[New Spell] Dragon Bolt

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

Trying to add a bit more flavor to my kobold sorcerers (and wizards). This is a basic reworking of the venerable magic missile, but changing it from being a force-based attack and giving it a draconic flavor. (IMO, one of the best things 3E did was give kobolds a serious love affair with dragons.)

Feedback eagerly sought and appreciated.

Dragon Bolt
Evocation [Acid, Cold, Electricity, Fire]
Level: Sor/Wiz 1
Components: V, S, F
Casting Time: 1 Standard Action
Range: Medium (100 ft. + 10 ft./level)
Targets: Up to five creatures, no two of which can be more than 15 yards apart
Duration: Instantaneous
Saving Throw: None
Spell Resistance: Yes

The caster spits out a bolt of magical energy and strikes its target, dealing 1d4+1 points of a energy damage.

The bolt is shaped like a miniature chromatic dragon of a random type, and the type determines the form of energy damage inflicted. The bolt strikes unerringly, even if the target is in melee combat or has less than total cover or total concealment. Specific parts of a creature cannot be singled out. Inanimate objects are not damaged by the spell.

The type of dragon bolt fired is determined randomly:

D4 Color Energy
1 Black Acid
2 White Cold
3 Blue Electricity
4 Red Fire

For every two caster levels beyond 1st, you gain an additional bolt -- two at 3rd level, three at 4th, four at 7th, and the maximum of five bolts at 9th level or higher. The color and type of each bolt is randomly determined. If you shoot multiple bolts, you can have them strike a single creature or several creatures. A single bolt can strike only one creature. You must designate targets before you determine the type of bolt, check for spell resistance or roll damage.

Focus: A small statuette of a chromatic dragon (any type).

 

[SamuraiY]

As far as mechanics go it looks fine to me. Personally, instead having the bolts be shaped liked dragons, I would have the spell cause a temporary illusion of a small dragon of the appropriate color, and the missiles would be its "breath weapon". Of course this is just a matter of flavor text, and its just my opinion, so feel free to ignore it.

 

[Piratecat]

Cool stuff you've created yourself belongs in house rules, so I'll slide it over.

 

[Brother MacLaren]

I'm always happy to see anything that can liven up the dullest spell in the PHB. Had at one time a great number of options that basically used the mechanics of MM but added some flavor (tiny spheres of annihilation, flesh-rending hooks on chains shot out from the caster's chest, ghostly hawks, physical knives, or elemental meteors)
This will have marginally less power than MM, since there are resistances to elemental spells and it might miss incorporeal foes, but ghosts are very rare and some foes are more vulnerable to specific elements. But MM as is can deal with "marginally less power."

 

[robberbaron]

I'd be inclined to either set the dragon type when the spell is memorised/prepared, or make it a "life choice", so a fire-loving Kobold would generally cast the Fire Dragon Bolt, etc.

Nice spell. I might have to steal it.