Please Critique My Epic Spell: Soulstrike

[Craer]

I put it together a few days ago. Tell me what you think.

Soulstrike
Transmutation
Spellcraft DC: 114
Components: V, S, XP
Casting Time: 5 rounds
Range: 1,200 feet
Duration: See text
Saving Throw: None
Spell Resistance: Yes
To Develop:1,026,000gp, 21 days, 41,040 xp. Seeds: destroy (DC 29), dispel (DC 19). Factor: increase damage to 50d6 (+60 DC), increase damage die type two steps (+20 DC), change area of anti-magic field to a 20ft radius (ad hoc +2 DC), set duration of anti-magic field to 3 rounds (ad hoc +4 DC), reduce casting time by five rounds (+10 DC), change ‘target’ to ‘ray’ (+4 DC), increase range by 3*100% (+6 DC). Mitigating factors: 10d6 backlash damage (-10 DC), burn 3000xp (-30 DC).

This powerful spell uses a portion of the caster’s own soul to devastating effect. Tearing off a portion of his own soul, the caster uses its inherent power as well as that of the immediate surrounding area to charge the soul-shard with massive destructive impulse. The caster makes a ranged touch attack on his target, then launches the shard at an incredible velocity. The shard blasts forward, leaving a pale blue trail of light behind it. The shard deals 50d10 damage to anything it its path (including incorporeal undead), lancing a cleanly-cut hole roughly 3 inches in diameter through anything it touches. The power of the shard’s impact is so great that unattended objects struck by the Soulstrike are shattered into pieces, and all parts of the object within 5 feet/caster level are destroyed as well.

This spell requires an incredible quantity of magical energy, more than the caster’s soul-shard can provide. As the spell is cast, it drains the magic inherent in the surrounding area. Magic items, characters, and existing spells are unaffected as the spell is cast, but as soon as the spell is completed, a void of magical energy comes into existence. This area functions as an anti-magic field 20 feet in diameter. The void lasts for 3 rounds, after which the natural magical energy of the area is replenished.

The act of tearing off a portion of one’s own soul deals 10d6 backlash damage to the caster.

XP Cost: 3000

 

[Ferret]

I don't know how epic spells work. Someone will come along (I like the idea thouggh). There is specific a forum for homebrew stuff (Spells, feats, skills, PrCs and other stuff) and one for monsters .

A mod will be round shortly to move the post.

 

[Pielorinho]

Moderator's Notes:
My only critique is that new spells go in the House Rules forum . I wish I could be more constructive, but I know nothing about epic spells.

Daniel

 

[Wish]

A few problems - first, the spell you described is a "line" spell. It should follow the standard rules for line area spells. Second, the destroying unattended objects is broken. The caster level for something like this is going to be in the neighborhood of 40, which means if it hits an object, it's going to blow a 400' diameter hole in that object. You didn't pay the cost for such a factor. You also didn't pay for the "instantly destroys unattended objects" bit. You'd be better served to just have it apply damage. 50d10, no save, is going to destroy most objects, granted, but maybe not all. Against large objects, like castles, it would apply its damage to those sections of the castle that instersected the line effect. Some of the stronger walls might even survive, but they'd be badly weakened.

 

[DanMcS]

Mechanical:
What is it, +10 per damage die size increase? To go from d6 to d10 is +20 DC; 50d10 is an average of 275 damage. +2 per additional die, with a base of 20d6 I guess, so +60 to go to 50 dice. That's 80 points of DC.

If you just cranked it up to d20s for an additional +20 DC, 20d20 is 210 damage for 40 DC points. You just cut 40 points off the DC, or you can sink them back into more dice and do 40d20 if you want for 420 damage.

Backlash: 10d6 (35 points of damage) is a tickle to a mage that could cast this, particularly if you have a cleric backing you up and have done basic epic level spells like long-duration constitution Fortification (though this might interact badly with the anti-magic shell, don't want to accidentally die when the antimagic goes off). Crank up the backlash damage and drop down the experience drain as much as you can.

Flavor: the magic-sucking sounds like a mitigator, but in practice it's costing you. I'm unsure about this one. I can't remember, does antimagic stop epic level spells? I'm pretty sure regular antimagic doesn't, but I'm unsure about antimagic from an epic source like this. If it does, then the antimagic shell is really a side effect defensive measure, and should be paid for. You might be able to cobble together a magic-draining backlash, though. Something like "this spell does 40d6 backlash to the caster; every 100,000 gp value of magical items or 10 levels of spells in effect within 20 feet reduces this by 1d6 as those items/spells are suppressed for 3 rounds."

 

[Angel Tarragon]

Am I correct in assuming that this spell is meant for the Eberron Campaign Setting?

 

[Craer]

Ah. I actually moved it to the Rules thread because someone told me it was in the wrong thread. Shoulda' known better, I suppose.

DanMcS, awesome stuff. I'll change some things and post the new version soon. You too, Wish.

And no, this was not meant specifically for the Ebberron setting. Why do you ask?