Other than a custom spell...

[Greenfield]

Other than a custom spell. how would you do this:

In D&D 3.5, I'm looking for a way to do the classic frog-prince curse. That is, a Polymorph effect with a specific condition for release.

We see it in Ladyhawk as well, a person transformed into something else until they manage to arrange a specific and unlikely event, whether it's being kissed by a Princess, be seen standing together at a time that's neither day nor night, or what have you.

While various Curses can do a lot of interesting things, this sort of classic fairy-tale curse doesn't seem to be possible.

Now obviously Wish and its relatives can do something like this, but I'm hoping for something less extreme.

Any thoughts?

 

[RUMBLETiGER]

Baleful Polymorph + Contingent Dispel Magic?

 

[Binho]

Bestow curse or bestow curse greater. I would allow it to be Bestow curse, because it can be dispelled without remove curse or powerful spells.

 

[TKDB]

Bestow curse or bestow curse greater. I would allow it to be Bestow curse, because it can be dispelled without remove curse or powerful spells.

On the other hand, if you really want to be true to the fairy tale archetype, it can't be dispelled using any method besides the prearranged condition.

I'd say regular Bestow Curse if you're going to allow standard dispelling effects to work, and Greater Bestow Curse if you want to restrict it to only being dispelled when the specific conditions are met.

 

[Greenfield]

Here's the problem...

Bestow Curse
Necromancy
Level: Clr 3, Sor/Wiz 4
Components: V, S
Casting Time: 1 standard action
Range: Touch
Target: Creature touched
Duration: Permanent
Saving Throw: Will negates
Spell Resistance: Yes
You place a curse on the subject. Choose one of the following three effects.
• –6 decrease to an ability score (minimum 1).
• –4 penalty on attack rolls, saves, ability checks, and skill checks.
• Each turn, the target has a 50% chance to act normally; otherwise, it takes no action.
You may also invent your own curse, but it should be no more powerful than those described above.
The curse bestowed by this spell cannot be dispelled, but it can be removed with a break enchantment, limited wish, miracle,
remove curse, or wish spell.
Bestow curse counters remove curse.

Turning someone into a frog or some such sounds a lot like Baleful Polymorph, which is considerably "more powerful" than the 3rd level spell Bestow Curse, or any of the individual effects described above.

What book is Bestow Curse, Greater found in?

 

[TKDB]

What book is Bestow Curse, Greater found in?

Spell Compendium, originally in Complete Divine.

 

[Wyvernhand]

Greater Curse was first printed in BoVD, IIRC, but I think it was reprinted in the SpC.

I would base it more on Mark of Justice. Longer, more ritual based casting time, with a lot more flexbility in conditions. Instead of invoking a curse upon breaking, instead have the curse always active with the condition something that breaks it. It's a pretty simple shift of MoJ from fail open to fail closed, and MoJ doesn't get a save.

 

[TKDB]

I would base it more on Mark of Justice. Longer, more ritual based casting time, with a lot more flexbility in conditions. Instead of invoking a curse upon breaking, instead have the curse always active with the condition something that breaks it. It's a pretty simple shift of MoJ from fail open to fail closed, and MoJ doesn't get a save.

The problem with using Mark of Justice is that it's explicitly based on Bestow Curse, which as Greenfield noted isn't quite powerful enough to produce a "Frog Prince" kind of effect.

 

[Wyvernhand]

You could always make a Greater Mark of Justice. MoJ is a 5th level spell and invokes a 3rd level spell. Baleful Polymorph is a 5th level spell, two higher than Bestow Curse. A reverse version of MoJ that breaks a "curse" version of Baleful Polymorph would probably be about 6th ish or 7 tops, since spell level increase isn't really linear.

 

[TKDB]

You could always make a Greater Mark of Justice.

Remind me again what the thread title is?