Prismatic Ray Spell

[Felon]

So, the language of this spell in the Spell Compendium is a little screwy. It says that "a creature with 6 HD or less is blinded for 2d4 rounds by the prismatic ray in addition to suffering a randomly determined effect."

Generally, the blinding effect of the primsatic spells have a HD limit, but the random effect doesn't. But here it sounds like the implication is that it has no effect whatsoever on creatures with more than 6 HD.

I figure maybe another set of eyes might help. How does it sound to you guys?

 

[Moon-Lancer]

I cant prove it, but its a mistake. If it was 2d4 hit dice it would suck to prismatic spray. I mean really really suck.

 

[shilsen]

I agree that it's an error, so just house-rule it as it suits you. I'd go with letting it blind a creature with less than 6 HD (no save). Any creature, irrespective of HD, struck by it would also suffer the randomly determined effect.

 

[robberbaron]

That's the way I read it. No houserule necessary.

 

[Thanee]

Generally, the blinding effect of the primsatic spells have a HD limit, but the random effect doesn't. But here it sounds like the implication is that it has no effect whatsoever on creatures with more than 6 HD.

Of course, not. Only the blinding effect is HD-related, the random effects are to be suffered by any target regardless of HD.

Bye
Thanee

 

[Plane Sailing]

So, the language of this spell in the Spell Compendium is a little screwy. It says that "a creature with 6 HD or less is blinded for 2d4 rounds by the prismatic ray in addition to suffering a randomly determined effect."

It was bad editing to leave a sentence like that were it is unclear where the effects lie.

They should have written something like:

"in addition to suffering a randomly determined effect, a creature with 6 HD or less is blinded for 2d4 rounds by the prismatic ray."

or even

"A creature with 6 HD or less is also blinded for 2d4 rounds by the prismatic ray"

Whatever, the whole 'prismatic' thing has plenty of precedent for it being zap, plus blinding things under 6HD

 

[Felon]

I agree that it's an error, so just house-rule it as it suits you.

Not playing a mage in my own campaign, unfortunately.

The thing is, it's pretty powerful for a 5th-level evocation spell. So, a DM seeing the 80 points of electricity damage or the save-or-die effects might be inclined to interpret as "balanced" by only frying little guys. Someone not intimate with these kinds of spells might not be able to make that leap.

 

[lottrbacchus]

The thing is, it's pretty powerful for a 5th-level evocation spell. So, a DM seeing the 80 points of electricity damage or the save-or-die effects might be inclined to interpret as "balanced" by only frying little guys. Someone not intimate with these kinds of spells might not be able to make that leap.

Hmmm, I don't have books super handy, but Prismatic Spray fries everyone in a 60' cone while I presume the PR only targets one creature. If you could make a tiny, tiny fireball so tiny it could only effect one creature (even if it hit the side of a tiny mouse cuddled up to another tiny mouse) and made it a 1st level spell, would that be horribly unbalanced? Not at all, and that's going from 3rd to 1st, not 7th to 5th.

 

[Felon]

Hmmm, I don't have books super handy, but Prismatic Spray fries everyone in a 60' cone while I presume the PR only targets one creature. If you could make a tiny, tiny fireball so tiny it could only effect one creature (even if it hit the side of a tiny mouse cuddled up to another tiny mouse) and made it a 1st level spell, would that be horribly unbalanced? Not at all, and that's going from 3rd to 1st, not 7th to 5th.

If the fireball-ray did 1d6/level, and maxed out at 10d6, then yeah, it would be out-of-line with other 1st level spells.

Inded, there is a ray of flame spell in the SC. Stops at 5d6 and has a short range.

At any rate, I believe the prismatic ray's random effect does affect character with more than 6 HD, which is in line with other prismatic spells. I just gotta sell it that way.

 

[Moon-Lancer]

If the fireball-ray did 1d6/level, and maxed out at 10d6, then yeah, it would be out-of-line with other 1st level spells.

Inded, there is a ray of flame spell in the SC. Stops at 5d6 and has a short range.

At any rate, I believe the prismatic ray's random effect does affect character with more than 6 HD, which is in line with other prismatic spells. I just gotta sell it that way.

what about scorching ray? its ends up doing 12d6, but I do realize 3 attacks are needed and resistance applies to each.