New Spell... Please pick apart for flaws!

[evileeyore]

I have created this spell for a Sorceror I play. I want to keep all my attack/damage spells electricity based and was looking for a decent ranged area affect. I couldn't really find one so this is my bastard stepchild of Lightning Bolt and Electrical Deluge...




Lightning Blast
Evocation
Level: Sor/Wiz 7
Casting Time: 1 action
Range: Medium (100 ft. + 10 ft./level) or 50 ft. + 5 ft./level
Area: 5 ft. wide to medium range (100 ft. + 10 ft./level); or 10 ft. wide to 50 ft. + 5 ft./level; followed by a blast at the terminus 50 ft. radius spread 5 ft. high
Duration: Instantaneous
Saving Throw: Reflex half
Spell Resistance: Yes

The character releases a powerful stroke of electrical energy that deals 1d6 points of damage per caster level (maximum 15d6) to each creature within its area. The bolt begins at the character's fingertips. At the terminus (anywhere up to the max range) lightning arcs in all directions in a single
plane out to 50 feet, 5 feet high.

The lightning bolt sets fire to combustibles and damages objects in its path. It can melt metals with a low melting point, such as lead, gold, copper, silver, or bronze. If the damage caused to an interposing barrier shatters or breaks through it, the bolt may continue beyond the barrier if the spell’s range permits; otherwise, it stops at the barrier just as any other spell effect does.

Material Component: A bit of lodestone and a square plate of iron.


Editted to add: If anyone knows of a good area affect electricity spell in a D&D system book, point it out. I would rather use something allready playtested...

 

[Fade]

'Energy Substitution' feat from T&B.

 

[Geoff Watson]

Looks like a reasonable spell.

If you want other electrical area spells, see Scintilating Sphere from Magic of Faerun. It's nearly the same as Fireball, but does Electric damage (and has Medium range).

You might want to design similar spells: Cone of Lightning (same as Cone of Cold), Lightning Sheild (same as Fire Shield), etc.

Geoff.

 

[evileeyore]

Hey thanks for the tip about Scintilating Sphere!

Yeah I considered the whole 'just change the energy subtype' route, but it felt like cheating to me. I like the flavor of the different subtypes, i.e. most electricity starts at caster and goes out to the max range, most fire types are area spreads, most cold spells do something different, few acid spells are area effect, etc...

I tried to balancce this spell agianst not only previous electricity spells, but against Delayed Blast Fireball.

During the creation process I noticed something. Both this spell and DBF will max out damage within one level for sorcerors...

In fact my sorceror will be casting maxed out Lightning Blasts the moment I get the spell. Something just doesn't sound right about that...

 

[clark411]

maybe i misread

but your description doesn't match the Range quite exactly.. i started to imagine a 100+10ft / level swath of lightning and got a little jump. that'd be huuuuuuuge!

edit- I did indeed misread. Nifty

 

[evileeyore]

Hah you think that is large... You should check out Electrical Deluge from the Book of Eldritch Might...

 

[drowdude]

Spell looks kewl... might have a use for this for one of my NPCs actually....

If you want other electrical area spells, see Scintilating Sphere from Magic of Faerun. It's nearly the same as Fireball, but does Electric damage (and has Medium range).

Just as a heads up, the errata sheet for Magic of Faerun changes the range on Scintilating Sphere to Long.

 

[Numion]

First I thought that level 6 might be better for this spell, but then again the area is quite big. Maybe level 7 is fine. The fact that this spell has both the line effect and a spread makes for a nice visual image.

Nice work, all in all.

 

[Plane Sailing]

Don't forget chain lightning at level 6 - in many ways a superior 'area effect' since it is more choosy

 

[The Iron Mark]

As Fade said, why not get Energy Substitution(electricity)?