Relics & Rituals: Which spells are broken?

[DragonLancer]

Its been a while since I used the R&R books from SSS, and where back in the early days of 3rd ed it was a great sourcebook, now I wonder which spells in those books (R&R2 had a lot) people would consider broken under 3.5 rules or just broken by themselves?

What do you folks think?

 

[Crothian]

I've yet to run into any spell from those books I'd call broken. Some are strong but nothing that alone conquored the game.

 

[BiggusGeekus]

My DM looked it over and lets me use it. There may be a spell or two in there that bears examination, but we found it to be solid and we're big on powergaming. I haven't looked at it in about a year though, so take this with a grain of salt.

 

[Psion]

I think most of those who grouse about it are making mountains out of molehills. It was R&R2, IMO, that had the real stand-out broken spells.

Convert is one that always bothered me... simply because I figure that sort of fundamantel alteration is beyond the power of magic.

Shadow Storm is commonly derided. But it's a high level spell to begin with, so I sort of shrug that off. I could see how it might upset some campaigns, though.

Mormo's serpent hands is always one that made me go "wow", but the one time I faced my players' characters with it, they survived (with the help of some hasty CON damage healing, but still...)

 

[Hussar]

Well, the obvious changes to durations for the buff type spells of course. Change the duration to tens of minutes instead of hours and you're good.

Also, there's a bit of repetition with the prestitigitation spell with spells like clean and such.

I've been using RR for a while and haven't noticed anything too game breaking. Just take a look at the spell and see if it replicates something in the PHB and go from there.

 

[VirgilCaine]

Shadow Storm is commonly derided. But it's a high level spell to begin with, so I sort of shrug that off. I could see how it might upset some campaigns, though.

What does that spell do that could upset a campaign? Create a huge amount of undead shadows?

That might upset Eberron where there aren't any high level clerics or paladins to run around and destroy them with turning.

 

[tf360]

My gaming group played extensively with the spells from R & R and found the vast majority of them to be fair and balanced. R & R 2 was another story. These were the spells that I found to be somewhat overpowered. My group got up to 12th level so I have no experience with the real high level spells.

Flame Bolt- At 9th level and less fairly balanced, at high levels though ranged touch attack is not enough to offset unlimited bolts. Errata may have fixed this though.

Sacrifice Spell- Its versality to convert unused spells into damage and d8 damage make it particularly lethal.

Sunspear- Its versality to be used for healing or damage makes it more powerful than cure spells or inflict spells. Ranged touch and no damage to halve the damage give it a big advantage over the inflict spells.

 

[Psion]

What does that spell do that could upset a campaign? Create a huge amount of undead shadows?

Um, I was thinking something more along the line of it being a great combat spell that could make the wizard more potent in combat than they already are.

 

[the Jester]

Assassin's senses is one that I object to.

 

[Chiaroscuro23]

There were a few that were sort of excessive, though I certainly like the book. In particular I recall the spell that turned the caster into his choice of werecreature for 1 day/level being broken. Also there was a spell that granted caster's level in enhancement bonus to STR. Probably a few more, but those two stick out.

Cheers,
C.