New Spells

[Samloyal23]

These are two decidely non-combat related spells designed to get characters into difficult social/romantic situations from which they may need to extricate themselves. The second one below is definitely a bit naughty and may offend some people. If sexual content bugs you, do not scroll down. I want technical opinions of the two spells, are they over powered or need to be tweaked? How would you use them in your campaigns?

Love Letter
Enchantment (Compulsion) [Mind-Affecting, Sexual]
Level: Sor/Wiz 7, Joining 7
Component: V, S, M
Casting Time: 1 hour
Range: touch
Target: 1 letter or missive
Duration: 1 day/level
Saving Throw: Will negates
Spell Resistance: yes
"My dearest darling, my only one, how I miss thee..."
This spell enchants a letter written by the caster so that anyone who reads it will feel love for and a longing to meet the person who signs the letter at the time of casting, whether the caster or someone chosen by the caster.


Affected readers who fail to save against the spell fall in love with the signer, even if they do not know who that is, and must immediately set out to find the beloved signer. Once with the signer, they are treated as charmed until something breaks the spell. This effect ends the first time a Will save is passed. Will checks are made daily or anytime the signer takes an action against the subject. Any number of readers can be affected while the letter's enchantment lasts. Readers must be literate and understand the language the letter is written in.

The material component for this spell is a romantically worded letter written using a quill made from a Cherub's feather and ink made from the signer's blood and tears mixed with powdered lodestone.

Bad Touch
Enchantment (Compulsion) [Mind-Affecting, Sexual]
Level: Sor/Wiz 3, Joining 3
Component: V, S, M
Casting Time: 1 standard action
Range: close
Target: 1 creature
Duration: 1 round/level
Saving Throw: Will negates
Spell Resistance: yes
“Stop touching me, lady!”
The subject of this spell is compelled to grope and fondle a target within range selected by the caster, regardless of the social consequences. Once the target is chosen the subject will repeatedly attempt to finger, stroke, and rub against that person unless forced to stop until the end of the spell’s duration. The subject defends against attacks normally but cannot take any other actions besides pursuing physical contact with the selected target. If the target is out of reach or no target is available, the subject resorts to self-abuse.

 

[kitcik]

On the former, I think one of the material components should be a strand of hair from the intended recipient. This makes the letter work on only a single, intended target rather than whoever reads it first - and also opens up avenues for RP.

On the latter, I am not touching that (pun intended).

 

[RUMBLETiGER]

Thank you very much for your very clear disclaimers and warnings at the start of your thread. This is exactly the tasteful manner in how these discussions should be done.

 

[Naoki00_]

I agree about the lock of hair from the above post, but other then that I actually like these spells.

I really like the roleplay implications of things like magic, and find that normal stuff doesn't really cut it, so usually I allow a caster to tell me wat he wants to do, and I'll think of a check to pass or if it's reasonable just let him do it. these spells sound like a good starting ground for out of combat spell ideas heh

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

Both of these are much too high of a level, IMO, since they're more limited (and thus should be lower level than) versions of Charm Person and Suggestion. Love Letter's delivery mechanism should probably push it up a level or two, but not to 7.

 

[Empirate]

Love Letter is worded incredibly open-endedly: what manner of information-gathering is required of the letter's reader to find the signer? What obstacles must the reader try to overcome in order to get to the signer? How long must the reader go on trying to find/get to the signer? Can the reader save the world first, or put out the fire his room is on, or eat a meal when hungry? What consequences does the reader face if prevented from going to the signer? What if he simply can't find the signer and doesn't know where to look? What targets are viable (I'm assuming intelligent creatures capable of feeling love etc.)? Etc.

Also, having the letter affect anyone reading it opens the door to abuse further: How about a letter written on a billboard sign, put up in the capital's busiest market? How about a letter written in cloud, on the sky? High-level casters can do that.

Furthermore, the Target and Duration entries are a bit wonky, seemingly contradicting the text (charmed until someone breaks the spell; all readers are targets in a sense) and at least require a "(see text)" or similar.

I find it hard to judge what level this should be in, based on the above.


Bad Touch is an interesting spell, which suffers from its incredibly awkward casting time. I couldn't imagine a single situation in which a spell that takes 1 HOUR to cast, but only lasts a few ROUNDS, could be made to work. I strongly suggest changing the casting time to 1 standard action.

The spell misses a few key stipulations, the material component among them, but some more information on eligible targets also seems to be in order: intelligent (Int 3+) creatures, I'm guessing. Also, being compelled to fondle a Manticore when you're a Human... ouch. Finally, does it matter if the target's 'significant other' is present (and not the fondlee stipulated by the caster...)? Can the target be restrained (and what happens then)? Etc.

Power-wise, I wouldn't compare it to Suggestion but to Daze Monster and Hideous Laughter: it basically takes one target out of the encounter and compels it to do something unproductive for rounds/level. Daze Monster does the same, but it only does so for 1 round, AND has a low HD cap. Daze Monster is, furthermore, a very low-powered and limited spell (shoulda been 1st level, really) and thus probably not a good point of comparison. Hideous Laughter does the same more or less, as well, but it has certain restrictions on eligible targets; however, the target also falls prone.

