Rip the Core - Please Critique

[Angel Tarragon]

Rip The Core
Necromancy
Level: Clr 9, Sor/Wiz 9
Components: V, S, F
Casting Time: 1 standard action
Range: Close (25 ft. + 5 ft./2 levels)
Effect: Ray
Duration: Instantaneous
Saving Throw: Will negates
Spell Resistance: Yes

If the target fails its save, the creatures skeleton rips through its own flesh and its organs fall out its body, thus leaving only its skeleton intact. The creature forevermore becomes a bone creature (BoVD, pg 184).

Focus: a bone fragment no less than a century old.

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This is an idea I've had since the Osteomancer PrC was published in Dragon #317, finally come into fruition. Should it even have a save?

 

[Nifft]

What's the LA on the Bone Creature template? It's got one in the errata / 3.5e update, if I recall correctly.

IMHO it's not a good idea to give permanent templates without a high XP and/or GP cost.

Cheers, -- N

 

[Angel Tarragon]

What's the LA on the Bone Creature template? It's got one in the errata / 3.5e update, if I recall correctly.

IMHO it's not a good idea to give permanent templates without a high XP and/or GP cost.

Cheers, -- N

Just checked to see if it was in the errata/update and there is none. As per the BoVD, there is no LA.

How do you suggest I rectify this spell Nifft?

 

[Nifft]

How do you suggest I rectify this spell Nifft?

Price it like a magic item -- with an XP/GP cost appropriate to a slotless doohickey which gave the benefits of the template.

Specifically, as much as the benefits would cost for PCs to gain -- you're not worried about NPC spending habits.

So:
+2 Natural Armor
Cold immunity
+4 Dexterity
Undead type -- this is hard to price :\
Half damage from piercing or slashing weapons -- probably changed to DR x/bludgeoning, yes?

Cheers, -- N

 

[Aestolia]

I agree with throwing on a gp/xp cost, Perhaps also to mitigate the cost an extra save?
Will Neg. / Fort Partial

Successful will negates the effect failing that the target's skeleton leaps to life
If they fail the fort the skeleton rips out
If they pass it does xdx damage for x rounds
If target dies of the damage the skeleton still comes out.

As a Level 9 spell, Death or Damage isn't unreasonable as an effect.

 

[Nifft]

I agree with throwing on a gp/xp cost, Perhaps also to mitigate the cost an extra save?

Save-or-die is already available far before 9th level.

The costs would be to compensate for using it on a willing subject -- for whom saves are irrelevant.

Cheers, -- N

 

[Pyrex]

Right, it's not terribly effective as an attack spell because regardless of whether or not the target saves you still haven't taken him out of the fight.

I'd increase the casting time to an hour or so, remove the save but change the target to "one willing living creature" and add costly Material and XP components (probably on the order of 5000gp and 2500xp).

Another option would be to have the target lose a level instead of having the high material/xp costs.