Michael's MtG Spell thread (last update: Blockbuster 3/7/7)

[GimbleRaulnor]

Late in the day, but here goes - staying with low level utility spells.

Leaf Shield
Transmutation [Green]
Level: (1) Drd 1, Rng 1
Components: V, S, DF
Range: Touch
Target: 1 leaf.
Casting Time: 1 standard action
Duration: 1 minute / level
Saving Throw: None (object)
Spell Resistance: No (object)

This spell enlarges and transforms a broad leaf (such as a maple leaf) into a heavy wooden shield with a deflection bonus of +1 / 3 levels to a maximum of +5 at 15th level.

The leaf shield also forces a wielder of magic missile to make an attack roll against the full AC of the bearer.

Just felt like commenting to this spell, even though it's an older post.

I don't really see why this spell gives a deflection bonus to AC. Why not make it an enhancement bonus?


I really like the spells in this thread, keep them coming

 

[Jdvn1]

So, is the risk worth the reward?

It'd be neat if the spell had some other minor effect, say if you make it to the end of the day, then you're cured of all disease.

 

[GimbleRaulnor]

It'd be fun to play a Lich with that spell

 

[Michael Morris]

Uhm, the spell ends if your con reaches 0. So a lich would cast it and have the spell immediately end.

 

[GimbleRaulnor]

Uhm, the spell ends if your con reaches 0. So a lich would cast it and have the spell immediately end.

A lich has NO con score, but I see your spell catched that too. Though, it's weird undeads wouldn't benefit from a black sphere spell :S

 

[Michael Morris]

Back over to white, a color that likes setting rules.

Tranquil Presence
Abjuration (Ward) [White]
Level: (5), Clr 6, Sor/Wiz 5
Components: V, S, (DF)
Casting Time: 1 action
Range: Close
Effect: Sphere out to the limit of the range.
Duration: 1 round / level
Saving Throw: None
Spell Resistance: No

Magic items can't be activated (Attempts to activate them have no effect as if they were in an antimagic sphere. Continuous abilities of magic items or abilities already active when this spell's area of effect comes into contact with them are not affected).

 

[Ferret]

These are pretty cool, I really like the Leaf shield. I assume that the colours are house rules? Care to explain?

 

[Sollir Furryfoot]

Just a few cosntructive comments

Sense Emotion-Do consider changing it back to +10, if only because it gives bards a chance to fail a Sense Motive check vs. a good liar even with it on. Also change it to enhancement bonus b/c it currently stacks with most items. Otherwise, I'd keep it insight but make it only +5. Bards do after all have Sense Motive as a class skill anyways.

Silent Casting is very potentially unbalanced. Take for example the cost difference between a wand of fireball (5th caster level) and a wand of fireball (10th caster level), a wizard who uses Silent Casting a lot saves money and gains a whole lot more powerful fireballs per day. I would just take out that mention about raising the caster level of the item, or changing it to a fixed amount such as +X (where X = the level of increase the metamagic feat would be).

Leaf Shield-Seems vastly overpowered for its level comparing it to Shield of Faith, which gives +1 deflection mod/3 caster levels, I would just change the deflection bonus to +1/4 levels and consider giving them a penalty to saves vs. fire spells. Also, what kind of an attack does the magic missile wielder make on the bearer of the shield? Normal ranged attack, modified by Dex? This is almost as good as negating the missile outright with a Shield spell because most casters have poor attack bonuses. I'd either allow them to add their int to the attack roll (annoying as it requires more rules) or make it a ranged touch attack (giving a leaf shield wearer about a 50% chance of evading).

Blessing of Leeches-Cost heavily outweighs benefits. Permanent Con Damage is *nasty*, it can't be healed even in minute amounts til level 5 as a cleric, and even then by 1 point at a time with lesser rest. if I remember correctly. I would definately change this to Temp Con damage (heal 1-2 of that per day depending on how much you rest) and it would still be a bit much-Reasoning: you lose 1 hp/level every time your con goes down from even to odd. In addition for changing the type of Con damage I would make a clarification saying that the caster does not lose Hp from con loss due to this spell for teh duration. Another option would be to keep it perm con damage, but make it damage the caster once every minute, but always at least 1.

Anyways, don't get me wrong, I'm enjoying these spells and I can't wait for Art of Magic to come out.

 

[Angel Tarragon]

This is a nice thread you've got going here Michael. I'm really enjoying your work so far, keep these cool spells coming.

 

[Michael Morris]

Just a few cosntructive comments

Sense Emotion-Do consider changing it back to +10, if only because it gives bards a chance to fail a Sense Motive check vs. a good liar even with it on. Also change it to enhancement bonus b/c it currently stacks with most items. Otherwise, I'd keep it insight but make it only +5. Bards do after all have Sense Motive as a class skill anyways.

Reread the spell - Sense Emotion doesn't allow you to make a sense motive check to discern lies or anything else - it only allows you to sense emotion with it's bonus. So your point is moot.

Silent Casting is very potentially unbalanced. Take for example the cost difference between a wand of fireball (5th caster level) and a wand of fireball (10th caster level), a wizard who uses Silent Casting a lot saves money and gains a whole lot more powerful fireballs per day. I would just take out that mention about raising the caster level of the item, or changing it to a fixed amount such as +X (where X = the level of increase the metamagic feat would be).

This needs to be bore out in playtesting. Basically you have a 2nd level spell getting up to a 4th level spells effect if you pop a charge off a wand (considering worst case scenario here). Much of the utility off a wand is being able to free up casting slots - if you memorize slots to enhance your wand you're sorta defeating the purpose of having a wand. That says, this needs a test.

Leaf Shield-Seems vastly overpowered for its level comparing it to Shield of Faith, which gives +1 deflection mod/3 caster levels, I would just change the deflection bonus to +1/4 levels and consider giving them a penalty to saves vs. fire spells. Also, what kind of an attack does the magic missile wielder make on the bearer of the shield? Normal ranged attack, modified by Dex? This is almost as good as negating the missile outright with a Shield spell because most casters have poor attack bonuses. I'd either allow them to add their int to the attack roll (annoying as it requires more rules) or make it a ranged touch attack (giving a leaf shield wearer about a 50% chance of evading).

I'll look into this later. I'd adjust the level before the effect though.

Blessing of Leeches-Cost heavily outweighs benefits. Permanent Con Damage is *nasty*, it can't be healed even in minute amounts til level 5 as a cleric, and even then by 1 point at a time with lesser rest. if I remember correctly. I would definately change this to Temp Con damage (heal 1-2 of that per day depending on how much you rest) and it would still be a bit much-Reasoning: you lose 1 hp/level every time your con goes down from even to odd. In addition for changing the type of Con damage I would make a clarification saying that the caster does not lose Hp from con loss due to this spell for teh duration. Another option would be to keep it perm con damage, but make it damage the caster once every minute, but always at least 1.

I disagree here. Fast Healing is a pretty powerful ability. If what you say is true I'll increase the fast healing effect to balance out the spell. Getting around the drawback is the challenge in using this spell. Just because this spell is in a 1st level slot doesn't mean a 1st level character should use it. Also, your math is wrong. Lesser restoration restores 1d4 point of ability damage starting at 3rd and restoration knocks it all out at 7th.

Anyways, don't get me wrong, I'm enjoying these spells and I can't wait for Art of Magic to come out.

I can't either - but I haven't heard. Also, these spells aren't from Art of Magic - though they are based on its principles.