Resist Energy, Mass

[Whimsical]

It's 5th level for all casters in my game.

It was very good 3rd level spell when it used the 3.0 resist energy. I used it quite a bit as a druid in Living Arcanis and transformed nasty fights into cakewalks. Now it's brokenly good with the 3.5 version.

 

[Vysirez]

Just because it has the word mass in it? Or do you do the same with spells such as Magic Circle?

Ah, but Magic circle is far more restricted then most of your Mass Whatever spells. So I don't think it falls into the same ruleset. However if there was a Mass Protection from Evil that affected multiple targets with Protection from Evil then I would say it would be a 4th lvl spell.

 

[Ridley's Cohort]

Not sure I would agree it is broken, but I agree 3rd level is too low. 4th level would be reasonable IMO.

Mass Metamagic at +3 makes sense, but I do not feel every spell needs to adhere to such a formula strictly.

 

[Venator]

Is it any better than Haste, Fireball, Lightning Bolt, ect.?

Its a good defensive spell, but its certainly not overpowered at third level. If it gets cast and renders a fight trivial, whats the problem with that? Good prep and/or a good choice in spell selection should be rewarded once in a while. How often does Haste dominate fights? Just about every time its cast.

Also, unless the monsters in question only deal one kind of energy damage it shouldnt totaly trivialize it. Have the baddie make a spellcraft check to ID the Mass Resistance being cast and then have him select a spell he feels the party probably didnt protect against.

 

[Plane Sailing]

Is it any better than Haste, Fireball, Lightning Bolt, ect.?

The better question is this - Is it any better than protection from elements? I'd have to say the answer is definitely yes, because instead of giving one person great protection from an energy type for 1-2 attacks, it gives A WHOLE PARTY good protection from an energy type for 1-2 hours or so.

 

[Henry]

What I do know is that I carry it prepped on my current cleric at all times. At his level, it's already ER 30 when he casts it, though I don't think we've EVER been in a fight where it could have helped! All we've seen so far is death effects, positive and negative energy effects, and untyped magical energy... not to mention my party spreads out like crazy in most combats.

 

[Someone]

I for one think the level is more or less right.

 

[Ogrork the Mighty]

It's Clr 3, Drd 3, Sor/Wiz 4 in Spell Compendium (p. 174) so the game designers haven't found reason to update it.

Does seem a little wonky to be able to upgrade the spell to one creature per level for just one more spell level though...

 

[the Jester]

The better question is this - Is it any better than protection from elements? I'd have to say the answer is definitely yes, because instead of giving one person great protection from an energy type for 1-2 attacks, it gives A WHOLE PARTY good protection from an energy type for 1-2 hours or so.

Absolutely. IMO, it should be 4th-5th level.

 

[Legildur]

Absolutely. IMO, it should be 4th-5th level.

All these comments about the spell makes me want to use it! Our parties never use it. My druid occasionally keeps a protection from energy handy, but certainly not mass versions of the spells.

Usually we are to deep in it to have the time to cast such a spell - the opportunity cost can be excessive when you can cast something damaging instead.