Ray of Enfeeblement

[cmnash]

Has anyone house-ruled Ray of Enfeeblement? and if so, how?

It's been the bane of lots of monsters that would otherwise have been big challenges to the party

We were considering putting a save for half in to it ...

 

[Gort]

Well, remember it doesn't stack with itself, before you go neutering it too much

 

[cmnash]

Is that a Sage ruling? the PHB doesnt say it does not stack ... or am I missing something fundamental about penalties?

 

[Staffan]

Is that a Sage ruling? the PHB doesnt say it does not stack ... or am I missing something fundamental about penalties?

Yes. From the SRD: "Stacking Effects: Spells that provide bonuses or penalties on attack rolls, damage rolls, saving throws, and other attributes usually do not stack with themselves.". The same passage should be in the PHB under "Combining Magical Effects".

 

[Silveras]

Yes. From the SRD: "Stacking Effects: Spells that provide bonuses or penalties on attack rolls, damage rolls, saving throws, and other attributes usually do not stack with themselves.". The same passage should be in the PHB under "Combining Magical Effects".

It is, p. 171. Also, in the same section a little farther down, under "Same Effect More than Once in Different Strengths:", the Ray of Enfeeblement spell is the example used.

That section specifically says that the effects overlap instead of stacking. Both (or all) spells are simultaneously in effect, but only the strongest effect applies at any given time. It is possible for the strongest effect to be dispelled, or to run out its duration, and leave a weaker effect still in place, etc.

 

[cmnash]

ahhhh - thanks very much for that it will make things easier for me to aspire to Rat-Bastard-DM-hood!

 

[Kyamsil]

I hadn't noticed how Ray of Enfeeblement didn't allow for a saving throw... that makes it a lot more interesting... Wand of Empowered Ray of Enfeeblement at 10th level caster anyone?

1d6+5x1.5 for a result between 9 and 16 points of strength penalty... I think this will put the barbarian/kensai(fighter variant from Dragon 310) in my campaign back in check...

 

[cmnash]

how about with a quickened true strike first? that should REALLY ruin his day

 

[Darklone]

One houserule I do have for that spell: It doesn't work against undead. In 3.0, it had a Fort save and therefore undead were immune... now that's changed but I don't like it and I am pretty sure it was a simple oversight while they changed it.

 

[DreamChaser]

One houserule I do have for that spell: It doesn't work against undead. In 3.0, it had a Fort save and therefore undead were immune... now that's changed but I don't like it and I am pretty sure it was a simple oversight while they changed it.

I don't see why this is a problem. It isn't strength damage (which they should be immune to) but a magical effect that effectively inhibits their strength. An undead creature would be as prone to this as anything else.

DC