No spell resistance vs. Orb spells? Why?

[James McMurray]

IIRC it's only the Force Orb that caps at 10d6. Sonic might also. Losing area, losing SR, adding a ranged touch, and gaining [Force] definitely sounds like it's worth a spell level.

I haven't met a lot of people that dislike the spells based on their balance. Mostly it's the aesthetics people disagree with.

 

[IcyCool]

I haven't met a lot of people that dislike the spells based on their balance. Mostly it's the aesthetics people disagree with.

I'd wager that those folks haven't had a golem reduced to mush by their sorceror player in a round or two.

But yes, my main complaint IS with the aesthetics. A non-magical orb of force? Can I collect them after the spell has gone off? Can I fill a ball pit with them?

 

[James McMurray]

So what if the golem is reduced to mush? If golems aren't a challenge for the party, use a different critter when you want to challenge the party. If I had a player with an Orb using sorcerer I'd make it a point to throw a golem in every now and then, just so he'd have a chance to shine.

 

[Henry]

So what if the golem is reduced to mush? If golems aren't a challenge for the party, use a different critter when you want to challenge the party. If I had a player with an Orb using sorcerer I'd make it a point to throw a golem in every now and then, just so he'd have a chance to shine.

On the other hand, the Orb of Force is good vs. pretty much everything. The only things it's invalid against are creatures immune to force effects, which are pretty few. Anti-magic, spell resistant, energy resistant, high-AC, etc.? Orb of Force nails them all. I've rarely known an arcane caster player who hasn't picked up Orb of Force, as it's superior to the majority of damaging 4th level spells. Even with my house-ruling it to SR:Yes and Evocation, which I've done, players still have a hard time deciding between it and other 4th level spells.

 

[James McMurray]

The other 15d6 orbs are eventually better (especially acid) IMO as they do more damage and force a save for a secondary effect.

 

[Notmousse]

Force is pretty easy. Force as far as I've seen has only had one quality universally applied to it, that being kinetic energy (usually applied against someone directly, though at times used to restrain said energy). That being the case I freely assume that within the orb is ectoplasm contained under pressure. Once it strikes it's target the ectoplasm goes boom leaving nothing behind.

Sonic's even easier as all that's required for the bubble to make a really big bang, which could be achieved with a tougher orb filled with nothing (or just too much of any common gas). It pops upon impact causing a noise loud enough to inflict damage on target.

 

[James McMurray]

I just call it magic and carry on with my life.

 

[Klaus]

I just call it magic and carry on with my life.

QFT

 

[Deset Gled]

I haven't met a lot of people that dislike the spells based on their balance. Mostly it's the aesthetics people disagree with.

Tell that to the Evoker.

Also, there is a wide area between broken and well-balanced. While I would certainly not claim that the existence of the orb spells break the game, I think they leave the game a bit off center.

I just call it magic and carry on with my life.

If that's what WotC wanted, they shouldn't have spent so much time giving us definitions of how the different schools work.

 

[James McMurray]

Tell that to the Evoker.

Why, is he jealous that other people can hurt enemies with magic? A few orbs in no way makes up for the differences in nuking capabilities between the two.

If that's what WotC wanted, they shouldn't have spent so much time giving us definitions of how the different schools work.

Who said anything about what WotC wants?