RE: Warlock's Eld. Blast question

[Falling Icicle]

See why people have problems with the orb spells - or, at the very least, the orb of force spell?

Indeed. While I can understand acid being a conjuration (creation) effect, since it is a substance, I think the other orb spells (fire, force, cold, sonic, electricity) should be evocation spells, not conjuration (creation). They are energy, not matter. The very idea of a non-magical orb of magical force is just absurd.

As for golems, there's a few ways Warlocks can deal with them. The first is vitriolic blast, but this is problematic because not every warlock can (or should) be assumed to have that invocation and it's useless against clay golems or any other creature with immunity or high resistance to acid. The second option is a sroll, wand, staff or other magic item with one of the various orb spells in it, as has already been mentioned. Orb of force is the best choice, IMO, since it is untyped damage. The third option is to have minions (gained from the Charm or Dead Walk invocations, or other sources) equipped with adamantine weapons.

 

[akbearfoot]

That's why the orb spells should be banned...or at least raised to be 6th level spells.

Wizards and sorcerers would still take them...that should tell you something.

 

[shilsen]

See why people have problems with the orb spells - or, at the very least, the orb of force spell?

Forget the orb spells. Arc of Lightning is a conjuration (creation) spell too. My players and I joke that after the party druids (we have two) cast it on an enemy, then they should cast protection from energy (electric), pick up the long stick of lightning that's now lying on the ground and beat the crap out of enemies with it.

 

[Evilhalfling]

This theory prevent creatures from playing "Dodge Ball" with an orb of force

*yoink*
I have removed the Orb spells from common use in my game, but every once and a while I will have a wizard who learned one of them through independant research. Lesser cold, lesser sonic and Acid Orb have all seen play. This idea is almost enough fun to introduce orb of force in some NPCs hands.

The idea of little force orbs left lying about is just great. They could be reused as sling stones (i think) or sold, and used as building material, sewn into armor, or even as ball bearings in some large machine. (Any other suggestions btw?)

Or I could HR the duration to the same as a wall of force (1 rnd/lvl) That would leave throwing/slinging them back as the only real use (besides as a special effect) I want them to due 1d4+1 damage if thrown (as a reference to magic missles) I guess they are still a touch attack (although sense is rapidly leaving this line of thought)

Hmm duration implies evocation (like wall of force)

 

[Kmart Kommando]

Forget the orb spells. Arc of Lightning is a conjuration (creation) spell too. My players and I joke that after the party druids (we have two) cast it on an enemy, then they should cast protection from energy (electric), pick up the long stick of lightning that's now lying on the ground and beat the crap out of enemies with it.

Since when does a discharge of lightning between two objects or creatures remain indefinitely?
It only says line because line is a recognized shape in tactical combat on the grid.
It's called Arc of Lightning, not Line of Lightning.

 

[shilsen]

Since when does a discharge of lightning between two objects or creatures remain indefinitely?
It only says line because line is a recognized shape in tactical combat on the grid.
It's called Arc of Lightning, not Line of Lightning.

As noted above, according to the PHB rules for conjuration (creation) spells with an instantaneous duration, it does remain indefinitely afterwards. I ignore that in my game (and also don't have orbs hang around later either), but the fact remains that it's how the spell should work according to the RAW.

 

[Kmart Kommando]

As noted above, according to the PHB rules for conjuration (creation) spells with an instantaneous duration, it does remain indefinitely afterwards. I ignore that in my game (and also don't have orbs hang around later either), but the fact remains that it's how the spell should work according to the RAW.

If it said 'arc' instead of 'line' in the effect, then all the power gamers and munchkins would be tossing out Arcs of Lightning that curved around to avoid friendlies and hit every enemy in range. :\