Both comparable spells are 2nd level, and Bad Touch (including the abovementioned fixes) seems only slightly more powerful than Hideous Laughter. However, it WILL create socially awkward situations, possibly destroying careers, marriages etc. in a single casting. Daze Monster and Hideous Laughter have no comparable use in social situations. Since Bad Touch has no stipulation along the lines of "if the target wouldn't normally do this, it receives another save each round/a +4 bonus on the save/whatever", I'd even call it 4th level. It's OK as a 3rd level combat spell, but its social consequences, which are what you seem to be shooting for here, increase the level to me.

 

[Sekhmet]

I agree with points already made in this thread. An absurd casting time for a short duration on a mid-level spells, spells too high in level to begin with, and very limited usability make for revision necessary environments.

I disagree with Empirate on an entirely different note. Hideous Laughter is a fantastic, career or life ruining spell when used during religious or particularly emotional social events.

 

[Greenfield]

Love Letter sounds an awful lot like a cursed scroll of Charm Person, rather than a spell in it's own right.

But if you're into that sort of slightly kinky fantasy, look at Pixie Dust from the Arms and Equipment guide. Shrinks the target to the size of a Grig (Tiny) for nine hours, and places them under a Charm Person for the duration.

And has anyone considered the effects of Knock on a person's clothing? Up to three fastenings within the area come unhooked. (And by this, I mean things like buckles on a suit of armor, you filthy minded perverts )

 

[Samloyal23]

Love Letter is worded incredibly open-endedly: what manner of information-gathering is required of the letter's reader to find the signer? What obstacles must the reader try to overcome in order to get to the signer? How long must the reader go on trying to find/get to the signer? Can the reader save the world first, or put out the fire his room is on, or eat a meal when hungry? What consequences does the reader face if prevented from going to the signer? What if he simply can't find the signer and doesn't know where to look? What targets are viable (I'm assuming intelligent creatures capable of feeling love etc.)? Etc.

The effect is similar to both the Charm and Geas spells. It doesn't prevent a subject from doing what is necessary for survival, just means they must try to reach the signer and be with that person.

Also, having the letter affect anyone reading it opens the door to abuse further: How about a letter written on a billboard sign, put up in the capital's busiest market? How about a letter written in cloud, on the sky? High-level casters can do that.

That is why the material components are required. The letter must be written in ink made from the blood of the signer.

Furthermore, the Target and Duration entries are a bit wonky, seemingly contradicting the text (charmed until someone breaks the spell; all readers are targets in a sense) and at least require a "(see text)" or similar.

I find it hard to judge what level this should be in, based on the above.

At the end of the duration the letter loses its enchantment. The target is anyone who reads the letter.

Bad Touch is an interesting spell, which suffers from its incredibly awkward casting time. I couldn't imagine a single situation in which a spell that takes 1 HOUR to cast, but only lasts a few ROUNDS, could be made to work. I strongly suggest changing the casting time to 1 standard action.

OOPS! The casting time is 1 Standard Action. I copied the format from the previous spell's and forgot to change that.

The spell misses a few key stipulations, the material component among them, but some more information on eligible targets also seems to be in order: intelligent (Int 3+) creatures, I'm guessing. Also, being compelled to fondle a Manticore when you're a Human... ouch. Finally, does it matter if the target's 'significant other' is present (and not the fondlee stipulated by the caster...)? Can the target be restrained (and what happens then)? Etc.

I can easily see this spell being used on an animal or even a monster. Do you want to have your leg humped by a rust monster? Probably not. But that's not the caster's problem. Whether or not the subject can be restrained depends on who is around who can do it. Social consequences like being attacked by your spouse for groping the cleaning lady are exactly the point of this spell, so no, it does not matter if your significant other is around.

Power-wise, I wouldn't compare it to Suggestion but to Daze Monster and Hideous Laughter: it basically takes one target out of the encounter and compels it to do something unproductive for rounds/level. Daze Monster does the same, but it only does so for 1 round, AND has a low HD cap. Daze Monster is, furthermore, a very low-powered and limited spell (shoulda been 1st level, really) and thus probably not a good point of comparison. Hideous Laughter does the same more or less, as well, but it has certain restrictions on eligible targets; however, the target also falls prone.

Both comparable spells are 2nd level, and Bad Touch (including the abovementioned fixes) seems only slightly more powerful than Hideous Laughter. However, it WILL create socially awkward situations, possibly destroying careers, marriages etc. in a single casting. Daze Monster and Hideous Laughter have no comparable use in social situations. Since Bad Touch has no stipulation along the lines of "if the target wouldn't normally do this, it receives another save each round/a +4 bonus on the save/whatever", I'd even call it 4th level. It's OK as a 3rd level combat spell, but its social consequences, which are what you seem to be shooting for here, increase the level to me.

I thought level 3 was a good compromise, but it needs to be playtested.

 

[Samloyal23]

Love Letter sounds an awful lot like a cursed scroll of Charm Person, rather than a spell in it's own right.

But if you're into that sort of slightly kinky fantasy, look at Pixie Dust from the Arms and Equipment guide. Shrinks the target to the size of a Grig (Tiny) for nine hours, and places them under a Charm Person for the duration.

And has anyone considered the effects of Knock on a person's clothing? Up to three fastenings within the area come unhooked. (And by this, I mean things like buckles on a suit of armor, you filthy minded perverts )

Forget knock, use Disrobe from the BOEF, gets straight to the point...