New spell - comments?

[jaults]

Threaten

Transmutation
Level: Sor/Wiz 2
Components: V, S
Casting Time: 1 action
Range: Touch
Target: creature touched
Duration: 1 round/level

When the recipient is holding any bow other than a crossbow, she threatens an area just as if she was wielding a medium-size melee weapon. The recipient provokes attacks of opportunity normally if she makes an attack action using the bow, but the spell enables her to make attacks of opportunity.

EDIT: modified per Crothian's suggestions

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    I am making this specifically for inclusion into a spellbook for an Arcane Archer. Any comments? Any additional spells you'd put into this spellbook?

Thanks,
    Jason

 

[Crothian]

I'd actually make it touch. Allow it to be cast on others and make it a little more useful.

 

[jaults]

I'd actually make it touch. Allow it to be cast on others and make it a little more useful.

    So, you think that in general, it is underbalanced? I haven't done much (any) spell design, so I'm not sure of all the things I need to look out for...

Thanks,
    Jason

 

[Crothian]

    So, you think that in general, it is underbalanced? I haven't done much (any) spell design, so I'm not sure of all the things I need to look out for...

Thanks,
    Jason

Well, the duration is really small, and threatening five feet around you is not that great. Especially since if you use the Bow for an AoO you in turn provoke one. Changing personal to touch is a small increase in power. You can keep it as is and it might be a little underpowered. I just think making it touch opens it up to a vast more character concepts.

 

[jaults]

    What if I keep it as a personal spell, but make it threaten as a large (reach) weapon - 10 ft for a medium character? Does that unbalance things, do ya think?

Thanks,
    Jason

 

[Crothian]

    What if I keep it as a personal spell, but make it threaten as a large (reach) weapon - 10 ft for a medium character? Does that unbalance things, do ya think?

Thanks,
    Jason

I think increasing the range of the threatened area would definatly increase the spell level.

 

[jaults]

    OK, I want to keep it at 2nd level, so I'll leave it as is with the touch range.

Thanks again,
    Jason

 

[jaults]

    Oh, this spell would also allow a bow-wielder to flank, right? Any problems with that?

    Jason

 

[Crothian]

    Oh, this spell would also allow a bow-wielder to flank, right? Any problems with that?

    Jason

No problems, that is one of the advatages to threatening the area.

 

[Spatzimaus]

I'd even say you could remove the "not crossbow" part, and just say "loaded weapon". That is, a crossbow can threaten if it's loaded, and since a bow is basically always loaded it still works the same.

It's nicely balanced as is. Short duration, only 5' threaten (and you still provoke AoOs), and you still have to take the time to cast it on yourself.