however, by a targeted dispel magic or similar effect.

I reckon Sor/Wiz 7 - thoughts?

Cheers, Al'Kelhar

 

[yennico]

Effect: Up to one resilient sphere per level, no two of which can be more than 30 ft. apart

So at wizard level 20 can cast up to a maximum of 20 resilient spheres. No way.
Resilient spehre hase two purposes: to neutralize a creature of medium size or to protect a creature from harm.

A wizard who was surprised by his enemies cast a resilient sphere on himself so he can buff himself in the sphere with some spells.

Why do you need a mass version of this spell? A mass version kills an entire party.
A spellcaster casts mass resilient sphere on his enemies. The non spellcasters can not free themselves. The friends of the spellcaster surround the enemy spellcasters. Either the enemy spellcaster dispels the sphere surrounding him or the spellcaster dispels the sphere so the melee fighters can take the enemy spellcasters down. After killing each spellcaster of the enemies the melee fighters can kill the enemy melee fighters.

 

[wuyanei]

Well, I'd call it a 'mass effective reflex-based save-or-die' spell.

Compare it other 'mass effective save-or-die' spells such as symbol of death, wail of the banshee, wierd, mass hold monster -- 8th level, minimum. More like 9th.

 

[Nifft]

Some notes...

1/ Duration: 1 min/level (D) -- The caster can dismiss the whole spell, not just one sphere at a time. Makes the spell less kill-you-one-at-a-time, and thus way less powerful than literally casting resiliant sphere several times in one round.

2/ Dispelled by targeted dispel magic...

All magical effects and magic items within the radius of the spell, except for those that you carry or touch, are disjoined. That is, spells and spell-like effects are separated into their individual components (ending the effect as a dispel magic spell does)

So, even if a DM nerfs Disjunction to leave magic items alone, that spell is worth preparing in the morning to counter this spell.

7th level would be fine, if it has an expensive component or very expensive focus, and one sphere per two levels. 8th level seems good for the spell as you've written it.

-- N

 

[kanithardm]

Your telling me they took Otiluke's off! I never looked at it since 3.5 came out, but in 3.0 it was Otiluke's Resilient Sphere.

 

[domino]

And in 3.5 it still is.

In the SRD, however, they had to remove all trademarked names, like Otiluke, Mordicainen, and Leomund, for example. So Mord's sword became MAGES sword. Melf's acid arrow became acid arrow.

 

[Al]

I'd lean towards 7th or 8th level, but working on a principle that the more cautious estimate should be taken (it can then be revised down - far more difficult to revise something up a level if PCs are taking that spell) I think that 8th looks about fine. It's clearly weaker than Mass Hold Monster*, so 9th is too high.

* The duration is longer, but I have yet to have seen a single combat last more than 17 rounds so they both have a de facto duration of "one entire combat".

 

[maggot]

8th sounds good to me.

But how many spheres of 1ft diameter per level are you going to be able to fit into an area only 30ft across?

 

[dedicated]

8th sounds good to me.

But how many spheres of 1ft diameter per level are you going to be able to fit into an area only 30ft across?

if it's a square 900 if it's a circle slightly less

 

[maggot]

if it's a square 900 if it's a circle slightly less

That's if the spheres are 1ft in diameter. But they are 1ft/level. I should have been clearer. (And there is a better packing of spheres than a regular grid, you'll get more if you stack them like hexes instead of squares. And also, you really have a sphere of spheres since you can affect creatures in the air.)