Ray of Stupidity?

[atomn]

I'd consider simply switching it to deal Wisdom damage. I don't think there are any whole classes of creatures around that have universally pitiful Wisdom scores.

But then wouldn't it make it too broken from a Will save persepective?

 

[Lonely Tylenol]

I just don't allow any spells to reduce an ability score below 1. There's no need. If you bring a score to 1, you've done enough damage to make the spell worthwhile.

 

[Archade]

I'm glad I wasn't the only one looking at this spell saying "whuuuuh?!"

I think the simplest solution is make these 2nd-level spells not reduce the Int (or whatever) below 1. It *is* a second-level spell after all. Allowing the damage to stack isn't horrible, and it is a more powerful spell than ray of enfeeblement, so I'd leave that in place.

Problem solved as far as my game goes -- now to send an email to WOTC for whenver they want to put errata out on the book ...

 

[Plane Sailing]

Compare it to touch of idiocy - 2nd level touch spell that does 1d6 to Int, Wis and Cha (but can't reduce any of them below 1).

I think Ray of Stupidity was just poorly considered and written.

 

[MarkB]

But then wouldn't it make it too broken from a Will save persepective?

I don't see why. Reducing Will saves is what Wisdom damage is supposed to do.

 

[Zaruthustran]

Wow, what an odd spell. I'd change it to six spells of "Ray of [Ability] Damage" and just use the mechanics for Ray of Enfeeblement. So there'd a Ray of Str damage, Ray of Con damage, etc. Six different spells, all having the same mechanical effect.

Except... hm. Ray of Con damage is way more powerful than Ray of Cha damage. The D&D game does not consider all abilities scores to be of equal use. Hmm.

I guess in the end I'd just say that Int cannot be lowered below 1.

 

[Raspen]

I had questions with this spell as well this is the first spell i seen that did damage not penalty. Would that give this spell the ability to stack do to the fact it is damage and that it dont have a duration. Other exanples of this would but a dagger of wounding it does con damage and it stacks.

would explain the spell lvl being higher then ray of enfeeblement

at the very least this would stack with other spells suck as touch of idioy.

 

[atomn]

I don't see why. Reducing Will saves is what Wisdom damage is supposed to do.

My gut tells me it's because it's such a low level spell and it doesn't give a saving throw but has a big effect. I'm no metamagic feat expert but it seems like it would be too easy to apply metamagic feats like Empower Spell, Quicken Spell, Twin Spell or some of the Sudden ones (or any combo of those) and a powerful creature is suddenly very vulnerable to powerful spells.

 

[mikebr99]

I had questions with this spell as well this is the first spell i seen that did damage not penalty. Would that give this spell the ability to stack do to the fact it is damage and that it dont have a duration. Other exanples of this would but a dagger of wounding it does con damage and it stacks.

would explain the spell lvl being higher then ray of enfeeblement

at the very least this would stack with other spells suck as touch of idioy.

Yes, stat damage will stack with itself and stat penalties. Stat penalties from the same source will not stack.

Ray of Stupidity is a very powerful spell against intelligent targets... however it's a death sentance to Animals... and most Magical Beasts.

Actually, with this spell... and Assay Spell resistance... you've got an easy way to take out that pesky Tarrasque!

Mike