New Level 0 Spell: Pale Touch

[Technik4]

Pale Touch
Necromancy
Level: Clr 0, Dsb 0, Sor/Wiz 0
Components: V, S
Casting Time: 1 standard action
Range: Touch
Target: Creature or object touched
Duration: Instantaneous
Saving Throw: None
Spell Resistance: Yes

Your successful touch attack deals 1d8 points of damage to undead creatures.

So, would you allow this for your duskblades, clerics, and sorc/wizards?

[Its basically an idea to give Dukblades another spell to arcane channel....]

For reference, here is the SRD version of Disrupt Undead, a 0-level spell on the cleric, duskblade, and sor/wiz lists since 3.0 came out....

Disrupt Undead
Necromancy
Level: Clr 0, Dsb 0, Sor/Wiz 0
Components: V, S
Casting Time: 1 standard action
Range: Close (25 ft. + 5 ft./2 levels)
Effect: Ray
Duration: Instantaneous
Saving Throw: None
Spell Resistance: Yes

You direct a ray of positive energy. You must make a ranged touch attack to hit, and if the ray hits an undead creature, it deals 1d6 points of damage to it.

 

[phindar]

Seems kind of low at 0th level (though it fits if you look at AE's concept of heightened and diminished spells).

 

[Darklone]

Shouldn't this be in houserules?

I think the spell is a bit too strong.

 

[Christian]

I think the spell is a bit too strong.

Really? It only does 1 more point of damage, on average, than Disrupt Undead, and requires the caster to get within melee range. I don't see a problem ...

 

[Plane Sailing]

Disrupt the Dead
As Disrupt Undead except it is a melee touch attack that deals 1d8 damage.

So, would you allow this for your duskblades, clerics, and sorc/wizards?

[Its basically an idea to give Dukblades another spell to arcane channel....]

Well, for starters it is badly named, since it seems that the spell only does 1d8 damage to dead things! Heck, you could do 3d6 damage to dead things and I wouldn't worry, since it is just destroying corpses, right?

However, if you meant a 1d8 touch attack that does 1d8 damage, it is way overpowered. If anything it would do LESS damage than disrupt undead because it would be a much more generally useful spell.

Considering that acid cantrip does 1d3 at range, and disrupt undead does 1d6 touch vs a small range of targets, a cantrip that did 1d4 touch damage wouldn't be out of order.

Cheers

 

[Malhost Zormaeril]

I agree, it's a bit too powerful for a cantrip. 1d4+1 is the best I'd allow, on undead only (hey, it is a cantrip).

But then, I'd also keep it away from Duskblades. My opinion is they've got plenty spells already. I think it could be a good orison, though.

 

[Nail]

It's too powerful for a 0th level spell, touch attack or no.

1d4 damage, at best.

 

[Pyrex]

Disrupt Undead already does 1d6 vs undead as a Ray.

How does changing the range from Ray to Touch justify reducing the damage rather than upping it a notch?

 

[Technik4]

Disrupt Undead already does 1d6 vs undead as a Ray.

Maybe I'll include the SRD for Disrupt Undead. The main point is this:

If a ray version of a spell does X damage, can you warrant upping the damage by restricting it to a touch spell?

 

[Michael Morris]

I have a cantrip that is touch range and deals a 1d6 damage. The way I see it is the caster can deal 1d6 damage without recourse to magic using a quarterstaff. The only advantage of the spell is ignoring armor - but lets be honest here - most 1st level monsters are in a chain shirt or equivalent at best so it's like blowing a cantrip for a +2 to +4 to hit. And the style points of course. And let us not forget the downside of closing to touch range for a caster.

A range spell that deals d4 as a cantrip isn't out of the question either as long as it is close range since the damage is comparable to a sling. Beyond that though bump to 1st level.