New Spell: Kill Hedrack

[Geoff Watson]

The characters in my Return to the Temple of Elemental Evil game are having a lot of problems with Hedrack. They have fought him several times, and he always got away and inflicted lots of damage, despite some good plans to get him.

One of the PCs (Wizard) wants to design a spell that is like Disintergrate, but only works on Hedrack. What bonuses do you think would be fair for limiting the target like that? I was thinking of giving penalties on the save, and bonuses on the spell resistance roll, but how much?
He wanted no save and no SR, but I thought that might be too much.

Geoff.

 

[Crothian]

The characters in my Return to the Temple of Elemental Evil game are having a lot of problems with Hedrack. They have fought him several times, and he always got away and inflicted lots of damage, despite some good plans to get him.

One of the PCs (Wizard) wants to design a spell that is like Disintergrate, but only works on Hedrack. What bonuses do you think would be fair for limiting the target like that? I was thinking of giving penalties on the save, and bonuses on the spell resistance roll, but how much?
He wanted no save and no SR, but I thought that might be too much.

Geoff.

I'd say for something that specific they would need a very personal item of Hedraclk's as a material component.

Noi save and no SR is just wrong. Even if it is that specific, imagine making this type of spell except the target is the King of a large country. then you blackmail the king, or just kill him off.

I'd say they should observe Hendrack and determine which save is his worst and base the spell of off that.

 

[ruleslawyer]

I just don't think this sort of thing should be allowed at all; the implications, as Crothian suggested, are pretty staggering. You might consider using the rules for ritual magic from Relics & Rituals, and allowing the use of a ritual spell with a personal item of Hedrack's as the target.

 

[Happiest_Sadist]

I would consider a fifth lvl spell that casts "bestow curse" at unlimited range, and required a part of his body (drop of blood, lock of hair) as a component. Or a spell that gave +2 or +4 to the save DCs of all spells agianst him with ther same component.

Or let him make a cheap "Arrow of Hedrack Slaying."

 

[Romotre]

i'm sure this will lead to fun (not to mention creative) sessions. if you allow this, what makes any NPC you create challenging. DM "the headless guy in black spiked armor runs around and kills lots of innocent people" fighter (to wizard) "better start working on that kill headless guy spell." ...later...wizard "done ok he'd dead problem solved" rinse repeat game over. why doesn't the group either A) change tactics or B) come back later instead of takign the easy way out. sounds lame and boring. at first i thought you were joking.

 

[Ryan Koppenhaver]

The DMG section on creating new spells (page 92) suggests that "A spell with a very limited use (only works against red dragons) could conceivably be one level lower than it would be if it had a more general application." I could see you maybe going down two levels for a spell that only worked against a single person, but certainly not more than that. Based on Power Word: Kill, I'd make an instant kill spell with no save no lower than 7th level. Based on how many hit points this Hedrack guy normally has, I'd make a spell that stunned him for 1d4 or so rounds with no save 5th or 6th level.

On the other hand, spell research is time consuming and costly (DMG p 42). Do your PCs have 5,000 gp and five weeks to spare? If they do, do they want to spend it on creating a one shot spell? They might be better off scrounging up the cash for a scroll of a suitable ninth level spell, if such things are available to be bought in your world.

 

[Piratecat]

I would recommend requiring Hedrack's head as the material component.

 

[Plane Sailing]

I would recommend requiring Hedrack's head as the material component.

After all, he might have clones, right?

 

[Nareau]

Please add a "Possible spoilers" warning to this thread

I smell spoilers looming on the horizon. If you wouldn't mind warning folks, I'd appreciate it (as I'm running this module for players who read this board).

You might suggest he research the OA spell "Weapon Bless". It allows you to enhance a weapon up to +5 against a single opponent (duration is permanent until discharged; your next attack with that weapon must be against the specified opponent). That way, the spell will stay useful after they off Hedrack. And it won't be an instant-death spell. And he can cast it on a bunch of arrows (that the characters will just carry around and not use until they see him again).

Weapon Bless is a first level spell.

 

[Geoff Watson]

Re: Please add a "Possible spoilers" warning to this thread

I smell spoilers looming on the horizon. If you wouldn't mind warning folks, I'd appreciate it (as I'm running this module for players who read this board).

What spoilers? All they would get spoiled is that there's a bad guy named Hedrack.

Geoff.