D&D 5E Rate this spell idea!

[Slit518]

The differences I see with Haste and this spell:

Haste grants double movement, this spell does not.
Haste grants advantage on Dexterity saving throws, this spell does not.
Haste grants an extra semi-versatile action, this spell does not, it just adds more attacks.

Things similar to both spells:

1 minute duration.
+2 Armor Class (if that is the permanent change).

I enjoyed the 2d4 per attack. I wouldn't be concerned with players thinking this is too weak. It's more of a versatile utility spell with offensive power, if your spears are still active.
Where as Haste is more of a quick moving utility, that favors movement over raw strength (though a Fighter or Barbarian with another attack is always nice).
The one drawback of Haste is kind of annoying, a round on inaction? Probably because of older flavor the spell had in past editions? But if they got rid of Barbarian Rage fatigue, why not the Haste fatigue as well?

If worse comes to worse, it can be bumped to a 4th level spell.

 

[Ancalagon]

You know, I was imagining this spell in my mind - because it's *very* evocative after all, and a thought occurred to me...

This spell is a combo offense/defense spell. But should it be? Maybe it would make more sense as a combo offense/MOBILITY spell. You have 4 magic spider-like legs coming out of your back! It could allow you to move faster, climb on walls something....

Edit: think of Invader Zim's backpack!

http://s737.photobucket.com/user/kdaesung/media/zimspider_zpsd90bdc82.png.html

 

[crashtestdummy]

There's no doubt that this spell and Haste are different. What I was trying to do was to compare this spell to Haste and use that to determine if the spell was too powerful. There's enough overlap that I think you can use one as a yardstick for the other.

As stated above, Haste provides some things that this spell doesn't. Equally, this spell provides some things that Haste doesn't. It then comes down to a subjective comparison of those items. The list of what Haste provides extra is above. The list of what this spell provides extra is:

- Target self (Haste is better in that respect)
- Four attacks with 10 foot reach using your spellcasting stat. Haste at low levels (when cast on a martial character of 10th level or less) provides a character maximum of three attacks that usually don't have reach. Cast on 'Self' and most of the time that will mean the caster has two attacks, not the four that this spell provides.
- A mixture of piercing and necrotic damage but without a characteristic bonus
- Cancel the spell using your reaction to get an effective Shield spell (minus the immunity to magic missile spells)
- No downside when the spell ends

Is this combination better or worse than the extra features of Haste (remembering that Haste causes the target to lose a turn when the spell ends)? That's subjective. My view is that this spell is more powerful than Haste but not by a lot. Is it enough to consider it too powerful for 3rd level? I would say yes though others may (and almost certainly will) disagree. Dropping the damage to d4's instead of d6's will go a long way to reducing the power of the spell and bringing it more in line with what I would expect a 3rd level spell to be. Adding in a significant component cost each time the spell is cast would probably be enough to make it a good 3rd level spell without being too powerful.

 

[Slit518]

I think I am going to ditch the +2 to armor class, and perhaps while the spell is active and as long as you have Obsidian Spears, as a Reaction you can add +5 to your Armor Class, of course the result breaking one of the spears (not all, so you trade offense for more defense).

Aaron, you lowered the range from 20' to 10'. Did you feel the range was too far? It probably was, I just felt like magical spears should of reached farther than normal polearms.

And yes, the result will be 2d4 damage as opposed to 2d6 or 2d4+mod.

 

[Limitless-Adventures]

Seems balanced. The damage is a bit low, which is ok, because you can buff AC, the AC buff requires your reaction, and it comparable to the Shield spell. Seems cool. I'll use with some drow, and it will be creepy as hell.

 

[Slit518]

Seems balanced. The damage is a bit low, which is ok, because you can buff AC, the AC buff requires your reaction, and it comparable to the Shield spell. Seems cool. I'll use with some drow, and it will be creepy as hell.

Cool, I am glad you like it! I thought it was a neat idea.

Unrelated:
By the way, the spell is NOT immune to Magic Missile, and the Reaction does not make you immune to it either.

 

[AaronOfBarbaria]

Aaron, you lowered the range from 20' to 10'. Did you feel the range was too far? It probably was, I just felt like magical spears should of reached farther than normal polearms.

Reach is generally lower in 5th edition than in prior editions, that's why I lowered it to 10 feet.

Having the same reach as an ancient dragon's claw attacks or most giants attacks made sense to me, but having longer reach than an ancient dragon's bite didn't.

 

[Slit518]

Reach is generally lower in 5th edition than in prior editions, that's why I lowered it to 10 feet.

Having the same reach as an ancient dragon's claw attacks or most giants attacks made sense to me, but having longer reach than an ancient dragon's bite didn't.

Understandable.